Enjoy this holiday YouTube video from Giggle with the Goats.
Thanks to Terry Poole for suggesting the link.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
Test your knowledge of hooves
Take this online quiz to test your knowledge of sheep and goat hoof care and diseases.
Hoof care and health is an important aspect of sheep and goat production. Do you know the difference between footrot and foot scald? Do you know how to eradicate footrot from your farm.
Hoof health and diseases quiz
Other online quizzes
Hoof care and health is an important aspect of sheep and goat production. Do you know the difference between footrot and foot scald? Do you know how to eradicate footrot from your farm.
Hoof health and diseases quiz
Other online quizzes
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Sheep inventory report reinstated
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) confirmed that it has reinstated the collecting of data for the January Sheep & Goat Report.
In a press release, NASS stated that it recognizes the importance of NASS's data products and services to U.S. agriculture.
Data collection will begin December 23 with a report date of January 27.
Source: ASI Weekly News, 12.16.11
In a press release, NASS stated that it recognizes the importance of NASS's data products and services to U.S. agriculture.
Data collection will begin December 23 with a report date of January 27.
Source: ASI Weekly News, 12.16.11
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Home Study Courses
Penn State Extension will be offering three Extension Home Study Courses this winter, beginning February 1, 2012. The purpose of the courses is to teach producers about production principles for beef, sheep or meat goats that will help their operations become more profitable.
All three courses are available through the postal service and the sheep and meat goat courses are available through email/internet. Each course has six lessons that are to be completed weekly. The lesson topics include basic production information, nutrition, health, reproduction, marketing, and financial issues.
Cost for a course is $45 if taken over email/internet (sheep and meat goat courses only) and $80 if taken through the postal service. Deadline for registration is January 23, 2012.
For more details or to sign up for a course, go to http://guest.cvent.com/d/sdqb58 or call 877-489-1398.
All three courses are available through the postal service and the sheep and meat goat courses are available through email/internet. Each course has six lessons that are to be completed weekly. The lesson topics include basic production information, nutrition, health, reproduction, marketing, and financial issues.
Cost for a course is $45 if taken over email/internet (sheep and meat goat courses only) and $80 if taken through the postal service. Deadline for registration is January 23, 2012.
For more details or to sign up for a course, go to http://guest.cvent.com/d/sdqb58 or call 877-489-1398.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Organic zinc increases hoof hardness
British scientists conducted two experiments to investigate the effects of replacing ZnO with Bioplex® Zn on performance of pregnant ewes and their lambs.
Twin-bearing Suffolk cross North Country Mule ewes (33 in experiment one and 48 in experiment two) and their lambs were used in the experiments.
According to the scientists, "There were no significant effects of supplementing the control diet with 50mg Zn/kg DM on ewe live weight change, lamb birth weight, weaning weight or growth rate, regardless of zinc source.”
In the second experiment, hoof hardness at lambing was significantly greater in ewes receiving the Bioplex® zinc diet compared to those fed either the control or ZnO diets.
Previous studies with dairy cows and sheep have demonstrated a beneficial effect of replacing inorganic Zn supplements with an organic source of Zn on performance and udder health.
Source: Animal Bytes
Twin-bearing Suffolk cross North Country Mule ewes (33 in experiment one and 48 in experiment two) and their lambs were used in the experiments.
According to the scientists, "There were no significant effects of supplementing the control diet with 50mg Zn/kg DM on ewe live weight change, lamb birth weight, weaning weight or growth rate, regardless of zinc source.”
In the second experiment, hoof hardness at lambing was significantly greater in ewes receiving the Bioplex® zinc diet compared to those fed either the control or ZnO diets.
Previous studies with dairy cows and sheep have demonstrated a beneficial effect of replacing inorganic Zn supplements with an organic source of Zn on performance and udder health.
Source: Animal Bytes
Friday, December 9, 2011
Fill out survey on parasites
The Cornell Sheep and Goat Program is submitting a grant proposal for 2013/2014 to look closer at problems associated with deer worm (also referred to a meningeal worm, P. tenuis) and stomach/intestinal worms such as barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortus) in Northeast goat herds and sheep flocks.
We would greatly appreciate your input on if and how either deer worm or stomach/intestinal worms impact your goat or sheep enterprise and what sort of questions you hope such a project would answer. We ask that you complete a short on-line survey that takes about 5 minutes to complete.
Please go to this link and, if at all possible, complete the survey by midnight, Tuesday, December 12, 2011.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CTB8YHT
Thank you.
Dr. tatiana Luisa Stanton
Small Ruminant Extension Specialist
Cornell Sheep & Goat Program
We would greatly appreciate your input on if and how either deer worm or stomach/intestinal worms impact your goat or sheep enterprise and what sort of questions you hope such a project would answer. We ask that you complete a short on-line survey that takes about 5 minutes to complete.
Please go to this link and, if at all possible, complete the survey by midnight, Tuesday, December 12, 2011.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CTB8YHT
Thank you.
Dr. tatiana Luisa Stanton
Small Ruminant Extension Specialist
Cornell Sheep & Goat Program
Singing lambs
In celebration of the holidays, Brooks Brothers has created a video of sheep singing Jingle Bells. They encourage viewers to "Share the Miracle" with friends.
Brooks Brothers is the oldest men's clothing chain in the United States. They were founded in 1818 as a family business.
Brooks Brothers is the oldest men's clothing chain in the United States. They were founded in 1818 as a family business.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
2012 VA-NC Shepherds' Symposium
The annual Virginia-North Carolina Shepherds' Symposium will be held January 6-7, 2012, at the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Program topics include: Sheep parasite management: past, present, and future; On farm application of FAMACHA for parasite control; Experiences with direct marketing lamb and wool; Management and feeding tips for the ewe flock; improving carcass merit in sheep; and Experiences with using CIDRs to induce fall lambing.
Full registration is $25 and includes lunch, breaks, and materials. Youth registration is only $10. The deadline for pre-registration is January 2.
Download program brochure
Program topics include: Sheep parasite management: past, present, and future; On farm application of FAMACHA for parasite control; Experiences with direct marketing lamb and wool; Management and feeding tips for the ewe flock; improving carcass merit in sheep; and Experiences with using CIDRs to induce fall lambing.
Full registration is $25 and includes lunch, breaks, and materials. Youth registration is only $10. The deadline for pre-registration is January 2.
Download program brochure
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