Within program areas, reporting categories focus on specific issues, topics, crops or animal products. Working groups plan, implement, and evaluate projects and activities within the reporting category. They are led by "coordinators", which may be the State Extension Specialist or another Extension faculty member with expertise in that area.

Campus-based partners include the Departments of Animal Sciences, Veterinary Sciences and Microbiology, Soil, Water and Environmental Science, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, and the School of Natural Resources.

Outputs

• Improve productivity and increase the quality, composition, and desirability of animal products.
• Promote the use of integrated and long-term, sustainable production systems.
• Provide education to youth and adults on horse care and management.
• Provide assistance in disease diagnosis for veterinarians and producers.

Outcomes

• Increased pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed.
• Reduced cost per pound of calf weaned.
• Early warning system for new emerging diseases, resurgence of well-known diseases, and introduction of foreign animal diseases into the United States.
• Improved horse care and management for Arizona residents.

• AgVentures
  Vic Jimenez, 4-H Youth Development Agent, Maricopa Agricultural Center
• Ag in the Classroom
  Monica Pastor, Agricultural Literacy Coordinator, Maricopa County Cooperative Extension.

Animal Behavior Reporting Category
Projects investigate palatability and preference of grazing animals and familiar versus novel forages.
Contact: Larry Howery, Range Management Specialist, School of Natural Resources.

Animal Health Reporting Category

• ARIZONA LIVESTOCK INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAM TRAINING Working Group
  Arizona's livestock industry, because of the international border and tribal lands, is uniquely vulnerable to perceived or actual threats. These threats may be emerging diseases, existing diseases, foreign animal diseases or bio-terrorism. In addition to exposure to the extensive range operations, high animal concentrations in some areas could result in the exposure of a quarter million animals. Rapid, competent response is critical to containment, minimization of detrimental economic impacts, and the protection of public health.
  Coordinator: Robert Kattnig, Associate Livestock Specialist, Department of Animal Sciences.
  

• ARIZONA LIVESTOCK TRANSPORTATION MODEL Working Group
  Knowledge of livestock transportation patterns is vital to modeling and/or responding to an animal or zoonotic disease outbreak. This group will collect data for building a transportation model for Arizona.
  Coordinator: Doug Tolleson, Assistant Specialist, Rangeland Management, V-V Ranch.
  

• YOUTH ANIMAL SCIENCE Working Group
  The 4-H Animal Science programs provide a wide variety of educational opportunities for youth. Not only do they develop technical and scientific skills, but they develop life skills and assets such as responsibility, good decision making techniques, and communications skills.
  Coordinators: Dean Fish, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, Santa Cruz County Cooperative Extension; John Marchello, Meat Science Specialist, Animal Sciences Department; and Susan Pater, 4-H Youth Development Agent, Cochise County Cooperative Extension.
  Working Group Update; Faculty Conference 2005 (ppt. 1.32M)

Animal Nutrition Reporting Category
Projects and activities include matching forage resources with cow herd supplementation and other nutritional challenges.

• RANGE LIVESTOCK NUTRITION Working Group
  Present to the Arizona ranching community recent range livestock nutrition research conducted in both Arizona and New Mexico.
  Coordinator: Jim Sprinkle, Animal Sciences Area Agent, Gila and Yavapai County Cooperative Extension.