Livestock Wala'au

We share a quick summer update, apologize for posting delays, and explain our short recording hiatus before we return with Season Six in August 2026. We also spotlight timely Hawaii livestock health resources, upcoming producer events, and Nebraska farm business support you can use right now. • short break from recording over the summer and return timing for Season Six • New World screwworm webinar on our YouTube channel and why it matters beyond livestock • Reminder that sc...

We share rapid updates and practical resources for livestock producers navigating disaster recovery after floods and fires, including where to watch key webinars and what help may be available. We also flag upcoming meetings and learning opportunities, plus a preview of a future guest focused on small ruminant production and reproduction. • Livestock Health After the Flood webinar on the UH Livestock Extension YouTube channel plus the PDF link • Animal health concerns to watch for after flood...

We talk with ag economist Glennis McClure with the University of Nebraska about the Ag Budget Calculator and how it helps livestock producers build enterprise budgets without living in spreadsheets. We dig into what to enter, what people forget to count, and how better budgeting supports calmer decisions when markets and weather turn fast. • Glenis McClure’s background in ag economics, consulting, and extension work • How avian flu, drought, and tight supply reshape egg and cattl...

We catch up with Alexia Akbe from Symbrosia on how limu kohu seaweed is moving from promising methane research into real ranch use across Hawaii and the mainland. We talk performance-first economics, product forms for pasture and feedlots, and what new trials could prove next for animal health and efficiency. • Alexia’s background in environmental chemistry and greenhouse gases • Why limu kohu stands out for enteric methane reduction • Commercial pasture trials showing improved rate of gain ...

Jamie Miller from OISC explains why early detection beats eradication and how biocontrol could change the game. We learn about practical ways to protect Hawaii’s ranches and farms from devilweed on Oahu and the two-line spittlebug on Hawaiʻi Island, with clear ID tips, reporting tools, and prevention steps. Visit OISC website at https://www.oahuisc.org/ for more information! • Defining invasive species and why funding targets early-stage threats • Devilweed ID features and fire risk profile ...

Shade that actually pays for itself—this conversation digs into how silvopasture blends trees, forage, and livestock to reduce heat stress, build healthier soils, and diversify income in grazing systems. With Oahu Livestock Extension Agent Yunuen Bustamante, we unpack the nuts and bolts: how to pick the right tree for your goal, how wide to space rows to protect forage, and what it takes to guard young plantings from goats, cattle, and poultry without breaking the budget. We start with the w...

We talk with Franny Brewer of the Big Island Invasive Species Committee about how prevention, early detection, and community reporting protect Hawaii’s farms, forests, and neighborhoods. From port monitoring to nematode injections, we map the tools anyone can use to slow the spread. • Role of BIISC across prevention, detection, response, and education • Port monitoring for CRB, RIFA, mosquitoes, and Japanese beetle • Early detection using iNaturalist and formal plant ID • Prioritizing threat...

We lay out a practical, year-round plan to manage internal parasites in sheep and goats using selective treatment, better pasture use, and simple records that prevent resistance. Barber pole worm takes center stage as we share tools that cut losses and keep flocks productive. • why barber pole worm is the primary threat • signs like anemia and bottle jaw to watch • selective treatment using the FAMACHA scoring system • how the five-point check guides quick triage • using fecal egg counts and...

We share fast, practical updates producers can use now, from poultry health recordings and a five-part swine biosecurity series to finance tools, risk webinars, and a simple system to organize vital documents. Hawaiʻi and Nebraska resources align to protect herds, tighten budgets, and keep families prepared. • Poultry basics webinar recap with Dr Gregory Archer and YouTube recordings • 5-part webinar series: Safeguarding Hawaii’s Swine: Building Biosecurity and FAD Preparedness - Part 2 Regi...

Elizabeth Pickett of Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization shares her 17-year journey from marine conservation to wildfire prevention, explaining how post-fire erosion damages coastal ecosystems and the organization's evolution to address this connection. After decades developing resources with limited public engagement, the devastating 2023 Lahaina fire dramatically increased awareness and demand for HWMO's wildfire prevention and mitigation materials. • HWMO started 25 years ago when ran...

Dr. Lyda Garcia, Associate Professor and Extension Meat Specialist with The Ohio State University, shares her expertise on the science behind meat quality and how proper livestock management impacts the final product consumers enjoy. Quality means different things to different people - from marbling content and color to freshness and safety - but understanding the factors that influence it can help producers deliver better products. • Three types of stress affect meat quality: physiological,...

Yunuen Bustamante is Oahu's newest extension agent, bringing a fresh perspective to Hawaii's livestock industry. Originally from Puebla, Mexico, her journey blends traditional wisdom with modern agricultural science. With a bachelor's in agronomy and a master's in agroforestry, in addition to her practical experience working as a veterinary technician and livestock specialist at a local ranch, she brings a wealth of knowledge to our Livestock Extension team. She aims to develop tailored guida...

What if there were simple steps you could take to safeguard your herd and secure food supplies from devastating diseases? Join us as Dr. Julia Herman, a respected beef cattle specialist veterinarian from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, shares her wealth of knowledge on livestock biosecurity. Dr. Herman's journey through the world of veterinary outreach and education reveals the importance of effective communication with producers and the creation of dynamic biosecurity plans tailor...