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Small Ruminant Pastures, Parasites, and Profits: Putting it all together

. . . for Farmers and Veterinarians

 

  • You must register to receive log-in information for connecting at home.

  • The programs are free, but a registration fee of $15 per person will be requested on-site at the Field Day to cover the costs of morning refreshments and a lamb lunch.

 

Internal parasite control continues to be one of the most important and difficult to manage health issues for sheep and goat farmers.  Traditional control strategies involving preventive or suppressive treatments with dewormers have led to widespread resistance of parasites to the drugs we currently have available.

Over the last several years several Extension Educators, researchers, and farmers in Ohio and West Virginia have been involved in various projects to develop or demonstrate strategies to assist in controlling internal parasites.  During the last two years we have been funded by a North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant to determine whether forage chicory might have activity against internal parasites under conditions typical of farms in our region.  We have learned a lot about chicory and made some very interesting observations about parasite survival over winter and during summer grazing as well as the potential use of non-traditional grazing strategies.  This summer we will offer a series of three internet-based meetings followed by a field day at one of our project farms to discuss and demonstrate parasite biology, management of drug resistant worms, and various grazing strategies, including use of chicory and other plants, to help control worms.

The Internet-based meetings will be held from 7-9 pm on Thursday evenings, beginning on August 4.  The second session will be held on August 18 and the third session is scheduled for August 25.  On-site presentations will be given sequentially in Morrow, Athens, and Wayne Counties, but other physical sites where people can participate will also be available throughout Ohio.  People can also access these meetings from home if they have a high-speed Internet connection.  A field day concluding the series is set for August 27th at the John Anderson farm near Wooster, OH.  At the field day attendees will have a chance to receive hands-on FAMACHA training, learn about using non-traditional forages in a grazing program for managing parasitism, and see examples of various forages and fencing options.  In addition, other presentations on selecting sheep, sheep nutrition, and biosecurity and animal health will be given.  The Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board has approved continuing education credit on an “hour for hour” basis (2 hours per Internet-Based Meeting and 4 hours for the Field Day). 

For additional information, you may contact:

Printable Brochure

 

 

Internet-Based Meetings

Basic Parasite Biology and Control Concepts
(live presentation was held on August 4, 2011 in Morrow County)
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO LISTEN & VIEW RECORDING OF SESSION

  • life cycle description focusing on H. contortus
  • why/how dewormer resistance develops
  • concept of refugia and selective treatment; the FAMACHA System
  • complementary strategies:
    • plants with antiparasitic properties
    • use of “clean” pastures
    • dry lot rearing of lambs
  • Presenter – Dr. Bill Shulaw

Parasite Management: Lessons Learned and Farmer Applications
(live presentation was held on August 18, 2011 in Athens County)
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO LISTEN & VIEW RECORDING OF SESSION

  • This discussion will incorporate lessons learned from the 2009/2010 North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant and previous projects using various grazing strategies.  We will highlight why some strategies may or may not work or where their weak points are (overwintered larvae; larval survival during the grazing season; “intensive grazing” approaches):
    • use of annuals or alfalfa for lambs or lambs and ewes in spring
    • strip grazing with a back fence
    • chicory and BMR use
    • selective deworming of thin, triplet-bearing, and twin-bearing ewes to reduce pasture contamination
  • Presenters – Curt Cline & Rory Lewandowski

Management Tools and Techniques
(live presentation was held on August 25, 2011 in Wayne County)
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO LISTEN & VIEW RECORDING OF SESSION

  • Using the FAMACHA system (when to start, frequency, using in large flocks, using as an animal selection tool, keeping records)
  • What do fecal egg counts tell us?
  • How to detect dewormer resistance
    • Worm egg count reduction testing
    • DrenchRite Assay  
  • Presenter – Dr. Bill Shulaw

Additional Group Sites

Speakers will be live at several locations, but broadcast using WebEx technology to individuals and other group locations wishing to host them. Participants will see and follow the presenter’s PowerPoint slides and hear their voice (VoIP) and will have the opportunity to ask questions from the presenter at each host site while the presenter is physically present at only one site.

Thus far, arrangements have been made to host each program at the following group sites:

Contact the site of your choice listed above for more specific details regarding that location.  Contact Jeff McCutcheon if you have questions regarding hosting an additional site. 

Printable Agenda - Internet-Based Meetings

 

 

Field Day

Date:

August 27, 2011

Location:

Lambshire Polypays
Summer Hill Farm
Jim and John Anderson
10233 Munson Rd
Shreve, Ohio 44676

Map / Directions

Lodging: Hilton Garden Inn Wooster        Additional Lodging Options

Agenda:

  • 8-9 am  Registration – coffee and donuts

  • 9-9:30  Welcome and Introductions

  • 9:30-10:30  break-out sessions

    1. FAMACHA Hands-on Session – Dr. Ken Turner

    2. Forage Chicory in a Parasite Control Program – Curt Cline, Dr. Joyce Foster, & Rory Lewandowski

    3. Basic Sheep Nutrition – Jeff McCutcheon

  • 10:45 to 11:45  break-out sessions

    1. Using Non-traditional Forages Within a Parasite Control System –Jeff McCutcheon & Dr. Joyce Foster

    2. Grazing and Pasture Management Within a Parasite Control System – Curt Cline, Bruce Rickard, & Rory Lewandowski

    3. Selecting for Profit: producers share basic genetic considerations for selecting sheep for prolificacy and parasite resistance – John Anderson & Kathy Bielek

  • 11:45-12:45  Lunch – tent 

  • 1:00-2:00  break-out sessions

    1. (repeat) FAMACHA Hands-on Session

    2. (repeat) Grazing and Pasture Management Within a Parasite Control System – Curt Cline, Bruce Rickard, & Rory Lewandowski

    3. Handling Facilities and Fencing for the Sheep Operation – will highlight the Anderson working facility John and Jim have as well as other related facilities and fencing;  John Anderson

  • 2:00-3:00  break-out sessions

    1. Basic Health Program Considerations for Shepherds – Biosecurity, Quarantine Drenching, Core Vaccines, Diseases to Watch Out For– Dr. Bill Shulaw

    2. (repeat) Basic Sheep Nutrition – Jeff McCutcheon

    3. (repeat) Handling Facilities And Fencing – John Anderson & Bruce Rickard

  • 3:00-3:15  wrap up and dismiss

Printable Agenda - Field Day

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