Small Ruminant Health Workshops Scheduled for 2012

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System at Alabama A&M University is offering a series of workshops on “Small Ruminant Health from A to Z,” including gastrointestinal parasitism management and FAMACHA training. The workshops are conducted at the beginning of the grazing and kidding season in early spring since this is the season when many health problems are more prevalent.

The objective of the workshops is to educate farmers, veterinarian practitioners, Extension agents, and other interested persons on:
• Best health management practices for small ruminants • FDA-approved and non-approved parasite deworming methods to treat GI parasitism among goat and sheep herds, including the FAMACHA test developed by South African scientists
• McMaster technique of nematode fecal-egg identification and counting
• Life cycle of gastrointestinal worms
• Consequences of parasite-host interactions

In addition, FAMACHA cards will be available for purchasing.

The workshops are free; however, participants are encouraged to pre-register by calling the appropriate county Extension office or Dr. Maria Browning at (256) 372-4954.

March 24
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Lawrence County Extension Office
13075 ALA-157, Suite 6
Moulton, AL 35650
To register: Contact Robert Spencer at (256) 766-6223 or rds0002@aces.edu.
Directions: From I-65 travel west on ALA-157 to Lawrence County Agricultural Center.

April 9
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Hale County Agricultural Extension Center
701 Hall Street
Greensboro, AL 36744
To register: Contact Tommie Teacher at (334) 624-8710 or teachto@aces.edu.
Directions: Enter Greensboro from ALA-69, ALA-61, ALA-14, or ALA-25. Travel to intersection of ALA-69 and ALA-14. Travel east on ALA-14 approximately 300 yards to Centreville Street. Turn right on Centreville Street. Go 0.25 mile to Hall Street. Turn left onto Hall Street. Extension Office is located in the Hale County Agricultural Extension Center, clearly visible on the right by the baseball fields.

May 5
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Tennessee State University
Meat Goat Research Facility
Ed Temple Blvd
Nashville TN 37228
To register: Contact Dr. Richard Browning at (615) 963-5837 or rbrowning@tnstate.edu.
Directions: Take I-40 West to 28th Avenue Exit #207. Turn right at end of exit ramp. Proceed north past Walter Davis Blvd (third traffic light). Farm entrance is the first driveway on the left.