BEHAVE Facilitator's Network

Project Overview

EW04-016
Project Type: Professional Development Program
Funds awarded in 2004: $99,702.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2008
Matching Federal Funds: $22,000.00
Region: Western
State: Colorado
Principal Investigator:
Kathy Voth
Email
Utah State University

Annual Reports

Commodities

  • Animals: bovine, goats, sheep
  • Animal Products: dairy

Practices

  • Animal Production: free-range, feed rations, range improvement
  • Education and Training: decision support system, demonstration, networking
  • Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity, habitat enhancement, wildlife
  • Pest Management: biological control
  • Production Systems: holistic management

    Abstract:

    The BEHAVE Facilitators Network sought to train individuals who work for state extension agencies and NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) across ten western states in the principles that govern the diet and habitat selection of livestock. To meet this goal we created the BEHAVE Facilitators Network (BFN) Handbook. We held workshops for facilitators in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming. Over the course of the project, we trained 145 individuals and distributed 185 BFN handbooks. Based on evaluations from participants, workshops were well organized and provided new and useful information. We created the BEHAVE Facilitators Network website: www.behave.net/BFN/BFN_facilitators.html to provide facilitators with additional examples, current research, workshop feedback and identify members in the network. We currently keep facilitators updated with new research through our bimonthly newsletter and plan to contact each member in the future. We sent a follow-up survey in the summer of 2008 to all facilitators and received 53 responses. Surveys indicated about half the respondent are using the new information.

    Project objectives:

    Our primary objective was to educate 110 state extension personnel and personnel from the Natural Resources Conservation Service about the power of using animal behavior to manage animals and agricultural and ecological systems. Our objectives were:

    Create the BEHAVE Facilitators Network Handbook

    Conduct workshops and distribute training materials to 10 participants per state in 10 western states.

    Create the BEHAVE Facilitators Network website.

    Create additional examples and project updates in PowerPoint for recently trained facilitators based on new information and requests from workshop participants.

    Follow-up with facilitators in each state to evaluate the usefulness of the training and network.

    Understanding how to shape animal behavior will ultimately help producers improve animal production, the land, and their economic viability.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.