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

Ohio State Extension Rebuilds Sheep Team Blog

Shepherds now have a place to find all the latest information on sheep production, industry research conducted at Ohio State, and daily management tips. The recently rebuilt The Ohio State University Extension Sheep Team blog page can be found at http://u.osu.edu/sheep/.

The site is managed by Sheep Team Program Coordinator Brady Campbell and includes contributions from the more than 25 Ohio State faculty and staff who each have unique interests in sustaining the sheep industry. Once at the site, readers will find current management information, a listing of upcoming events, research summaries and a library of resources.

Dairy Sheep Symposium Offers AI Presentations

Sheep producers who are considering the use Artificial Insemination to improve their flock genetics might want to consider attending the 2017 Symposium of the Dairy Sheep Association of North America, Nov. 30-Dec. 2 in Orford, Quebec, Canada.

The first day of this year’s symposium will be devoted entirely to AI. Speakers from Canada, Europe and the United States will present on AI techniques used in France, Iceland and Canada, both cervical and laparoscopic, with both frozen and fresh semen. Presenters will also discuss protocols that will improve conception rates and litter size in ewes who have been artificially inseminated.

Furthermore, a large number of dairy sheep producers who have begun using AI to incorporate European genetics into their flocks will be in attendance. Developments in AI techniques, as well as improved availability of internationally-sourced semen, are offering American sheep producers some real opportunities to broaden and improve their breed’s gene pool.

The symposium will be at the Estrimont Suites & Spa in Orford, in southern Quebec just north of Vermont. Attendees can register for just one day (i.e., for the day of AI presentations on Nov. 30th), or for the full symposium – which includes two days of presentations, a wine-and-cheese reception featuring Canadian sheep-milk cheeses, tours of two Quebecois sheep dairies and an optional cheese-making workshop.

For more details on the symposium schedule, go to www.dsana.org.

Sheep Shearing Training

90 Minute DVD from Doug Rathke, NZ trained USA shearing instructor since 1988 ($45).

Sheep Shearing Video

Strong demand has prompted Doug Rathke to put together an instructional sheep shearing called “Sheep Shearing Made Easy”. This video is designed both for the beginner and for those who have already been shearing and are interested in improving their shearing technique to increase speed and efficiency of the job and to minimize stress to the animal.

This 90 minute “how-to” video takes the viewer step by step through the basics of shearing including preparing for shearing, shearing clothing, fitness, understanding and appreciation of shearing gear, selecting combs and cutters, setting up a hand piece, and setting the shearing work area.

The core of the video is dedicated to shearing patterns and techniques. Not only does the video patiently show the basic shearing pattern and footwork, it also explains the modifications of the shearing pattern for different types of sheep. Each shearing blow is explained as Rathke demonstrates the procedure. Tips are also given on how to hold the hand piece for maximum blow width, thereby avoiding extra work and costly second cuts.

Order DVD now.

Also holds sheep shearing schools, located in Hutchinson Minnesota – check his web site for schedule.