Author: Carter Laidlaw

2024 Cornell Sheep & Goat Symposium November 1 – 3, 2024

The following was submitted by GSSB Member Marlene Halstead of Rocky Top Farm in Ottsville, PA

2024 Cornell Sheep & Goat Symposium In-Person 3 pm Nov 1st to 4 pm Nov 3rd!

Each year the Cornell Dept. of Animal Science puts on the Cornell Sheep & Goat Symposium. Co-sponsors for 2024 include the Cashmere Goat Association and the Empire Sheep Producers Assoc.
The 2024 Cornell Sheep & Goat Symposium is scheduled for Friday Nov 1st- Sunday Nov 3rd, on the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, NY. Goat and sheep raisers and industry stakeholders are welcome to register for the whole event or individual days. Friday Nov 1st is devoted to advance sign-up workshops on 1) Secure Sheep and Wool Supply & Biosecurity planning – NYSAGM 2) Learning to do a field necropsy – Dr. Mary Smith DVM, 3) Demos and hands-on skills for new goat and sheep raisers – Betsy Hodge and Dr. Tatiana Stanton, and later in the evening, 4) Balancing Rations using Computer Software –Rich Toebe, Delaware CCE.
Saturday is our primary day with multiple tracks available. The morning begins with Dr. Robert VanSaun, DVM, MS, PhD Penn State University, discussing Practical Solutions to Increase Lamb and Kid Survival and the Importance of Quality Colostrum. We’ll have presentations by state and university veterinarians, on poisonous plants, skin and fiber diseases, as well as Demos and hands-on skills for beginning goat and sheep raisers, including an intro to artificial insemination, and a panelist discussion with beginning shepherds from Delaware County, NY that participated in a season long study on pasture management. The afternoon includes a track focusing on dairy goats interpreting DHI and linear appraisal records to make breeding decisions, presentations on avian influenza, cache valley, and other high impact diseases, as well as a farmer panel on navigating the fiber to finished goods supply chain, and updates from the NYS Ag & Markets Dairy Products Specialist on how to start a sheep and goat dairy in NYS as well as new federal regulations affecting small ruminant farmers and federal and state programs that may benefit the small ruminant industry. Another in depth presentation from Dr. Robert VanSaun, DVM, Penn State University, on the Role of forage quality in general nutrition and its impact on fiber and milk quality in sheep, goats and camelids. We’ll have hands-on sessions geared towards youth and beginners on fiber fun and beginning goat milk candy making with Nellie’s Knoll Creamery, as well as a demonstration workshop on making goat milk soaps. Additionally, NYS 4-H Livestock and Companion Animal Specialist, Brian Aukema, will have two afternoon sessions focused on Youth and 4-H leaders 1) The Scoop on Poop -Internal Parasites know how 2) Skillathon What? -expanding your livestock skillathon knowledge. Sunday features an advance sign-up sheep and goat parasite workshop with FAMACHA certification as well as the ADGA Pre-Judges Training Conference.
The registration is available online at https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4JHjXDybdRGvl9s . Registration deadline is Friday, Oct 25th.  The program schedule, paper registrations, and additional information on parking etc. are available online at both the Cornell Goat Program Website https://blogs.cornell.edu/goats/  and  the Cornell Sheep Program Website https://blogs.cornell.edu/newsheep/. Please contact Barbara Jones at 607-255-7712 with further registration questions.
The mission of the Cornell Sheep & Goat Program is to improve the sustainability of goat and sheep farms in the Northeastern United States by providing educational resources and communication outlets to producers.
Jess Waltemyer, PRO-Livestock NYS Small Ruminant Extension Specialist, 607-882-4772 (call or text), jrk272@cornell.edu

Zeilinger Wool Closing

Zeilinger Wool Makes Major Announcement

It was announced earlier this week that Zeilinger Wool in Michigan is “no longer operating as a fiber processor.”

“For almost 115 years, we have been privileged and grateful to serve the fiber community. The fiber industry has been a part of our family’s lives for so many generations that in fact, all of you feel like family. Our passion for this business has brought us many connections and experiences we cherish.

“With deep sincere thanks for welcoming us into your lives, Zeilinger Wool Company announces we are no longer operating as a fiber processor. To close our doors has been a difficult, heavy-hearted decision made with many alternative avenues explored. The best answer as a small business owner and for our family is to look to future endeavors and life paths while keeping the fiber community’s valued relationship.

“For our respected and loyal clients, we are glad to announce Jon Zeilinger will continue to serve the fiber industry in a new capacity as sales engineer for Crescent Woolen Mills. Crescent Woolen Mills located in Two Rivers, Wis., has an extensive generational commitment to the textile industry and is excited to welcome Jon Zeilinger with his level of skill and expertise. A commitment to processing the remainder of current Zeilinger Wool Company customer and client fiber orders will be fulfilled by Crescent Woolen Mills.

“The Zeilinger family appreciates, loves and respects the people of the North America fiber industry that provided us with lifetimes of laughter, hard work and wonderful shared memories we will treasure always. Thank you for your business.”

Source: Zeilinger Wool Company

Copied From: ASI WEEKLY -News for Sheep Industry Leaders

Silvopasture video series from FarmingWithTrees

The following was submitted by GSSB Member CB Katzenbach of Sweet Sourland Farm

We are forest farmers, make maple syrup, and participated in the silvopasture survey described below. It’s something we’ve been doing for many years, using small ruminants to control understory vegetation among the red and sugar maples and the sap collection tubing lines. Over the years we’ve followed Cornell’s Maple research programs, and Cornell SmallFarms. A film crew came to our farm (NJ) in the summer of 2022, and you can see fleeting images of our Barbados Blackbelly sheep in this introductory video from Farming With Trees:

https://youtu.be/lY-oAQvWcvo?si=_UJUQbylYvYjL7du

We’re looking forward to seeing the short video they made here; they will add new videos every 2 weeks. Although the survey was limited to the northeastern U.S., the same principles can apply to farms throughout the continent.  Here is their statement and links for more information:

FREE VIDEO SERIES HIGHLIGHTS EXAMPLES OF SILVOPASTURE IN THE NORTHEAST US

With support from the USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC), a collaboration of Regenerative Design Group, Wellspring Forest Farm, and Inhabit Films announce the release of a free video series documenting Silvopasture systems in the Northeastern USA.

Silvopasture (grazing livestock with trees) systems are complex, dynamic and site specific. The practice is both rooted in indigenous land stewardship and its benefits are well documented by scientific literature. Adoption by farmers and land stewards of silvopasture is currently low, but growing in interest.

This project began with an inventory of self-identified silvopasture practitioners in the Northeast US region. A total of 145 respondents across 9 states (ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, NY, RI, NJ, PA) reported stewarding 27,000 acres, with 5,300 of those acres in Silvopasture. From these respondents a range of examples were selected for videos and case studies to offer a snapshot of the practice along with ideas and inspiration for others to follow.

Videos will be released biweekly through the Farming with Trees collective, a decentralized network encouraging collaborative projects in Agroforestry that are grounded in the wisdom and knowledge of people, communities and ecosystems. Find out more at www.FarmingwithTrees.org and Join our Email List to receive an email when a new video is released on the website and YouTube Playlist .

Our immense gratitude for the farmers who agreed to share their experiences.

This project was made possible by a grant from the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, National Agroforestry Center (NAC), under the authority of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. All photos by Costa Boutsikaris, Inhabit Films. 2023.

Finish the Fight Against Scrapie: Brains Needed!

The United States is nearing the goal line after a 70 year battle against scrapie, a fatal disease that affects the brain of sheep and goats. Sheep and goat producers can help the USDA achieve this goal. The current program has been very successful to drastically reduce the amount of scrapie in the US. One of the most difficult aspects of an eradication program is making sure that the last few cases of the disease are found.

The most recent two cases of scrapie found in the US were sampled at slaughter but could not be traced back to a farm origin. One of these cases was a sheep in Wisconsin in 2021 and another was a goat tested in Indiana in 2019. Because these animals did not have adequate records and identification to find where they came from, it is likely there are still farms with cases of scrapie. For a country to be declared free of scrapie, international standards require a certain level of testing among all sheep and goat populations within a country. No samples can test positive for classical scrapie. The samples we need to test are brain and a lymph node.

Each year every state is given a minimum number of samples to be collected based on the breeding sheep and goat populations. This assures sampling represents the different populations. In fiscal year 2023 (October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023), NJ needs to sample 31 mature (>18 months) sheep and 23 mature goats. As of the end of December we only collected 2 sheep samples and 1 goat sample. We continue to ask for help from our New Jersey small ruminant industry to obtain these samples.   If a producer has an adult sheep or goat that dies, that must be euthanized, or is being culled please contact USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services at 609-241-2236.  There is no charge for the collection or testing of the samples.  Producers may be eligible for official plastic tags as long as our supplies last.

Submitted by:
Linda A. Detwiler, DVM
Veterinary Medical Officer
Sheep And Goat Health Team
Ruminant Health Center

Linda.Detwiler@usda.gov
609.738.5511