Management of Sheep and Goats for Grazing, Herd Health, Performance, and Profitability

Dr. Jim Gerrish, well-known rancher, researcher, grazing educator, and 

co-founder of the Missouri Grazing School returns to Kansas this August to kick off Amazing Grazing II for Ruminants Both Great and Small. The two-day workshop entitled "Management of Sheep and Goats for Grazing, Herd Health, Performance and Profitability" will be held from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM August 15-16, 2014 at Four Points by Sheraton in Manhattan, KS. The workshop is tailored to specifically assist small ruminant producers in making better choices for their pasture situation.

According to Dr. Gerrish, "Sheep and goats offer opportunities for landowners as alternatives to raising cattle. Greater production efficiencies, niche market values, and ease of handling make sheep and goats particularly attractive for smaller acreages. Managing smaller ruminants does require a different skill set than cattle, and they require more attention to the details of management."

This workshop will cover topics including

• grazing practices for parasite management; 
• fence and stock water development for ease of grazing; 
• extending the grazing season;
• and more

Dr. Brian Faris, head of KSU Animal Science Department Sheep and Goats and the newly built small ruminant facility, will join the Manhattan small ruminant workshop. Faris was raised in Texas and will share a wealth of knowledge and experience in the sheep and goat industry. The workshop will include a tour of the new facility; where a hands-on workshop for producers to learn small animal health management techniques will be held later in the fall. A Friday evening ranch tour/supper is in the planning stages.

 

Program Director Mary Howell reports, "Amazing Grazing II was written specifically to address many of the issues livestock producers keep asking for. Two days spent with Jim will be well-worth the time and money invested." Howell goes on to say, "Ranch managers will learn valuable grazing information and management skills that will improve production and profitability of their livestock enterprise."

 

Cost for the workshop is $60.00, which includes lunch and snacks on both days as well as handouts. Please contact Mary Howell at kfu.mary@gmail.com, or call 785-562-8726 with questions. A block of rooms is being held until August 10th, at Four Points by Sheraton, Manhattan call 785-539-5311 and ask for Amazing Grazing Sheep and Goat Meeting. Please check the website often for other upcoming events, and to sign up for our e-news updates and registration announcements.

 

Along with Kansas Farmers Union and the Kansas Graziers Association, Amazing Grazing II partners include: Kansas NRCS, Kansas Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops, Kansas State Research and Extension, Farm Credit, and the Kansas Grazing Land Coalition, with funding from North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Register Now!