Progress report for ENC23-220
Project Information
Currently, there are about 80 million lamb and mutton consumers in the U.S. with up to $2 billion in purchasing power. However, domestic sheep and goat production has declined constantly since 2007. As a result, during the month of December 2022 alone, export of sheep and goat meat was $1.24 million, and import was $114 million resulting in a negative trade balance of $113 million.
Recently, Lincoln University at Jefferson City in Missouri has conducted a pilot survey to identify major challenges in sheep and goat production through direct contact with 635 producers. The current train-the-trainer program is designed to address these challenges. Our training program will include a) management of pasture, nutrition, and parasitology, b) infrastructure (fencing, barn, feeder, and water tub), and c) marketing of slaughter-ready animals.
For this proposed program, Lincoln University will work closely with the University of Missouri Cooperative Extension and will address the training needs for extension specialists, farm consultants, Ag teachers, and private sector advisors working with sheep and goat producers. Our plan is to develop and expand comprehensive educational curricula and training programs for extension professionals to pass information to target farmers. Our targeted end users will be Black and Latino farmers, small-scale producers, beginning farmers, historically underserved societies, women, and veteran farmers. The goal is to improve extension educators’ ability to help sheep and goat producers to make them successful entrepreneurs.
Outcome table
|
Outcomes |
Inputs and activities |
Activities |
Outputs |
Evaluation/Monitoring Plan |
|
Learning: - Gastrointestinal parasites - Selection of parasite resistant animals - Dewormers - FAMACHA - Fecal egg count - Coccidiosis - Barber pole worm |
Train-the-trainer field day at central, southern, north-east, and north-west of Missouri
Dr. Mohan Acharya lead person |
2x10 = Train-the-trainer event in 3 years, 3 Webinar, 10 Field consultation (assist trainer), 10 on farm service (assist trainer) |
Each trainer will guide 10 producers so total 200 producers will be benefited from 20 extension trainee, 400 producers will be benefited from each webinar (total 1200 from 3 webinars), and there are 10 field consultations and 10 on farm service |
Before and after for train-the-trainer event. Follow up them in 6-12 months, if they organize events for producers (end target groups) after the event. Number of views for webinar after it will be uploaded in social medias (Facebook, YouTube) and on live in zoom during presentation. On farm visits numbers |
|
Learning - Soil sampling - Fertilizer dose calculation - Grazing recommendation - Weed identification - Forage resources - Native grasses |
Train-the-trainer field day at central, southern, north-east, and north-west of Missouri
Dr. Saugata Bardhan will lead person |
2x10 = Train-the-trainer event in 3 years, 3 Webinar, 10 Field consultation (assist trainer), 10 on farm service (assist trainer) |
Each trainer will guide 10 producers so total 200 producers will be benefited from 20 extension trainee, 400 producers will be benefited from each webinar (total 1200 from 3 webinars), and there are 10 field consultations and 10 on farm service |
Before and after for train-the-trainer event. Follow up them in 6-12 months, if they organize events for producers (end target groups) after the event. Number of views for webinar after it will be uploaded in social medias (Facebook, YouTube) and on live in zoom during presentation. On farm visits numbers |
|
Learning - Sale barn location - Ethnic markets - Sale weight - Auctions - Individual buyers - Slaughterhouse - Wholesale suppliers - Retailers - Cost-benefit ratio - Maximize benefit |
Train-the-trainer field day at central, southern, north-east, and north-west of Missouri
Dr. Homero Salinas will lead person |
2x10 = Train-the-trainer event in 3 years, 3 Webinar, 10 Field consultation (assist trainer), 10 on farm service (assist trainer) |
Each trainer will guide 10 producers so total 200 producers will be benefited from 20 extension trainee, 400 producers will be benefited from each webinar (total 1200 from 3 webinars), and there are 10 field consultations and 10 on farm service |
Before and after for train-the-trainer event. Follow up them in 6-12 months, if they organize events for producers (end target groups) after the event. Number of views for webinar after it will be uploaded in social medias (Facebook, YouTube) and on live in zoom during presentation. On farm visits numbers |
Cooperators
Education
Newsletter January 2025 Newsletter (1) October 2024 Newsletter
Attached are three newsletters published in Missouri Sheep Producers newsletter.
July, 2024; October 2024; and January 2025.
Education & Outreach Initiatives
The goal of that program was to organize a need-based train-the-trainer program for state extension educators, USDA NRCS staffs, staffs from the Missouri Department of Agriculture, private consultants, consultants for farmers and ranchers, Ag teachers, non-profit educators, and state agency staff to improve their ability to help producers in decision making. Our end target audience will be small sheep and goat producers, beginner farmers, and historically underserved societies. At the end of the program, we are requested each participants to provide an update on how our training program has helped them to gain confidence to assist target end users.
Program Schedule and Bios of Educational program
A 3-day lecture series was organized and a total of 45 extension educators, extension specialist, private consultants, consultants for farmers and ranchers, Ag teachers, non-profit educators, and state agency staff, research animal care takers, and graduate students participated in the event. There was 3 (x 1 hour class) on parasite control in sheep and goats, 3 (x1 hour class) on nutrition management, 2 (x 1 hour class) on sheep and goat economics and 3 (x1 hours class) on how to organize extension programs effectively.
After our training program, our trainees will be able to serve their target groups to reduce feed costs, manage pasturing, reduce parasitic problems, increase lamb production, improve breeding, and explore easy marketing opportunities.
Training was provided to extension educators on small ruminant production and at the end of the program, we are requested each participants to provide an update on how our training program has helped them to gain confidence to assist other small ruminant producers.
evaluation is underway ...
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Learning Outcomes
Project Outcomes
We created a YouTube video series as the result of this certificate course.
Certification Winter Virtual Course Modules
Module 1: November 13 – Selection of Breeding Ram/Buck - Dr. Richard Ehrhardt
Module 2: November 20 – Selection of Breeding Ewes/Does - Dr. Richard Ehrhardt
Module 3: December 4 – Minimizing Hay Cost - Dr. Steve Hart
Module 4: December 11 –Integrated Approach to Minimizing Winter Feed and Farm Costs - Dr. Steve Hart
Module 5: January 8 – Reading Feed Tags and Using Vit. and Minerals - Dr. Ken Coffey
Module 6: January 15 – Balancing Ration - Dr. Ken Coffey
Module 7: January 22 – Hoof Care for Sheep and Goats - Ms. Susan Schoenian
Module 8: January 29 –Pregnant Sheep and Goat Health - Ms. Susan Schoenian
Module 9: February 5 – Cost of Feeding Pregnant Animals - Ms. Jennifer Lutes
Module 10: February 12 –Care During Late Gestation Pregnant Animal Health - Dr. Mohan Acharya
Module 11: February 19 – Lambing and Kidding - Ms. Linda Coffey
Module 12: February 26 – Livestock Guardian Dogs - Mr. Bill Costanzo
Webinars:
There was direct contact of 45 participants in each webinars. We asked 3-4 questions as a polls in each webinars. Number of participants in polls were listed. Certificate was provided to those attended all webinars, and answered all the questions during polls in the webinars . 12 participants obtained certificate.
Factsheets:
Factsheets published in the "Missouri Sheep Producers" newsletter were distributed to 119 sheep producers in Missouri.
Train-the-trainer workshop:
Total 45 extension agents/farmers/consultants/farm workers were trained. We still need to follow up for the assessment.
Poster Presentation:
Poster Presentation at the 2025 Missouri Natural Resources Conference, "Extending Pasture-Based Sheep and Goat Production Information to Farmers Through Train-the-Trainer Program." Retrieved from https://mnrc.org/posters/.