Handbook of Livestock Management (4th Edition) - Hardcover

Battaglia, Richard A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0131189336 ISBN 13: 9780131189331

Publisher: Pearson, 2006

Synopsis

Discusses a wide range of species and topics, showing step-by-step how to perform the skills and techniques essential for those in animal management. Taking a hands-on approach, it reflects the author’s authoritative experience and emphasizes how to maintain and maximize an animal’s well-being and productivity. Over 800 illustrations, external parts and skeletal drawings, and new photographs offer readers a close look at each species and each livestock management technique. Features chapters on beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, horses, sheep, goats, poultry, livestock restraint and herd health. Covers all aspects of each species from breeding and conception through their complete lifecycle. Recommends techniques that are best for both the livestock manager and the animal. Provides cautionary notes at appropriate danger points with each step-by-step procedure. Follows a predictable format that includes an introduction to each technique, lists of necessary equipment, a discussion of required restraint, cautionary notes at appropriate danger points, a description of the normal recovery sequence, and a discussion of postprocedural management.  Excellent for those involved in livestock management.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

PREFACE

The first edition of Handbook of Livestock Management was designed to fill the need for a book that described in detail the skills and techniques needed by those who managed livestock. We, the authors and contributors to that first edition, thought it important that the teacher, student, and producer utilize sound and safe procedures in the management of farm animals, thereby maximizing animal well-being and productivity as well as enjoyment for the manager. The book was intended as a comprehensive text and reference for students of animal science, veterinary science and technology, and vocational agriculture, and as a handbook and reference for livestock producers and technicians.

Today, just as when we completed the first two editions, the need is the same—a text, a guidebook, that provides the details of useful, complete, accurate and safe procedures for performing the absolutely necessary livestock management techniques. This book is intended to fill in the gaps between the classroom and the laboratory. The material is not theoretical; it is primarily hands-on. It describes not only what to do but how to do it.

In reality, the need for the Handbook is greater today than it was 20 years ago. There are fewer of us growing up on farms, there is a greater awareness of the need to provide for an animal's well-being, and there is less time to teach (and learn) hands-on manipulative skills because of the ever-increasing body of technical and cognitive skills that must be taught to (and learned by) our students in the classroom.

Just as in the first two editions, included in this edition of the Handbook are chapters on the management of beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, horses, sheep, goats, and poultry, along with chapters on livestock restraint and herd health. The presentation of the techniques in each chapter follows the same format. A brief introduction to each technique is presented along with a listing of necessary equipment, a discussion of required restraint, a detailed step-by-step procedure with cautionary notes at appropriate danger points, a description of the normal recovery sequence, and a discussion of necessary postprocedural management. At every opportunity, the verbal directions are supported by illustrations, of which there are over 800.

Parts of the animal, with terms accepted by livestock professionals, are included as chapter frontispieces. Labeled drawings of the skeletal structures of the various animals are presented in the appendices. A useful glossary and a comprehensive, cross-listed index complete the educational package.

No specialized knowledge is required for an understanding of the text. Many of the techniques can be self-taught. The book is written and organized in such a manner that the student can learn by doing. When it is commonly recognized that there are several ways of performing a technique, the one presented is preferred by the author and recommended as best for both the livestock manager and the animal.

The material presented in Handbook of Livestock Management reflects -the years of experience and livestock production backgrounds of the author and contributors. It is unique in its approach and in its completeness. The author hopes that this book will serve as a comprehensive, useful text and reference work for those engaged in teaching livestock management to young men and women and for those actively working in production agriculture careers.

Moscow, Idaho. RAB

From the Back Cover

Key Benefit: This comprehensive book/reference describes in detail the skills and techniques needed by those who manage livestock — with a focus on maintaining and maximizing animal well-being and productivity. Key Topics: Unusually complete in coverage, it presents techniques and discussions for managing all species of animal agriculture — beef cattle, general cattle, dairy cattle, swine, horses, sheep, goats, and poultry — from breeding and conception through their complete lifecycle.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pearson
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0131189336
• ISBN 13: 9780131189331
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 656