SW Missouri Sheep and Goat Conference March 24; Fecal Egg Count Workshop March 23

The Southwest Missouri Sheep and Goat Conference is planned for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, March 24, at the New-Mac Electric Community Room, 9 Mustang Lane (near corner of Hwy 76 and 71B), Anderson, MO.

If you want to raise sheep or goats for meat or milk, you can learn how to raise them successfully at this conference. 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 at the McDonald County Fairgrounds, the conference also will include an information-exchange panel of sheep and goat producers who will answer questions from the audience. Panel members include Todd Schubert, Manager of White’s Sale at Diamond; Pam and Garry Bartkowski, goat and cattle producers from McDonald County; Cecile and Tim O’Neil, cattle producers who are adding goats to their operation from Barry County; Rachael Kennedy, Newton County meat goat producer; and Christy Cole, Newton County dairy goat producer and 4-H leader.

Hands-on practices will include deworming, FAMACHA, vaccinations, foot trimming, body condition scoring, and selection of breeding stock.

Other speakers include Dr. Helen Swartz and Dr. Charlotte Clifford-Rathert from Lincoln University Extension in Jefferson City. Swartz is a sheep and goat specialist who has worked with small ruminants for over 40 years. Clifford-Rathert is a small ruminant veterinarian who routinely works with goat diseases and internal parasites.

Additionally, the University of Missouri and Lincoln University Extension are hosting a Fecal Egg Count Workshop from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 pm, Friday, March 23 in HS2 (basement) of Smith Hall (Newton County Extension Center) on the campus of Crowder College, Neosho, MO, at the corner of Hwy D and Doniphan Ave.

Worms are the primary internal parasite of small ruminants and remain one of the biggest problems of meat and dairy goats. They can also be a problem in sheep but not to the same extent as goats. In order to control worms, you must set up a deworming and sanitation program and stick to it. Worms not only kill both young and old goats, they contribute to poor growth rates, an unthrifty appearance, coughing, diarrhea, and, in severe cases, bottle jaw.

For those who pre-register before March 19, the cost is $10 person. Simply mail your registration information to the Newton County Extension Center, 601 Laclede, Smith Hall (Crowder College), Neosho, MO 64850. Registration is $15 at the door the day of the event. You also may contact the Newton County Extension Center at 417-455-9500 or email simkinsv@missouri.edu to register or for more information.

(by Jodie Pennington, Lincoln University)