July 2002Inside this issue |
 |
I think most producers would agree that the new regulations, while sometimes frustrating to deal with, are essential to eradicating scrapie from U.S. soil and that eradicating scrapie is something that we need to do. With regards to the regulations, we have been in an educational phase, but expect the new regulations to be enforced soon.
A new lamb check-off will have begun by the time you receive this newsletter. You will not feel the impact directly, as the check-off will be collected at the processor level, unless you are a direct marketer in which case you are expected to remit the check-off.
A new tail-docking policy, which will be implemented next year, has been welcomed by many sheep producers, but is held in disdain by others. I encourage producers to properly dock their lambs and not try to test the “limit” of the new policy. My feeling is that it is the right thing to do, because if we don’t police our own industry, someone else will. I don’t want to see laws regulating docking or any other production practice. Did you know that in the United Kingdom a sheep’s tail must be left long enough to fully cover the ewe’s vulva and the ram’s anus?
The American sheep industry has hired the public relations firm that created the “Pork, the other white meat,” and “Got milk” advertising campaigns. The new slogan for lamb is “Fresh American Lamb (Meat lovers know)™” Promotional efforts will be directed at increasing consumption of lamb among consumers who already eat lamb. The check-off will make more funds available for promotion of lamb.
I only wish there were some funds available to promote fresh American goat meat to the American public. In fact, while the sheep industry struggles nationwide, meat goats continue to grow as an industry. I am pleased to be a member of the American Sheep Industry Association’s new “goat” committee. I think that it is imperative that the sheep and goat industries work together to solve common problems and take advantage of the various opportunities.
I wish everyone luck
in the upcoming show/fair season.
Susan Schoenian
Area Agent, Sheep
and Goats
www.sheepandgoat.com
New
Name Sought for Newsletter
The Maryland Sheep
and Goat Producer is seeking a new and better name. Please send your
ideas to me at ss80@umail. umd.edu or 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville,
MD 21756. Remember the name of the newsletter must reflect both sheep
and goats. In addition, if you have ideas as to what you’d like to
see in the newsletter, including the web-enhanced online version, please
let me know.
Requirements for
shows/exhibits
A brochure titled,
“Requirements for Going to ‘The Show’” has been prepared for distribution
to producers involved in the exhibition of sheep and goats. For an individual
copy of the brochure, write to Scrapie Eradication, National Institute
for Animal Agriculture, 1910 Lyda Ave., Bowling Green, KY 42104-5809 or
call 270-782-9798. The brochure is also available in PDF format on the
web at www.animalagriculture.org/scrapie.
The basics for
shows and exhibitions
1. What categories
of sheep and goats REQUIRE official ID at shows/exhibitions?
• All breeding females, i.e. ewes, ewe lambs, does and doelings.
• All breeding rams and bucks
2. What categories
of sheep and goats DO NOT REQUIRE official scrapie ID for shows and
exhibitions?
• Wethers, unless otherwise required by state regulations in the
state where the show is
taking place or by a specific show’s rules.
3. Does this mean
that official scrapie ID must be in place for all sheep and goats, as outlined
in the first question for all shows?
• No, shows and exhibitions that are not open to out-of-state exhibitors
are not required to
have official scrapie ID. However, the show or state may have such
a requirement so be
sure to check the show rules or with the organizers of the event.
4. How do I know
if a given show will have entries from other states?
• Check the show’s official rules or ask the show organizers.
5. If I am taking
my animals to an out-of-state show, can I assume that I must have official
scrapie ID and a health certificate?
• Yes.
6. Where can I get
official identification tags and/or more information?
• Simply call 1-866-873-2824. That number will put you in touch with
animal health
officials in your state who are responsible for the scrapie eradication.
7. When can breed
registration tattoos be used in place of official scrapie ID tags?
• A registration tattoo can be used when the animal is accompanied
by its registration
paper or a photo copy of a completed application for registration.
8. When should sheep
or goats be tagged?
• Any time prior to leaving the farm.
9. What about health
certificates?
• Anytime sheep or goats cross state lines, they must be accompanied
by a health
certificate (Certificate of Veterinary Inspection).
10. What if my sheep
or goat loses its official ID?
• Replace it with a new one and record the new number and flock of
birth in your records.
11. If I sell my
sheep or goat at the show, what records am I required to keep?
• Record the ID of the individual animal(s) sold and the buyer’s name,
address and phone
number and retain the records for five years.
ID requirements CAN AND DO VARY from show to show and state to state. Shows/exhibitions and individual states must meet federal standards, but they can, and often do, exceed them. So to be safe, always check with your event organizers and/or state animal health officials.
Source: Requirements for Going to “The Show,” National Institute for Animal Agriculture. 2002.
State Veterinarian
Offices
Delaware -(302)
739-4811
Maryland - (410)
841-5810
Pennsylvania - (717)
772-2852
Virginia - (804)
786-2481
West Virginia -
(304) 558-2214
USDA area veterinary
offices
Maryland and Delaware
- (410) 349-9708
Pennsylvania - (717)
782-3442
Virginia - (804)
771-2774
West Virginia -
(614) 469-5602 (in Ohio)
New Lamb Check-Off
Begins July 1
To compete against rising foreign imports
and flat domestic demand, the domestic lamb industry proposed a promotion
and research check-off program to improve production efficiency and
promote consumption. Under the program which began on July 1, 2002, lamb
producers, seedstock producers, feeders and exporters pay an assessment
of one-half cent ($.005) per pound when live lambs are sold. All sheep
will be subject to the assessment (all feeder and market lambs, breeding
stock and cull animals). Marketing agencies (sale barns, livestock
auctions, and buying stations) will not be assessed but will be required
to collect assessments from the producer, feeder or seedstock producer
and pass it on to the subsequent purchaser. The first handler, primarily
packers, pay an additional 30 cents per head of lambs purchased by the
first handler for slaughter. Direct marketers are required to pay both
the ½ cent per live weight of lamb, as well as the additional assessment
of 30 cents per head. Lamb importers will not be assessed, but exporters
will.
The check-off is expected to raise in excess of $3 million per year, which will be used for promotion, research and information programs for lamb and lamb products (includes pelts, but excludes wool and wool products), with the intent of increasing demand and market efficiency. The funds will be controlled by a 13-member lamb promotion board, which will include: six producer representatives, three feeder representatives; three packers; and one seed stock producer. Of the producer/feeder members of the board, three must be from east of the Mississippi River.
The final rule for the Lamb Promotion, Research, and Information Order was published in the April 11, 2002, edition of the Federal Register. The order calls for a delayed referendum to be conducted no later than three years after assessments begin. In order for the check-off to continue, the referendum must pass by a majority of producers or producers representing 2/3's of U.S. sheep production. Prior to the referendum, refunds may be requested.
A new lamb check-off program has been in development since May 1999, when USDA brought together a task force of all segments of the industry to investigate lamb checkoff possibilities. Previously, the Wool Incentive program had provided funding for producer information and education and product promotion. The Wool Act was phased out in 1996, and a subsequent attempt to pass a check-off failed.
Web sites:
www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/mpb/rp_lamb.htm
In the legislation, “ungraded” wool will be supported at a level of 40 cents per pound. Graded wool will be supported at a level of $1.00 per pound, with adjustments made for differences in quality (grade). The support level for mohair will be $4.20 per pound.
Commodity loan programs allow producers to secure loans using their production as collateral for repayment or receive LDPs in lieu of a loan. In either case, producers benefit from the program when market prices fall below the commodity loan rate. If, on the other hand, market prices are above the loan rate, producers receive no government payments, but benefit from higher commodity prices.
How LDPs work
If the loan rate
per grease lb. of wool is $0.40/lb. and the adjusted world price per lb.
is $0.30/lb., then the loan deficiency payment rate would be $0.10
per pound.
A grower would sell wool for $0.30 per lb., then take this information to his/her county FSA office. FSA would look up the wool LDP (USDA posted wool price), and the grower would collect the LDP on the day of filing.
Total return to grower
= sales price + LDP
$0.30 + 0.10 = 40
cents per pound.
Web sites:
http://www.usda.gov/farmbill/
2002 Maryland
Wool Pool pre-deduction prices
Choice white-faced
0.40/lb.
Medium white-faced
0.30/lb.
Coarse white-face
0.28/lb.
Non-white-faced
0.25/lb.
Short, cotted, broken,
dirty, etc. 0.15/lb.
At this year’s wool
pool, a core sample was taken from each bale of wool. These samples
will be tested to determine fiber diameter for each grade of wool.
This is important because tested wool is supported at a higher level than
untested wool: $1 vs. 40¢ per lb. As a result, producers who sell
their wool at the Maryland Wool Pool may be eligible for higher LDP payments.
The Maryland Sheep Breeders Association sponsors beginning and advanced sheep shearing schools every spring (March-April), usually in Carroll County (Westminster). In addition, a shearers’ listing is contained in the Maryland Sheep News, free to all members of the Maryland Sheep Breeders Association.
The new goat committee of the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) met for the first time on May 17 via telephone conference call. Susan Schoenian, Area Agent for Sheep and Goats with University of Maryland Cooperative Extension was appointed to the committee, whose purpose is to seek common ground between the sheep and goat industries. Most people will agree that the two industries share many of the same problems and opportunities. In fact, in some states such as Texas, sheep and goats are considered one industry.
Common issues identified by the committee include:
• Health issues
• Meat, dairy, and
fiber interests
• Concern with imports
of meat
• Lack of price
reporting
• Legislative issues
• Predator control
• Farm Bill issues
• Grading of meat/animals
• Availability of
pharmaceuticals
ASI is a national organization supported by 41 state sheep associations and national sheep organizations and benefitting the interests of nearly 70,000 American sheep and goat producers. But, while goat producers and organizations may join ASI, the U.S. goat industry lacks its own single trade organization that would allow it to speak with one voice. Instead it has a multitude of organizations relating to the dairy, meat and fiber aspects of goat production. Hopefully, these efforts initiated by ASI will help to bring the goat industry together, in addition to seeking ways for the sheep and goat industries to work together.
Membership dues are $35 per farm for the first year and $20 for subsequent years. As of June 1, 2002, the association had 31 members. For information contact Willie Lantz, President of the association, at (301) 387_3331 or wlantz@garrettcollege.edu. Send your membership dues, payable to the MD-PA-WV Meat Goat Association, to Walter Schoenian, 17943 National Pike, Frostburg, MD 21532.
The SSQA program is voluntary and consists of three levels of training for producers. Level 1 training is designed to educate producers regarding the basis of assuring sheep safety and quality, to describe and define the safety and quality criteria and to assure that producers understand the concepts and reasoning behind the development of the criteria, and the importance of their training. Completion of level 1 training identifies producers as “participants” in the SSQA program.
Level 2 training is designed for education of small groups of producers, assisting them in the development of mission statements, production flow diagrams, objectives, and procedures that will be needed to implement the SSQA program. Certification at level 2 implies that producers understand the concepts needed to develop a site-specific plan, complete with objectives and procedures. Level 3 training is designed to verify that producers have implemented the SSQA program and that they are following the guidelines. The SSQA program consists of five components:
1) Use of feed additives and animal health products.
2) Animal health treatment and maintenance
3) Harvested feeds, contaminants and sanitation.
4) Feed storage and monitoring
5) Nutritional and health management and husbandry.
Key components of the SSQA program include proper injection techniques, residue avoidance, proper extra-label drug use and record keeping. One of the reviewers of the SSQA guidelines was David Greene, Maryland sheep producer and retired Carroll County Extension Agent. Similar quality assurance programs exist for the beef, pork and dairy industries.
What about goats?
Though developed for sheep, the
guidelines contained in the SSQA program are equally applicable to goats.
Youth
In Maryland, livestock quality assurance training
is required of all 4-H youth with sheep, beef and swine projects. Goats
and other species will be added to the training in the future.
Web site:
http://www.colostate.edu/programs/SSQA/
In order to prescribe or administer a drug extra-label, a veterinarian must have established a “Veterinarian-Client-Patient relationship,” be available for follow-up consultation and calculate a reasonable withdrawal time to ensure that residue contaminated meat or milk does not enter the food chain. Extra-label drug use occurs any time that a non-approved product is used or when an approved product is used in a manner that is inconsistent with the label (dose, frequency, route). Producers may not use drugs extra-label unless they are prescribed by a veterinarian in the context of a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
Do
Some Rams Sire More Twins?
Most of us have
been taught that the ewe determines the number of lambs that are born and
that the ram has little influence on litter size. But there is empirical
evidence to suggest otherwise. Thus, researchers at the University
of Wyoming looked at the influence of individual rams on ewe prolificacy
by collecting data from individual matings of 42 rams and 1,346 ewes (western
white-faced) over an eight year period.
The number of lambs born per ewe differed by year and age of ewe. Ram effects on ewe prolificacy ranged from 1.3 to 2.2 +.1 lambs per ewe. Among all rams, 6 (14%) sired < 1.5, 13 (30%) sired 1.6 to 1.79, 16 (37%) sired 1.8 to 1.99, 6 (14%) sired 2.0 to 2.19, and 2 (5%) sired > 2.2 lambs per ewe.
Based on this data, it was concluded that individual rams do differ in their ability to sire multiple offspring and that the magnitude of the differences observed among rams may be of importance to overall flock productivity. The mechanism(s) by which rams affect prolificacy is not known, but it appears likely that they differentially affect ovulation rate, conception rate or embryonic survival.
Source: Journal of
Animal Science Vol. 8, Suppl. 2
Kiko vs. Boer bucks
It is generally assumed that Boer bucks sire the
fastest growing crossbred kids. The Kiko, a large white breed of goat,
is another recent import that is available to the U.S. meat goat industry.
It is a New Zealand breed that originated from the crossing of dairy bucks
on native New Zealand goats. But, just how do Kiko-sired kids compared
to Boer-sired kids? To answer that question, researchers at Virginia
State University and the Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center (Beaver,
WV) evaluated the pre and post-weaning performance of Boer and Kiko-sired
crossbred goat kids by mating Boer and Kiko bucks (8) to Spanish
and Myotonic does (83) during a November mating season. Kids were
born on pasture and weaned at 60 days of age. At 4 months of age,
32 male kids (½ intact and ½ surgically castrated) were placed
on a 120 day post-weaning feeding trial. The goats on the feed trial were
fed a moderate quality grass hay and a corn/cottonseed supplement at 2
% of their body weight.
Birth weight of kids was affected by dam breed, but not sire breed. Pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG) and weaning weight were not affected by either dam or sire breed. Post-weaning ADG was not affected by breed, though ADG was higher for intact males during the second half of the feeding trial. The results of this experiment suggest that there is no difference in growth performance between Boer and Kiko-sired crossbred kids when a moderate level of nutrition is fed.
Source: Abstracts: American Society of Animal Science, Southern Section, Feb. 1-6, 2002.
Web site:
www.asas.org/jas/
Get involved with research
One of the best ways to discover new information and answer “what if?” questions is to conduct on-farm research or demonstrations. If you would be interested in participating in an on-farm trial or demonstration with your sheep and/or goat herd, please contact me at (310) 432-2767 ext. 343 or ss80@umail.umd.edu or Dr. Niki Whitley (UMES) at (410) 651-6194 or nwhitley@mail.umes.edu.
Examples of potential on-farm research or demonstrations include, but are not limited to:
1) Out-of-season breeding (spring
or summer breeding).
2) Synchronized breeding.
3) Parasite trials to determine
effectiveness of deworming program.
4) Parasite trials to determine
level of anthelmintic resistance.
5) Parasite trials to determine
appropriate dosage and route of administration for
anthelmintics.
6) Parasite trials to determine
efficacy of natural or non-chemical dewormers.
7) Ultrasound scanning for loin
eye.
8) Comparison of different types
and levels of feed supplementation.
9) Comparison of different pasture
rotation systems.
10) Use of feed additives (e.g. Bovatec)
or growth promoters (e.g. Ralgro).
11) Use of sheep and/or goats to control
unwanted vegetation (brush control).
12) Sheep and/or goats in a silvopasture
system (woodland grazing).
13) Economic analysis of sheep/goat production.
In order to conduct research that can be published
in scientific literature, you must be willing to divide your flock or lamb
(or kid) crop in half, so that comparisons can be made. There must
also be similarity in terms of genetics, management, and environment.
Demonstrations can be conducted with entire farms, herds or crops. In many
situations, outside funding can be found to fund the research or demonstration
project.
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (agmrc)
The Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (agmrc)
at http://www.agmrc.org is a new web site on value-added agriculture.
The site was created by four of the nation’s leading agricultural universities:
Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and the University of California,
Davis. The site will provide general information on value-added agriculture,
as well as commodity specific information. Resources will also be listed
by state.
The Myotonic goat
by Niki Whitley, Ph.D.
UMES Livestock Specialist
The breed of the month for July is a goat breed, the Myotonic. Myotonic goats are known by many names, including Tennessee Fainting, Wooden Leg, Stiff Leg, and Fall-Down goat. Fainting goats or Myotonics do not actually faint since that would mean that they lose consciousness. Actually, due to a mutation in their DNA, a chloride channel involving muscle contraction is defective and when they are excited, nervous, or scared their muscles stiffen beyond their control and they might fall or be pushed over easily.
While stiff, the animal is still aware of what is going on around it, tries to get up, and may even continue eating if it were previously doing so. They recover in around 5-30 seconds (more or less) and can then move around fine. In my experience (UMES has a small flock of Myotonics), some animals will stiffen again quite soon (in a few minutes), but some do not stiffen again for a long time (hours). The “amount” of stiffening can also differ. Some seem to not stiffen much at all, you can just see a bit of stiff legged gait while they are running, so they can keep up with “normal” goats when we are rounding them up. But some will fall over easily and will have a slow recovery period in which it is hard for them to get back up. We have one doe that stiffens very badly and nearly always falls over. One of her twin daughters is just like her while the other stiffens and then recovers easily.
The most consistent noticeable sign of myotonia (the condition the Myotonics have) is a very heavily muscled rump that will stiffen and cause a short time of “hopping” when the animal is trying to get away from something. There are several things that can cause the stiffening response – the excitement of getting grain, humans trying to catch them or dominance fights among the flock are the most common ones I have seen.
Myotonics have been reported to have up to 40% more muscling than other goats because of the myotonia – the repeated contractions are similar to bodybuilding in humans. It has also been said that their meat is some of the most tender goat meat of any breed. However, although the stiffening is genetic and causes heavier muscling, there is a question in my mind of whether or not they would be useful in a crossbreeding system for increasing muscle.
In goats, and it is true in our flock, the form of myotonia reported is a recessive trait (it takes two of the same genes to show the trait-like red color in the Angus cow breed). The recessive myotonia condition is also found in humans and is called myotonia congenita and more specifically, Becker’s Disease. If this is the only form of myotonia in goats, use of them in a crossbreeding system to increase muscle would not work. Indeed, because Myotonics are a small, heavily muscled breed and Nubians a tall, lighter muscled breed of goat, we crossed the two to try to take advantage of the Nubian frame and Myotonic muscle. The offspring looked and grew like a Nubian and never fainted.
However, if, like in humans, there is a dominant form of myotonia in goats (like Thomsen’s Disease in humans), perhaps the frame of the Nubian or another breed would be complimented by heavier muscling from a dominant myotonia gene passed on from a Myotonic goat with that condition. I believe that Dr. Brian Sayre at Virginia State University is looking at the genes causing myotonia in goats and trying to clarify some of these genetic questions. Dr. Philip Sponenberg at Virginia Tech has also done work with myotonic goats.
The Myotonic may or may not be suitable for a terminal line breed, however, it certainly has potential to be an excellent maternal line breed. For example, our Myotonics are a low input doe flock, needing less de-worming and hoof trimming than our Boer doe flock, and this seems to be a characteristic of the breed. Myotonics average twins, kid easily and most are excellent mothers.
Other traits that would make them a good maternal breed is that because of their muscle mutation, they do not jump or climb, making them easier to keep than many other goat breeds. And because of their small size (80-110 lb mature doe) they do not eat as much so they are cheaper to maintain, but yet could wean fast growing, large kids in a crossbreeding system. Our best doe in the February-March 2002 kidding consisting of nearly 40 does (Boer, Boer cross, Nubian and Myotonics) weaned 94% of her total body weight in kids! That is outstanding for a goat and was very far from the next highest which was a Boer cross that weaned 77% of her body weight in kids. The winner was an 80 lb Myotonic with purebred Myotonic triplets-and she did this eating grass. I can’t imagine what she and the other Myotonics could have done if we had grain fed and/or if the kids had been sired by a Boer.
Some of my favorite does are actually Myotonic x Boer crosses. When looking at them, you cannot tell them from fullblood Boer does. They do not faint and they are the coloring and size of a Boer doe (at least ours are). They have twins or triplets and raise them, a trait I love as a reproductive physiologist. Bred to a Boer male, the Myotonic x Boer does’ offspring seem to grow like weeds and are very hardy.
Although I focused mostly on production information, there is more to know about Myotonics. For example, the “traditional” coloring is black and white, but they can be in a variety of colors and can also be long-haired (although that is rare). The goats had their beginning in Tennessee when a transient farm worker named Mr. Tinsley sold a few head to Dr. H. H. Mayberry. Our purebred Myotonic kids begin to faint by around 2 weeks of age while some producers have said their Myotonics do not faint until 1-1.5 years of age (more like Becker’s Disease in humans which does not manifest itself until 4-12 years of age).
If interested, you can read more about Myotonics and the origin of the breed on the internet at the American Tennessee Fainting Goat Association website among others. If you are interested in seeing some Myotonics “in action” you are welcome to come visit the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, MD (410-651-6194).
Web sites
www.webworksltd.com/webpub/Goats/FaintingGoat.html
www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/goats/MYOTONIC/
>Virginia State University and the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine are conducting a survey on small ruminant parasite control. Sheep and goat producers in Maryland are being sought for their participation in a telephone survey that is estimated to last about 30 minutes. If you are willing to participate in this survey, please contact Dr. Joe Tritschler at Virginia State at (804) 524-5957 or jtritsch @vsu.edu. The information gleaned from this survey, along with the research and education programs that ensue, will benefit sheep and goat producers throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
August 3
Pennsylvania Performance-Tested Ram Sale
Penn State Ag Arena, State College, PA
Contact Glen Eberly at (814) 238_2527
August 15
Deadline to apply for year 3 payments of the Lamb
Meat Adjustment Assistance Program (LMAAP)
Contact: local FSA offices
August 20
State graded lamb, goat and sheep tel-o-auction,
Farmers Livestock Exchange, Winchester, VA.
Contact: (540) 667-1023
August 22-September 2
Maryland State Fair, Timonium, Maryland
Info: www.marylandstatefair.com
August 24
Virginia Performance-Tested Ram Lamb Sale
Steele’s Tavern, VA
Contact: Scott Greiner at (540) 231-9159
October 13-19
American Dairy Goat Association Convention
Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, Hagerstown,
MD
Contact: ADGA at (828) 286-3801
October 19
Maryland Sheep Breeders Association
Annual meeting and Banquet
Carroll County Ag Center, Westminster, MD
Contact: MSBA V.P. Jeff Hevner at (410) 775-2095
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 and Goat Producer is published quarterly by the Western Maryland
Research & Education Center, 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, Maryland
21756. It is edited by Susan Schoenian
, Area Agent for Sheep and Goats in Western Maryland. Dr.
Niki Whitley, Livestock Specialist at the University of Maryland Eastern
Shore will be a regular contributor. Call or e-mail if you would like to
be notified by e-mail when a new newsletter has been posted to the web
or if you would like to be added or removed from the mailing list. My phone
number is (301) 432-2767, ext. 343. |
Go to Previous Issue of Maryland Sheep and Goat Producer.
Return to the Maryland Small Ruminant Page