UACES Facebook Small ruminant conferences offer opportunity to learn care for goats, sheep
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Small ruminant conferences offer opportunity to learn care for goats, sheep

By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture
July 1, 2016

Fast Facts:

  • Five workshops across the state in July and August
  • FAMACHA techniques taught, certification offered 

(224 words) 

LITTLE ROCK — Pasture management, herd health and other aspects of raising sheep and goats will be the topics of discussion at a series of five University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture workshops held around the state in July and August. 

Chelsey Ahrens, extension animal science specialist with the Division of Agriculture, said the five Small Ruminant Conferences will give attendees opportunities to brush up on “a lot of ‘small ruminant 101’ stuff,” as well learn more advanced aspects of caring for sheep and goats. 

Each of the five conferences is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., and will feature three concurrent, 45-minute sessions in the morning. Afternoon sessions will focus on parasite control and FAMACHA, a technique developed by South African researchers for detecting parasites and pursuing deworming. Participants will become FAMACHA certified. 

There is no cost to attend the conferences, and lunch will be provided. Each conference is scheduled to conclude by 4 p.m. 

Conferences currently scheduled include: 

  • July 16 – Greenbrier High School Ag Building
  • July 23 – ASU Farm, Jonesboro
  • Aug. 6 – Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Arena, Fayetteville
  • Aug. 20 – SW Research and Extension Center, Hope
  • Aug. 27 – Southeast Research and Extension Center (SEREC) in Monticello  

Speakers will include veterinarians, Cooperative Extension Service agents and University of Arkansas animal science faculty, Ahrens said. 

To register for any of the conferences, visit https://forms.uada.edu/animal-science/registrations/famacha.asp.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. 

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution.  If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact your (insert appropriate office) as soon as possible.  Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.  

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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu

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