Regional Educational Outreach Program For Regional Educational Outreach Program For Producers Of Small Ruminants In South Producers Of Small Ruminants In South

AlabamaAlabama

Presented By Regional Extension AgentsPresented By Regional Extension AgentsAnthony WigginsAnthony Wiggins

&&Ken KelleyKen Kelley

Why’s of the Outreach ProgramWhy’s of the Outreach Program• Increased number of callsIncreased number of calls

• More calls concerning small ruminants than traditional livestockMore calls concerning small ruminants than traditional livestock• Limited information available for producersLimited information available for producers

• Information was datedInformation was dated• No previous educational efforts made for small ruminantsNo previous educational efforts made for small ruminants

• Increased number of ranchettes conducive to small ruminant Increased number of ranchettes conducive to small ruminant productionproduction• < 5 acre ranchettes not large enough for traditional livestock production < 5 acre ranchettes not large enough for traditional livestock production

and the associated costsand the associated costs• Producers with little livestock experienceProducers with little livestock experience

• Inexperienced producers raising small ruminants as hobbies or as Inexperienced producers raising small ruminants as hobbies or as therapytherapy

• Increased demand by ethnic groupsIncreased demand by ethnic groups• Food safety concernsFood safety concerns

• Many producers had given little thought to the fact that they were raising Many producers had given little thought to the fact that they were raising foodfood

How to Reach Producers?How to Reach Producers?

• No mailing listsNo mailing lists• No organized producer groupsNo organized producer groups• Who had small ruminants (goats)?Who had small ruminants (goats)?

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How to Reach Producers?How to Reach Producers?

• Livestock Sale BarnLivestock Sale Barn

GoatsGoats

What Information Was Needed?What Information Was Needed?

• Order buyers/State Marketing AgentsOrder buyers/State Marketing Agents• Marketing/GeneticsMarketing/Genetics

• ProducersProducers• ChallengesChallenges

• ObservationObservation• Information producers needed to knowInformation producers needed to know

• Designed a program from information gatheredDesigned a program from information gathered

ProgramsPrograms

• Regional Multi-state Mini-workshops Regional Multi-state Mini-workshops (AL,FL)(AL,FL)• 3 monthly 1 hour workshops held on sale day3 monthly 1 hour workshops held on sale day• TopicsTopics

• Marketing/GeneticsMarketing/Genetics• Parasite & Disease ManagementParasite & Disease Management• Meat Goat Quality AssuranceMeat Goat Quality Assurance

ProgramsPrograms

• Marketing/GeneticsMarketing/Genetics• What buyers are looking for in a goatWhat buyers are looking for in a goat• When/What to sellWhen/What to sell• How to produce a no. 1 How to produce a no. 1

ProgramsPrograms

• Parasite & Disease Parasite & Disease ManagementManagement• PreventionPrevention• VaccinationsVaccinations• Treatment/VCPRTreatment/VCPR• Parasite control Parasite control

productsproducts• Managing parasites Managing parasites

with cultural practiceswith cultural practices

ProgramsPrograms

• Meat Goat Quality AssuranceMeat Goat Quality Assurance• Injection sites (where, how, lesions)Injection sites (where, how, lesions)• Veterinarian/Client Patient RelationshipsVeterinarian/Client Patient Relationships• HandlingHandling• Drug ResiduesDrug Residues• Goats are Food! Would you eat what you sell?Goats are Food! Would you eat what you sell?

What Did We Accomplish?What Did We Accomplish?

• Base clientele (mailing list)Base clientele (mailing list)• EvaluationsEvaluations

• Producers learned from the mini-workshopsProducers learned from the mini-workshops• Producers needed more informationProducers needed more information

• Next stepNext step• Regional Multi-state Field DayRegional Multi-state Field Day

Regional Multi-State Field DayRegional Multi-State Field DayFarm Day; Meat Goat ManagementFarm Day; Meat Goat Management

• Publicized in the Publicized in the panhandle of FL. and panhandle of FL. and S.W. ALS.W. AL

• Speakers from A.U., Speakers from A.U., U. of FL, and FL. U. of FL, and FL. A&MA&M

• All day eventAll day event• Used classroom and Used classroom and

hands-on traininghands-on training

Regional Multi-State Field DayRegional Multi-State Field DayFarm Day; Meat Goat ManagementFarm Day; Meat Goat Management

• TopicsTopics• Feeding the Goat Feeding the Goat

Herd/Nutritional Herd/Nutritional RequirementsRequirements

• Reproductive ManagementReproductive Management• ForagesForages• Toxic PlantsToxic Plants• Meat Goat Quality Meat Goat Quality

AssuranceAssurance• Managing Managing

Parasites/DiseasesParasites/Diseases• FAMACHA TrainingFAMACHA Training

FAMACHA TrainingFAMACHA Training

• Very InformativeVery Informative• Producers had another parasite management Producers had another parasite management

tooltool

Small Ruminant Pocket GuideSmall Ruminant Pocket Guide

www.aces.eduwww.aces.edu

EvaluationEvaluation

• 92% learned something they could 92% learned something they could implement to improve management implement to improve management practices on their farmpractices on their farm

• Using rotational grazing and implementing Using rotational grazing and implementing the FAMACHA system to aid in managing the FAMACHA system to aid in managing parasites rated the most usefulparasites rated the most useful

• 100% interested in having more of similar 100% interested in having more of similar programsprograms

Questions?Questions?