Baton Rouge, LA – The Southern University Ag Center, held its
12th joint Small Ruminant Field Day with the LSU AgCenter on April 29
at the Maurice A. Edmond Livestock Arena, 14600 Scenic Highway, Baton Rouge.
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| Field Day presentations and demonstrations |
Small ruminant (sheep and goat) experts from both the SU and
LSU Ag Centers made presentations on forage management, nutrition and health
interaction, infectious and parasitic diseases, small ruminant reproduction and
drug use/off label issues.
Nearly 50 participants turned out for the event, which also
featured demonstrations and hands-on activities on injections, fecal sample
analysis, body condition scoring and a question and answer session with presenters. Goat and sheep meat products were on the lunch menu.
Producers also participated in a FAMACHA certification
course. FAMACHA (pronounced
FAffa MAlan CHArt) is a diagnostic tool that helps farmers identify parasite
infection in small ruminants, such as sheep and goats. The tool is a chart that
matches eyelid color to anemia levels, an indicator of parasite infection.
FAMACHA was developed in South Africa and is distributed in the United States
through the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Pest Control.
Even a few cattle producers mingled with the small ruminant
participants. John A. and John C. Womack, a father and son team from St. Helena,
runs a 26-head operation of cattle, and attended the workshop to learn more about
forages, basic animal husbandry and soil testing.
College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Science students
helped with registration and presentations during the Rosenwald Elementary School tour of the event. College students who
assisted were Terrell Hills, majoring in Animal Science and Irene Lewis, a
Plant and Soil Science major. Rosenwald Elementary
School is located in New
Roads, La., Pointe
Coupee Parish.
The lead collaborators from the SU Ag Center were - Sebhatu
Gebrelul, Ph.D., Animal Science Professor, who can be reached at 225.771.3841
or sebhatu_gebrelul@suagcenter.com and Renita W.
Marshall, DVM/Associate Professor, Animal Science; and from the LSU
AgCenter - Ken McMillin, Ph.D., who can be reached at 225.578.3438
or kmcmillin@agcenter.lsu.edu; and Jim Miller, Ph.D.
The event was sponsored by SU Land-Grant Campus; USDA/Natural
Resources Conservation Service; Sustainable Agriculture Research Education
(SARE); LA Dept. of Ag and Forestry; LSU School of Vet. Medicine; and LSU
AgCenter.
Photos from the event are posted here.
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