1009 Twilight Trail
Frankfort, KY 40601
502/352-2434
info@kysheepandgoat.org
The Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office is a producer-oriented entity under the oversight of the Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association and the Kentucky Goat Producers Association, funded in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. The office provides full-time professional support to all aspects of the Commonwealth's sheep and goat industries and its goal is to maintain Kentucky's leadership in the production and marketing of small ruminants. |
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More use grazing sheep, goats against invasive weeds, vines
By Greg Latshaw, USA TODAYSarah Cahn Bennett, co-owner of the family-owned Navarro Vineyards in Philo, Calif., says they began using the flock of 70 in June to keep the vineyard trimmed and minimize the work of tractors and manual labor.
Grazing vineyards is just one application of a growing niche industry that is harnessing the eating power of animals to control invasive weeds, maintain lawns and clear fire-prone grasses. The animals are an alternative to using machinery that burns up fossil fuels or herbicides that, in some cases, can seep into groundwater.
"It's very widespread, but there's lots of room for more application," says Sandy Tartowski, a New Mexico-based scientist in the research division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Called conservation or targeted grazing, the use is more predominant in the western U.S., she says, but livestock have cleared the brush around power lines in Durham, N.H., and have been used to eat up the invasive vine kudzu in Chattanooga, Tenn. full story at USA Today
Sheep, goats provide low-tech solution for another high-tech company
Motorists did double takes Wednesday as they drove by Medtronic CardioVascular’s headquarters on Round Barn Boulevard in Santa Rosa, CA.
Hundreds of sheep and goats were peacefully grazing around Medtronic’s sprawling research and development complex.
In a case of low-tech meets high-tech, the creatures were noshing acres of dry grass and brush, clearing firebreaks on the company’s Fountaingrove campus.
“I’m really amazed at how much they’ve gone through,” said Adam Treiber, Medtronic’s facility manager.
Grazing is a green alternative to mechanical weed abatement, according to Brian Kirbis of Living Systems Land Management, a San Francisco company that supplies the sheep and goats.
“It creates a more viable habitat,” he said. The flocks aerate and fertilize the soil while reducing flammable grass and brush. They’ll eat invasive plants such as star thistle and Scotch Broom, creating room for native plants, Kirbis said.
They produce less noise, dust and emissions than mowers and weed whackers, he said.
The sheep and goats graze behind portable electric fences and herding dogs help move them from one spot to another. Shepherds also watch over them.
The animals — especially the goats — can chew through thick brush and reach spots too steep for hand crews, Treiber said. “They’ve been able to go in areas we haven’t been before,” he said.
About 600 Rambouillet sheep and 135 Boer goats have been grazing on 40 acres at Medtronic, consuming 3 to 5 tons a day. Each animal eats about 5 percent of its body weight in a day.
Flock sightings are becoming more frequent in suburban areas as homeowner associations, parks departments and commercial property owners use them for fire control. The animals were busy around Fountaingrove’s residential neighborhoods and Agilent Technologies’ nearby campus in recent months.
Kirbis wouldn’t say how much Living Systems charges for the service, but said it’s competitive with mechanical weed removal.
Medtronic workers enjoy seeing the animals, Treiber said. “It creates a farm-like atmosphere,” he said. “It’s a big boost for morale.”
Medtronic has about 840 workers in Santa Rosa, where it develops coronary stents, peripheral stents and stent grafts for treating artery disease and aneurysms.
Minneapolis-based Medtronic is the world’s largest medical device maker, with $14.6 billion in annual sales.
Sheep, Goat Referenda set for October 1
Kentucky sheep and goat producers may vote on check-offs in separate referenda scheduled to be held Oct. 1 in county Extension offices throughout the Commonwealth, Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer has announced.
The referenda ask whether sheep and goat producers wish to assess themselves at a rate of one-half of one percent (.50%) of the net market price of their animals. If the check-off is approved, the Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association and the Kentucky Goat Producers Association would administer the funds in the areas of promotion, consumer information, producer communication, industry information, and research.
Voting will be open Oct. 1 from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m. local time. Persons directly involved in the production of sheep and goats will be eligible to vote in their respective referenda in their county of residence. Producers will be required to provide identification and complete a certification attesting that they are eligible to vote. Corporate producers and eligible producers who reside outside of Kentucky may vote only in the county where their farm is located. Eligible producers may vote by absentee ballot.
Votes will be tabulated in the agriculture commissioner’s office in Frankfort.
If approved, collection of check-off funds would be mandatory, but reimbursement of funds paid would be an option to the producer.
For additional information, contact Jimmy Henning, assistant director for agriculture and natural resources in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, at (859) 257-4302 or jimmy.henning@uky.edu, or Craig Maffet, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, at (502) 564-5126 or craig.maffet@ky.gov.
Free Webinar on Sheep and Goat production from ATTRA
July 29, 2009, 1:00 PM EDT (Noon CDT, 11:00AM MDT, 10:00AM PDT)
Register at www.attra.ncat.org/webinars2009/sheepandgoat
NCAT specialists Linda Coffey and Margo Hale will discuss:
-Multiple benefits of sheep and goats
-Selecting breeding stock
-Evaluating animal health
-Marketing meat, milk and fiber products, including organic
-Your questions about sheep and goat production
Maryland sends in the sheep and goats to save Carroll turtles
A herd of goats (and sheep) coming to the rescue of a handful of imperiled turtles may sound like the plot of a Saturday morning children's cartoon show, but that's just what's happening in the Carroll County town of Hampstead, Maryland. Read the story on line in the Baltimore Sun and watch the video below. This is as green as it gets!
Getting Your Goat: The Gourmet Guide
Always wanted to try cooking goat but just didn't have the recipes? This new book from goat raiser Patricia Moore and cookbook author Jill Charlotte Stanford, both from Central Oregon might just be the ticket. Click here to visit their website or find them on Amazon - just click the Amazon button on the left side of the page.American Lamb Board announces "Get Your Grill On" Challenge
Calling all grilling gurus, ALB is holding it's second annual “Get Your Grill On” Video competition. Just in time to fire up the grill, fans of lamb can show off their most cherished grilling secrets from slow-smoked techniques to tried and true rubs. The contestant who burns up the competition will receive a brand-new grill-on-the-go set, including grill tools and a portable grill for picnics and tailgating, a Labor Day bash BBQ package including lamb for six, and have their video featured on here on americanlamb.com.
Submit your “Get Your Grill On” videos in DVD, Quicktime or online link (no VHS) to Get Your Grill On C/O Baltz and Company, 49 W. 23rd Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10010 or via e-mail to fanoflamb@baltzco.com. ****Please note we cannot return videos****
All new Fans of Lamb subscribers will receive Fan of Lamb gear and goodies.
Visit the web site or follow us on Facebook or Twitter, @FANofLAMB, to keep up to date on all ALB news and events.
AG Board Approves Check-Off Requests
FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Board of Agriculture has approved a request from Kentucky’s sheep and goat organizations to conduct separate referenda on check-offs for Kentucky sheep and goat producers. The Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association asked for a referendum for sheep producers, and the Kentucky Goat Producers Association requested a referendum for goat producers.
Persons directly involved in the production of sheep and goats will be eligible to vote in their respective referenda. Identification will be necessary to vote. Dates for the polling have yet to be announced.
The proposed referenda ask sheep and goat producers to assess themselves at the rate of one half of one percent (.50%) of the net market price. If the check-off is approved, the Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association and the Kentucky Goat Producers Association would administer the funds in the areas of promotion, consumer information, producer communication, industry information, and research.
Although collection of check-off funds would be mandatory, reimbursement of funds paid would be an option to the producer.
For additional information, contact Ray Bowman, Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office, at (502) 352-2434 or www.kysheepandgoat.org, or Craig Maffet, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, at (502) 564-5126 or craig.maffet@ky.gov.
Wool Beats Fiberglass as Home Insulator
A handful of companies are turning sheep's wool -- washed, carded, and sprayed with borax to deter pests and mold -- into precut batts of home insulation.
According to GreenSpec, which identifies green building products in Britain, sheep's wool insulation has a long list of eco-attributes: It's recyclable, a renewable resource, nonhazardous to install, biodegradable in landfills, and its manufacture uses little energy.
It's also a good insulator. The U.S. Energy Department rates its R-value at 3.5 -- about 10 percent higher than fiberglass. Wool can absorb up to 40 percent of its weight in moisture without becoming wet, drawing moisture away from wood framing in walls and helping to prevent condensation. It's also naturally flame-retardant. Read the full story on the Chicago Sun-Times website.
Social Media Down on the Farm
These days, baby chicks aren’t the only thing twittering or tweeting around the barnyard. More and more computer-savvy sheep and goat producers are turning to social media like Facebook® and Twitter® to stay connected and follow trends in their industries.
“Some producers don’t feel comfortable with technology,” according to Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office Executive Director Ray Bowman. “But those who do have long recognized the benefits of web pages and e-mail to their operations. Now they’re also acknowledging that social media is more than just a fad, it’s a valuable learning and communication tool.”
The Development Office has recently established a presence on both Twitter and Facebook and Bowman sees both as invaluable ways not only to expose a larger and more diverse audience to his organization, but to also have a better understanding of the issues facing all of animal agriculture.
“Farmers tweet from their tractors and barns, ag media people are tweeting the latest news you need, academia are sharing technical information and commodity groups are spreading information about the value of farm products,” says agriculture author and consultant Michele Payn-Knoper of Cause Matters Corp. “The power of Twitter (and Facebook) is in the conversation and community. The conversation is happening with or without agriculture. To tweet or not to tweet – it’s up to you, but if you’re in agriculture, I’d suggest you jump on the train before you look back and realize it’s run with conversations running rampant that further misconceptions of our business.”
Internet Browsers
As environmentalism hits the mainstream, gas-guzzling lawnmowers are giving way to -- goats. The latest goat-getter is Google, which decided to rent some goats from California Grazing to mow the fields at its Mountain View headquarters (via Treehugger). A herder brings about 200 goats and they spend roughly a week with us at Google, eating the grass and fertilizing at the same time. The goats are herded with the help of Jen, a border collie. It costs us about the same as mowing, and goats are a lot cuter to watch than lawn mowers.
Goats possess a unique characteristic that separates them from almost all other types of livestock; they will eat just about anything resembling a plant. They can clear vegetation from hard-to-reach places, and they'll eat the seeds that pesticides and mowing leave behind, preventing vegetation from coming back next year.
Efficient! Got goats in your neighborhood? (from Mother Nature Network)
85 PERCENT APPROVAL FOR AMERICAN LAMB PROMOTION
By an astounding margin of 85.1 percent, the members of the U.S. sheep industry voted to continue the deduction on sheep sales to support the marketing of American lamb. These are the certified results of the nationwide vote that was conducted at U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency offices during February 2009 and announced today by the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service.
"This is the second referendum since the inception of the program in 2002 and both have recorded overwhelming approval for an industry-funded lamb promotion," remarks Peter Orwick, executive director for the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI). "Sheep producer volunteers encouraged a yes vote in the referendum to keep this valuable tool alive in the fight for a piece of the meat market in the United States."
Industry Pioneer Marvin Shurley Dies
SONORA - Marvin F. Shurley, 52, lost his courageous battle with cancer on April 20, 2009 in Tulsa, Okla. Marvin was a fourth generation rancher in the Edwards Plateau area of Texas where his family has been involved in ranching for over 90 years. His great-grandfather started ranching in Sutton County Texas in 1893, and he was raised since birth in a commercial ranching environment. He was a livestock owner since the age of 14, starting with a gift of Angus cattle from his grandfather, and was involved in meat goat production as his primary ranch enterprise since 1990. Read the complete obit at GoSanAngelo.com
HoofTrader.com is up and running
The test version of our new marketing site, HoofTrader.com is up and running. Have a look and give us your feedback
FAMACHA Impact Evaluation Study
Click here for a letter from Dr. Niki Whitely of the Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control and click here for a survey she would like you to fill out and return. Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated.
USDA Amends Regulations on Interstate Sheep and Goat Movement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending its regulations regarding the interstate movement of animals to require APHIS approval of livestock facilities that handle sheep and goats in interstate commerce. Click here for complete story.
It's Official - the New York Times and Time Magazine say It's Hip to Eat Goat!
In an article in the Corbin (KY) Times-Tribune last summer, KY Sheep and Goat Development Office Executive Director Ray Bowman was asked about Americans eating goat and quipped “It’s becoming almost chic -I never thought I’d say that!”
Now two of the nations more prestigious publications have borne out Bowman's prophesy. In their March 31 edition, the New York Times boasted a glowing article in their "Dining and Wine" section entitled "How I Learned To Love Goat Meat." The article comes on the heels of a Time magazine feature which listed goat as number 7 on their Top 10 Food Trends of 2008.
Bowman remarks that American palates are just catching up with what the rest of the world has known for centuries - goat is really good!
"As the New York Times article points out, Americans are a little late to the party. Goat is the most widely consumed meat in the world and is a staple in many international cuisines. And, the health benefits attract many new consumers. Even though goat is still classified as a red meat, it is lower in fat and higher in protein than any other meat."
Bowman goes on to acknowledge that the meat is currently a bit pricey and not easy to obtain, but that just adds to the mystique. "As production driven by demand continues to grow in the United States, goat could possibly become more mainstream and consequently availability should go up as retail prices come down. Consumers should, however, continue to insist on domestically-grown meat which is fresher and more flavorful."
Whether for trend or taste, more and more Americans are trying goat and finding out it's not baaad - it's terrific!
ARS and Partners set their sights on Scrapie in goats
Goats are tough, spirited animals. But they’re no match for scrapie, a form of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.
Since 2001, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has coordinated an accelerated National Scrapie Eradication Program to eliminate the disease from U.S. sheep and goats. But transmission routes, progression, and genetic underpinnings of scrapie in goats are poorly understood. Low occurrence rates, underreporting, and the inconvenience and cost of tissue testing make eradication challenging.
The good news is that a new, live-animal test to detect scrapie is being applied to goats. There’s also an ongoing study of goat genes that might confer resistance to the disease. Click here to read the entire story...
KADB approves program revisions benefitting KY farmers
The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board (KADB), chaired by Gov. Steve Beshear, approved the County Agricultural Investment Program, during their monthly board meeting on Friday, March 20 in Frankfort.
The County Agriculture Investment Program (C.A.I.P.) is designed to provide farmers with incentives to allow them to improve and diversify their current production practices. C.A.I.P. combines what were previously known as
“As agriculture continues to change and evolve, we must make adjustments, which are consistent with our mission of diversification and increasing net farm income,” stated Roger Thomas, CEO for the KADB. “This was the right time for the Board to make these adjustments to keep these incentive programs a healthy and viable option for
Combining all eligible investment areas into one program will allow for a greater variety of offerings and broader access to all producers in the county. This in turn provides additional decision-making opportunities for producers in their farm operations.
Because all investment areas will be included in one program, only one entity will be awarded funds to provide this program to producers in the county. That one entity may utilize the expertise of other organizations to perform certain administrative functions (e.g. spot checks). However, the entity awarded funding remains responsible for all contractual obligations. This change, along with a 12-month term for all investment areas, will provide better uniformity and continuity, which will enhance accountability.
Through this program, a producer may apply for up to $7,500 per year. Producers may apply for multiple investment areas, but may not exceed $7,500 in 2009. However, County Agricultural Development Councils may elect to reduce the maximum incentive level to impact more producers.
Another feature of this program is the establishment of a universal application and scoring system, which will ensure equity among producers across all investment areas. The following investment areas will be available through C.A.I.P.: agricultural diversification, cattle genetics improvement, cattle handling, commercial poultry/dairy/swine, goat & sheep diversification, farm structure & commodity handling, on-farm energy efficiency & production, on-farm water enhancement, technology.
For a complete listing of changes to individual investment areas, as well as changes to standard program guidelines, contact your Area Project Analyst at (502) 564-4627 or by e-mailing govkyagpolicy@ky.gov. Guidelines and applications for this program will be posted on-line no later than April 1, 2009 at agpolicy.ky.gov.
Lamb exports set sales record through growth in Caribbean, Europe
After a decline in 2007, exports of U.S. lamb and mutton muscle cuts set a new single-year record in 2008. The volume of lamb and mutton muscle cut exports for calendar year 2008 increased 28 percent over the previous year, exceeding 5,000 metric tons (11.2 million pounds). But the strongest growth was in value, which nearly doubled over 2007 by reaching $21.5 million – an all-time record for a single year. When lamb variety meats are included, total exports showed slower growth but still increased by 44 percent in worldwide value to more than $25.3 million – the second-highest total on record. click here to see complete story
National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) to Study Goat Industry in 2009
In its first study of the U.S. goat industry, NAHMS will obtain baseline information about the U.S. goat population, including health issues, prevalence of certain diseases, and health and management practices. The study will focus primarily on the meat and dairy sectors of the goat industry. Click here for more information
ASI Provides Guidance to American Goat Federation
The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) Goat Committee made long strides this year toward melding goat industry interests with those of the sheep industry.
"We've been working a long time to bring goats in with sheep and I think we're on the right track," said (ASI president) Glen Fisher during the ASI Board of Directors meeting.
Fisher said the American Goat Federation made an initial offering of $10,000 to be donated to ASI for its limited administrative guidance over the next year in getting a goat federation operational.
The purpose of the American Goat Federation will be to build and define the industry as a unified front when working with processors as well as on legislative issues as that approach is more productive than having many single voices from on industry. In addition, a national group can work on issues such as animal health products, predator control, research goals and state public policy.
Fisher recommended the following steps to occur to develop the federation:
1. A Goat Committee chair and other members of the committee be selected.
2. The ASI Goat Committee will appoint members to the American Goat Federation Board. The
committee and board will work together throughout the year to develop the federation.
"We hope by 2010 to have the American Goat Federation up and operating and have the ASI Goat Committee elevated to a council. That builds a natural link for coordination between the two national organizations to fund activities jointly on common issues," concluded Fisher.
(from March issue Sheep Industry News)
Evaluation of USDA Goat Grades
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture just completed the first half of a project to evaluate the USDA goat grades. To read more click here or go to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's November issue of Marketing Matters.
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A Farmer’s Guide to Trapping Coyotes
This DVD features farmers and expert fur trappers who discuss coyote behavior and management, provide recommendations for fencing to exclude coyotes and teach how to quickly and efficiently trap problem coyotes. (Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association former vice-President Bob Maurer is featured.) Contact us or call the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Information Center at 800-858-1549 for more information.
NAS Releases Sheep Industry Study
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| Read this FREE online! Full Book | PDF Summary | ||
The U.S. sheep industry is complex, multifaceted and rooted in history and tradition, states the study done by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Although often described as an industry in decline, this report concludes that a better description of the current U.S. sheep industry is an industry in transition. |
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Kentucky Proud
Order Your New Versions of Scrapie Eradication Information TODAY!
Two new versions of information on the National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP) is now available to American sheep and goat producers. There is also a new PowerPoint presentation on the official identification of goats for the program.
All of these materials can be ordered via the website at www.eradicatescrapie.org or by calling the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) at 270-782-9798.
For Scrapie tags in Kentucky
call 1-502-848-2054