Livestock Information

Dr. Don Llewellyn

Don Llewellyn is an Associate Professor and State Livestock Extension Specialist with Washington State University (WSU) and serves as Director of Lincoln County Extension located in Davenport, WA.  Don is a native of Lincoln County and grew up in Wilbur, WA, earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science at Oklahoma State University, and his Master’s and Ph.D. Degrees in Ruminant Nutrition at Kansas State University.  Don’s current Extension programming is aimed at strategies to control feed costs, improving reproduction, health, and productivity of beef herds through nutrition and management.  He also provides multi-species programming for youth livestock exhibitors and producers.  His applied research activities include evaluation of alternative protein supplements, forages, and silages for beef cattle, and enhancement of forage quality and utilization for beef and dairy herds.  New research is focusing on reducing the impact of invasive winter annual grasses and restoring native and improved perennial species in pastures and rangelands in the Pacific Northwest.

Extension Philosophy

“Innovation rather than Renovation”–Producers and animals scientists do a lot of things very well. It is imperative that we enhance what we do well by providing producers with timely research-based information geared toward making livestock systems work better.

Program Development

Focusing on three key components related to profitability and long-term viability of beef cattle operations:

• Beef cow nutrition/reproduction–utilize effective nutritional management to maximize the number of cows bred, and healthy calves born and marketed per cow exposed during the breeding season.
• Management systems–Optimizing the use of available forages, protecting natural resources, and exploring the utilization of alternative feeds, forages, and supplements with a focus on reducing costs and increasing producer’s profits.
• Livestock production, safety, and quality–This program includes providing producers the knowledge to keep cows and calves healthy throughout all stages of production.  In addition, Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) and Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Training, along with proper animal handling programming helps insure safe and wholesome meat products for the consumer.

Severe Weather Animal Alert

Beef Cattle Mythbuster

Additional Resources