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June 2005 - Vol. 4 Issue 3

Two red lambs

Sheep Feel Love
Click HERE

Bring Your Lambs and/or Goats for Scanning on July 6

Producers can bring up to five lambs and/or goats to the Washington County Agricultural Education Center (fairgrounds) in Boonsboro (7 miles south of Hagerstown) for realtime ultrasound scanning on Wednesday, July 6, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Lambs and kids will be weighed and scanned to determine back fat thickness and ribeye area. Willard Lemaster, 4-H Animal Science Specialist, will do the scanning.

Producers may optionally choose to have blood drawn from their animals for the purpose of scrapie genotyping or other disease screening (e.g. CAE or OPP). Federal and state cost share is available for scrapie genotyping. Information pertaining to cost share is available HERE.

Pre-registration is required for the scanning and blood sampling to make sure we have enough animals, but not too many. The best animals to scan are those that are close to market weight or finish. It is probably more important to scan males since they will have a larger impact on flock genetics. Scanning progeny from the same ram or buck is also a good idea. Regardless, we will scan any animal that producers choose to bring.

To register animals for scanning and/or blood sampling, contact the Western Maryland Research & Education Center, 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD 21756, (301) 432-2767 x343 or 301, (301) 432-4089 (fax) or sschoen@umd.edu or cmason@umd.edu.

There may be a small fee for the scanning and blood collection.

Editor's note: If producers in other parts of the state do not want to bring their animals to Western Maryland, it would be possible to schedule a scanning day at an additional location. Let us know.


Festival Lamb Carcass Contest

The Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival held its second lamb carcass contest where ultrasound data was used to determine carcass characteristics. Previously, lambs were slaughtered to collect carcass data.

There were 13 entries and 8 exhibitors in this year's contest. The lamb with the highest carcass score was exhibited by Tammy Holler from Oakland, MD. Bev and Sherm Pearsall, of Thurmont, MD had the lamb with the second highest carcass score. The winning lamb was a 120 lb. Hampshire wether whose ribeye measured 4.8 square inches. The reserve champion lamb, a Texel, had a 4.1 square inch ribeye. By way of comparison, a 100-lb. lamb should have a minimum ribeye area of 2.4 square inches [1.4 + (0.2 x hot carcass weight)]. These lambs were exceptional.

Of the 13 lambs exhibited , 8 received "blue" awards for having carcass scores of over 50. Four lambs received "red"awards. Their carcass scores were between 45 and 50. One lamb had a carcass score of less than 45 and received a "white" award.

Compared to last year, this year's contest lambs were fatter, but much heavier muscled. Some of the differences in carcass measurement may be due to measurement bias (two different people did the scanning), but overall the 2005 lambs were better quality than those exhibited in 2004.

Champion lamb - rear view
Champion lamb - side view
Summary of 2004 and 2005 Contests
Carcass Trait
2004
2005
Number of lambs
17
12
Avg. live weight (lbs.)
100.3
104.1
Avg. age (days)
***
130
Avg. ADG (lbs./day)
***
0.74
Avg. backfat thickness (inches)
0.129
0.282
Avg. carcass weight (lbs)
51.2
54.1
Avg. yield grade (1-5)
1.7
3.2
Avg. ribeye area (square inches)
2.21
3.27
The Champion Carcass lamb was exhibited by Tammy Holler from Oakland, Maryland. The lamb's ribeye measured 4.8 square inches.

The Lamb Carcass and Performance Contest at the Festival is open to any sheep breeder or feeder. Lambs may be any breed, breed cross, or sex. They must weigh at least 80 lbs. and should not be over one year of age, as evidenced by the appearance of yearling teeth. While a champion and reserve champion lamb were chosen to receive plaques, the lambs were not ranked for premiums. Lambs received blue, red, or white awards and premiums according to the carcass scores and rate-of-gain.

In the future, if enough lambs are exhibited and they represent enough different breed types, champions could be chosen separately for meat breeds and maternal or wool breeds. Next year's contest will include an award for the lamb with the highest lean rate-of-gain. Though no special award was given, a Suffolk lamb exhibited by Peter Vorac from Jefferson, MD had the highest lean rate-of-gain in this year's competition.

For information about the Festival carcass contest, contact Susan, Niki, or Bev Pearsall (mizsheep@aol.com).


Cost-Share for Scrapie Genotyping

The American Sheep Industry Association is cooperating with USDA-APHIS to help sheep producers who are interested in having their rams genotyped for scrapie susceptibility/resistance. From May 1, 2005 until September 15, 2005 or when funds are exhausted (whichever comes first), producers in states which do not have State-APHIS cooperative ram genotyping program will be eligible for a cost-share reimbursement for genotyping up to 10 of the rams.

Producers will need to have an accredited veterinarian collect blood samples from their rams on or after May 1, 2005. The veterinarian will then send the sample to a laboratory along with a properly completed "APHIS VS Form 5-29."Producers can choose to have them samples sent to any APHIS approved lab. The forms must be signed by a veterinarian. ASI will send a check for $12.00 per ram tested to the producer to help offset the cost of the test ($8 if a federal or state employee collects the blood). The cost of testing one codon varies from $8.00 to $25.00. The cost of testing codons 171 and 136 varies from $12.00 to$35.00.

Some of the states which do not have State-APHIS cooperative ram genotyping programs include: Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Producers in states with cost sharing programs should contact their state veterinarian regarding participation in their state program.

Source: ASI, April 2005.

Editor's note: If you bring lambs to the Western Maryland Scanning Day on July 6th, you can have blood drawn for scrapie genotyping.


Cost Share for Maryland Producers

The Maryland Sheep Breeders Association received an outreach grant from the American Sheep Industry Association for use in programs that help to eradicate scrapie. One of the ways the funds are going to be used is to underwrite the cost of scrapie genotyping rams or ewes (ASI provides cost share for ram testing only.)

Maryland producers interested in receiving cost share from the Maryland Sheep Breeders Association for scrapie genotyping should contact Bev Pearsall at (301) 663-9116 or mizsheep@ aol.com. Contact Bev as soon as possible. Funds must be spent by September 1, 2005!

Editor's Note: If you bring lambs to the Western Maryland Scanning Day on July 6th, you can have blood drawn for scrapie genotyping.


All Sheep and Goats Must Have Federal Scrapie ID

This is a reminder that all sheep and goats that will be exhibited in Maryland must be identified under the Federal Scrapie Eradication Program. All market lambs and goats should have the official tag in their ears at the time of county weigh-ins. It is the responsibility of the producer who sells the lamb or goat to put the tag in the animal's ear. If you have purchased a lamb or goat that does not have a scrapie tag, contact the breeder.

Registration tattoos can be used for scrapie identification so long as permission is granted, the herd prefix is tatooed in the ear, and the animal's registration papers accompany the animal wherever it goes.

To obtain tags or to register your herd prefix with the Scrapie program, you need to call 1-866-873-2824.

Editor's note: State scrapie regulations must be at least equal to federal regulations. They may also exceed federal regulations. While federal regulations do not require all goats and sheep to be identified, Maryland has chosen to make this a requirement of all sheep and goats being exhibited in Maryland shows and fairs.


Beneficial Interest Required for LDP Payments

Sheep producers who wish to obtain LDP payments for their wool clip or unshorn lambs must maintain title, control, and risk of loss in the commodity to be eligible to make application. Once beneficial interest is lost, the commodity remains ineligible for LDPs, even if the producer regains control.

When selling wool to the wool pool or lambs to slaughter, from CCC-709 must be filed in the producer’s county office prior to delivery of the commodity. If wool is stored on the farm after shearing, an LDP must be applied for at the county office before the commodity is sold using form CCC-633 LDP.

Source: Washington County FSA Office

Click HERE to find out current LDP rates for Region I (East).

Click HERE for more information about the Wool and Mohair LDP Program.


Are You Interested in Growing Animal Fibers?

The Western Maryland Research & Education Center (Keedysville, 9 miles south of Hagerstown) will be hosting an Animal Fiber Expo on Saturday, October 15th. Speakers and presentations will relate to the following types of animal fiber: wool, mohair, cashmere, alpaca, and angora rabbit. The keynote speaker will be Robert Padula, the Wool Quality Specialist with the American Sheep Industry Association. Other speakers will be producers with practical experience raising and selling animal fibers. If you are interested in raising and selling fiber as an economic enterprise, plan to attend.

If you have ideas for speakers and/or topics, please contact Susan at (301) 432-2767 x343 or sschoen@umd.edu.


National Shearers Directory

It is becoming increasingly difficult to find people who shear sheep, especially those who are willing to shear small flocks. To help producers locate shearers, the American Sheep Industry Association has developed a National Shearers Directory. The Directory can be downloaded in PDF format from ASI's web site at http://www.sheepusa.org.

If you are a shearer, contact the American Sheep Industry Association at info@sheepusa.org to be added to the shearers directory. Listings are free.

Editor's Note: It is even more difficult to find someone to shear goats. If you know someone who shears goats, please have them contact Susan so she can let fiber goat producers know.


4-H News:  Tail Docking Policy in Other States

Maryland is not alone in its 4-H tail docking policy. The following other states have mandatory tail docking policies for 4-H lamb shows:

California
Maryland
Utah
Washington
West Virginia
Wyoming

Idaho will institute a policy this year or next. The National Western Stock Show in Denver requires the tails of market lambs to be liftable with a credit card. Hopefully, more states will institute policies in the years to come so that no 4-Her or breeder will be at a disadvantage when showing, selling, or buying sheep.

Maryland's 4-H tail docking policy is based on research that clearly shows that short-tail docking substantially increases the risk of rectal prolapses, when lambs are fed concentrate diets, as is typical with 4-H lambs. It is an animal welfare issue, as well as a public relations issue for both the sheep industry and 4-H program.


Marketing Information:  Ethnic Holiday Calendar

The consumption of sheep and goat meat increases in conjunction with various ethnic/religious holidays. A updated Ethnic Holiday Calendar has been posted to the web at www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/ethniccalendar.html. The calendar includes the major Muslim, Jewish, and Christian holidays and spans the years 2005 to 2010. It can be downloaded in PDF and MS Word format.

http://www.sheepandgoat.com /articles/ethniccalendar.html

Visit sheepgoatmarketing.info for more marketing information.


A Change in Rendering Policy

At a meeting of the National Renderers Association (NRA), the Board of Directors voted to rescind the policy which recommended the exclusion of the collection of sheep materials for rendering.

The NRA policy, which has been in place for many years, recommended voluntary guidelines for renderers not to collect or render sheep material for animal protein (meat and bone meal) use. This was initially put into practice based on a theory of the correlation of scrapie with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Since that time, more scientific information has become available and with the implementation of the 1997 feed rule prohibiting the feeding of mammalian derived materials to ruminants, the NRA policy was no longer relevant for BSE risk reduction.

According to the letter from NRA to the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), a renderer's decision to collect or not collect sheep material will now be based on marketing needs rather than on regulations.

This is good news for the U.S. sheep producers and processors who have struggled with offal disposal options for the past 16 years. There will likely be several renderers who are not exporting meat and bone meal that will now be willing to process offal from sheep, commented Paul Rodgers, deputy director of animal health for ASI.

Source: ASI Weekly, May 13, 2005.


Focus on Research

Western Maryland Update

Approximately 90 lambs are due to arrive at the Western Maryland Research & Education Center on June 10th. The lambs will be from UMES' sire comparison study. They will represent the following breed crosses: Katahdin x Dorper, Katahdin x Texel, and Katahdin x Suffolk.

The lambs will be rotationally grazed on 10 acres of grass pasture that will be divided into 2-acre paddocks. The pastures consist of mostly tall fescue (Max Q™ and Kentucky 31) and orchardgrass with some clover mixed in. One 2-acre paddock is planted in forage chicory. The lambs will have access to a central lane-way that will contain port-a-hut shelters, minerals, water, and a handling system.

The lambs will be examined every two weeks to determine FAMACHA© eye scores and the need for deworming. They will be dewormed according to FAMACHA© scores (lambs scoring 3,4, or 5 will be dewormed) and other indications (e.g. body condition, evidence of scouring). Fecal samples will be collected from the lambs prior to and after grazing the chicory to determine the effect of chicory on fecal egg counts and FAMACHA© scores. Lambs will be weighed at four week intervals to determine their performance on grass. Ultrasound data will be collected. The lamb study will be available for viewing during the Ultrasound Scanning Day on July 6th at the Washington County Agricultural Education Center (the properties are adjacent).


Use of Probiotics in Feedlot Diets

Under the leadership of Dr. Niki Whitley, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore conducted several studies to determine the effect probiotics have on lambs and kids fed feed lot diets.

Probiotics are the opposite of antibiotics. They are living organisms of beneficial bacteria. Probiotics may improve animal performance by keeping livestock healthy and improving their digestion. Many commercial feeds contain probiotics. Milk replacers usually contain probiotics. Yeast is a probiotic and has been incorporated into livestock rations. Probiotics are also found naturally in fermented foods like yogurt with live cultures.

I. Meat Goats

Twenty-four (24) Boer-crossbred male goats were used in the goat study. The goats averaged 41.8 lbs. and 105 days of age. They were divided into two groups. Both groups had ad libitum access to a 15% CP medicated meat goat ration (Southern States). After an 18-day adjustment period, half of the goats received a supplement of probiotics (1.3 oz per head for 56 days).

The goats supplemented with the probiotics had a higher average daily gain on day 42 and day 56 of the study. Overall the entire time period ADG was 0.31 lb/day for control and 0.38 lb/day for probiotic treated goats. Supplemented goats also had a better feed efficiency during the last two weeks of the study.

II. Sheep

Twelve (12) ewe and wether Katahdin crossbred lambs were used in the sheep study. The lambs averaged 53.9 lbs. and 84.3 days of age. They were divided into two equal groups. Both groups had ad libitum access to a 16% CP medicated lamb starter ration (Southern States). After an 18-day adjustment period, half of the lambs received a supplement of probiotics (1.3 oz. per head) for 56 days.

The lambs fed the probiotics had a higher average daily gain during the last two weeks of the study than lambs which were not supplemented: 0.792 vs. 0.594 lbs. per day. However, total gain per sheep was not different between the treatments (34 lbs for probiotics, 31 lbs for control). Feed intake could not be compared statistically since there was only one pen per treatment, but numerically, sheep fed probiotics consumed 5.7 lb of feed per lb of gain while control sheep consumed 6 lb of feed per lb of gain. Overall ADG was 0.55 lb/day for control and 0.61 lb/day for probiotics treated sheep.


Sheep Feel Love, Friendship

Scientists at the Babraham Research Institute in Cambridge, England, say sheep have many similarities to humans, including feeling love and loss. Professor Keith Kendrick said sheep fall in love, have best friends and feel sad when members of the flock die or are slaughtered, the Western Mail reported Monday. The scientists inserted electrodes into the brains of ewes to measure their reactions to certain stimulations. The sheep were shown pictures of rams they were closely associated with or sheep in their group of "friends." The scientists then analyzed data collected by machines. Kendrick said sheep and human brains are similar in other areas, as well. "We have now provided strong evidence that sheep possess very similar abilities to humans in using faces to recognize one another and also have the same specialized neural networks in their temporal and frontal cortices," he said.

Source: Coffee Break (daily e-mail)


Population Dynamics of  Gastrointestinal Parasites

Between 1999 and 2003, studies were conducted at Utrecht University in the Netherlands to characterize the population dynamics of gastrointestinal nematodes and the potential to use evasive grazing as a means of controlling nematode infections in small ruminants.

On pastures grazed in May and June, it took at least 3 weeks before high pasture infectivity levels for Haemonchus contortis developed. In July, August, and September, it took only two weeks. Occasionally, larvae emerged earlier on pasture when high temperatures coincided with rain. Pasture infectivity levels for H. contortis subsequently increased and the highest levels were found between 5 and 9 weeks for pastures grazed in May-June and between 3 and 9 weeks for pastures grazed in July, August, and September. Pasture infectivity decreased to low levels after approximately 3 months.

Patterns of Teladorsagia circumcinta (small brown stomach worm), Trichostrongylus spp. and Cooperia curticei was similar to H. contortis. Strongyloides papillosus larvae emerge within two weeks on pasture and survival is short. On the other hand Nematodirus (thread-necked strongyl) larvae took a lot longer to emerge on pasture than the other trichostrongylids.

These results suggest that only a small number of farms could use evasive grazing as the only control method for gastrointestinal nematodes; however, evasive grazing can be combined with other strategies in a more integrated control program.

Source: Veterinary Parasitology, April 2005.


Who is Most Prone to Worm Infestations?

One method to limit the spread of drug-resistant worms is to selectively target the most susceptible animals within a flock for treatment. Previous studies with dairy goats have shown that within a flock, goats in their first lactation, as well as those with high levels of milk production were highly receptive to worm infestations.

In studies conducted with dairy sheep in Wisconsin and France, age had a significant effect on parasite susceptibility, with first time lambers being most susceptible. However, there were not any significant differences between ewes based on level of milk production. Thus, in a sheep flock, young ewes lambing for the first time present a higher parasitic risk and should be targeted for treatment.

Source: Small Ruminant Research Journal (article in press).


Promoting Dairy Goats

by Brent Deitrich

The Maryland Dairy Goat Association is an organization promoting the dairy goat in Maryland and surrounding states. They hold several sanctioned dairy goat shows each year, workshops, buck collection and artificial insemination clinics, and other various activities. Each year, a youth under 21 is elected from a contest to be the Association's Youth Representative for the year. Many activities are done to promote youth, including a Youth Show with various activities in June (showmanship, breed show, fun activities like team fitting and quiz bowl), participation in scholarship funds, and awards at the Maryland State Fair.

Membership is open to anyone interested in dairy goats. Single membership rates are $10, family $15, youth $5. Extensive information is available on the website at www.marylanddairygoat.org.

If you would like a sample newsletter, contact Brent Deitrich at editor@marylanddairygoat.org or (717) 692-4648.

Editor's Note: I’m planning to organize an all-day conference on small ruminant dairying sometime in 2006. I would appreciate any input regarding topics and speakers, time and location of the conference etc.


Disease In-Depth: Listeriosis
Circling Disease

Listeriosis or "circling disease" is a bacterial disease that is common in ruminants and may also affect pigs, dogs, cats, some wild animals, and humans. Encephalitis is the most common form of the disease in ruminant animals. In young animals, visceral or septicemic infections may occur. Intra-uterine infection of the fetus via the placenta frequently results in abortion in sheep, goats, and cattle.

Listeria moncytogenes is the bacteria that causes listeriosis. The bacteria can live almost anywhere – soil, manure piles, grass, and the digestive tract of animals. Grazing animals may ingest the bacteria and further contaminate the vegetation and soil. Animal-to-animal transmission occurs via the fecal-oral route. Listeria thrive in aerobic conditions where the pH is 5.4 or higher and don't do well in acidic conditions. As a result, the top layers of silage or improperly preserved silage harbor large numbers of the bacteria, and disease is often associated with the feeding of silage. The incubation period is 10 to 18 days after the bacteria is ingested.

Sheep with listeriosis

Sheep with listeriosis

Photo from University of
South Carolina Medical School

Sheep and goats are more susceptible to listeriosis than cattle. The course in sheep and goats is rapid. Death may occur 24 to 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. Affected animals appear depressed and disoriented. They may propel themselves into corners, lean against stationary objects, or circle towards the affected side. Facial paralysis with a drooping ear, deviated muscle, flaccid lip, and lowered eyelid often develops on the affected side, as well as continuous salivation and food material impacted in the cheek. Terminally affected animals fall, are unable to rise, lie on the same side, and may display involuntary running movements.

Although less common, listeriosis may cause abortions in ewes and does, usually in the last third of pregnancy. Abortion rates vary, but have been as high as 20 percent in sheep flocks. Abortion occurs 10 to 18 days after the bacteria gain entry to the bloodstream. Retained placentas may be a problem in aborting ewes. After abortion, most ewes recover fully.

Recovery rate can be up to 30 percent, but depends on early aggressive antibiotic treatment. Severely affected animals may die despite aggressive treatment. Listeria monocytogenes is susceptible to penicillin (the drug of choice), ceftiofur, erythromycin, and trimethoprim/ sulfonamide. High doses are required because of the difficulty in achieving minimum bactericidal concentrations in the brain. Penicillin G should be given at 20,000 units/lb. of body weight, intramuscularly, daily for 1 to 2 weeks; the first injection should be accompanied by the same dose given intravenously. Supportive therapy, including fluids and electrolytes, is required for animals having difficulty eating and drinking.

Listeriosis can be confirmed only by isolation and identification of L. monocytogenes. Specimens of choice are brain from animals with central nervous system involvement and aborted placenta and fetus. Other disease which may present similar nervous symptoms as listeriosis include polio (thiamine deficiency), pregnancy toxemia (ketosis), milk fever, brain and spinal cord abscesses, meningeal worm infection, tetanus, enterotoxemia, rabies, and scrapie.

Listeriosis is zoonotic, meaning animals can transmit it to humans. Most people that are exposed to listeria do not become ill. Listeriosis primary affects people with weakened immune systems, such as the very young or very old, as well as pregnant women. Listeriosis can cause abortions in women.

Reference: Merck Veterinary Manual 8th Edition


So Long, Susan M.

Susan Morren, the Administrative Assistant for the Small Ruminant Extension Program at the Western Maryland Research & Education Center resigned April 30th to pursue other interests. She had been with Maryland Cooperative Extension since 1998.

We wish Susan luck in all her future endeavors and will greatly miss her.

Cindy Mason is currently providing administrative support to the small ruminant extension program.


Human-Animal Bond Survey

The Hartz Mountain Corporation conducted its first annual human-animal bond survey. According to the survey:

Source: VeterinaryPracticeNews.com


Featured Breed:
Angora Goats
:  
Producers of Luxurious Fiber

Angora goats take their name from the ancient Turkish city of Ankara, near where they originated. The Turks thought so highly of these special goats that none left the country until the sixteenth century. The first exports landed in Spain and France, but Angoras didn't reach American soil until 1849.

The most valuable characteristic of Angora goats as compared to other goats is the value of the mohair that is clipped. Mohair is similar in chemical composition to wool, but has a much smoother surface and a very thin, smooth scale. Mohair lacks the felting qualities of wool. It is very similar to coarse wool in the size of the fiber. Mohair is a strong fiber that is elastic, has considerable luster, and takes dye very well.

Angora goats
Angora Goats in Texas

In 2004, the average clip was 7.2 lbs. per goat sheared. Angoras are typically shorn twice per year, before breeding and before kidding. The most valuable fiber comes from kid goats. As Angora goats mature and grow larger, their hair gets coarser and is less valuable.

The hair from yearling and younger animals is usually used for clothing and apparel. The hair from older animals is usually used in carpets and upholstery. In 2004, the average price was $1.97 per pound. Higher prices can be obtained if the mohair is sold to hand spinners. There is a government support program for mohair. It guarantees producers a minimum price for their clip.

Along with South Africa, the United States is now one of the largest producers of mohair in the world. About 90 percent of the mohair clip originates from Texas, but Angora goats are raised throughout the U.S. Ninety percent of the Angora clip is exported.

The Angora goat is a small animal compared to sheep and most other breeds of goats. While there is considerable variation in size, mature bucks usually range from 180 to 225 lbs.. They do not reach their full mature weight until they are five years old. Does average 70 to 110 lbs. when mature.

Angora goats are a picturesque animal with both sexes having horns. The bucks have a pronounced spiral to the horns which may reach two or more feet in length. The horns of females are relatively short. Ears are heavy and drooping.

The Angora goat is not as prolific as other goats and twins are not the usual birth. The breed is among the most delicate of domestic animals. They are extremely delicate at birth and need protection from cold and damp weather. Mature goats in full fleece are fairly hardy, but cannot withstand cold wet rains after shearing. Angora goats are more susceptible to internal parasitism than sheep. Angora goats adapt well to many conditions, but are particularly suited to the arid southwestern states.

Reference:  http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/goats/angora/.

Click HERE to learn more about mohair (Mohair Council of America).


Featured Web Sites
West Virginia Sheep Management Project

The West Virginia Sheep Management Project was introduced in 1998 by the West Virginia University College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences in cooperation with the WVU Cooperative Extension Service, USDA Wildlife Services, and the WV Department of Agriculture. The Project is currently being supported through funding provided by the WV State Legislature. The purpose of the Project is to help farmers increase the economic efficiency and overall profitability of their sheep enterprises through improved production practices and through the introduction of new technologies and to help revitalize the sheep industry in West Virginia.

The project publishes a quarterly newsletter which can be downloaded from the web site at http://www.caf.wvu.edu/avs/sheep/. The bulletin "Feasibility of Goat Production in West Virginia: A Handbook for Beginners" has recently been posted to the web site. The web site also includes state and national news, a holiday calendar, classified ads, calendar of events, project reports and a directory of person in West Virginia who work in the sheep project area.

http://www.caf.wvu.edu/avs/sheep/index.html


Ram Lamb Performance Testing

The WV Sheep Management Project, the WV University Extension Service, and the WV Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station will begin conducting a ram performance test in 2006 at Reymann Memorial Farm in Wardensville. WV. The testing program will utilize the "GrowSafe 4000E" System which allows feed data to be collected from individual animals. Since the GrowSafe system was developed for cattle, it will be necessary to make modifications for sheep. Thus, in 2005, WVU will conduct an experimental ram test using rams from the university flocks.


Calendar of Events

June 18
3rd Annual Scott County Hair Sheep Sale
Gate City, VA.
Info: Pete Odle at (276) 452-2772 or jodle@vt.edu

June 22-23
Hair Sheep Workshop
Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA.
Info: Dr. Stephan Wildeus at (804) 524-6716 or swildeus@vsu.edu

June 22-23 (wool accepted June 22 only)
Maryland-Delaware Wool Pool
Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD.
Info: Dr. Richard Barczewski at (302) 857-6410 or rbarczew@desu.edu

July 6
Ultrasound Scanning Day (with optional blood collection for scrapie gentyping)
Washington County Agricultural Education Center, Boonsboro, MD.
Info: Susan at (301) 432-2767 x343 or sschoen@umd.edu.

July 7
Integrated Parasite (IPM) Workshop
Garrett College, McHenry, MD.
Info: Willie Lantz at (301) 334-6960 or wlantz@umd.edu.

July 30
Pennsylvania Performance-Tested Ram and Buck Sale and Invitational Ewe and Doe Sale
Pennsylvania Furnace, PA.
Info: Glenn Eberly at (814) 238-2527 or geberly@state.pa.us.

August 27
Virginia Performance-Tested Ram Lamb Sale
Steeles Tavern, VA.
Info : Dr. Scott Greiner at (540) 237-9159 or sgreiner@vt.edu.

October 15
Animal Fiber Expo
Western Maryland Research & Education Center
Keedysville, MD.
Info: Susan at (301) 432-2767 or sschoen@umd.edu.


For a complete list of Sheep and Goat Events, click HERE.


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.


MCE logo
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. Dr. Niki Whitley from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is a regular contributor to the newsletter. She can be reached at (410) 651-6194 or nwhitley@umes.edu. To receive the newsletter, contact the Western Maryland Research & Education Center: 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD 21756, (301) 432-2767 ext. 343 or 301, fax (301) 432-4089; or e-mail: sschoen@umd.edu or cmason@umd.edu. The cost of receiving the newsletter by mail is $10 per year payable to the University of Maryland. The newsletter is free when accessed via the Internet. 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. sheep andgoat.com/ news/index.html. Comments and suggestions regarding the newsletter are always welcome. Articles may be reprinted with permission of the author(s). Article submissions are encouraged.

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