Diversifying with Small Ruminants for Profitability

From interviews and surveys conducted with farmers and agricultural professionals, PASA identified a range of topics and technical training that would be of benefit to producers looking to expand or begin small ruminant production. As part of our established seasonal on-farm field day and intensive learning programs as well as workshops and pre-conference tracks as part of our renowned annual Farming for the Future conference, PASA endeavored to implement a series of events designed to allow farmers and professionals to learn from experienced producers and experts, to see theory put into practice, and to have opportunities for hands-on experience in the company of experts in the field.

Educational outreach programming offers farmers opportunities to acquire, implement, and/or augment skills and techniques vital to the improvement and ultimately the success of their farming operations. The programming also facilitates the exchange of information specific to small ruminant production practices encouraging product quality improvement, supporting transition to more environmentally sound production practices, and the honing of marketing skills

Farmer-to-farmer field days are semiformal gatherings, often hosted at PASA member farms, and give hosts a chance to display their operation, highlighting particular practices, products, plans, and/or equipment, and offering participants a behind the scenes view into established, innovative, and/or successful operations. Researchers and extension agents are often on hand to provide background and analysis, and to demonstrate the benefits of developing such relationships.

Intensive learning programs are more in depth, sometimes running for several full days. With limited enrollment (usually 12-25 registrants), intensives offer participants the opportunity to interact directly with experts, to see and take part in technical demonstrations.

Conference workshops are an effective way to reach farmers during their downtime in the winter months. These 80minute presentations feature experts from around the country and provide focused introduction, explanation, and/or discussion of a wide array of topics of interest to small ruminant producers.

Pre-conference Tracks, like intensive learning programs, offer in-depth, hands-on technical information and demonstration. As part of the conference, these tracks are a practical option for producers looking for an intensive program, but may not have been able to take time away during the field day season.

Producers’ group meetings provided an opportunity for novice and experienced producers to meet with others in their region, to share problems and solutions, compare techniques, and pose questions. Attracting lamb, dairy sheep, dairy goat, meat goat, and fiber producers, these meetings spurred conversations about pastures and grazing, parasites and animal care, fencing, watering systems, marketing options and the dearth of small ruminant veterinarians.

Small ruminant programming has had an enduring presence in PASA’s educational lineup. Through surveys conducted after the small ruminant pre-conference track held in 2004, as well as phone interviews with experienced producers throughout Pennsylvania, we determined that PASA was uniquely poised to disseminate information and conduct technical demonstrations and workshops relevant to small ruminant production. Small and medium scale producers were clamoring for information on: parasite management; ruminant nutrition, pasture species, forage quality, and grazing management; understanding and producing for ethnic markets, including out-of-season breeding; genetics, selecting for pasture-based systems and preserving heritage breeds; health care, including hoof care; reproduction and kidding training; holistic care, organic pasture, and rotational grazing; value-added products; and marketing. In addition, there was a desire for regional networking opportunities.

In collaboration with the newly formed Pennsylvania Meat Goat Producers Association and the Pennsylvania Farmstead and Artisan Cheesemakers Alliance, a series of programs targeting small ruminant producers in general, and the aforementioned topics specifically, was designed. With PASA’s then 5,000 plus strong database as a starting point, we used our connections with collaborating and likeminded organizations (Pennsylvania Certified Organic, National Center for Appropriate Technology, Penn State researchers and veterinarians, etc.) to get the word out to potential participants, distributing calendars to mailing lists, emails to listserves and email lists. Press releases were sent to agricultural newspapers (Lancaster Farming, Farmshine, Farmer’s Friend, etc.) as well as to mainstream newspapers in the areas where events were held. Full-color flyers were distributed to and posted by extension agents, sustainable agriculture departments at colleges and universities, and key players including board members and researchers. Occasional postcards were sent to members and contacts without email, or when events occurred outside of the normal event season. An effort was made to connect field day season events with conference programming, offering beginning and advanced courses. In addition, field day calendar listings and six articles covering particular events and the project as a whole were published in Passages, PASA’s bi-monthly newsletter.

The 2006 season started with Sheep Dairying and Cheesemaking, showcasing a grass-based sheep and cow dairy, including a tour of the cheese house and a discussion of marketing. Grazing School with Sarah Flack offered a thorough discussion and demonstration of grazing systems, pasture and paddock calculations, fencing and water.
Goat Dairying and Organic Vegetables included a tour of the milking parlour and slaughterhouse. Participants of Reclaiming Fallow Land with Goats for Grazing visited three sites undergoing reclamation, where Mike Wright’s 75 Spanish Cashmere meat goats were steadily clearing soft maple, multiflora rose, and goldenrod. Naturally Raised Grass-fed Lamb and Processing started with a farm tour and ended with a tour of the USDA inspected processing facility and certified kitchen, with plenty of information on lamb production free of hormones, antibiotics, herbicides, or pesticides.

Small ruminant intensive learning programs in 2006 included two Hands On Small Ruminant Care events, each limited to 20 participants, and featuring four sessions: Hoof Care and Trimming, Kidding and Calving, Necropsy, and Nutrition. Small Ruminant Parasite Control and Nutrition Calculators taught participants the life cycle and biology of parasites, the basic classes of dewormers, and how resistance develops, after which they tested live animals with the FAMACHA chart, and conducted fecal egg counts.
FAMACHA Certification covered the basics of integrated parasite management, teaching proper anthelminic use, providing hands on fecal egg counts, and use of the FAMACHA Eye Anemia guide to determine the need for deworming individual animals.

At the 2007 Conference, Making the Soil, Pasture, and Animal Health Connection offered participants an overview of preliminary research results from the Penn State University/PASA on-farm research project considering whole farm management on small ruminant farms across Pennsylvania. In Can You Protect Your Livestock from Predators? participants learned about the intensity of predation, the limitations of conventional protection methods, and developments in predator protection. While
Tapping into the Ethnic Markets provided practical approaches to capturing a lucrative market, and the considerations involved, including on-farm slaughter and breeding for holiday schedules.

Field days in 2007 included Grazing, Browsing and Fencing for Small Ruminants, a chance to see two farms utilizing rotational grazing and browsing for their goats and sheep. Naturally Raised Livestock offered a view of starting small and growing steadily, feeding organic feed and grazing on chemical free pasture. Pastured Poultry and Small Ruminants on a Shoe String Budget showed how growing grass helped to transform 27 neglected acres into a profitable, diversified farm, with sheep and dairy goats. Parasite Control in Small Ruminants with Dr. David Pugh provided information on environmental and chemical parasite controls, a review of dewormers, nutrition as it relates to parasite management, disease prevention, herd health, and rotational grazing.

2007 intensive learning programs started with Goats’ Milk Cheesemaking with Linda Smith, covering the qualities of good milk, sanitation regulations, goat breeds, equipment, supplies, labeling, and sources for supplies and information. Different techniques produced four distinct chevres and two fetas. In Principles of Holistic Livestock Production with Jerry Brunetti and Hue Karreman, participants got hands-on instruction in producing healthy, productive livestock: total soil fertility, forage nutrient density, and alternative treatments. Holistic Decision Making for Farmers, held on a value-added sheep dairy, provided a framework for decision making that considers the long term ecological, economic, and social consequences of farming decisions.

Sandra Miller, a member of the PASA small ruminant advisory committee organized the all-day Small Ruminant pre-conference track at the 2008 Farming for the Future conference. 69 farmers and producers participated in presentations including Goat Nutrition from A to Z and Managing Parasites, Managing Goats on Pasture and Browse,
Sustainable Sheep: Farm Products and Ecological Services, Managing Goats for Prescribed Grazing, and From Grass to Garment: Fiber Farm Production. 186 farmers participated in four workshops. The Secret Life of Goat and Sheep Gastrointestinal Worms explained how to do fecal egg counts and why they are the only way to determine if dewormers are working. Alpacas: Profitable Livestock on a Small Farm covered the care, handling, breeding, and health requirements of these camelids, sharing the business plan behind this profitable livestock operation. Parasite Controls in Small Ruminants and
Feeding the World in Your Community: Capturing Ethnic Markets repeated two highly successful field day from the previous season for eager producers unable to attend in the summer.

In the 2008 field day season, Incorporating Value-Added Goat Dairy into a Diversified Farm Business walked participants through starting a value-added dairy venture, from training to buildings and layout, and equipment to marketing. The Ultimate Diversified Farm: Grow & Sell It all! offered participants a behind the scenes look at a successful farm vacation business on a successful, diversified livestock and vegetable farm.
Miniature Nubians & Goats’ Milk Skin Care Products shared the basics of operating a small goat dairy, with a pasture walk and soapmaking demonstration.

Although our goals did not include conference programming in 2009, we offered the following eight workshops directly related to small ruminant production. Plant Dyeing Animal Fibers: Another Use for Earth’s Bounty taught basic plant dyeing procedures like harvesting, plant preparation, and dyeing wool and mohair fiber. Clearing Pastures with Goats, Cows and More offered tips on managing livestock for maximum effect and maximum productivity, featuring video, time-lapse photos of results, and planning tools for grazers and landowners. Stop Depredation Now: How to Raise and Train the Livestock Guardian Dog discussed five steps to foil attacking predators, and the training of livestock guarding dogs. Breeding the Wool You Need: Selective Crossbreeding to Improve Fiber Characteristics offered hands on examination of various breeds’ fibers and their preparation, and a discussion of sheep selection for fleece improvement. Pasture Lambing Management: 17 Years of Lessons Lambing on Grass provided information on forage preparation, management for maximum bonding, options in inclement weather, predation and parasite management. In Steps for Starting a Goat Dairy, participants learned the details, from planning the parlour to PA Department of Agriculture regulations, and equipment. Overcoming Livestock Parasite Problems Using 100% Natural Medicine offered holistic remedies for eliminating problems from various parasites using inexpensive, easily acquired ingredients. Thyme for Goat: a Multi-Farm Marketing Collaborative shared lessons learned by this four-farm collective as they developed a successful marketing plan.