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.
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
