Program summary - UC ANR animal health and disease research UC agriculture and natural resources oversees UC's agricultural experiment station's animal health and disease research program

The research projects approved for this capacity program align with nifa's guidance to 'improve the health and productivity of food animals and horses through effective prevention, control or treatment of disease, reduction of losses from transportation and other hazards, and protection of human health through control of animal diseases transmissible to people.' the projects focus on animal health and diseases and can include how to improve animal management systems and animal welfare. The researchers bring expertise in the following disciplines: animal science, population health and reproduction, ecosystem sciences, entomology, and medicine and epidemiology. The target audiences are california farmers, ranchers, and other allied industry professionals involved in animal production systems, stewarding the health and welfare of dairy and beef cattle, poultry, goats, sheep, and fish. These projects also aim to share new knowledge and tools with extension professionals and other academic experts, and other stakeholders, such as government agencies and non-profits, that serve this agricultural sector. Current research efforts are briefly described below by animal commodity. Cattle most large dairy operations rely on hispanic workers as hired labor and face issues associated with high turnover rate of employees. Dairy workforce performs tasks that require high skills; however, managers and owners often lack appropriate resources to train employees. Most of the resources available are not translated in spanish or are designed without accounting for the education level, english proficiency, distinct cultural values, and socioeconomic limitations of the hispanic dairy workforce. One project will work to establish a multistate educational training and outreach center for hispanic dairy labor in the US, integrated by a group of multi-state bilingual dairy extension specialists with combined expertise in all relevant subject topics for sustainable dairy operations. The resources will be tailored to meet the educational needs of hispanic workers, and they will be distributed through our multi-state partnerships. The project aims to increase workers' and employers' satisfaction which contributes to better animal care, sustainability, and employee retention. FAT mobilization and negative energy balance in cattle can compromise liver function, due to the accumulation of FAT, and may contribute to an increased propensity F or ketosis, a metabolic disease. One research project works to develop new assays and potential therapies that are mitochondrial based for the detection of energy dysfunction in dairy cows. In dairy calves, umbilical cord care seems to have positive effects on reducing risk of septic arthritis and respiratory disease. However, there is a lack of science-based evidence supporting umbilical care, with some practices remaining contentious. One study has the following objectives. To evaluate the observed and perceived by farmworkers prevalence of umbilical disease in california dairy operations to describe newborn calf umbilical care practices and to understand umbilical disease identification and treatment decisions by calf treaters. Results will be extended through two short communications to be published in peer-reviewed journals, and multiple outreach efforts such as through the california dairy newsletter and direct communication with local veterinarians, allied industry members, and the participant dairies.