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Sheep and Goat News
By Paul Walker,
Agricultural/Livestock Extension Agent, |
"Quality Assurance" training will be the focus of the certification process, along with the USDA goat grading standards. Other topics of discussion include: drug withdrawals, proper injection sites, forage and nutrition update, scrapie and NCFarmID update, economic projections, etc. Those attending will receive a detailed educational handbook on goat production along with a metal farm sign for their property entrance. Each producer must successfully take a pre- and post- exam before becoming certified. Certified members are eligible to sell their livestock to the organization on designated pick-up dates throughout the month. The fee to attend training is $80 for non-members; those members who have paid their annual dues the fee is $45; an additional $12 will be charged to all participants for lunch and refreshments throughout the day. If you are interested in attending the certification training and becoming a member of the N.C. Meat Goat Producers, contact Maxine Mosley, NCMGP Business Manager, at (919) 496-2280 or email: ncgoatcoop@yahoo.com
In the subject line be sure to include the word "Certification". Also include your US Mail information and telephone number in your email message. Pre-registrations accepted until May 11.
Mid-States is in the process of establishing a price for this year's wool. It looks as though cash prices will be very similar to last year.
The plastic wool bags are preferred, although wool in the old burlap bags will still be accepted. Mid-States will offer plastic wool bags for sale at each pool ($2.50 per bag) to save producers shipping costs.
I would also remind you of the USDA price support program for wool, in the form of loans and LDPs. Prior to delivering wool to the pool, you will need to sign up for the program at the local FSA office. Most producers will opt for an LDP payment, and current rate is $0.17/lb. on ungraded wool. Details of the program and rates can be found at Farm Services Agency.
Please be aware that you must sign up for this program before you deliver the wool. After you deliver wool, you are no longer eligible for the program.
Remember that good wool handling practices will enable us to keep selling our wool. Eliminate plastic contamination (plastic twine, etc), remove tags, keep black and colored wool separate. Be aware that tags are not accepted at the Sparta pool, the price does not justify it.
Date: June 21 PM
Location: Williamston, NC
Agent In Charge: Richard Lichtenwalner
Date: June 22 AM
Location: Albemarle, NC
Agent In Charge: Brian Beer
Date: June 22 PM
Location: Asheville, NC
Agent In Charge: Steve Duckett
Date: June 30 AM
Location: Sparta, NC
Agent In Charge: Charles Young
Contact me if you need detailed directions to any of these locations.
In visiting farms and in conversations with sheep and goat producers, a higher than normal percentage expressed concern over losing young lambs/kids. It seems they were doing fine one day and they would be dead the next day with no apparent symptoms. This is most likely due to enterotoxemia or more commonly called overeating disease. If you have had problems with sudden death in lambs/kids, I highly recommend that you contact your veterinarian and take a dead lamb/kid to the diagnostic lab in Raleigh for a definitive diagnosis. (Rollins Diagnostic Laboratory is located off Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh. They can be reached at 919-733-3986. Specimens can be dropped off at any time. However, one should call before taking a specimen to the lab in case there are any special instructions. The phone is monitored after normal business hours and on weekends. If you cannot take a lamb/kid to the lab within a few hours after death, they should be refrigerated or frozen.)
To prevent enterotoxemia, the recommendation is to vaccinate the ewes/does 6-8 weeks prior to lambing/kidding with Covexin 8 or another similar vaccine. Specifically, one should look for Enterotoxemia Type C & D in the vaccine to guard against this disease.
By vaccinating the pregnant ewes/does, they pass immunity to their offspring through the milk. In addition, the kids/lambs should be vaccinated with the same vaccine at 6-8 weeks of age. Your veterinarian may also recommend vaccinating with ½ the normal dosage rate at birth and then with a full dose at 6-8 weeks of age. For specific vaccination schedules, contact your veterinarian.
Parasites in sheep/goats are a continual problem. Here are a couple of general guidelines concerning parasite control. Any time there is good grass growing conditions, there is also good parasite growing conditions. Therefore, deworming may need to be done more often in the spring and in the fall.
- Very few dewormers are actually labeled for sheep/goats. The exceptions to this are Tramisol(Levamisol Phosphate)which has a label for sheep and goats and Ivomectin Drench which has a label for sheep. Therefore, one must resort to off-label use of cattle dewormers such as Cydectin, Eprinex, Valbazen(not recommended for pregnant animals) , Synanthic, Dectomax, or Safe-Guard. Several of these products are designed to pour down the backs of cattle. However, for sheep/goats, these pour-ons must be given orally.
- My personal observation is Ivomec Injectable given orally is not very effective. The pour-ons as mentioned above are effective when given orally.
- Mature does/ewes/bucks/rams should be dewormed at least 4 times per year. Young growing animals should be dewormed every 4-6 weeks. These are just guidelines and it is different for each farm depending on the stocking rate, age of animals, and if they are pastured with other species. Since parasites are species specific, pasturing other species with sheep/goats can help reduce the parasite load. For instance, pasturing sheep/goats with cattle help reduce the parasite load on both species since sheep/goat parasites do not affect cattle and cattle parasites do not affect sheep/goats.
- Look at the conjuctiva and gums to see if the animals need deworming. If the conjuctiva and gums have a nice pinkish red to red color, they they usually do not need to be dewormed. However, if they are a pale pink or white, they should be dewormed.
If you would like more detailed information regarding parasite management, go the following: NCSU Animal Science for a copy of Gatrointestinal Parasite Management of Meat Goats.
The use of brand names in this article does not imply endorsement of the products or services named or criticism of similar ones not mentioned.
Is there a sheep/goat management practice that you need assistane with such as trimming feet, pasture rotation, electric fence set-up/problems, nutrition, lambing/kIdding management, etc.? If so, contact Paul_Walker@ncsu.edu. As a livestock extension agent, I can make individual farm visits and work with producers on a one-on-one basis. There is no charge for this service. If several producers request the same management information, I can set up a group workshop.