Progress report for LNC23-480
Project Information
The United States imported 109,769 tons of sheep meat and 15,105 tons of goat meat in 2018. Therefore, there is a regional potential for production. In the last ten years in Missouri, the goat and sheep population has grown by 26% and 12%, respectively. The rise in demand for this type of meat is due to surging immigrant populations on the east coast that preserve their religious and culinary traditions. The increase in animal heads produced per year leads to more animals per farm and a rise in farmers' production. However, new farmers or other livestock breeders transitioning to sheep and goat production can overexploit pastures due to a lack of prior knowledge of adequate pasture and animal management. Small-scale farmers, Latinos, seniors, or veteran farmers need help accessing fair markets (auctions, barn sales) or processors for slaughtering animals. Achieving sustainable growth of small ruminant production in Missouri and the NCS is challenging. The objectives are: 1) to close the knowledge gap in the areas of conserving soils, native grasses/forbs, animal/nutrition, genetics, reproduction, parasite/control, and marketing strategies toward sustainability 2) to provide educational training and tools to farmers and other stakeholders to improve the capability of using low-cost technologies for sustainability and effective marketing.
Midwest-SREPI will offer educational webinars and face-to-face field days for farmers in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Michigan. With the collaboration of sub-awards with Goat Expo/Midwest Buck Sale LLC and Practical Farmers of Iowa and contractor farmers in Missouri, Michigan, Kansas, and South Dakota. The Midwest-SREPI strategy will have two main phases. The first phase consists of distance training through webinars, Facebook posts, YouTube videos, and the Initiative's new website (LU and Partners). The first phase is education through webinars, which seeks to reach the most stakeholders and partner with organizations, local companies, and county agents so that the scope is massive. This online service will include 30 remote Vet Clinic consults in Missouri and 30 others in Michigan. Twenty-five webinars will be on soil and plant sciences, native plants, cover crops, sustainability, risk management, and organic production of small ruminants. Animal health topics will cover breeding, pasturing, nutrition, parasite prevention, milk and meat contaminants, and value-added processing products for regional markets. Thirty-nine speakers will speak (some in Spanish) for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 webinars. The participation sub-awards and farmers, with a talk from the farmer and an invited specialist, will hold for 29 Field days.
The objectives are 1) to create the Midwest Small Ruminant Educational Program Initiative (Midwest-SREPI), 2) to engage and strengthen collaborations with organizations such as Southwest Missouri Dairy Goat Association members, Midwest Buck Sale LLC, Missouri Sheep Producers Inc., and to educate independent farmers, vendors, milk/meat/fiber processors, and county agents.
The primary outcomes are that farmers gain knowledge on more sustainable and profitable production, which will increase awareness of Fecal Egg count & FAMACHA and sustainable pasture management and knowledge of those techniques. Actions outcomes will be farmers will apply their knowledge and increase profits and sustainability.
Introduction
The demand for sheep and goat meat in the United States has grown significantly, with 109,769 tons of sheep meat and 15,105 tons of goat meat imported in 2018. This indicates a regional potential for increased domestic production. In Missouri alone, the small ruminant population has expanded over the past decade, with goat numbers rising by 26% and sheep by 12%. Much of this demand is driven by immigrant populations along the East Coast who maintain their culinary and religious traditions. However, the growing number of animals per farm and new farmers entering the industry present challenges, particularly in sustainable pasture management and market access.
Many small-scale producers, including Latino, senior, and veteran farmers, face difficulties in finding fair markets, processing facilities, and resources for effective farm management. Without proper knowledge, new and transitioning farmers risk overgrazing pastures and inefficient animal management, reducing both productivity and sustainability. Addressing these challenges requires targeted education, training, and collaboration to equip farmers with the necessary skills for long-term success.
This project aims to close the knowledge gap in critical areas such as soil conservation, native forages, nutrition, genetics, reproduction, parasite control, and marketing strategies. To achieve this, we will establish the Midwest Small Ruminant Educational Program Initiative (Midwest-SREPI) and foster collaborations with key organizations, including Southwest Missouri Dairy Goat Association, Midwest Buck Sale LLC, and Missouri Sheep Producers Inc. The program will engage farmers, vendors, milk/meat/fiber processors, and county agents, providing them with low-cost technologies and effective marketing tools for sustainable growth.
The expected outcomes include:
- Increased farmer knowledge in sustainable pasture management, parasite control (Fecal Egg Count & FAMACHA), and profitability strategies.
- Action-oriented results, where farmers apply new techniques, improve production efficiency, and enhance sustainability and market success.
By implementing these strategies, the project will contribute to the long-term viability of small ruminant production in Missouri and the North Central SARE region, fostering a resilient and profitable agricultural sector.
Cooperators
- - Technical Advisor
- - Technical Advisor
Research
Education
The project's educational approach is structured in two phases. The first phase focuses on distance learning through webinars, Facebook posts, YouTube videos, and the Initiative’s new website, developed in collaboration with Lincoln University and its partners. This phase aims to maximize stakeholder outreach by engaging organizations, local companies, and county agents.
The second phase incorporates face-to-face training at key industry events, such as those hosted by the Midwest Buck Sale LLC, and Practical Farmers of Iowa. These in-person sessions provide hands-on learning opportunities to complement the virtual training component.
2024 Progress Report
The first year of the Midwest Small Ruminant Educational Program Initiative (Midwest-SREPI) has been an enriching experience, marked by strong collaboration, impactful educational activities, and meaningful farmer engagement.
A key highlight has been hearing farmers’ stories about their learning experiences and how they have applied new knowledge to improve their sheep and goat operations. These firsthand accounts reflect the real-world impact of the project, from improved pasture management to better parasite control and marketing strategies. Farmers have shared how implementing Fecal Egg Count & FAMACHA techniques and adopting sustainable grazing practices have enhanced both profitability and sustainability.
The cooperation of partners and institutions has been instrumental in the success of this initiative. We have worked closely with Midwest Buck Sale LLC, Practical Farmer of Iowa, and other stakeholders, strengthening the support network for small ruminant producers across the North Central SARE (NC SARE) region. These collaborations have helped expand educational reach and provide farmers with valuable resources tailored to their needs.
We deeply appreciate the support from NC SARE, which has enabled us to develop high-quality training sessions, workshops, and field days focused on key production areas such as forage and nutrition, herd management, marketing, and value-added processing. The first year has laid a strong foundation, and we look forward to continuing this work, refining our approach, and further expanding farmer engagement in the years ahead.
Project Activities
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Over the reporting period, 18 consultations were conducted, along with the creation of one new curriculum, factsheet, or educational tool. There were two on-farm demonstrations and 16 webinars, talks, or presentations delivered. Additionally, seven workshops or field days were held.
Key educational events included:
- Mid-West Goat Producers Course Program: Forage & Nutrition Day, Economics & Marketing Day, and Herd Management Day.
- Workshops and Field Days: Value-Added Day (Sedalia, MO), Developing a Meat CSA, and multiple pasture management and animal health workshops.
- Specialized Training: Small Ruminant Nutrition Train-the-Trainer, Small Ruminant Parasite & Extension Skills Train-the-Trainer, and Small Ruminant Marketing.
- Key Presentations and Webinars: Topics ranged from "Building a Farm for Shepherding" to "Milk Processing & Marketing," "Pasture Management for Parasite Control," and "How to Make Sheep and Goat Production Profitable."
A total of 638 farmers and ranchers and 45 agricultural professionals participated in these educational and outreach activities. Attendees came from several states across the North Central SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) region, and future reports will include a breakdown of participant locations.
Learning Outcomes
- Small Ruminant Nutrition
- Parasite Prevention
- Pasture Management
- Value added products
- Marketing
- Animal health and reproduction
Project Outcomes
emails from participants
I wanted to take a moment and let you all know how helpful the small ruminant webinars are for me.
I have benefitted and continue to benefit from the ongoing webinars and workshops put on by Lincoln University. This is my first venture into small ruminants; previously steers and horses but even that has been a long time ago and so many things have changed. I love how the webinar certification courses continue to evolve from basics to more advanced and going deeper into areas where there is not a lot of help, such as veterinary, lambing and genetics.
I hope these webinars will continue. The support and encouragement they generate will help grow small ruminant production and foster less importing. It is also amazing to see how far Lincoln's reach is as there are participants from several states and even other countries. Thank you, Lincoln University.
Tina Skiver
We value you and the Lincoln University small ruminant program so very much in our farming endeavors. The work you do to provide small farmers with so many instructive and worthwhile courses is deeply appreciated. We have found each workshop we attended to be full of excellent instruction and useful for so many situations on our farm.
I do want to again express our deep appreciation to you for the important work you do at Lincoln University. Thank you so much … we look forward to seeing you in the coming year.
It would also be useful, perhaps, to hear from an animal behavioral scientist, who might shed some light on any aspect of farm animal life. I don’t even know enough to make an intelligent suggestion, but I’m betting you might have many ideas on this subject.
I would also welcome a course on making a felted fleece rug from start to finish. I’ve been shown the steps by someone Imet only once, but my results were disappointing, and I think perhaps something was amiss.
Mark & Rosemarie Adams
Mark & Rosemarie Adams