Animal Agriculture

We transform lives and livelihoods through research-based education

Purdue Agriculture Directory

About Us
	Contact Us • Office Location • Staff Directory
Calendar
	County Calendar
Programs
	Agriculture
		Animal Agriculture • Field Crops • Home, Yard & Garden • Commercial Horticulture • Natural Resources/ Environment • Energy • 2012 Drought Information • 2012 Field Crops Drought Information
	Youth
		4-H Youth Development
	Family
		Food & Health • Home & Money • Parenting • Seniors
	Community
		Economic & Community Development • Local Government

Left Menu

Local Links
	County Government • County Fair • State Fair • 4-H Park Facilities • Local Giving • Partners • Volunteer Opportunities
Newsletters & Publications
	Newsletters

Wells County CES

ANIMAL AGRICULTURE

Wells County is not considered a major livestock producing county. Although income from livestock enterprises totaled over $25 million in 2006, this makes up only about 33% of our farm income, which places us 30th out of the 92 Indiana counties.

According to the 2002 Census of Agriculture, Wells County falls into 37th place in the state with about 28,000 head of swine. The 2008 survey shows our dairy herd ranks 30th in size with 1600 cows, and our beef cow numbers are at only 400, which places us second to last (91st) in the state. However, in the last ten years, three large dairy farms have been build and are coming into full production, which will add a few thousand head of cows to our total and place us in the top 10 counties in that species.

We have also had several large hog finishing units built or in the process of being built, which will bump our hog numbers up by several thousand head in the near future.Our sheep flock is rather small – only 187 head counted in the 2002 survey, and we do have several thousand chickens, most found in the layer-houses which provide eggs for the Hyline hatchery in Warren or the Hi-Way hatchery at Berne. Several farms also raise some of the “alternative” livestock species, such as goats, llamas, alpacas, and ratites (big birds).

A good source for information on some of these species is available at this site:

Alternative Livestock Information Page (at Penn State U.): agalternatives.aers.psu.edu

Purdue Extension suggests the following links for information regarding Animal Agriculture:

Animal Sciences Extension Website - The Extension homepage for the Department of Animals Sciences. Provides additional links to information of general interest across species including the Animal Sciences Extension calendar, contact information for campus specialists, youth activities, and the Purdue Animal Sciences Research and Education Center.

Purdue CAFO Website – Purdue website to address environmental, public health, social, and economic issues surrounding Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO's) and their impacts.

Purdue Food Animal Education Network Website – Purdue website to inform the general public about issues pertaining to modern animal agriculture.

Purdue Organic and Alternative Livestock Production Systems WebsitePurdue website to address issues related to organic and alternative livestock production systems.

Feeding Biofuel co-products to Livestock – Purdue website featuring Extension publications related to feeding of distiller’s grains to livestock.

Purdue Animal Manure Solutions – Purdue website featuring Extension publications, regulations, and national curriculum about the management of animal manure on livestock and poultry farms.

Computer Programs from Purdue Animal Sciences – Purdue website providing access to nutrition and manure management computer programs. Programs include the Manure Management Planner, a Windows-based computer program to create manure management plans for crop and animal feeding operations.

Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine – Purdue gateway to information, faculty, and resources in the School of Veterinary Medicine.

Indiana Board of Animal Health – Indiana state agency providing leadership on animal health, animal product food safety and inspection, care of animals in disasters, animal care, and emerging animal and zoonotic diseases.

Species Information - Links and other resources for livestock, horse, poultry, swine, small ruminants and aquaculture production.

Farm Safety Information

The Agrability Project was created to assist people with disabilities employed in agriculture. This site provides a wealth of information to assist farmers and ranchers with disabilities.

Purdue Extension - Wells County

Wells County Community Center, 1240 4-H Park Road, Bluffton, IN 46714-9684

Phone: (260) 824-6412 (260) 824-6413 Fax: (260) 824-4891

E-Mail Webmaster | E-Mail AgIT Help | Web Policies
© 2012 Purdue University. An equal access, equal opportunity university.

This page may use proprietary software, Download software web page
If you have trouble accessing this page because of a disability, please contact the Webmaster at extension@purdue.edu