Risk Factors

Scoring guidelines

Risk

Level Score

Score

Are multiple adult animals in the same maternity pens?

Yes, single animal in maternity pen at a time

Occasionally multiple animals are in maternity pens

Frequently multiple animals are in maternity pens

Always have multiple animal in maternity pens

Lowest 0-1

Minimal >3

Moderate >6

Highest >8

Are dams treated for worms prior to entering maternity pen?

Yes, all animals treated with effective product and dose

Most animals treated prior to parturition or at least when they come off pasture

Only animals that appear to have a problem are treated

Animals aren’t normally treated at this time

Lowest 0-1

Minimal >3

Moderate >6

Highest >8

Are dams and newborns moved to pastures, which have not been grazed by other animals in the current year?

Yes, pre-weaned animals and dams are on ‘clean’ pastures

Dams and pre-weaned may be on pasture only with other young animals or only with animals post worming treatment

Dams and pre-weaned are separate but may be on pastures that other herdmates grazed the same year

Dams and pre-waned are in mixed groups on pasture with all ages of animals

Lowest 0-1

Minimal >3

Moderate >6

Highest >8

Is manure spread on pastures prior to grazing during the same growing season?

No, manure is not spread on pastures or fields to be grazed

Manure is only spread in the fall prior to the next growing season, or manure is spread and then hay is made

Manure is spread after hay is harvested the same growing season, prior to this field being used for grazing

Manure is spread on pastures and grazed the same season

Lowest 0-1

Minimal >3

Moderate >6

Highest >8

Are animals of various ages and stages of production on the same pasture?

No, each age group or production group is grazed separately

Animals groups may use the same pasture in a growing season, but there are several weeks between grazing times

Younger animals always forward graze ahead of older animals

Different ages and production stages are on the pasture at the same time

Lowest 0-1

Minimal >3

Moderate >6

Highest >8

Does the producer have a systematic means of determining which animals need anthelminthic treatment?

Yes, producer follows FAMACHA or other tested system

Producer uses body condition or other parameters

Producer uses fecal counts from single animals

Producer treats only when clinical signs become obvious

Lowest 0-1

Minimal >3

Moderate >6

Highest >8

Does the producer have a strategic parasite control program?

Yes, producer matches use of anthelminthics with environmental control methods and animal reservoirs

Producer uses pooled egg counts to monitor effectiveness and timing

Producer uses anthelminthics several times after grazing season begins

Producer uses various anthelminthics when clinical signs appear or when weight loss is noticed

Lowest 0-1

Minimal >3

Moderate >6

Highest >8

Does the producer work with his/her veterinarian to determine which therapy plan will be most effective, has a strategy, and considers resistance factors.

Yes, effective, tested products at appropriate rates are used only within a control program that includes animal and environment

Products are selected and used just based on published label claims

Products are selected and used based on advertising or word of mouth claims

Products are used without a real plan or sense of purpose

Lowest 0-1

Minimal >3

Moderate >6

Highest >8

Total (max 80)

Risk Factors

Scoring Guidelines

Risk

Level Score

Score

Are pasture soils droughty or poorly drained?

No, pasture plants show no stress after 14 days of drought.

No, pasture plants show stress after 8 -12 days of drought.

Yes, soils are very droughty or very wet

Low (0-1)

Medium (4-6)

High (8-10)

Is the soil pH in the optimum range for most pasture species?

Yes, pH is between 6.5 and 6.8.

Yes, pH is between 6.0 and 6.5.

No, pH is below 6.0 or is unknown.

Low (0-1)

Medium (4-6)

High (8-10)

Are soil P and K sufficient to produce vigorous plant growth?

Yes, soil test P & K are above the optimum range.

Yes, soil test P & K are in the optimum range.

No, soil test P & K are below optimum range or unknown.

Low (0-1)

Medium (4-6)

High (8-10)

Are there many bare areas in the pastures?

No, less than 5% of the pasture is bare of plants.

Bare spots account for 5 to 10% of the area.

Bare spots account for 10% or more of the pasture area.

Low (0-1)

Medium (4-6)

High (8-10)

Do legumes in the pasture contribute a large percentage to grazeable herbage?

Yes, legumes make up more than 30% of the pasture.

In most pastures legumes make up 5 - 30% of the pasture.

No, legume density is low, less than 5% of the pasture.

Low (0-1)

Medium (4-6)

High (8-10)

Are poisonous plants or weeds able to be grazed by the animals?

No, poisonous plants are removed in or near the pastures

A few, but look several times each year for them.

Not aware some plants might be poisonous to my animals.

Low (0-1)

Medium (4-6)

High (8-10)

Is nitrogen applied in sufficient quantities when legumes comprise less than 25 % of the pasture sward?

Yes, they receive 100 to 150 lbs/ac nitrogen.

No, they receive 50 to 80 lbs/ac nitrogen.

Many pastures receive less than 30 lbs/ac nitrogen per year.

Low (0-1)

Medium (4-6)

High (8-10)

Are pastures grazed to an ideal stubble height that is ideal for the forage species present?

Residual stubble is 2 - 6 inches at least 75 % of the time.

Residual stubble is 2 to 6 inches 30 to 60 % of the time.

No, residual stubble can be less than 2 or greater than 6 inches 75 % of the time.

Low (0-1)

Medium (4-6)

High (8-10)

Total (max 80)

Risk Factors

Scoring Guidelines

Risk

Level Score

Score

Do animals have access to streams and ponds?

No, animals are fenced away from all streams and ponds.

Animals have access to water but other areas are fenced.

Yes, animals can freely walk into streams and ponds.

Low (0-1)

Medium (4-6)

High (8-10)

Is wildlife able to inhabit the riparian area around your streams and ponds?

Yes, areas are maintained to attract wildlife.

Some areas are mowed so they aren’t such an eyesore.

No interest in maintaining wildlife habitat.

Low (0-1)

Medium (4-6)

High (8-10)

How are current and forecasted weather conditions considered when deciding to apply fertilizers and pesticides?

Spraying is NOT done when windy and no spraying or spreading occurs when appreciable rain is forecast..

Sometimes applied when the long-term forecast is not good.

We have to stay on schedule with all the jobs that need to be done.

Low (0-1)

Medium (4-6)

High (8-10)

Have soil and nutrient conservation plans been developed for your farm, especially for cropped acreage?

Yes, we are concerned with & engage in conservation planning.

Pastures are inherently conservation-friendly and some of the cropped acres have a conservation plan.

We don’t plan to until we are asked or forced to develop a plan.

Low (0-1)

Medium (4-6)

High (8-10)

How is manure managed during the winter months?

It is kept in the barn or is stacked outside when necessary.

On occasion it is spread, usually on non-sloping fields.

It is spread onto fields throughout the winter season.

Low (0-1)

Medium (4-6)

High (8-10)

How frequently is manure spread near streams or ponds or on areas where runoff would carry manure into these waters?

Very seldom, it is spread away from open water or where runoff could easily move manure into these waters.

Not very often. Heavy rain could cause a problem.

Fairly often, much of my land is located in these areas.

Low (0-1)

Medium (4-6)

High (8-10)

Total (max 60)

Risk Factors

Scoring Guidelines

Risk

Level Score

Score

Are animals checked daily?

Yes, occurs frequently

Yes, occurs occasionally

Never or rarely occurs

Lowest 0-1

Moderate 4-6

Highest 8-10

Are animals reaching market weight or breeding weight at appropriate ages?

Yes, occurs frequently

Yes, occurs occasionally

Never or rarely occurs

Lowest 0-1

Moderate 4-6

Highest 8-10

Is lambing/kidding

% satisfactory?

Yes, every season

Yes, occasionally

Never

Lowest 0-1

Moderate 4-6

Highest 8-10

Is body conditioning/scoring checked regularly on the animals?

Yes, occurs frequently

Yes, occurs occasionally

Never or rarely occurs

Lowest 0-1

Moderate 4-6

Highest 8-10

Are records of animal health, production, marketing, sales, etc. routinely kept current?

Yes, occurs frequently

Yes, occurs occasionally

Never or rarely occurs

Lowest 0-1

Moderate 4-6

Highest 8-10

Are a variety of practices used to decrease/avoid internal parasites?

Yes a variety of methods are always used

Yes a variety are sometimes used

No, only one method is used

Lowest 0-1

Moderate 4-6

Highest 8-10

Total (max 60)

Risk Factors

Scoring Guidelines

Risk

Level Score

Score

Is the farm meeting production & economic goals?

Yes, occurs frequently

Yes, occurs occasionally

Never or rarely occurs

Lowest 0-1

Moderate 4-6

Highest 8-10

Is production timed to obtain the best price for products?

Yes, we time our production to obtain the best quality products

Yes, we try but are sometimes off in this timing

No timing in production is used.

Lowest 0-1

Moderate 4-6

Highest 8-10

Are a variety of methods used to sell products from the farm?

Yes, products are sold at a variety of markets & directly off the farm

Yes, products are sold at a few markets

No, products are sold only at one place

Lowest 0-1

Moderate 4-6

Highest 8-10

Is a marketing plan used to sell products?

Yes, we are satisfied with the marketing plan in place

Yes, but could improve our plan

No marketing plan is used

Lowest 0-1

Moderate 4-6

Highest 8-10

Are value-added products sold to increase profitability of the farm enterprise?

Yes, occurs frequently

Yes, occurs occasionally

Never or rarely occurs

Lowest 0-1

Moderate 4-6

Highest 8-10

Total (max 50)