What's the first fun trick you taught your dog? Was it paw, shake, or "high five"? What about "speak"? Maybe you taught your dog to spin in a circle, jump through a hoop, go through a tunnel, or sit in a box. All of these tricks can now earn your dog a title in the AKC Trick Dog class. If your dog can perform 10 of the listed tricks, then a Novice Trick Dog title is in … [Read more...]
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The NJAES Board of Managers, in cooperation with Rutgers Cooperative Extension, is sponsoring the NJ Livestock Summit on March 21, 2019 at the Eco Complex in Bordentown from 6-9pm. Registration is FREE and can be completed online here. This event will be a great learning opportunity for anyone interested in livestock - large/small ruminants, swine and fowl. The flyer is … [Read more...]
Winter Feeding for Horses
Photo courtesy of Dr. Carey Williams, Equine Extension Specialist, Rutgers University The winter weather is here! How do we help our 4-legged friends maintain body weight and stay healthy in the cold? The Rutgers Equine Science Center has a Fact Sheet on that! Fact Sheet #1143 authored by Drs. Carey Williams and Sarah Ralston in February 2011 is very relevant for this … [Read more...]
Good Nutrition – the Key to Lambing Success
Investing in proper nutrition for pregnant and lactating ewes saves both time and money in the long run. Ewes in good body condition prior to delivery have healthier lambs and fewer complications than underweight or overweight ewes. As 70% of fetal lamb growth occurs in the last five weeks of pregnancy, it is important to increase feed for ewes at this time. After lambing, it … [Read more...]
Ask The Expert – Joanne Powell (part 2)
(Editor’s note: This is part two of a two-part series) Every day is a new adventure for Joanne Powell. As the Research Farm Supervisor for the large animal unit at Rutgers University, Joanne gets to do the things she loves, including being outside with animals! In addition to that, Joanne is a 4-H leader in Somerset County, a role she has had for nearly 30 years. In … [Read more...]
Management Tips – Winter Care of Laying Hens
In order to keep laying hens productive through the winter months, it is vital to keep them well fed and watered, warm, healthy, and comfortable. Below are some management tips to help you properly care for your laying hens in the winter: Warmth: Laying hens begin to slow egg production when temperatures drop below 55 degrees F. Provide adequate warmth for the birds and … [Read more...]
Worms with Superpowers?
Sadly, parasitic worms are a problem that affects most animals. But as animal owners, we treat our animals with de-wormer and BAM the nasty creatures are gone. Problem solved, right? Well, it may not be that easy anymore….. A growing concern for many alpaca and llama owners is anthelmintic (dewormer) resistance by the barber’s pole worm (Haemonchus contortus). These worms … [Read more...]
Evolutionary Biology through Herpetology! Part 1
Ever wonder how adults end up in their profession? Ever asked them to see if what they are doing now is what they thought they would be doing back in high school or even college? For some people, they are doing exactly what they thought they would do, for others they have found a new or different area of interest during their studies and experience. We decided to ask Dr. … [Read more...]
My First Seeing Eye Puppy
Raising a puppy can be both a delight and a challenge. It's fun to watch them learn and grow, but hard to meet all their developmental needs to become well-rounded, happy adult dogs. For some 4-H dog project members, the focus of their work is entirely on raising puppies that will one day serve as guide dogs for the blind. After a year of hard work, their puppies return to … [Read more...]
Winter Care for Rabbits
Winter is a difficult time for many animals, including rabbits. Rabbits are more able to cope with cold weather conditions than hot conditions, but given the wrong conditions, rabbits can suffer from exposure, frostbite, and decreased body temperature. Smaller breeds of rabbits may be more susceptible to cold temperatures than larger breeds of rabbits because their small body … [Read more...]