Pink eye

Pink eye is the lay term used to describe any number of diseases affecting the eye(s) of animals. The more proper name is infectious keratoconjunctivitis.

Pink eye is an infectious and contagious bacterial disease of sheep, goats, and other animals. It may occur at any time of the year and in sheep and goats of any age.

The microorganisms most commonly associated with pink eye in sheep and goats are Chlamydia psittaci ovis and Mycoplasma conjunctivae. They are not the same organisms that cause pink eye in cattle.

Affected animals should be isolated from the rest of the flock to prevent spread of the disease. Pink eye is usually treated with any number of antibiotics that are injected into the body or placed directly in the eye.

The most common treatment is to apply terramycin ointment to the affected eye(s) two to four times per day. The disease is usually self-limiting and will clear up on its own in 10 to 14 days.

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Almost all barber pole worm

Small ruminants are affected by different species of internal parasites, and worms can be a problem at different times of the year. However, summer time is usually the most troublesome period and the barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortus) is usually the most prevalent worm parasite in areas that receive summer rainfall.

The parasites affecting sheep and goats come primarily from the strongyle (roundworm) family. Unfortunately, the eggs of most of these worms look the same when they are examined under a microscope. Consequently, it is necessary to hatch the eggs and look at the larva to identify the exact type of parasite. The test is called a larval development assay or LDA.

At the 2008 Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test, fecal samples were collected every 14 days from the 62 goats on test. Individual fecal samples were sent to Dr. Dahlia Jackson's lab at Delaware State University for fecal egg count detemination, while pooled samples were sent to Dr. Ray Kaplan's lab at the University of Georgia for larval ID.

For the majority of the testing period, the barber pole worm comprised a whopping 96 to 100 percent of the worm infection. This "single" species worm load meant that the FAMACHA© system could be used to determine which goats required anthelmintic treatment.

Funding to promote American Lamb

The American Lamb Board (ALB) is now soliciting applications for the first round of its FY 2009 cooperative funding programs:: the Supplier Cooperative Funding Program and the Matching Grant Program.

The Supplier Cooperative Funding program is available for suppliers who are prepared to share the cost (dollar for dollar) of marketing American Lamb through retail or foodservice promotions.

The Matching Grant Program is available for any non-profit industry organization or association to engage in activities to promote American Lamb at the local level. The grants require a dollar for dollar cash match from the grant recipient. ALB strongly encourages applicants to seek collaborative partners such as suppliers, retailers or foodservice operators, promotions and festivals, research and education entities, etc.

The deadline for receiving applications for both programs is December 31, 2008. Click here to download the applications or contact Rae Maestas at (866) 327-5262 or rae@americanlambboard.org

Kiko bucks top Maryland pasture test

A Kiko buck consigned by John Smith from Petersburg, Virginia, was the top performing buck in the 2008 Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test.

Kendall "James" and Dana Barnes from Kentucky had the top consignment of bucks. All four of their Kiko bucks were in the top 20. The International Kiko Goat Association presented an award to Merritt Burke from Delaware for having a buck in the top 3 of the test.

Similar to the forage-based buck test at Oklahoma State University, gold, silver, and bronze standards of performance were established for the bucks on test. To be considered a gold level goat, bucks had to meet minimum standards for growth rate, parasite resistance (fecal egg counts), and parasite resilience (FAMACHA scores and number of anthelmintic treatments. Four goats qualified met the gold standards.

Eighty-two (82) goats were nominated for the 2008 test. Nominations were received from 21 breeders from 11 states: Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Sixty-two (62) goats were accepted for testing.

For the 100-day duration of the test, average daily gain ranged from -0.09 to 0.240 lbs. per day and averaged 0.124 for the 57 goats that finished the test. ADG was below last year's performance of 0.253 lbs. per day. Poorer growth was attributed to increased parasite problems and rutting behavior. A mid-summer outbreak of soremouth also likely impacted gains.

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Spirit of Humane

According to their web site, Spirit of Humane is committed to the development and commercial distribution of humane slaughter systems for small-scale operations. They market restraint equipment and aids for Halal, Kosher, and general hand slaughter.

Spirit of Humane are family farmers who raise sheep and goats in Northwest Wisconsin. They worked with animal welfare experts to develop a restraint system for the religious slaughter of livestock. The restraint system complies with Halal and Kosher standards and exceeds the requirements of the Humane Slaughter Act.

Spirit of Humane markets a suitable knife for humane sheep and goat slaughter and a mobile slaughter unit. The slaughter unit is built to USDA standards. It is designed for small-scale custom and low volume state and federally inspected facilities.

Partial funding of the Spirit of Humane process was provided by a North Central Region SARE Producer Grant, a Wisconsin Added Value Producer grant, and the Browse & Grass Farmer Association.

The Northeast Sheep & Goat Marketing Program was also instrumental in the development of these slaughter tools.

Download brochure of their products

Dairy goats in China

There are more dairy goats in Fuping County than any county in the world: 320,000 compared to only 310,000 in the entire United States. Fuping County is in North Central China.

The average dairy goat farmer in China has fewer than 10 does. The government is encouraging larger dairy goat farms, based on several organizational models. Almost all of the dairy goats are Saanen.

Small farmers keep their goats near the homestead. On large farms, the goats are kept in confinement: brick buildings with concrete or brick floors. The goats are fed in fence line feeders and have an outside loafing area. On the large farms, corn silage or green chop is fed, along with some hay and grain. Small farmers feed mostly the corn plant; grain, if they can afford it.

Most of the goats, regardless of farm size, are milked by hand. The milk is collected into a bucket, strained into another container, then cooled in a vat of cold water. It is transported to the processing plant in containers. Most of the milk is made into powdered milk.

Within five years, most of the goats will probably be machine milked at milking stations, set up in the villages. The authorities believe that machine milking will improve the quality and safety of the milk.

Read full article: "Dairy Goat Production in China"

Lambing n' Kidding School at UMES

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in Princess Anne, Maryland, will be hosting a Lambing n' Kidding School on Saturday, December 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The workshop will be led by Susan Schoenian, Maryland Cooperative Extension Sheep & Goat Specialist.

Workshop topics will include: feeding pregnant ewes and does, breeding for better results, out-of-season breeding, lambing and kidding problems, and medical question and answers.

Pre-registration and payment is required no later than December 1. The $70 registration fee includes the course, a reference binder, and a deluxe midwife kit. A $20 registration fee includes the course and reference binder. There is a $12.50 registration fee for additional family members.

For more information, contact Maryland Cooperative Extension at (410) 651-6206 or Erroll Mattox at eamattox@umes.edu.

Download program brochure and registration form.

Small Ruminant Position Available

The Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resources Sciences at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore is hiring an Assistant or Associate Professor in the area of Small Ruminant Production and Management. It is the position previously held by Dr. Niki Whitley, who is now on the faculty of North Carolina A&T University.

The mix of responsibilities include:

• Teaching courses in small ruminant production and management and other courses in the applicant's area of expertise
• Advising students
• Assisting in the development of new graduate and undergraduate courses
• Supervising operation of the University's small ruminant facilities
• Conducting research and extension programs in the applicant's area of expertise that are appropriate to the needs of the state, region, and nation
• Cooperating with the University of Maryland College Park in statewide small ruminant program activities.

A Ph.D. in the area of Animal Science and skills in small ruminant production and management is required.

Job announcement at FASS