Extension to host Small Ruminants Conference for River Valley producers
April 5, 2024
By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts
- Small Ruminant Conference planned for April 13 at Arkansas Tech University, 8:50 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Topics include nutrition, parasite management, health and genetic information, research updates and more
- Register at www.uaex.uada.edu/river-valley-small-ruminants
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LITTLE ROCK — The River Valley in Arkansas is typically cattle country, but it’s also quite suitable for raising sheep and goats, according to Extension Small Ruminant Specialist Dan Quadros with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Quadros and agents with the Cooperative Extension Service will lead a River Valley Small Ruminant Conference on April 13 in Russellville to provide goat and sheep producers with the latest research for successful operations. The conference runs 8:50 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in Williamson Dining Hall at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. Registration begins at 8:15 a.m.
The conference is free, but registration is required. A lunch with lamb burgers will be provided. To register, visit www.uaex.uada.edu/river-valley-small-ruminants.
“We’ll be sharing research and talking about the benefits of small ruminants and their suitability for small farm operations,” Quadros said. “We want to highlight the benefits of adding small ruminants to cattle operations, such as weed control in pastures, increased land use efficiency and extra profit.”
The conference is the first of its kind in the River Valley in recent years. Organizers hope to draw attendees from the counties that comprise the River Valley, including Conway, Faulkner, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Perry, Pope, Sebastian and Yell.
Extension agriculture agents from several counties will be at the conference, along with producers, consultants and speakers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
River Valley Small Ruminant Conference schedule:
8:15 a.m. Registration, coffee and donuts
8:50 a.m. Welcome
9 a.m. Improving small ruminant production in Arkansas - Dan Quadros, Division of Agriculture
9:45 a.m. Breeds and genetic improvement - Jim Morgan, Round Mountain Consulting
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. Gastrointestinal parasites management - Joan Burke, USDA-Agricultural Research Service
11:30 a.m. Farm loans to finance small ruminant operations - Marshall Rye, Farm Service Agency/USDA
11:40 a.m. Producer panel: Sharing positive and negative experiences
- Amanda Goodwin, Arkansas Goat Association/The Arkansas Traveling Goat
- Farrier/Goodwin Family Farms; Debbie Taylor, dairy goat producer
- Stacy Kirk, Arkansas State Sheep Council/Kirk Club Lambs
- Tanya Feagin, South Central Katahdin Association/Rocking TLC Farms
12:30 p.m. Lunch - lamb burgers
For those unable to attend, the North Central Arkansas Small Ruminant Conference will be on April 19 from 9 a.m.-2:45 p.m., at the Damascus Road Cowboy Church, 170 Tindall Ave, Damascus. To register, contact the Stone County extension office at (870) 269-3336.
To learn more about goats and sheep, follow the Small Ruminants Blog at https://uaex.uada.edu/small-ruminants-blog
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons 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.
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Media Contact: Tracy Courage
Director of Communications-Extension
U of A System Division of Agriculture
501-658-2044