It’s not uncommon. Partners in livestock production are part of the way we get this work done. For some, it’s a spouse, a sibling, or a parent they partner with in the farm operation. Some might say they look at their banker as a partner. You work with a variety of partners to help you run your business, help you manage risk, do some of the work, and give you time to spend for yourself.

Those migratory birds up above just might be off course. According to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), severe weather in the upper eastern and western borders of the US and food sources depleted in the south by this last season’s hurricanes are causing migratory birds to veer off their normal routes. And because migratory birds carry diseases such as avian influenza (AI), now is the time to be even more diligent about protecting your flocks with biosecurity measures.

We’ve been talking about Summit Livestock’s sustainable approach to livestock buildings. It’s a three-pronged approach, protecting and supporting social, environmental and economic aspects of protein production.

Keeping your birds safe and away from infectious diseases means a vigilant and ongoing commitment to biosecurity. Summit Livestock Facilities looks at the facts along with the challenges producers face in implementing effective biosecurity measures. Looking at these factors together, we help our customers develop specific innovations and unique solutions to help you meet your business and operational goals. It’s about the health of your hens and the health of your investment.

Which way the wind blows does matter to cattle producers. Getting cattle out of mud, rain, snow many times influences profitability. And wind is just one of those important factors to consider when choosing a monoslope building for your operation.

We hear a lot about things like best practices, smart management and managing for profitability these days. And it’s no wonder. The world’s growing population needs to be fed, and farmers like you are working hard every day to mitigate risks and optimize production effectively. It’s how you do those things that matters most now and into the future.

No matter the size of your buildings or the number of hens, each farm needs a specific biosecurity plan. Underscoring that need, one only needs to look back at 2015 and the 49 million birds lost during the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) disaster.

Cattle have a thermoneutral zone where they are most comfortable. That’s why it is so important to be aware of how the structures they live in can contribute to that feeling of comfort. An animal’s thermoneutral zone is the temperature range in which they don’t have to expend energy to maintain normal body temperature.