September 25, 2022
For our third producer forum we asked our four shepherds, all enrolled in NSIP, how they select their breeding rams and how they make breeding decisions on their farms. Their answers, shared below, reflect the differences among the farms in… Continue Reading…
September 11, 2022
Disease is present in every flock and can reside in the animals, soil, air, and water. Producers don’t often talk about illnesses affecting their sheep because they don’t want the stigma of disease to reflect negatively on their flock. But… Continue Reading…
September 11, 2022
Most shepherds have probably heard of OPP as it is one of the three diseases included in the biosecurity panels that many laboratories offer. The USDA Sheep 2001 study tested over 21,000 samples from 682 randomly selected flocks country wide… Continue Reading…
September 11, 2022
With decreasing numbers of sheep extension agents, sheep research professors and small ruminant DVMs, our options for finding knowledgeable experts are becoming more limited. At the same time, the number of sheep “experts” on Facebook, YouTube and other social media… Continue Reading…
September 11, 2022
Weaning lambs on a small farm can be a challenging endeavor. Being limited on space and supplies, such as electric fencing, means careful planning must take place to manage the two groups separately. There are various ways to wean lambs… Continue Reading…
September 11, 2022
For our second producer forum we asked our four shepherds what data they collect besides that used for NSIP; how they manage their data; what software programs they use; and how they analyze and use their data to make selection… Continue Reading…
September 11, 2022
In this blog, EAPK member Becky Shultz of Prairie Lane Farm shares some tips and suggestions for preparing sheep for marketing and transport to sales. Sale season is quickly approaching and we all begin to think about how to market… Continue Reading…
September 11, 2022
A producer needs a way to weigh animals when they want to understand how well their lambs are growing, and when to take them to market. There are a variety of reasons to weigh animals, depending on what data you… Continue Reading…
September 11, 2022
With the global rise in antibiotic resistance, appropriate use of antibiotics on the farm is essential to maintaining their effectiveness. This fact sheet from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine provides important and useful information on antimicrobial stewardship.
September 11, 2022
I value my veterinarian’s time and expertise. She works extremely hard, often taking appointments starting at 8 AM, and is still making phone calls on case notes at 8 PM! By law, in order for her to prescribe medications for… Continue Reading…
