Free Fecal Testing in North East

Small Ruminant Producers: Do you want more parasite resistant animals?

Summer 2019: Free Fecal Egg Count (FEC) analysis to assist with selective breeding for resistance to gastrointestinal worms

AVAILABLE TO:

 New or current National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP) members either in or

marketing to the Northeast who want to generate Estimated Breeding Values (EBV) for parasite resistance.

o Producers must be able to obtain and ship fecal samples once or twice (at least 4 weeks later) following NSIP recommendations. o Animals must not have been dewormed within 4 weeks of sampling. o Fecal egg counts can be conducted for all young stock whose data is being submitted to NSIP. o For more information on the benefits of membership in NSIP please visit www.nsip.org or contact the NSIP Program Director, Rusty Burgett, (info@nsip.org).

OR

 Non-NSIP members living in New England, NY, NJ, PA, WV, MD, DE o Have a history of problems with gastrointestinal nematode worms. o Are FAMACHA certified (online training program is available). o Are willing to share FAMACHA scores as well as general herd/flock information/history. o Have the ability to obtain and ship fecal samples once or twice (at least 4 weeks later.) o Animals must not have been dewormed within 4 weeks of sampling. o To allow us to provide this service to the maximum number of producers we are focusing the FEC testing on young replacement animals.

Samples will be accepted for analysis during the summer months (peak worm season) 2019.

FAMACHA© scores can be used to indicate that worm season is active and will provide fecal egg counts high enough for meaningful analysis (minimum herd average >500 eggs/g). Scores of 3 or higher in 10% or more of your flock/herd or an overall upward trend in FAMACHA© scores away from normal 1's and 2's indicate increasing parasite loads. Animals must not have been dewormed within 4 weeks of sampling.

Please contact Holly Burdett or Dr. Katherine Petersson, University of Rhode Island at urisheepandgoat@etal.uri.edu to obtain appropriate fecal sampling and shipping instructions. Please include your name, farm name, mailing address, and whether you are currently an NSIP member.

For more information on parasite control visit our website at http://web.uri.edu/sheepngoat.

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2019-2020 Deadlines

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Karla Blackstock editor@abga.org 830-632-2991

Clay Henry Famous Beer-Drinking Goat

7th Annual Boer Goat Sale

Sept 28, 2019 @ 12:00 pm CST 2841 Old Marion Rd. Metropolis, IL 62960

Preview: Sept 27, 2019 5pm - 8pm CST & Sept 28, 2019 @ 8am - 11:30am CST Parasite Clinic by Teresa Steckler from the University of Illinois Extension September 27 @ 8:30 am CST.

Auctioneer: Pit Kemmer Commentator: Certi ed ABGA Judge Jason Brashear

In the eighties, a joke race for mayor began between a Houstonian and a local goat named Clay Henry. Though the Houstonian won the first election, the goat took the second in a landslide. Goat mayor Clay Henry gave way to goat mayor Clay Henry II. All you have to do is put an open bottle in Clay's mouth, he knows how to chug it for himself. Clay Henry Sr. was known to drink as many as 35-40 beers a day. He was killed by his son and then-current goat mayor Clay Henry III. www.purplevisionfeeds.com 800-888-7863