Christa Kirby
0009-0000-0102-3309

County agent

Extension agent IV, M.A., livestock, UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County

UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County blog profile

Publications

2011 South Florida Beef Forage Survey Results

Sonja Crawford, Christa Kirby, Tycee Prevatt, Brent Sellers, Maria Silveira, Bridget Stice, Joao Vendramini, and Lindsey Wiggins

UF/IFAS Extension faculty and state specialists involved in the UF/IFAS South Florida Beef-Forage Program (SFBFP), in conjunction with the UF/IFAS Program Evaluation and Organizational Development unit, created a survey in 1982 that is used to evaluate ranch management practices. The survey is updated and distributed every five years to ranchers in 14 south Florida counties. Written by Sonja Crawford, Christa Kirby, Tycee Prevatt, Brent Sellers, Maria Silveira, Bridget Stice, Joao Vendramini, and Lindsey Wiggins, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, reviewed January 2023.

2016 South Florida Beef Forage Survey Results

Laura Bennett, Jonael Bosques, Sarah Bostick, Lauren Butler, Sonja Crawford, Taylor Davis, Christa Kirby, Colleen Larson, Philipe Moriel, Chris Prevatt, Brent Sellers, Maria Silveira, Aaron Stam, Bridget Stice, Joao Vendramini, and Lindsey Wiggins

This publication discusses a survey used to evaluate ranch management practices to determine benchmarks in cattle production and pasture management. Written by Laura Bennett, Jonael Bosques, Sarah Bostick, Lauren Butler, Sonja Crawford, Taylor Davis, Christa Kirby, Colleen Larson, Philipe Moriel, Chris Prevatt, Brent Sellers, Maria Silveira, Aaron Stam, Bridget Stice, Joao Vendramini, and Lindsey Wiggins, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, July 2021.

Guide to Performing McMaster’s Fecal Egg Count for Small Ruminants

Bridget Stice, Laura H. Bennett, Christa L. Kirby, Allison L. Williams, and Brittany N. Diehl

This article is meant to serve as a general guide to perform quantitative fecal egg counts on grazing small ruminants, specifically sheep and goats. This tool is utilized to estimate the extent of pasture parasite burden as well as individual animal parasite burden, and to determine the efficacy of dewormer or anthelmintic treatment. Written by Bridget Stice, Laura H. Bennett, Christa L. Kirby, Allison L. Williams, and Brittany N. Diehl, and published by the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, UF/IFAS Extension, December 2024.

Small Ruminant Gastrointestinal Parasite Management

Laura H. Bennett, Christa L. Kirby, Bridget Stice, Allison L. Williams, and Brittany N. Diehl

This article is meant to provide small ruminant producers with an overview of gastrointestinal parasite management concepts. Written by Laura H. Bennett, Christa L. Kirby, Bridget Stice, Allison L. Williams, and Brittany N. Diehl, and published by the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, UF/IFAS Extension, May 2025.

2022 South Florida Beef Forage Survey Results

Hannah Baker, Laura Bennett, Lauren Butler, Sonja Crawford, Lindsey Crum, Christa Kirby, Colleen Larson, Philipe Moriel, Kalan Royal, Brent Sellers, Maria Silveira, Bridget Stice, and João Vendramini

The UF/IFAS South Florida Beef Forage Program (SFBFP) in conjunction with the UF/IFAS Program Evaluation and Organizational Development unit created a survey in 1982 to evaluate ranch management practices and determine benchmarks in cattle production and pasture management. The survey is updated and distributed every five years to ranchers in 17 south Florida counties: Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Okeechobee, Pasco, Polk, St. Lucie, and Sarasota. This data serves Florida ranchers, their allied industries, and governmental and nongovernmental agencies making or advocating for policy that affects ranchers. Written by Hannah Baker, Laura Bennett, Lauren Butler, Sonja Crawford, Lindsey Crum, Christa Kirby, Colleen Larson, Philipe Moriel, Kalan Royal, Brent Sellers, Maria Silveira, Bridget Stice, and João Vendramini, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agronomy, August 2025.

Tips on Determining the Cause of Death in the Beef Cattle Operation

Taylor Davis, Lauren Butler, Christa Kirby, Bridget Stice, Todd Thrift, Lindsey Wiggins, and João Bittar

Dealing with death losses on the ranch can be disheartening. After all, a beef cattle operation’s success is measured in pounds of live weight sold. This publication discusses ways to determine causes of death in a beef cattle operation. Written by Taylor Davis, Lauren Butler, Christa Kirby, Bridget Stice, Todd Thrift, Lindsey Wiggins, and João Bittar, and published by the Veterinary Medicine—Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, UF/IFAS Extension, October 2023.

What is the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (BADDL), and what can BADDL do for cattle producers?

Lauren Butler, Christa Kirby, Bridget Stice, Todd Thrift, Lindsey Wiggins, and João Bittar

For years, cattle producers have acted as unofficial researchers and detectives. As caregivers to domesticated animals, cattle producers and veterinarians sometimes need more pieces of information to solve a puzzle. This publication discusses the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (BADDL), which exists to help with more difficult diagnoses. Written by Lauren Butler, Christa Kirby, Bridget Stice, Todd Thrift, Lindsey Wiggins, and João Bittar, and published by the Veterinary Medicine—Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, UF/IFAS Extension, October 2023.

Foundational Small Ruminant Management and Husbandry

Christa L. Kirby, Allie L. Williams, Laura H. Bennett, Bridget Stice, and Brittany N. Diehl

This article is meant to serve as an overview of small ruminant husbandry practices, which include basic nutrition, health, and preventative management concepts. Written by Christa L. Kirby, Allie L. Williams, Laura H. Bennett, Bridget Stice, and Brittany N. Diehl, and published by the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, UF/IFAS Extension, June 2025.

Christa Kirby 0009-0000-0102-3309