DERREL PEEL
Lingering winter weather this year is exaggerating the impacts of limited forage supplies for beef producers. Drought in 2011 and 2012 reduced U.S. hay production and increased hay demand leaving the country with very limited forage supplies at this time.
LINDA COFFEY
This publication discusses the pasture benefits of multispecies grazing, and addresses potential problems, and obstacles to adoption. It also offers references and resources.
DAN MORRICAL
Urinary calculi, or water belly, a common disease of male sheep, is caused by the formation of small stones in the urinary tract. This causes the retention of urine and rupture of the urinary bladder or urethra. Includes information about contributing factors, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of urinary calculi.
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Although the methods of hydroponic fodder production date back to the 1930’s, there is renewed interest in hydroponic fodder as a feedstuff for sheep, goats, and other livestock.
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
According to a 2001 NAHMS study, 56.8 percent of sheep operators sell their lambs through auction markets/sale barns. This percentage is probably higher in the Eastern U.S., where direct sales to packers and feeders are less common. For example, a 2003 study showed that 73.5 percent of West Virginia sheep producers market their lambs through livestock auctions. The percentages of goats sold at livestock auctions is probably similar, though a higher percentage of goats may be slaughtered on-farm.
As summer time approaches you should be aware that while it is unusual for goats to become poisoned by eating hazardous plants there are situations in which goats and other livestock will consume potentially deadly plants. A full list of poisonous plants follows.
CHARLOTTE CLIFFORD-RATHERT
Goats are natural brush control agents, according to Charlotte Clifford-Rathert, assistant professor and state extension small ruminant specialist with Lincoln University Cooperative Extension and Research.
DANIELLE BEARD
Parsons, Kansas — “I’m a worm guy,” said Tom Yazwinski, DVM, department of animal science, University of Arkansas, in his opening statements at the recent Boehringer Ingelheim sponsored Missouri Beef Summit. With spring in full swing, worms are highly active, leaving livestock at risk. “The more worms you have on your farm the less animals you have,” Yazwinski stated.
BY MARTHA MCGRATH
Now that summer is here and all the ewes have lambed and are out on pasture, we have a bit of a respite from most shepherding chores. One of our important jobs, though, is keeping internal parasites under control. Most of you know that total elimination of internal parasites is not practical, or even desirable, but worms can cause a lot of damage to lambs if left unchecked.
sheepngoats 