Attention Northeast Sheep & Goat Producers

• Do you want to improve your parasite control?
• Do you want to know which of your animals are most parasite resistant?
•  Do you want to learn how to select for traits like parasite resistance in your breeding program?
• Do you live in the Northeast?

Via a Northeast SARE grant, the University of Rhode Island (and its partners) are offering free fecal egg count (FEC) analysis to assist with selective breeding for resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN). Producers can receive assistance in identifying the most parasite resistant sheep and goats in their flocks/herds by using fecal egg count analysis, combined with FAMACHA© scores.  They can receive guidance on using results in individualized selective breeding
decisions.

Criteria for participation.  Small Ruminant producers who . . .

• Live in one of the northeastern states:  New England, New Jersey, New York Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia
• Have a history of problems with gastrointestinal nematode worms
• Are FAMACHA© certified (online training is available)
• Are willing to share general herd/flock information/history
• Have the ability to obtain and ship fecal samples from your animals twice, 3-4 weeks apart
• Have not dewormed the animals to be tested 4 weeks prior to fecal egg analysis

Producers interested in participating in this program please contact either Holly Burdett (hburdett@uri.edu) or Dr. Katherine Petersson (kpetersson@uri.edu) to obtain fecal sampling and shipping instructions.