Texas A&M AgriLife Empowers Texas Sheep And Goat Production

KAY LEDBETTER

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS

Parasites, predators, forage variability and market pressures challenge Texas sheep and goat producers, making resilience more critical than ever. To help producers stay ahead, experts from Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service hosted a two-day educational event at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo.

The two days kicked off with the Sheep and Goat Field Day. Attendees had the chance to learn hands-on about topics such as forage crop management, livestock reproductive health and the use of livestock guardian dogs.

The following day and a half, the Sheep and Goat Expo covered a broad range of general and advanced topics in sheep and goat production, including low-stress animal handling, health, lambing/kidding, fencing and recordkeeping, and factors involved in raising different breeds.

The annual Sheep and Goat Expo combined with the field day is the largest event of its type in Texas and ranks among the top sheep and goat industry education programs globally. It is coordinated by a 20-member committee and a team of AgriLife Extension agents and support staff who develop the agenda based on industry needs and interests.

The event strengthens the industry by fostering networking, fellowship and research-based knowledge-sharing, helping producers stay ahead of challenges and build more sustainable businesses.

Texas A&M AgriLife drives innovation

Texas leads the nation in sheep and goat production, but producers still face ongoing challenges. Texas A&M AgriLife tackles those challenges through leading-edge research and educational outreach.  

“We want to help this vital industry become even more resilient,” said Jeffrey W. Savell, Ph.D., vice chancellor and dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences. “That means conducting foundational research and advancing technologies that make a real difference in the field. That also means presenting results to new and experienced producers as well as the next generation.”

Producers build resilience by adopting practices that protect land and livestock health and economic stability. The Expo supported this through education, peer networks, mentorship and youth development.

Covering the spectrum

The Texas sheep and goat industry is made up primarily of wool and hair sheep, club lambs, and meat and Angora goats.

“The commodities that sheep and goats provide, be it meat, wool or grazing services, are growing in demand, but our state is incredibly diverse in environments and production schemes,” said Jake Thorne, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension sheep and goat specialist and assistant professor, Department of Animal Science, San Angelo.

The expo helps attendees recognize the diversity of production requirements, learn about what is critical to their region, and go home armed with new knowledge and relationships to strengthen their operations, he said.

New grazing land

At the expo, Thorne also highlighted new research exploring how sheep can help manage vegetation under solar panels.

“Sheep are the perfect biological mower for these situations,” he said. “Sheep maintain agriculture production on solar sites and offset a bit of the mechanized visual that solar arrays bring to the environment. The opportunities for expanded access to grazing are a huge boost for the sheep industry.”

Relationships matter

Thorne said this industry is as much about relationships as it is anything else, and the expo is the perfect place for producers to build their network.

“There’s an entire support network of fellow producers, AgriLife Research scientists and AgriLife Extension specialists who can help folks of all levels of experience raise small ruminants in Texas,” he said.   ∆

KAY LEDBETTER

TEXAS AGRI LIFE

 

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