Small Ruminants Field Day April 29, 2023

Brittany Scott

Upon graduating with a M.S. in Reproductive Physiology from Louisiana State University in 2011, Brittany relocated to Cherry Valley, Arkansas. There, she founded and co-owned B & D Genetics, where she focused on providing small ruminant reproductive services here in Arkansas and across the country. In 2017 she started Delta Livestock Diagnostics, a serology testing lab specializing in small and large ruminant testing in addition to being a NVSL EIA approved lab. Due to international inquiries for the superior sheep and goat genetics produced here in the U.S., Brittany responded by creating SMART Reproduction in 2021. This USDA approved export center for the collection of semen and embryos from small ruminants has shipped germplasm throughout the world. Both SMART Reproduction and Delta Livestock Diagnostics are both located in Jonesboro, AR. There Brittany resides with her husband Raphael, and her two sons and daughter.

Websites: smartrepro.com/ dldlabs.com/

Dan Quadros

Dan was raised in a family of ranchers in Brazil. He has a B.S. in agronomy, a Master and Ph.D. degrees in animal science from Sao Paulo University. Additionally, he has another master’s degree in sustainability from Pennsylvania State University and two post-docs, one at the University of Florida and another at the Texas A&M University, in forages and livestock nutrition. Professionally, he was a Professor at Bahia State University in Brazil for 20 years, where he founded the Animal Science Research and Extension Center, became the Dean of Agronomy and Medicine Veterinary Colleges, and worked in several large-scale livestock extension programs. Currently he is an Assistant Professor at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, as the Small Ruminant Specialist. His goal is to increase producer knowledge and understanding of small ruminant husbandry/health, production, and marketing.

Website: uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/animals-forages/sheep-goats/

Facebook: uaex.smallruminants

Instagram: sheep.goats.arkansas

Email: dquadros@uada.edu

Jeremy Powell

Dr. Jeremy Powell is a veterinarian in the Department of Animal Science within the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture (UADA). After working in a mixed animal veterinary practice in Mountain Home, AR, he began working for UADA in December 2002. He currently has a split appointment between research, teaching and providing clinical veterinary duties for the UADA IACUC. He teaches one course focused on diseases in livestock animals, in addition to supervising the beef cattle research unit located near the Fayetteville campus. His major research efforts focus on beef cattle production including important disease issues such as bovine respiratory disease and internal parasites with specific goals for improving health, growth performance, physiological stress, immune response, and carcass quality.

BS, Animal Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

DVM, Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

PhD, Animal Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Email: jerpow@uark.edu  

Joan Burke

Dr. Joan Burke is a Research Animal Scientist with the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center in Booneville, Arkansas. She received a Ph.D. in reproductive biology at Oregon State University, a Master’s in animal science from the University of Maine and a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University. Dr. Burke has been with ARS since 1999 where she has conducted research on the control of gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep and goats. Her program focuses on addressing problems of small and mid-size farmers including: organic and grass-fed production systems for ruminant livestock, alternatives to synthetic anthelmintics which includes specialty forages, genetic and genomic selection for parasite resistant animals that are also great producers, nutrition and products such as copper oxide wire particles. She was co-recipient of a patent on the use of sericea lespedeza to control parasites in animals, and her team received the 2016 Federal Laboratory Consortium Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer, and the 2015 ARS Southeast Area Technology Transfer Award for the development of technology to aid in the control of internal parasites in sheep and goats. She works closely with producers conducting research and disseminating results. She is one of the founding members of the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control, which began in 2001.

Website: ars.usda.gov/southeast-area/booneville-ar/dale-bumpers-small-farms-research-center/

Email: joan.burke@usda.gov

Ken Coffey

Ken Coffey is a Professor in the Department of Animal Science and has been at the U of A since 1996.  He and his family run a small wool-sheep (Gulf Coast Natives and crosses) operation outside of Prairie Grove.  His current research interests are focused around improving production and economic efficiency by animals grazing or otherwise consuming forages.  The goal is to develop grazing and harvesting strategies that will maximize the use of forage and minimize dependence on off-farm commodities. 

PhD degree in 1986 from the University of Missouri – Research emphasis - Ruminant Nutrition

MS degree in 1983 from the University of Kentucky – Research emphasis - Ruminant Nutrition

BS degree in 1980 from the University of Tennessee – Major, Animal Science

Email: kcoffey@uark.edu 

Kenny Simon

Kenny holds a BS degree in Agri Business from AR Tech University and a MS degree in General Agriculture with an emphasis in Animal Science from UofA at Fayetteville. Kenny started his Extension career in the fall of 2001 as an Agriculture agent in Cleburne County, AR. In the fall of 2007, Kenny accepted a position with the Animal Science department as a Program Associate for forages. Kenny worked as a program associate under the supervision of Dr. John Jennings for 15 years. In November of 2022 Kenny was promoted to Instructor – Forage Specialist. Throughout his career Kenny has worked with county agents to implement on-farm demonstrations. Kenny’s primary responsibilities is to provide leadership to the “300 days of grazing program”. The 300-day grazing program is designed to help producers extend the grazing season and reduce hay feeding to 65 days or less with improved forage management practices. In addition to his professional career, Kenny and his family operates a cow/calf operation outside of Conway called Simon Farm. Kenny is able implement practices involved in the 300 days of grazing program on his own operation, as well as experiment with new ideas or practices. In 2014 Simon Farm began direct marketing farm fresh pasture-raised beef to individuals and to local restaurants. Currently they direct market 30 – 40 animals per year.

Website: uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/animals-forages/pastures/

Email: ksimon@uada.edu

Linda Coffey

Linda was born and raised near Westphalia, Missouri, on a Century Farm where her family has raised livestock since 1861. Growing up on the farm and helping to raise food and explore the woods and pastures and creek fostered a love of nature and agriculture that is still strong. Majoring in Animal Science at the University of Missouri enabled Linda to meet Dr. Ron Morrow and Dr. Jim Gerrish, and to learn about grazing management from two of the best. An internship at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho, was a unique and enjoyable experience and gave Linda a look at how sheep are raised in the West. Since leaving home, Linda and her husband and children have raised sheep in Kansas (10 years) and in Arkansas (since 1996). Dairy goats were added in 2001 and remain a passion of Linda’s. Hogs, calves, and chickens are sometimes a part of the farm, as well. It has been a privilege and blessing to be involved in agriculture personally and to assist clients with their sheep and goat questions. That work has been greatly improved by Linda’s participation in the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (see wormx.info) and the scientists, veterinarians, and educators in the group who generously share their knowledge of this vital area for sheep and goat producers. Grazing management and soil health are even more important areas for those raising livestock, and Linda is passionate about learning and teaching about those topics as well. Linda is thankful for her NCAT coworkers, who are outstanding, smart, practical, knowledgeable teachers and are approachable and friendly.

Website: attra.ncat.org/

Email: lindac@ncat.org