South Central Sheep and Goat Conference Planned for Nov. 16 in Ava

The “South Central Sheep and Goat Conference” is planned for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 16 at Ava Victory Academy, 1005 NW 12th Street in Ave. Lunch will be served and afternoon sessions will be held at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, Highway 5, Ava.

"If you want to raise sheep or goats for meat or milk, you can learn how to raise them successfully at this conference," said Dr. Jodie Pennington, a small ruminant educator with Lincoln University Extension headquartered in Neosho.  “The conference will provide the basic information participants would need to work with sheep and goats, including hands-on training in the afternoon.”

Topics for the conference include herd health management including foot rot, internal parasite control, sheep and goat nutrition including pasture and forage management, and co-grazing of small ruminants and cattle.

After lunch, the conference will include an information-exchange panel after lunch of sheep and goat producers who will answer questions from the audience.  Hands-on practices will include deworming, FAMACHA, vaccinations, foot trimming, body condition scoring, and selection of breeding stock.

The other speakers for the day are Mark Kennedy, Natural Resource Conservation Service and Dr. Charlotte Clifford-Rathert from Lincoln University Extension in Jefferson City.  Clifford-Rathert is a small ruminant veterinarian who routinely works with goat diseases and internal parasites.

For those who pre-register before Nov. 15 at noon, the cost is $15 person. Simply mail your registration information to the Douglas County Extension Center, PO Box 668, Ava, MO 65608. Registration is $20 at the door the day of the event.

You also may contact the Douglas County Extension Center at 417-683-4409 to register or for more information.

(by David Burton, MU Writer)