Field Day Offers Look at Precision Beef Technologies in the Air, Online and on the Hoof

Oct 17, 2025

By Sherry Hoyer

Emerging technologies are on the agenda for a Nov. 13 field day near Red Oak, and all are invited. The Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University and South Dakota State University Beef Extension have partnered to showcase, demonstrate and discuss a wide variety of new tools and techniques in beef production.

Beef field specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach Erika Woolfolk said a unique feature is the SDSU technology trailer packed with a variety of livestock technologies.

“The trailer has animal health monitoring software, water monitoring software, a handheld feed analyzer, drones and much more,” she said. “Additional topics include cybersecurity awareness and applicable precision technologies research, and we’ll have a designated time for technology demonstrations.”

Woolfolk and Shelby Gruss, assistant professor and extension forage specialist with Iowa State, will share updates on ongoing ISU research, utilizing various technologies such as 701x ear tags for monitoring grazing behaviors.

Source : iastate.edu

Video: Swine Biosecurity: 5 Critical Steps to Prevent Disease Transmission | LANXESS

Protecting herd health starts before anyone enters the barn. Every visitor, employee, piece of equipment and movement between farms can introduce disease risks if proper biosecurity protocols aren't followed.

In this SwineWeb Biosecurity Intelligence feature, Dr. Gisele Ravagnani of LANXESS Biosecurity Solutions explains practical steps pork producers can take to strengthen on-farm biosecurity and reduce the risk of disease transmission.

Key topics covered:

• Visitor Management: Why visitor logs, previous farm exposure and downtime requirements are essential.

• Controlled Barn Entry: How Danish entry systems establish a clear separation between clean and dirty areas.

• Shower-In/Shower-Out Protocols: The importance of dedicated clothing, footwear and controlled movement.

• Footbath Management: Proper cleaning, disinfection and maintenance practices, including the use of Virkon™ S.

• Equipment Biosecurity: Why equipment must be properly cleaned, disinfected and dried before entering production areas.