Aj. Heinrichs et Ne. Kiernan, INITIAL RESULTS OF A STATEWIDE EXTENSION PROGRAM IN CALF AND HEIFER MANAGEMENT IN PENNSYLVANIA, Journal of dairy science, 77(1), 1994, pp. 338-342
This study was designed to evaluate changes in calf and heifer managem
ent in a sample of Pennsylvania dairy farms in conjunction with a stat
ewide extension program on dairy replacements. The extension program r
eached dairy farmers in addition to individuals in agribusiness, veter
inarians, and others who have frequent contact with dairy farmers thro
ugh a multiplicity of information channels. An extensive survey was co
nducted during the 1st yr of the project on 329 commercial dairy farms
throughout Pennsylvania. The same farms were contacted 2.5 to 3 yr la
ter for comparison. Most (84.7%) of the farmers in the original random
sample learned new information about calf and heifer management durin
g this time, and 77.3% reported that they received all or part of this
new information from extension. Sources of information most often use
d by the farmers in this study were dairy magazines, extension newslet
ters, and meetings organized either through extension or agribusiness.
Adoption by farmers of many of the targeted practices specific to cal
ving management, preweaned calves, and health management increased ove
r this period.