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
- Stay tuned for upcoming events.
Visit the Livestock Topic Hub for more information.
Latest News in Livestock
- Join us for the 2025 Small Ruminant Webinar Series! This series will help small ruminant farmers learn new things and get useful tips. The webinars will happen on the fourth Thursday of each month from January to April. Experts will share practical advice, research updates, and the latest trends
- The University of Wisconsin-Madison is excited to announce the 2025 Badger Lambing School, a hybrid educational program designed for sheep producers. This program will take place every Wednesday in February 2025, culminating in an in-person session on March 1, 2025, at the UW-Madison Arlington Research Station Sheep Unit.
- Jeff Morris, UW-Madison Division of Extension Swine Outreach Specialist, is excited to announce the 2025 Show Pig Symposium. This event will be held Saturday January 11, 2025 at the Chula Vista Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. The educational program will be held from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm with lunch served at noon. This will be a tremendous opportunity for […]
- The 13th annual Driftless Region Beef Conference ↗️ will be held on January 23-24, 2025, at the Grand River Convention Center in Dubuque, Iowa. With the national beef cow herd at record low numbers, the conference will focus on marketing and the future of cow herd expansion. Keynote speakers include Dr. Derrell Peel from Oklahoma […]
- The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension is launching the School for Beginning Beef Production, an online series for new beef cattle producers or those adding beef to their farms. The series includes six free sessions in January 2025, held from 7–8:30 pm on January 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, and 30 via Zoom. Participants […]
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.
