February 2004 - Vol. 3 Issue 1

Maryland Sheep & Goat Directory Now Online!

The new Maryland Sheep & Goat Directory is now on the web. The url is http://www.smallfarmsuccess.info/sheepandgoat.cfm. The purpose of the directory is to help sheep and goat producers market their breeding stock, market animals, and other related products and to help potential buyers locate the same. Listings are free and open to anyone who conducts business in Maryland.

Directory listings can be added online. Surveys can also be filled out by hand and submitted via mail or fax. It is not necessary to have a web site or e-mail address to be listed in the directory.

The directory is searchable by species, breed, county/location, and product. An advanced searching feature will be added in the future. Printed copies of the directory will be available at some point in the future.

www.smallfarmsuccess.sheepandgoat.cfm

Spring Meat Goat Conference at Garrett College

A Spring Meat Goat Conference will be held at Garrett College in McHenry, MD on Saturday, March 20. The program will be as follows:

The conference will be held at the Continuing Education Building at Garrett College. The cost of attending is $10 for adults and $5 for youth (4-H age). The registration deadline is March 10. For information or to register, contact Willie Lantz at 687 Mosser Road, McHenry, MD 21541, tel. (301) 387-3331 or wlantz@garrettcollege.edu.

MD-PA-WV Meat Goat Producers Association - meatgoat.biz

Learn to Shear Sheep: MD-DE Sheep Shearing Schools

A Beginning Sheep Shearing School will be held Friday and Saturday, March 26 and 27, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Thompson Farm in Westminster, MD. An Advanced Sheep Shearing School will be held at the same location on Saturday, April 7.

The beginning school is open to anyone who wants to learn to shear sheep and has the strength and willingness to do so. The minimum age is 16. The advanced school is for persons who have attended previous schools and have sheared over 150 sheep. Participation is limited to the first 10 people who register.

The registration fee (payable to Carroll County Extension Advisory Council) is $50 per person for the beginning school (deadline March15) and $25 per person for the advanced school (deadline March 29). It should be mailed to David Greene, 2014 White Hall Road, White Hall, MD 21161-9712, tel. (410) 329-6241, e-mail: greelamb@bcpl.net.

The New Zealand method of shearing will be taught. The instructors for both schools will be Carroll County Extension Agent (retired) David Greene and Delaware State University Animal Science Professor Dr. Richard Barczewski.

Sheep/Goat Genetics Conference to be Held

The Sheep and Goat Genetics Conference originally proposed for April 17 will be rescheduled for late-summer, early-fall (date to be announced). It will be held at the Western Maryland Research & Education Center in Keedysville (9 miles south of Hagerstown). The conference will feature a combination of lectures and hands-on sessions. Some of the topics that have been proposed include:

• National Sheep Improvement Program (which is being expanded to include Boer Goats)
• Ram and Buck Performance Testing
• Genetics of Disease Resistance, including scrapie.
• Color Inheritance
• Flock Record Keeping
• Ram and Buck Selection
• Selection of Replacement Females
• Ultrasound Scanning for Fat and Muscle
• Genetic Improvement in the United Kingdom

Date to be announced!

Small Ruminant Integrated Parasite Management (IPM) Workshops

A series of Small Ruminant Integrated Parasite Management (IPM) Workshops will be held in Maryland and nearby counties (spring-early fall). The purpose of the workshops is to teach sheep and goat producers how to conduct fecal egg counts, use FAMACHA© ¹(eye anemia chart), and other management techniques for internal parasite control. Instruction will be hands-on with fecal samples and live animals. If you are interested in having a Small Ruminant IPM workshop in your county or region, contact Susan or your local county extension agent.

¹ FAMACHA© is named for its originator, Dr. Francois “Faffa” Malan: FAffa MAlan Chart.

Update on 4-H/FFA Meat Goat Show at Maryland State Fair

For financial reasons, the Maryland State Fair will not be approving any changes for this year’s state fair. As a result, changes previously announced in this newsletter and The Delmarva Farmer will not be implemented in the 2004 4-H/FFA Meat Goat Show. I had proposed that the breeding show be split into registered and commercial divisions, that the buck kid class be split into junior and senior classes, and that a novice fitting and showing class be added. I also wanted to add a premium class for rate-of-gain. All of these changes will be proposed for future years. In the interim, I am looking for private sponsors to pay premiums for this year’s rate-of-gain competition.

Last year was the first year that there was a separate 4-H/FFA Meat Goat Show at the Maryland State Fair. The show was a success, with 40 youth from 9 counties registering animals for the show.

Receive Payments for Ewe Lambs That You Buy or Keep

USDA’s Ewe Lamb Retention Program, whereby producers can receive a payment (~$18) for each ewe lamb they purchase or retain in their flock, has been extended for fiscal year 2004. The announcement was made at the recent American Sheep Industry Convention in Sacramento, CA. The purpose of the program, which USDA has pledged $18.85 million, is to encourage expansion of the U.S. breeding ewe flock. Producers who have received payments in the past will be notified about the particulars of the program by local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices when details are finalized and offices are prepared to accept and process applications. Producers who have not received payments in the past need to visit their local FSA offices.

All Livestock Will Require National ID by 2006

The United States Animal Identification Plan (USAIP) will require all livestock, regardless of their intended use, to have national identification. USAIP will aid in the control and eradication of an animal health threat, with the goal of a 48-hour trace back of an individual animal to its farm of origin.

The USAIP will apply to all animals in commerce within their respective industries regardless of their intended use as seedstock, commercial, pets, or other personal uses. The USAIP currently supports the following species and/or industries: bison, beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, goats, camelids (alpacas and llamas), horses, cervids (deer and elk), poultry (eight species including game birds), and aquaculture (eleven species). Species groups will have the choice of designing systems that may or may not use visual ID. In the case of sheep and goats, the U.S. animal identification number will become the official number for use in the Scrapie Eradication Program.

USAIP will be implemented in three phases: 1) premise identification; 2) individual or group identification for interstate or intrastate commerce; and 3) trace-back of animals through the livestock marketing chain. The plan will begin as a voluntary program, but eventually full compliance will be necessary for the system to work effectively. The cost of USAIP will be substantial and is expected to be shared by the public and private sectors.

Both Canada and the European Union (EU) are adopting similar identification programs. Canada’s program went into effect Jan. 1, 2004, and requires all sheep and lambs to bear an approved ear tag before leaving any premise. The EU system is being gradually introduced to member states.

Web site: http://www.usaip.info

What Protein Sources are in My Feed?

Dr. L. E. Chase
Dept. of Animal Science, Cornell University

The current BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) situation has raised a number of questions relative to protein sources used in animal feeds. The specific question relates to the potential use of animal proteins as protein sources in concentrate feeds.

In 1997, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) provided guidelines for the use of animal protein sources in animal feeds. This move was made to prevent the occurrence of BSE via animal feed. Specifically, this regulation prohibits the use of certain proteins derived from mammalian tissue in feeds fed to ruminants. There were also a number of products that were exempted from this regulation. These exempted products can be used in manufacturing feeds fed to ruminants. The exempted products include:

Protein products derived from mammals:
1. Blood and blood products - Gelatin
2. Milk products (milk and milk proteins)
3. Pure porcine (pork) or pure equine (horse) protein
4. Inspected meat products, such as plate waste, which have been cooked and offered for human food and further heat processed for animal feed

Non-mammalian protein products are also exempt and can be fed. These include: poultry, marine (fish), and vegetable. The following are exempt since they are not protein or tissue: grease, tallow, fat, oil, amino acids, and dicalcium phosphate.

Feed companies are permitted to use these exempted products in mixing and blending feeds for ruminants. They cannot use any prohibited products in the manufacture of feed for ruminants. There are a number of animal protein blends on the market that can be used in manufacturing feeds for ruminants. However, these products are using porcine, poultry, or marine animal protein sources. You should contact your feed supplier if you have questions about the protein sources used in making the feeds delivered to your farm.

What about milk replacers?
The primary protein sources used in milk replacers are from milk protein sources: dried whey, dried whey product, dried milk protein, dried skim milk, dry whey protein concentrate, delactosed whey, and whole milk solids. In addition to these milk-based protein sources, there are a number of other protein sources that may be used in milk replacers: soy protein isolate, soy protein concentrate, soy flour, and modified wheat protein. There can also be some blood plasma products used in milk replacers. According to the 1997 FDA ruling, blood products are permitted in animal feeds. If any blood protein derived protein sources are used in milk replacers, they will be listed as follows: animal plasma, spray dried animal plasma, or spray dried animal blood cells.

Protein sources used in milk replacers are usually the first 3-5 ingredients listed on the bag. The three largest companies that produce milk replacer for lambs and kids are milk protein based; however, you should check the label on the bag to determine what sources of protein are in the formulation.

Reprinted with permission of author.

An Alternative Theory: BSE (Mad Cow) is NOT Caused by Feed

Not all scientists are convinced that bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) a.k.a. “mad cow disease” is spread by cows eating infected meat and bone meal. British scientist and organic farmer Mark Purdey has an alternative theory that a insecticide used during Britain’s warble fly campaigns triggered mad cow disease. Research has shown that organophosphates, contained in pesticides, can deform prion molecules allowing them to bond with manganese to become “rogue” molecules that can cause BSE. Purdey believes that BSE and new variant Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (nvCJD) were not caused by a modified prion protein jumping from sheep to cattle to humans via prion-contaminated meat products, but that is was caused by exposure of the various different species to the same set of environmental prerequisites (high Mn, low Cu, and high intensities of visible/non visible electromagnetic radiation)

Cambridge University prion biochemist David R. Brown is also dismissive of the science behind the infectious model of BSE. He terms it “a very limited amount of science by a few assumed reputable scientists.” It’s worth noting that the infected feed theory is lavishly funded while alternative theories, such as Purdey’s, are not.

Source: http://www.mercola.com

U.S. Sheep and Lamb Inventory Declines . . . Again!

According to the just-released USDA Sheep and Goat Report, sheep and lamb inventory in the U.S. on January 1, 2004, was down 3 percent from a year ago, a drop from 6.3 million to 6.09 million head. Breeding sheep inventory was 4 percent less: 4.48 million vs. 4.66 million on January 1, 2003. Replacement ewe lambs experienced a smaller decline, down 4,000 to 691,000 head. The 2003 lamb crop of 4.12 million was down 5 percent from 2002 and established a new record low. The national lambing rate was 109 lambs born per 100 ewes.

Shorn wool production in 2003 was 38.1 million pounds, down 8 percent from 2002. The average price paid for wool was 72 cents per lb. compared to 53 cents in 2002. Fleece weights remained constant at 7.5 lbs. per head. The goat inventory in Texas remained unchanged, but is 4 percent below two years ago. Mohair production in the three major producing states (Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico) was down 14 percent from 2002 at 1.88 million pounds.

According to the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), the sampling method used by the National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS) represents 20 percent of all sheep operations in the U.S. and samples large producers more heavily than small producers.

Read full report at http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/livestock/pgg-bb/shep0104.txt.

White Muscle Disease (WMD)
Stiff Lamb Disease
Nutritional Muscular Dystrophy

What is it? White muscle disease is a degenerative muscle disease found in all large animals. It is caused by a deficiency of selenium and/or vitamin E. Generally, it is not known which. Certain areas of the U.S., including the Northeast, are considered low in selenium levels. Selenium deficiency occurs when the soil contains less than 0.5 mg Se/kg of soil and locally harvested feeds contain less than 0.1 mg Se/kg of feed.

Pasture, hay, grain, and other supplements can be analyzed to determine the amount of selenium to be added to supplemental feeds. Grazing sheep usually consume adequate amounts of vitamin E. Fresh legumes and pasture are good sources of vitamin E whereas silage, oil seeds, root crops, cereal grains, and dry hays tend to be poor sources of vitamin E. Prolonged storage of feedstuffs results in a degradation of Vitamin E content.

In addition to white muscle disease, selenium and vitamin E deficiencies can produce symptoms of ill thrift and reproductive losses. They can cause poor rate of growth or ill thrift in young lambs throughout the growing period. Selenium and vitamin E also play key roles in the animal’s normal immune response.

Symptoms. White muscle disease is most commonly found in newborns or fast growing animals. Kids are believed to be more susceptible than lambs, possibly because they have a higher requirement for selenium. The disease can affect both the skeletal and cardiac muscles. When the skeletal muscles are affected, symptoms vary from mild stiffness to obvious pain upon walking, to an inability to stand. Lambs/kids may tremble in pain when held in a standing position. Affected lambs/kids are usually bright and have normal appetites. When the problem occurs in newborns, they are born weak and unable to rise. When the disease affects the heart, the animal shows signs similar to pneumonia, including difficult breathing, a frothy nasal discharge (may be blood stained), and fever. The heart and respiratory rates are elevated and often irregular.

Treatment. Treating the heart form of white muscle disease is usually ineffective. The muscle form of the disease can be treated with supplemental selenium and/or vitamin E. Producers need to follow label directions carefully when using selenium for treatment. The concentrations of selenium (per ml) vary greatly with each product, and excessive or repeated injections can result in selenium toxicity and possibly death. The commercially available selenium/vitamin E product(s) commonly used in the U.S. do not contain therapeutic levels of vitamin E. Additional vitamin E may need to be provided through an injection of vitamin E alone or through oral vitamin E products.

Prevention. Deficiencies occur when animals are fed poor-quality hay or straw or lack access to pasture. Selenium deficiency can be confirmed by measuring selenium levels in whole blood or tissues. A diseased animal will have less than 0.04 ppm of selenium in its blood. Breeding ewes require more selenium, and their blood levels should be over 0.5 ppm.

White muscle disease can be prevented by supplementing the diet of susceptible animals with selenium and vitamin E. Since it occurs mostly in lambs and kids whose mothers were fed a selenium-deficient diet, supplementation of pregnant animals helps reduce disease in newborns. This is because selenium is transferred from dam to fetus across the placenta and also is present in the colostrum. While Vitamin E is not transmitted across the placenta, colostral levels of Vitamin E increase with ewe supplementation.

Selenium supplementation is controlled by law. For sheep, selenium can be supplemented in a complete ration at a level up to 0.3 ppm, in a feed supplement so that the intake of selenium does not exceed 0.7 mg per head per day, and in salt/mineral mixes at 90 ppm as long as total daily consumption does not exceed 0.7 mg/head/day. Selenium supplementation of feed has not been approved specifically for goats.

Injectable selenium compounds are available to prevent WMD in at risk-animals; however, injections are a poor alternative compared to routinely providing adequate selenium and vitamin E in the diet. Ideally, the total diet for sheep and/or goats should contain 0.10 to 0.30 ppm of selenium.

References: Sheep & Goat Medicine edited by D.G. Pugh (2002) and Sheep Production Handbook by American Sheep Industry Association (2002).

A New Kind of Carcass Contest

This year’s Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival will feature a lamb carcass contest in which realtime ultrasound technology will be used to determine the carcass merit of lambs. The lambs will not be processed at a local meat locker (before the Festival) as has been done in the past. Lambs will be scanned for back fat thickness and rib eye area, and these data will be used to calculate carcass scores and placings.

Any sex (ram, ewe, or wether) or breed (or breed cross) of lamb is eligible for the carcass contest. The minimum weight is 80 lbs. Lambs must be slick sheared within 5 days of the contest. Since the lambs will be required to stay at the Festival all weekend, health papers are required.

While the carcass contest is designed to evaluate market lambs, it can also be used to evaluate potential young flock sires, since the lambs will return to the farm. In future years, a sire evaluation could be incorporated into the Festival contest, whereby ram lambs could be evaluated using ultrasound, along with production records, and visual appraisal.

Contact Susan to learn more about the Festival Carcass Contest and/or to enter lambs.

Web site: www.sheepandwoolfestival.org

Focus on Research

Deccox © Improves Performance of Doe Kids

French researchers wanted to find out if decoquinate (Deccox©) treatments in a goat flock without clinical coccidiosis could improve the growth and milk performance of replacement doe kids. For five years, they compared two or three groups of Alpine doe kids. The S group received a twice daily sulfadimerazine treatment for three days. The D30 and D75 groups received 1 mg decoquinate per kg (2.2 lbs) of body weight from 8 days before weaning to 30 or 75 days after weaning, respectively. At 7 months of age, the body weights of the D groups were always higher (by 3.1 to 10.6 lb.). The 75-day treatment appeared to be more efficient for weight gain than the 30-day treatment. In all cases, feed efficiency was improved. The 100 to 200 day milk production of the first lactation was improved with the 75 day treatment, but not the 30 day treatment. The effect on milk production was attributed to the heavier weights at breeding and parturition of group D goats.

Source: Small Ruminant Research Journal. Volume 45 - Issue 2. August 2002.

Endophyte-infected Fescue Reduces Meat Goat Performance

Scientists at Tennessee State University conducted a study to begin assessing how endophyte-infected tall fescue might affect meat goat performance. They utilized ¾ Boer (n=22) and ¾ Kiko (n=15) yearling wethers for their study. The wethers were fed in dry lot over three periods. During the pre-trial period (Jan-Mar) all goats were provided ad lib orchard grass hay and a concentrate supplement (1 lb/day). During Trial 1 (Apr-Jun), the goats received ad lib orchard grass hay plus a seed diet (0.5 lb/day) of either orchard grass or tall fescue seed, contained in a concentrate supplement (1.5 lb/day). In Trial 2 (Jun-Aug), half of the goats were switched to a different treatment group and received a concentrate diet (0.5 lb/day) plus either orchard grass or tall fescue hay.

Pre-trial growth rates did not differ. Across the three observation periods, percentage Kiko wethers had higher growth rates than percentage Boer wethers. The tall fescue seed diet reduced average daily gain (ADG) by 32% compared to the orchard grass seed diet (0.22 vs. 0.33 lb/day). The tall fescue hay diet reduced ADG by 33% compared to the orchard grass hay diet (0.09 vs. 0.13 lb/day). This pilot study demonstrated the potential of endophyte-infected tall fescue to significantly lower the performance of meat goat wethers.

Source: American Society of Animal Science. 2003 Southern Section Abstracts

Obstetrics and Newborn Management

by Kevin D Pelzer DVM, MPVM
VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine

It really doesn’t matter what you do, ewes will decide for themselves when they want to lamb. You can, however, be prepared for lambing and the potential problems that can occur. The most common physical sign of impending lambing or parturition in the ewe is the udder begins to fill or bag up. If ewes have a short fleece, one may also observe a softening of the tissues around the dock. The vulva enlarges and a colorless mucous discharge, the cervical mucus plug, may be observed. Even observing these signs in ewes only gives one an approximate time of lambing, as these observations may be present a week before lambing.

Parturition occurs in three stages. The first stage of parturition lasts from 2 to 12 hours, the time during which the cervix dilates. During this stage, ewes will try to isolate themselves. In a crowded barn, this may be in a corner or up against a wall. The ewe acts uncomfortable, getting up and down, lifting her lip, pawing the ground, and frequently urinating. Ewes do not “push” at this stage but the uterus is contracting causing dilation of the cervix. Some ewes seem to stare off into space and then go back to chewing their cud or eating.

The second stage of parturition is expulsion of the lamb. This stage is fairly quick, only lasting 1 to 2 hours. The water bag may be observed followed by the feet and the head. There should be steady progress once the water bag is observed or appearance of the feet. If the ewe strains longer than 45 minutes without producing a lamb, she should be checked for problems. Ewes may rest between delivering twins, but twins should be delivered within 45 minutes of the first delivery. Cleanliness is important when examining a ewe for problems. Contamination of the uterus can lead to serious infection that will negatively impact the health of not only the ewe but also the newborn. Likewise, it protects the shepherd as well. The ewe’s vulva should be cleaned with a mild soap and water solution. The shepherd should use a obstetrical sleeve and apply generous amounts of lubrication on the sleeve before entering the vagina.

The most common problem observed in ewes with dystocia, difficult birth, is fetal postural abnormalities. Normally, the lamb is born with the front legs extended followed by the head. The head should be 2 to 4 inches from the tip of the toes. If the head is right on top of the toes, the lamb may be “stuck” because the elbows are caught. Pulling on one leg at a time and fully extending the limb usually resolves this problem. If difficulty occurs in trying to manipulate the fetus, raising the hind quarters of the ewe sometimes allows the uterus to fall forward and reduces the ewe straining allowing for easier repositioning.

A common problem occurs when twins are trying to come out at the same time with each having a leg in the birth canal. One should follow each leg back to the chest to ensure that the legs presented are of the same lamb. If the head and 2 different legs are presented, it is best to gently push the head back in and then replace the leg and retrieve the other matching leg. Be sure to guard the feet as they are sharp and can tear the uterus. In any ewe dystocia, always keep in mind that you may have more than one lamb coming out at the same time.

Sometimes the legs appear but the head seems to be missing. Again check to be sure the legs belong to the same lamb. The head may be turned back or down between the legs. In any case, by gently pushing back on the lamb’s brisket, one will usually have enough room to manipulate the head into the proper position.
Sometimes a ewe may not strain but the membranes are present or the tail is present but no legs. When you examine the ewe, the lamb’s butt is pushed up against the pelvis and the legs are extended forward. This is referred to as a true breech. Gently push the butt forward and reach under to grab one of the legs. Place a finger around the hock and gently retract, then reach forward and grab the foot. With the hand around the foot, guarding the toe from penetrating the uterine wall, bring the toe to the middle and push the hock to the side while lifting the toe into the vagina. Repeat with the other leg. Place the tail between the legs, this reduces the chances of tearing the uterus and remove the lamb.

The third stage of parturition is expulsion of the placenta. The placenta should pass within 8 hours of lambing. If the placenta retains, the ewe’s appetite should be monitored as well as her temperature for a fever (>103.3° F). If the ewe goes off feed or develops a fever, she should be given penicillin. Mild traction can be applied to the placenta but it should not be torn. If the ewe remains bright, alert, and eating, nothing needs to be done and eventually the placenta will fall out.

Lambs should be born in a dry draft free environment to reduce the risk of hypothermia. Lambs attempt to stand and nurse within 30 minutes of birth. The ewe should have been crutched and clipped around the flank so the lambs have easy access to the teats. If lambs are being crushed, shearing may reduce this problem as ewes can’t feel the lambs when overly fleeced. Lambs should nurse within the first 2 hours of birth. Lambs should receive 50ml of colostrum per kg of body weight (¾ oz/lb) during the first 2 hours and a total of 200 – 250 ml/kg (3.5 oz/lb) during the first 24 hours of life. For example, a 8 lb lamb should receive 6oz in the first 2 hours and 28 oz over the first 24 hours of life.

If a ewe does not have adequate amounts of colostrum, colostrum from another ewe may be used. If ewe colostrum is not available, goat or cow colostrum can be used. There is a chance for disease transmission to occur using goat or cow colostrum, e.g. Johne’s Disease, so investigation into the health status of the herd is important. Likewise, in rare cases some lambs fed cow colostrum may develop a hemolytic anemia. Commercial colostrum substitutes are available but their efficacy is not known.

Lambs should be placed in a claiming pen or lambing jug. This allows for proper bonding to occur as well as gives the shepherd an opportunity to observe the ewe and lambs for problems. Lambs should remain there a minimum of one day, plus a day for every lamb. Ewes may ignore weak lambs or lambs born subsequent to the first of a litter, so even though the lambs are with the ewe, one must observe ewe-lamb interactions.

The lamb’s navel/umbilical cord should be dipped in a disinfectant. A 2% iodine or betadine solution can be used as well as chlorohexidine. Chlorohexidine has been shown to provide some residual bacterial inhibition. Although tincture of iodine is commonly used, it may be too strong as it can cause burning of the tissues.
Lambs may need selenium supplemen-tation if ewes are not properly supplemented. Feeding a quality trace mineral salt with the highest allowable selenium should provide the ewe and her lambs adequate selenium. If supplementation is given, lambs should receive ? ml of BoSe®.

Heat lamps may provide lambs needed warmth if the lambs are wet or sick. Lamps should be no closer than 4 feet from the ground. Positioning of the lamp is important, as a misplaced lamp may set the barn on fire.

Fostering of lambs may be necessary in the case of triplets or inadequate milk production. Match lambs for size, color, and age. The closer to birth fostering occurs, the better the results. Placing fetal fluids on the adopted lamb may help the fostering process.

Colostrum should be hand fed before fostering to insure adequate passive transfer of immunoglobulins. When selecting the lamb to foster, pick the strongest of the lambs. Remove the ewe’s lambs and return them after she accepts the new lamb. Do not separate the ewe from her lambs any longer then 2 –3 hours.

Bottle feeding may be necessary if fostering is not an option. Provide the lamb colostrum during the first 24 hours of life. A lamb milk replacer should be used. Lambs should be fed 4 times a day. The lamb should receive a total of 20% of its body weight a day. For example, a 10 lb lamb would receive 2 lbs of milk ( 2 pints) a day, 8 oz per feeding. The milk should be fed warm in order to avoid chilling of the lamb during the first week of life. If bloating is a problem, either try feeding cold milk replacer or feed smaller quantities at a time more frequently. The second week of life, lambs can be fed 3 times a day rather than 4. Lambs should be offered creep feed within a week of life and can be weaned when they weigh 20 lbs. More information is available at http://www.sheepandgoat.com/
articles/artificialfeeding.html.

Lambing Equipment Box
• Bucket
• Mild soap, Ivory
• Towels
• Obstetrical lubrication, KY Jelly, J-Lube
• Obstetrical sleeves
• Clean baling twine
• Antiseptic to dip navels
• Hair clips to use on umbilicus in case of hemorrhage.
• Bottle nipples
• Feeding tube
• 60 cc syringe to fit feeding tube

Reprinted with permission of author.

New Goat E-Mail List

A new e-mail goat list has been created: GoatTalk will focus on goat farming as a business. To subscribe to the list, send a blank e-mail to GoatTalk-Subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Receive Loan Deficiency Payments for Wool and Unshorn Lamb Pelts

As a result of the 2002 Farm Bill, sheep and goat producers may be eligible to receive government assistance in the form of loan deficiency payments (LDP’s) for wool, mohair, and unshorn lamb pelts. Producers may receive LDP’s in lieu of taking out a marketing assistance loan, but must apply for LDP’s before selling their wool or mohair. The LDP rate changes weekly and was 24 cents per lb. (for ungraded wool) for the week of February 4.

Loan deficiency payments for unshorn lamb pelts are calculated by multiplying the “effective LDP rate” by 6.865 (the standard weight for an unshorn pelt). An unshorn pelt is defined as the removed skin and attached wool from a slaughtered lamb that has never been shorn. Producers must own lambs for 30 days or more to be eligible for unshorn pelt payments. Producers should contact their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) Service Center for more information about these programs.

Check out LDP rates at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/psd/MKTPRICLEAN1.htm.

Calendar of Events

March 20 (see article)
Spring Meat Goat Conference
Garrett College, McHenry, MD.
Info: Willie Lantz at (301) 387-3331 or wlantz@garrettcollege.edu.

March 26-27 (see article)
MD-DE Beginners’ Sheep Shearing School
Ridgely Thompson Farm, Westminster, MD.
Info: David Greene at (410) 329-6241 or greelamb@bcpl.net.

April 7 (see article)
Advanced Sheep Shearing School
Ridgely Thompson Farm, Westminster, MD.
Info: David Greene at (410) 329-6241 or greelamb@bcpl.net.

May 1-2
Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival
Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, MD
Info: www.sheepandwoolfestival.org or info@sheepandwool.org or (410) 531-3647

June 4-5
West Virginia Purebred Sheep Breeders Club Lamb and Breeding Sheep Show and Sale
Tri-County Fairgrounds, Petersburg, West Virginia
Info: Sandy Smith at (304) 257-4372

Links are provided as an information service. They do not constitute an endorsement of any non-affiliated organizations, businesses, products or content of these pages by Maryland Cooperative Extension or the University of Maryland. Mention of product names is for information purposes only. It is the policy of Maryland Cooperative Extension that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, disability, age, religion or national origin.

The Maryland Sheep & Goat Producer is published bi-monthly by University of Maryland Cooperative Extension. It is written and edited by Susan Schoenian, Area Agent for Sheep and Goats at the Western Maryland Research & Education Center. Contributors include Dr. Niki Whitley from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) tel. (410) 651-6194, e-mail: nwhitley@mail .umes.edu and Willie Lantz from Garrett College, tel. (301) 387-3331, e-mail: wlantz@garrettcollege.edu. To receive the newsletter, contact Susan at the Western Maryland Research & Education Center, 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD 21756, (301) 432-2767 ext. 343, fax (301) 432-4089; e-mail: sschoen@umd.edu. The cost of receiving the newsletter by mail is $10 per year, payable to the University of Maryland. Internet access is FREE and you can be added to a list to receive an e-mail message when a new newsletter has been posted to the web at http://www.sheepandgoat.com/news/. Comments and suggestions regarding the newsletter are welcome. Articles may be reprinted with permission of the author.

 

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