Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-1999

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agricultural and Extension Education

Major Professor

Randol Waters

Committee Members

Jim Neel, Roy Lessly

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between Tennessee Beef Producers' level of management practice adoption and contact with the Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service. In addition, it is to describe the relationship between Tennessee Beef Producers' level of management practice adoption and their demographic characteristics.

The population was made up of 653 beef producers across the state of Tennessee. A convienence sampling technique was used to collect the data. The survey's were distributed through the University of Tennessee's Agriculture Extension Service's county offices and at meetings conducted in Tennessee by the Extension Service's Beef Specialists. The Extension agents in each county determined at their own discretion as to how to disseminate the surveys. This was done either through mailings, handing them out at meetings, and/or having producers pick them up at the Extension office. When the survey was completed the beef producer was to return it to the local Extension office or if the producer received it at a meeting, it could be returned at the conclusion of the meeting.

The scale of measurement for the independent variables and dependent variables were nominal. The statistical package used to preform the data analysis was the Statistical Package for the Social Scientist.

The majority of producers in this study were part-time farmers (48.7 percent) who were 41 years old or older (79.7 percent). The majority (79.6 percent) of producers indicated that the sale of cattle made up their major source of farm income.

Most cows and heifers (64.9 percent) were vaccinated for Leptospirosis and the majority of calves (82 percent) received vaccinations for Blackleg. The study also found that a low number of producers (37 percent) vaccinated replacement heifers for Brucellosis. The most common site indicated to give vaccinations was in the neck (76.1 percent).

The majority of producers (91.1 percent) dewormed their cows and bulls at least once during the year. Calves were also found to have been dewormed by a large percentage (78 percent) of producers. In addition, a high percentage of producers (71.9 percent) indicated that they treated for lice and grubs and the biggest use of a veterinarian (64.9 percent) came from emergency care.

The majority of producers had a minimum of one contact with Extension through educational meetings (78 percent), visits to the Extension office (62.6 percent), and telephone calls made to the Extension office (69.6 percent). The majority of producers (55 percent) never received a visit from their local Extension agent.

More than 76 percent of the beef producers in this study indicated that they gave vaccine in the neck. This practice needs to be continually reinforced to increase carcass quality. However, almost 22 percent of producers reported that they gave vaccinations in the rump. This area must be addressed by Extension agents in order to increase carcass quality and profitability potential.

The study showed that producers are doing an adequate job of deworming. Approximately 90 percent of beef producers indicated that they deworm their cows and bulls at least once a year and 78 percent of the producers also indicated that they deworm their calves.

Approximately 22 percent of beef producers used a veterinarian to pregnancy check cattle. A non-pregnant cow is very costly to a beef operation. Extension agents need to increase educational programming in this area to address this issue.

The study indicated that meetings were the best educational method Extension agents have to increase health management practices. There was positive significant relationships found in each of the selected management practices among producers who attended either 3, 4 or 5 meetings.

Full-time farmers were the only farming status group to have a significant positive relationship with the adoption of health management practices. Extension agents must develop educational programming to reach the other status groups.

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