Progress report for SMS24-A01
Project Information
Sustainable Meat Goat Production in the Southeast will be achieved through the Southeastern Buck Performance Test, which aims to improve the profitability of the meat goat industry in the region by the improvement of meat goat genetics. This test will be conducted in 2024 and 2025 for the 2nd and 3rd time in South Mississippi. Expecting more than 100 bucks to take part, the pilot test of 2023 had 89 bucks from 45 farms from 14 states. Most of the goat meat we eat in the U.S. comes from abroad, with this test, we will hopefully be able to one day help meet the demand for goat meat in the U.S. with domestic products. That means more people coming into this business will have a place for their products. The test has three primary goals: to help identify genetics that produce a salable carcass by feeding forages commonly available in the region; to help improve resistance or resilience to internal parasites, which is the number one challenge for goat producers in Mississippi; and to determine the effect of heat stress. Measuring these important variables will allow meat goat production in the southeast to be more sustainable. Dr. Leyla Rios (PI) and Dr. Barbara Roqueto do Reis will be supervising this experience with farmers as part of their extension and research programs.
- Sustainable Practices for Small Ruminant Farmers: Taking the
Lab to the Farm. - FAMACHA
- Small ruminant workshop
- Train the trainers
- Field day for Kiko Buck test
Advisors
- (Educator)
- (Educator)
Education
- SARE INPUTS:
- Funds train-the-trainer and train farmers in sustainable meat production in the southeast / Sustainable Parasite Control / FAMACHA(c) Training.
- Outreach information for extension agents and
- PARTICIPANTS:
- Extension Agents
- Goat Farmers / Small Ruminant Farmers
- Animal Science Undergrad and Graduate Students
- ACTIVITIES/PRODUCTS
- Educational events, training, workshops, classes, and webinars
- Information Products: factsheets, handouts, video, web content
- Exposing students to scientific events / MSSTATE Undergraduate and Graduate Research Symposium / ASAS Southern Section / Poster and Oral Presentations.
- LEARNING:
- Knowledge, skills, and awareness about sustainable parasite control
- Educate farmers and ranchers and 4H families with farm demonstrations, field days, small ruminant management, animal health, hoof trimming, FAMACHA(c) training.
Education & Outreach Initiatives
Teach Extension Agents, Farmers and students (future animal science and vet professionals) sheep and goat fecal analysis and parasite identification
Workshops and Field days will be offered to Extension agents working with small ruminant clientele and small ruminant farmers and future professionals, so they have skills that will help on sustainable parasite control
This training helps Extension Agents to offer a more complete advice to their clients and offers to farmers more tools to control parasites in their herd in a sustainable way.
Offer a 2-level certification for Extension Agents and Small Ruminant Farmers
FAMACHA(c) certification can be offered to Extension Agents and Farmers, it is a 2-level certification because through the ACSRPC (American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control), some participants will be just glad to be certified for the use of FAMACHA(c) and receive their card so they can use it on their herd or client's herds. But also, after this initial certification, the participant can also become a Certified Instructor.
1.FAMACHA(c) certification can be offered to Extension Agents and Farmers, as an important tool to reduce parasite resistance to dewormers, a worldwide growing problem. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19U2GUPLAv/
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AA1MFYAv7/
2. Since 2020 working at MSSTATE with the support of SSARE we have grown the number of certified FAMACHA(c) instructors in MS from 3 to 7. https://www.wormx.info/ms
3. Since 2023 and through SSARE and Mayaguez University and Dr. Abner Contreras invitations, we have worked together and the interest in FAMACHA(c) and parasite identification has increased also. Their number for FAMACHA(c) Instructors is also higher. https://www.wormx.info/puertorico
Train small ruminant farmers through hands-on experiences to take care of routine animal management and health issues
Hands-On workshops, demonstrations and field days to teach participants new and important skills to help them manage better their herds or give a better advice to their clients
Hands-On workshops, demonstrations and field days to teach participants and also to showcase SSARE
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EGMgfx5Xn/
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BXbGkHLgM/
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15TEevFtYi/
Offer an educational event for goat farmers with talks, cooking demonstrations, questions and answers, giving awards for the winner farmers and their bucks and sharing goat meat and processed products with them.
The field day for Kiko Buck Farmers is a great opportunity for them and for Extension to meet and exchange information.
This field day includes talks, demonstrations, lunch together, questions and answers, and giving awards for the winner farmers and their bucks.
It is a great event to close all the hard work that was placed into the buck performance test
Last year we had speakers, cooking demonstration, goat meat for lunch and processed products (patties and sausages).
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Learning Outcomes
Project Outcomes
Face of SARE
All our activities related to FAMACHA training and taking the lab to the farm are related to SARE and this is shown in social media as a way of acknowledging of the sponsorship
Our biggest event that hosted more than 120 farmers last year and this year in june was hosted by SSARE https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ETVF7eVg1/