Christine Gelley, OSU Extension Educator ANR, Noble County

2021 Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium Flyer

To register directly for the event, please visit: go.osu.edu/ohiosheep

2021 Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium QR registration code. Scan this code with your phone to register.

The Ohio State University and Ohio Sheep Improvement Association is pleased welcome all to the 2021 Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium in Wooster, Ohio on Friday, December 3 and Saturday, December 4 at the OARDC Shisler Conference Center. This year’s symposium theme is genetics and reproduction and will feature a wide variety of speakers and gathering opportunities. In addition, this years program will have two options for attendance as all are welcomed to join either in person or virtually. To secure your spot at this years event, please following the links in the flyer provided above or by scanning the QR code to the right.

On Friday, December 3 from 2-5 p.m. attendees will enjoy an afternoon of discussion on genetic appraisal, reproductive strategies, and record keeping from all aspects of the sheep industry. On Saturday, December 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. there will be a collection of sessions including the annual OSIA business meeting, educational presentations, and an awards ceremony. Throughout the day attendees will Continue reading →

Dr. Brady Campbell, Assistant Professor, State Small Ruminant Extension Specialist

Sunflowers… Can they be used as a forage, or better yet, will sheep graze them? What about brassicas, such as turnips and radishes? If these were to be grazed, what is their feed value?  These question as well as many others were discussed at the 2021 Ohio Sheep Day held at the OARDC Small Ruminant Center in Wooster, Ohio.

Traditionally, Ohio Sheep Day is held in July, but with the uncertainty of summer programming, the 2021 Ohio Sheep Day planning committee elected to hold this years event in the fall. As noted by many in attendance, the cool, crisp weather was a nice addition to the slate of events.

Per usual, the day began with welcomes and introductions of those involved in preparing for the day. Attendees were welcomed to the university facility by many important leaders such as Dr. Anne Dorrance, Director of the Wooster Campus, and Gregg Fogle, manager of the Small Ruminant Center. At the conclusion of the opening remarks, it was off to the pastures to begin our field discussions. First on the list was Continue reading →

Jason Hartschuh, OSU Extension Educator ANR, Crawford County
Amanda Douridas, OSU Extension Educator ANR, Champaign County
Mary Griffith, OSU Extension Educator ANR, Madison County
Elizabeth Hawkins, OSU Extension – Field Specialist, Agronomic Systems

Farm Science Review is just a week away, held September 21^st – 23^rd with lots of excitement in store for farmers young and old. There will be a lot of new equipment and technology to view as you walk around the show grounds and of course milk shakes and delicious sandwiches from the OSU student organizations. OSU also has some exciting areas for you to stop by and learn more about agricultural practices being studied at OSU and view some of the latest technology in action.

Agronomy plots area
One major yield thief in both corn and soybeans is Continue reading →

Dr. Brady Campbell, Program Coordinator, OSU Sheep Team

After a long year away from you, The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences and Ohio Sheep Improvement Association (OSIA) are excited to announce that the 2021 Ohio Sheep Day will be held live, in person on Saturday, October 2nd at the OARDC Small Ruminant Center located at 5651 Fredericksburg Road, Wooster, OH 44691.

For those new to this program, this year is a bit different as we have chosen to provide this program in the fall as opposed to the summer. This unique opportunity will allow participants to see some alternative systems not previously highlighted in years past.

As we did in 2019, this year’s program will offer attendees the opportunity to visit one of Ohio State’s research stations that focuses on efficient ruminant livestock and forage production. This programs aim is to provide producers with the tools they need to continue increasing on-farm livestock and forage production.

A list of programming topics include: Continue reading →

Dr. Brady Campbell, Program Coordinator, OSU Sheep Team

In conjunction with Ohio Sheep Day, OSU Extension welcomes local, regional, and state livestock producers to join us on Friday evening, October 1, 2021 from 5 – 7 pm for the Livestock Mortality Composting Certification Course to be held at the OARDC Small Ruminant Center located at 5651 Fredericksburg Road, Wooster, OH 44691.

Composting is an economical and efficient method of disposal for livestock. Certification is needed in the State of Ohio to compost cattle, horses, poultry, sheep, goats, and swine. This two hour course will review how to appropriately construct, monitor, and manage your compost system. The course will be taught by OSU ANR Extension Educators Christine Gelley of Noble County and Tim Barnes of Marion County.

There is a $10 fee for class registration and admission which will cover light refreshments and the training manual that will be received upon the conclusion of the course. Registration for the event is requested and can be completed by either registering online using this link, viewing the event flyer, calling the Wayne County Extension office at (330) 264-8722, or emailing OSU ANR Extension Educator Haley Zynda at zynda.7@osu.edu. Registrations are due by Monday, September 27, 2021.

For those interested in further details about the event, please view the attached flyer.

We look forward to seeing you there!

CFAES Communications, The Ohio State University

The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences has hired Brady Campbell as an assistant professor to focus on small ruminant management.

Campbell begins his new position on September 15 in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).

He will work with Ohio State Extension professionals to develop educational materials and programs for sheep and goat producers.

In addition, he will conduct applied research on small ruminant production and management and assist with youth livestock sheep and goat programs.

“Brady will Continue reading →

Carri Jagger, OSU Extension Educator ANR, Morrow County

OSUSheep 101 Field Day Flyer Morrow County Extension and Morrow County Farm Bureau welcomes local shepherds to the 2021 Sheep 101 Field Day. The event is slated for Saturday, August 14, 2021 from 9:00 am – 2:30 pm at Dale and Cathy Davis’s Farm located at 3149 County Road 169 Cardington, Ohio 43315. This FREE program is open to both beginning and experienced shepherds.

Topics of the days event include: labor saving time tricks, shearing, vaccination considerations, lambing simulator, USA Scrapie update, experienced producer panel Q&A session, and much more! The outlined sessions will be taught by OSU Extension Educators, Department of Animal Sciences faculty and staff, as well as industry professionals. Lunch will be provided at no charge, however, pre-registration is required. To reserve your spot at this years event, please do so by contacting the Morrow County Farm Bureau at (419) 747-7488 or through morrow.ofbf.org. The event is sponsored by the Morrow County Farm Bureau, Ohio Sheep and Wool Program (OSWP), Ohio Sheep Improvement Association (OSIA), and the American Sheep Industry (ASI).

For those interested in further details about the event, please view the attached flyer.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Jaelyn Quintana, Extension Field Specialist I – Sheep, South Dakota State University

For those that haven’t had a chance to do so yet, please be sure to submit your responses for this national sheep and goat needs assessment survey!  Your input will be crucial in the development of future small ruminant programming and support. Currently, Ohio represents 3% of the total responses. I know that we can do better than that!

The South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension Small Ruminant Team is seeking input from sheep and goat producers across the U.S. to identify producer interests and enhance future Extension programming efforts. Responses collected from this voluntary survey will be complied into a Sheep and Goat Producers Needs Assessment.

“Across the nation many producers have adapted to the ever-changing dynamics of today’s world. As Extension professionals we have also experienced

Continue reading →

Dr. Brady Campbell, Program Coordinator, OSU Sheep Team
Christine Gelley, OSU Extension Educator ANR, Noble County

Small ruminant growth and health losses associated with parasitic infection continues to be of great concern in many intensively grazed management systems such as those in the Eastern United States. Diagnostic techniques used to monitor parasitic infection on-farm include the FAMACHA© eye scoring system and Fecal Egg Counts. implementing these tools within your operation will not only allow for producers to detect the early onset of parasitism within their flocks and herds, but can also be used as a guide to determine which animals need to be treated. These workshops will provide training for producers to conduct FAMACHA© eye scores and fecal egg counts from the comfort of their home.

Two separate sessions will be held in Caldwell, Ohio for those interested in learning how to better monitor their flocks and herds through selective anthelmintic treatment. Continue reading →

Christine Gelley, OSU Extension Educator ANR, Noble County

The Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council cordially invites you to join forage and livestock enthusiasts from across the state for their 2021 Summer Forage Field Days. Anyone with an interest in pasture management, hay production, or livestock systems is welcome to attend one or all of the field days planned as drive-it-yourself day tours in Central Ohio.

The series will begin June 25, 2021 in Crawford County. Finishing sheep, goats, and cattle on forage will be the topic of this field day and will include Continue reading →

Michelle Wallace, Northwest Regional ANR Extension Educator, Central State University

Central State University (CSU) Extension will be hosting a free Sheep Shearing Field Day on March 27, 2021.

Designed for beginning farmers, CSU Extension is partnering with H.O.O.V.E.S in presenting a Sheep Shearing Field Day beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at the H.O.O.V.E.S facility, 4055 Wilkins Rd., Swanton, Ohio.

Participants at the field day will:

• Learn how to shear a sheep
• Learn how to protect the quality of the fleece while shearing
• Learn how to skirt the fleece
• Learn how to wash the fleece

Presenters will include Continue reading →