DIEGO GIMENEZ AND SOREN RODNING
The success of a sheep and goat operation depends on the number of lambs and kids raised, weaned, and marketed each year. The percentage of ewes, does, ewe lambs, and doelings conceived early in the breeding season; the lambing, kidding, and weaning percentages; and the percentage of ewes, does, ewe lambs, and doelings lambing and kidding unassisted are some of the most important factors influencing profits in the sheep and goat business.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds farmers and ranchers in states across the country that USDA offers a variety of resources for those affected by recent extreme weather, including floods, drought, fires and tornadoes. USDA also urges producers in need or those with questions to contact their local county or state USDA Service Center or Farm Service Agency office for assistance. In a recent tour of flooding in Iowa and Nebraska, as well as droughts and wildfires in Arizona and New Mexico, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack promised farmers, ranchers and others that USDA would continue to work hard to deliver assistance to those in need.
MARTHA BLUM
A variety of events and issues are shaping the agricultural industry and providing challenges to farmers. “More is happening outside our industry that is shaping agriculture than inside our industry today and that’s the stuff you need to monitor,” said Michael Boehlje, distinguished professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and the Center for Food and Agricultural Business at Purdue University.
MARLYS WEAVER-STOESZ
This week, thousands of animals are on the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds that, just like their owners and other fair visitors, are trying to keep cool. With temperatures in the 90s last week, fair veterinarian Robert Zell said that 4-Hers need to beware of dehydration and heat exhaustion in their animals Most barns have fans in them already, a few with misters too, he said, and owners need to provide plenty of cold, clean water.
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Extreme heat is stressful to livestock, as well as people. High temperatures are even more problematic in states like Maryland, because high temperatures are also often accompanied by high humidity. The heat index (temperature + humidity) is a more accurate measure of heat stress (hyperthermia) than temperature alone.
MIKE NEARY
Sheep make efficient harvesters of forage crops. However, one of the biggest challenges of grazing sheep is economical and effective control of internal parasites. Internal parasites can cause unthriftiness, reduced production, increased susceptibility to disease and other pests, and even death of sheep. Controlling internal parasites in sheep takes management, monetary resources, and labor resources.
D.E. HOGUE
The STAR system of sheep production has been developed to maximize production of market lambs on a continuous year-round basis. This even supply of high quality lambs should allow for improved market development and enhanced prices for lambs demanded by discriminating consumers. To be successful, a maternal ewe flock that will breed any time of the year and produce mostly twins at each lambing is necessary. Sheep are normally seasonal breeders and lamb only in the spring so proper selection and continued development of the ewe flock is very important.
JOHN B. CAMPBELL
Controlling insects that infest sheep and goats is discussed here. Most of the insects that infest sheep also infest goats but some of the goat lice species are specific for goats. Very few insecticides are approved for lactating goats. For listings of insecticides for control of insect pests of sheep see EC1550, Nebraska Management Guide for Arthropod Pests of Livestock and Horses. John, Lloyd, University of Wyoming, has provided much of the information used here on sheep parasites.
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Antibiotics are powerful medicines that are used to fight bacterial infections. Early civilizations used antibiotics in some form or another (e.g. mold), but didn’t know how they worked. The earliest discovered and still most widely-used antibiotic is Penicillin. Sir Alexander Fleming is given credit for “accidently” discovering Penicillin in 1928. He shared a Nobel Prize in 1945 with the men who developed the technology to mass produce it. Penicillin saved the lives of many Allied soldiers during the Second World War and many lives since. For more than 40 years, antibiotics approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been used to treat sick animals, prevent illness, and maintain the health of animals. Several layers of protection have been put into place to make sure antibiotic use in livestock does not cause harm to humans.
JODIE PENNINGTON AND ANN BOWMAN
The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide information to leaders, parents, and club goat feeders for the development of successful club goat projects. 4-H club goat projects for youngsters are growing in popularity every year; consequently the competition is becoming greater every year. Since goats are small, easy to work with, relatively safer for smaller youth than larger animals and demand a relatively small amount of space, many 4-H and FFA members have discovered that goats are an excellent choice as a club project. Goats provide a meaningful livestock experience in a relatively short time.
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