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Livestock Disease and Veterinary Care

Plan Goal

To increase the knowledge of New Mexico livestock producers in the areas of animal disease prevention, control, bio-security, and to increase the use of veterinary professionals by livestock producers, especially in rural areas of New Mexico

Situation Statement

Livestock producers and rural economies recognize the impact of livestock production on the state’s economy. In 2004, livestock and livestock products accounted for 75 percent of all New Mexico farm and ranch receipts and totaled over 1.6 billion dollars. Beef cattle and calves (one million head) and sheep (160,000 head) are major farm and ranch livestock contributors to the economy. A stocker-yearling grazing cattle industry of approximately 300,000 head exists primarily in the northeastern quarter of the state. There were an estimated 150,000 cattle fed for slaughter in the state in 2004. Based on data generated from 52 cow-calf operations in New Mexico evaluated through the Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) program over the last 10 years, the average return on investment for cow-calf enterprises is only 1.8%. Sheep production in New Mexico, and other sectors of the beef industry have been only marginally profitable during this time period as well. Educational programs like the Cattle Growers’ Short Course, Southwest Beef Symposium, SPA, Cattlemen’s College, Ranch to Rail, Beef Quality Assurance, and other events have been used as avenues for the Cooperative Extension Service to better equip livestock producers with management and marketing knowledge. These avenues can also be used to educate producers, county agents, government officials and allied industry members to disease situations, prevention, control and bio-security in New Mexico. Additionally, numerous resources can be published to provide producers information on livestock disease issues. With increased knowledge of producers in livestock disease areas, veterinary resources can be more effectively used by producers.

Target Audience and Actions

The target audience is composed of approximately 8000 beef and 800 sheep producing operations among all geographical and cultural sectors of New Mexico, plus veterinarians, county Extension personnel, government officials, and allied industry employees that service livestock producers. In order to service the educational needs of these communities of livestock producers, county, statewide, and regional educational efforts will be conducted. Statewide and regional programs will include the Cattle Grower’s Short Course, Southwest Beef Symposium, Cattlemen’s College, and local producer education meetings. Animal disease issues will be incorporated into Extension publications, event proceedings, and popular press.This program will also assist Veterinarians by increasing their awareness of available resources at NMSU, and providing high quality continuing education opportunities for rural practitioners.

Short-Term Objectives

Increase the level of knowledge of 10% of livestock producers in areas of current animal disease issues that directly affect their operation.
Increase the number of producers using a Veterinarian for management advice by ten.
Develop a network of veterinarians practicing food animal medicine around NM for continuing education in bio-security and foreign animal disease recognition.
Initiate a program that will increase veterinary care in rural New Mexico.

Medium-Term Objectives

Have 50 livestock operations include veterinary recommendations into their management plans.
Have at least 20 practicing veterinarians participate in a statewide animal emergency response network and provide continuing education in areas of bio-security and foreign animal disease.
Initiate a program to increase the number of rural food animal practitioners by 3 within five years.

Long-Term Objectives

To provide annual educational opportunities to livestock producers on a local, regional and statewide level that increases their knowledge of current animal disease issues that results in increased profitability, animal health and welfare.
To maintain a network of food animal veterinarians equipped and trained to respond to a real or percieved threat to the New Mexico livestock industry.
To maintain a program that results in at least two graduate veterinary students per year entering food animal practice in rural New Mexico.

Evaluation Plan

By surveying producers at the completion of education meetings to see if these educational opportunities result in an increased disease awareness and if they will incorporate veterinary recommendations into their management plans.
By maintaining a statewide Veterinary program that utilizes rural practitioners to protect the New Mexico Livestock industry.
By maintaining a program that provides veterinary educational opportunities for New Mexico residents that results in an increase in the numbers of rural veterinary practitioners.