Livestock
Livestock
The Extension Livestock Program provides timely resources and information to help farmers, consumers and allied industry to make informed decisions about beef cattle, poultry, sheep and goats, equine, swine, and meat science using research-based information. There are also resources for youth caring for livestock.
Livestock Educators work to:
- Collaborate with producers to identify needs and deliver research-based solutions to help them meet their goals
- Develop/maintain specific expertise related to livestock production/management
- Build trust-based relationships with various stakeholder groups
We work with:
- Partner agencies
- Campus departments
- Species-specific organizations
Upcoming Events
Beef Roundup Webinar Series
Dates: Occurring December 2025 through March 2026
Beef producers are invited to attend a series of free educational webinars this winter. The Beef Roundup Webinar Series will be hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension featuring Extension specialists and industry experts from across the country covering timely topics relevant to today’s beef producers.
• December 11th, 2025: Handling Facilities with Dr. Ron Gill, Texas A&M Extension Livestock Specialist
• January 15th, 2026: Unlocking the Full Potential of Growth-Enhancing Technologies with Dr. Jessica Sperber, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension Feedlot Specialist
• February 19th, 2026: Asian Longhorned Tick, Dr. Cassandra Olds, Kansas State, Extension Entomologist
• March 19th, 2026: Key Considerations for Rebuilding Your Cow Herd with Dr. Randie Culbertson, Iowa State, Extension Cow-calf Specialist.
All webinars will be held from 7-8pm CST.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with other producers and professionals in the beef industry.
To register for this free webinar series, please visit this link:
For more information contact Adam Hartfiel at (920) 647-6560 or email him at adam.hartfiel@wisc.edu .
Visit the Livestock Topic Hub for more information.
Latest News in Livestock
- Beef producers are invited to attend a series of free educational webinars this winter.
- The 14th annual Driftless Region Beef Conference will be held Jan. 22-23, 2026, at the Grand River Convention Center in Dubuque, Iowa.
- UW-Madison Division of Extension has assembled a set of projections using initial purchase prices for feeders calves derived from late September 2025 Wisconsin feeder calf sale reports.
- Carefully read all labels and packaging so that the product you purchase is in fact the one you want, and this applies to your purchase of ear tags and electronic identification (EID) tags.
- UW-Madison Extension offers essential resources, including updates on confirmed cases, biosecurity guidelines, and reporting instructions.
Staff
If you have any questions regarding Livestock in Vernon County, please contact:
Regional Livestock Educator, Beth McIlquham
Serving Crawford, La Crosse, Richland, and Vernon Counties
Contact: 608-632-0599
Email: beth.mcilquham@wisc.edu
Beth McIlquham serves as Regional Livestock Educator to Crawford, La Crosse, Richland, and Vernon Counties. She works with livestock/dairy producers and agribusiness professionals to solve production challenges and incorporate new research findings into outreach/educational materials to improve production, profitability, and efficiency.
She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science with an emphasis on meat animals. Previously, she worked for Extension as educational support for Pierce County’s 4-H program, as well as with the Humane Handling Institute. At Pierce County, she built valuable relationships with families and volunteers in addition to executing various programs. Within the Humane Handling Institute, she assisted in putting on workshops for slaughterhouse employees. There, she had the opportunity to learn about humane handling techniques within cattle, swine, goats, and sheep, as well as the importance of captive bolt maintenance.
Beth’s main focus is on beef cattle production. She is grateful to be a part of the team here in Crawford, La Crosse, Richland, and Vernon counties and looks forward to meeting livestock industry players in the area.
