Lincoln University Field Day Boosts Goat and Sheep Care

By Blake Jackson

Farmers and small livestock producers recently came together for Lincoln University of Missouri’s (LU) Small Ruminant Field Day, an event dedicated to improving grazing practices and veterinary care for goats and sheep.

Missouri holds the second-highest ranking in the United States for goat meat production, making the management of small ruminants a key issue for many local producers.

The event, held on August 22, featured hands-on demonstrations and expert presentations by Dr. Homero Salinas-Gonzalez, Dr. Chandan Shilpakar, Mark Green, and Dr. Christopher Baughman. Topics covered included pasture management, proper use of electric fencing, and best practices in veterinary care.

Attendees also participated in an outdoor session on how to use a pasture stick, a straightforward tool that helps farmers determine when it is time to rotate animals to a new paddock.

“The pasture stuff, I'd like to improve. We have a real small operation, but [we’re] trying to improve it,” said Randy Knotts, who attended with his wife, Kathy. The couple operates a three-acre farm near Liberty, Missouri.

Speakers highlighted electric fencing as an affordable and effective way to manage grazing. Similar in principle to a dog’s shock collar, electric fencing works as both a physical and psychological barrier. The system allows producers to divide large pastures into smaller sections with portable equipment.

Veterinary care was also a major focus. Baughman stressed the importance of strong veterinary-client relationships and explained Extra Label Drug Use when medications are prescribed for purposes beyond their approved labels. Federal law requires veterinary oversight in these cases, and producers must follow extended withdrawal times before processing animals.

“Some of the [medications] that are approved, [if] you're not going to use them how they say, or they haven't been proven to work for the reason you want them … you need a veterinarian to say, ‘Yes, you can use it. Here's the dose you use it at, and your withdrawal period is ‘X,’” Baughman explained.

Salinas said he was pleased with both the turnout and the enthusiasm of the participants. “To have all those people that came here for the field day be very interested in the talks, that is motivation for me,” he said.

Photo Credit: istock-heebyj