Wild & Woolly Spring 2014
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Transcript of Wild & Woolly Spring 2014
I N S I D E T H I S
I S S U E :
Research from the Southern Section of the American Science
2
Scrapie Update 3
Goat Twilight Tour & Tasting 3
US Sheep, Goat
Inventory Declines 4
Webinar Recordings:
Sheep & Goat Health 4
Accepting Nominations
for 2014 Goat Test 5
Pen vs. Pasture Study
Funded for Third Year 5
New Extension Director 6
Herbal De-wormer Fails
to Control Parasites 6
Preparing for Ethnic Holidays
7
New Resources from NCAT/ATTRA
7
New Product: Electric Hoof Knife
8
Junior Sheep & Goat Skillathon
8
MPWV Spring Educational Conference
9
Recipe: Grilled Lamb Sirloin
9
Abomasal Bloat 10 Calendar of Events 11
S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 V O L U M E X I I I I S S U E I I
Wild & Woolly
The University of Maryland Extension
programs are open to any person and will
not discriminate against anyone because of
race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation,
physical or mental disability, religion,
ancestry, national origin, marital status,
genetic information, political affiliation,
and gender identity or expression.
The National Sheep Im-
provement Program
(NSIP) is a quantitative
genetic selection tool
designed to help sheep
and goat producers
make better breeding
decisions.
NSIP is in the business of calculating EBVs
and helping producers use EBVs to their best
advantage. EBV is the acronym for
“estimated breeding value.” An EBV esti-
mates the genetic worth of an animal. It is a
description of an animal’s performance as
compared to the average of the flock or
breed. It predicts future performance of off-
spring.
What is an EBV?
EBVs can be calculated for any trait that can
be measured or scored. A variety of EBVs
are calculated for sheep and goats. EBVs are
usually separated into trait categories, such
as growth, reproduction, carcass, and wool.
An EBV can also be calculated for disease
resistant traits, such as fecal egg counts
(parasite resistance).
Estimated breeding values are calculated
from the animal’s own performance, perfor-
mance from genetically-related traits, and
performance of relatives for those traits. The
accuracy of EBVs is influenced by several
factors, but improves with genetic linkages.
EBVs are calculated using a computational
procedure known as BLUP (Best Linear Un-
biased Prediction). Because BLUP takes en-
vironmental influences into account, EBVs
can be compared across flocks, so long as
they are genetically-linked.
At the farm level, differences in manage-
ment are accounted for by comparing ani-
mals in the same contemporary group. A
contemporary group is a group of animals,
of similar age, that are fed and managed the
same. Large contemporary groups improve
the accuracy of EBVs. For small flock own-
ers, the size of contemporary groups is a
limiting factor.
Selection indexes simplify EBVs by combin-
ing numerous traits into one number. What
traits to include in the selection index and
the weight to apply to each trait depends
upon the importance of the trait(s) to the
breed or production system. For example,
the selection index for a maternal breed is
very different than the selection index for a
terminal sire breed.
Breeding Better Sheep and Goats
(Continued on Page 11)
National Webinar Series: NSIP
The NSIP Relaunch Committee will be holding a series of webinars in May and June to
teach sheep and goat producers about the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP).
NSIP is a quantitative genetic selection tool designed to help sheep and goat producers
make good breeding decisions. (Continued on Page 4)
P A G E 2
W I L D & W O O L L Y
Research form the Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science
hair sheep (St. Croix and Barbados Black-
belly) rams.
At Fort Valley State University (in Geor-
gia), lambs and kids fed pelleted sericea
lespedeza had lower fecal egg counts and
(coccidia) oocytes counts at various times
during a 21-day confinement trial. How-
ever, there were no differences in packed
cell volume (PCV) and none of the lambs
or kids required treatment for coccidio-
sis. The researchers were also evaluating
the efficacy of sericea lespedeza pellets
made in different years. They concluded
that year may affect pellet efficacy. Seri-
cea lespedeza has been shown to be effec-
tive at reducing barber pole worm infec-
tions in sheep and goats.
Researchers at Lincoln University
(Missouri) found no differences in perfor-
mance and reproduction among
Katahdin ewes and fall-calving Angus
cows grazing stockpiled endophyte-
infected tall fescue when grazed either
together or sequentially (sheep followed
by cattle).
Researchers at North Carolina State Uni-
versity evaluated the effects of the addi-
tion of clovers to tall fescue pastures. Re-
search plots included three replications
of tall fescue mixed with ladino white
clover; tall fescue mixed with red clover;
tall fescue fertilized with nitrogen (N);
and tall fescue with no additional N.
Within each main treatment plot, there
were grazed and mowed subplots. In the
spring, the plots were grazed by does
and their kids. In the fall the plots were
grazed by wethers. Average daily gain
did not differ in spring or fall, but gain
per acre was higher for the clover treat-
ments in the spring. White clover fixed
more nitrogen than red clover. Unferti-
lized fescue had the lowest yield in the
spring, whereas white clover had a lower
Researchers at Virginia State University
supplemented hair sheep (St. Croix and
Barbados Blackbelly) lambs grazing
MaxQ® tall fescue pastures with soy hulls
at 0, 1, 2 or 3% of their body weight (BW).
Body weights and average daily gain
(ADG) increased linearly with increasing
levels of soy hull supplementation. After
80 days, the lambs consuming 3% soy hulls
were approximately 18.5 lbs. heavier than
the lambs that did not receive any supple-
mentation. Supplementation had no effects
on parasites loads, as no lambs required
deworming.
Researchers at Southern University (in
Louisiana) are evaluating the impact of
sequential grazing on forage production
(Bermuda grass pastures) and doe and kid
performance. Preliminary data suggest
that cattle should follow goats in an inten-
sive rotational grazing system.
At West Virginia University, an experi-
ment was conducted to determine the
effects of three sources of protein supple-
mentation on the growth rate of parasi-
tized organic lambs grazing predominant-
ly fescue pastures. Forty-five Suffolk-cross
lambs were supplemented with either 1)
alfalfa pellets (1.28% BW); 2) corn and soy-
bean meal (1% BW); or 3) corn, soybean
meal, and fish meal (1% BW). The results
suggest that supplements containing great-
er rumen bypass protein (e.g. fish meal)
may support higher growth. However,
there were no differences in parasite loads
for the lambs receiving the different pro-
tein supplements.
Researchers at Virginia State University
evaluated sire breed differences in preg-
nancy rate of hair sheep ewes, following
vaginal insemination with liquid semen.
While pregnancy rates were lower than in
previous trials, Dorset semen produced
fewer pregnancies than the semen from
Vaginal Insemination (image by
Virginia State University)
Recording weights for research
(Continued on Page 3)
P A G E 3 V O L U M E X I I I I S S U E I I
W I L D & W O O L L Y
The February 2014 report for the National Scrapie Eradication Program
has been posted to www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/
animal_diseases/scrapie/downloads/monthly_report.pdf. Published by
the U.S. Department of Agricultureʹs Animal and Plant Health Inspec-
tion Service (APHIS), the report reviews the current progress of scrapie
eradication in the United States.
Since the start of Regulatory Scrapie Slaughter Surveillance (RSSS) in
fiscal year (FY) 2003, there has been a 90-percent decrease in the number
of positive sheep found in samples at slaughter, adjusted for face color.
As of Dec. 31, 2013, the percent of cull sheep found positive at slaughter
and adjusted for face color was 0.015 percent.
Eight source flocks (including two goat herds) and three infected flocks
were designated in FY 2013. One source flock and three infected flocks
have been designed in FY 2014.
Before the United States may be declared ʺscrapie free,ʺ remaining cases
must be found. Sheep and goats that are slaughtered outside the com-
mercial slaughter facilities are being missed in the routine scrapie
slaughter surveillance. Submission of samples from sheep/goats over 18
months of age found dead or euthanized on farms is critically important.
Without these submissions, scrapie-infected animals will go undetected,
costing the sheep and goat industries anywhere from $10 million to $20
million annually.
To learn more about submitting samples, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/
animal_health/animal_diseases/scrapie/gen_submission.shtml.
Source: ASI Weekly News, March 24, 2014
Goat Twilight
Tour and Tasting
On Thursday, July 31 from 5:30
p.m. until dark, there will a Goat
Twilight Tour and Tasting at the
University of Maryland’s Western
Maryland Research & Education
Center in Keedysville.
In addition to wagon tours of the
buck test and pen vs. pasture study,
a local chef Todd Morren will pre-
pare chevon (goat meat) in several
different ways.
To make sure we have enough meat
for sampling, pre-registration is
required for the event. You can pre-
register by calling the research cen-
ter at (301) 432-2767 x315 or sending
an e-mail to Pam Thomas at pthom-
[email protected]. The pre-registration
deadline is July 24.
yield in the fall. Soil N values tended to be greater for white clover in both seasons compared to other treatments and
also for the subplots that were grazed vs. mowed. The researchers concluded that inclusion of clovers results in simi-
lar yields as fescue fertilized with nitrogen and that inclusion of clovers in fescue pastures could reduce the need for
N fertilization.
Source: Book of Abstracts, American Society of Animal Science Southern Section, February 2-3, 2014, Dallas TX
Research from the Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science continued from page 2
Scrapie Update
Sheep with Scrapie (image by Colorado State University)
P A G E 4
W I L D & W O O L L Y
The webinars will be held on consecutive Thursday
evenings from May 1 until June 5. All webinars will
begin at 8 p.m. EST and last for approximately 1 hour.
May 1
How the sheep industry can benefit from NSIP
Dr. Robert Banks, University of New England
(Australia)
May 8
How the goat industry can benefit from NSIP
Dr. Ken Andries, Kentucky State University
May 15
How, when, and what data to collect
Cody Hiemke, Illinois Shropshire breeder
May 22
Challenges of moving to a performance
based flock
Bill Shultz, Ohio Suffolk breeder
May 29
How to enter and submit data
Dr. Chris Schauer, North Dakota State University
June 5 How to use the data Producer panel
The webinars will be hosted by University of Maryland
Extension (Susan Schoenian). To register for one or
more webinars, send an e-mail message to pthom-
[email protected]. Registrants will receive log-in infor-
mation via e-mail.
National Webinar Series: NSIP continued from page 1
Sheep
The US sheep and lamb inventory on January 1, 2014, totaled 5.21 million head, down 2 percent
from 2013. The breeding sheep inventory decreased to 3.88 million head, down 2 percent from
2013. The 2013 national average lambing rate was only 107 lambs per 100 ewes (one year old
and older). Wool production in 2013 was 27.0 million pounds, down 1 percent from 2012. In
2013, the average price paid for wool was $1.45 per pound, compared to $1.52 in 2012.
The average fleece weight was 7.3 lbs.
Goats
The US goat inventory on January 1, 2014, totaled 2.76 million head, down 2 percent from 2013.
The breeding goat inventory totaled 2.26 million head, down 3 percent from 2013. Meat and all
other goats totaled 2.28 million head, down 2 percent from 2013. The milk goat inventory was
355 thousand head, down 1 percent. Angora goats were down 4 percent, totaling 131 thousand
head. The 2013 kid crop was 1.74 million head, 3 percent less than in 2012.
In Maryland
In Maryland, the goat inventory totaled 14,800 head on January 1. This included 2,200 milk
goats and 12,600 meat and other goats. The dairy goat inventory increased 10 percent from last
year, whereas there was a 15 percent increase in the number of meat and other goats. Individual
statistics are not reported for Maryland sheep. Maryland is lumped into the ʺother statesʺ cate-
gory.
Read full report at http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/SheeGoat/SheeGoat‐01‐31‐2014.pdf
US Sheep, Goat Inventory Declines Again
A five-part webinar series on Sheep & Goat Health was held in January and February 2014. Links to the webinar
recordings and PowerPoint presentations are available at http://www.sheepandgoat.com/recordings.
Webinar Recordings: Sheep & Goat Health
Download program flyer from http://www.sheepandgoat.com/programs/2014NSIPWebinars_flyer.pdf.
P A G E 5 V O L U M E X I I I I S S U E I I
W I L D & W O O L L Y
The nomination period for the 2014 Western Maryland Pasture-Based
Meat Goat Performance Test is April 1-May 15. Nomination packets
have been mailed to 2012 and 2013 consigners. Nomination packets may
be requested by contacting Pam Thomas at (301) 432-2767 x343 or
[email protected]. All documents in the nomination packet may also
be downloaded from the blog at http://mdgoatatest.blogspot.com.
Nomination forms and nomination fees ($20/goat) are due May 15. All
nominations received by the deadline will be treated equally. If nomina-
tions exceed the carrying capacity of the test, preference will be given to
Maryland residents and previous consigners.
Any goat producer may consign up to five male goats to the test. Eligible goats may be of any breed or breed cross.
They do not need to be registered or eligible for registry. They must be born between December 15, 2013, and March
15, 2014, and weigh between 35 and 70 lbs. upon delivery to the test site on May 30. It is not necessary to identify spe-
cific bucks at the time of nomination.
While on test, the goats will be evaluated for growth performance, parasite resistance, and parasite resilience. After a
short adjustment period, the test will be split into two phases. The first 42 days (June 5-July 17) will serve as a
“parasite challenge.” The bucks will graze cool season grass paddocks that have been pre-contaminated (by grazing
sheep) with infective worm larvae. The second 42 days (July 17-August 28) will serve as a “growth challenge.” The
bucks will graze “clean” annual pastures.
Towards the end of the test period, the bucks will be evaluated for structural correctness and reproductive soundness.
They will be scanned (using ultrasound) to determine their rib eye area.
The Gold, Silver, and Bronze-performing bucks will be sold on Saturday, September 6 at the 1st Bluegrass Perfor-
mance Invitational in Frankfort, Kentucky. Consigners to the buck test will be eligible to consign does to the sale.
http://mdgoattest.blogspot.com
Accepting Nominations for 2014 Goat Test
The University of Maryland’s Pen vs. Pasture Study has received a
third year of funding from the Maryland Grain Producers Utiliza-
tion Board (MGPUB). The purpose of the multi-year study is to com-
pare the performance and carcass characteristics of pen-fed vs. pas-
ture-raised goats.
Thirty bucklings will be randomly assigned to two treatment
groups. The pen-fed goats will be kept in dry lot and fed a diet con-
sisting of free choice hay and limit-fed grain (barley). The pasture-
raised goats will graze alongside the bucks in the Western Maryland
Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test.
After a short adjustment period and 84-day feeding period, all of the
goats will be harvested to collect carcass data. A sample from each
carcass will be analyzed for fatty acid profile.
Pen vs. Pasture Study Funded for Third Year
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/goatcarcassevaluation.html
P A G E 6
W I L D & W O O L L Y
New Extension Director Has Sheep/Goat Ties
By Dahlia O’Brien
Delaware State University
Over the last few years, a number of studies have been done to test the effectiveness of commer-
cially-available herbal dewormers. Most recently, two studies were conducted at Delaware State
University to test how effective Hoegger’s Herbal Wormer was in reducing fecal egg counts in
meat goat kids and lactating does.
This dewormer is distributed by Hoegger’s Goat Supply (Fayetteville, GA) and contains a mixture of dried plant mate-
rials including wormwood, gentian, fennel, psyllium and quassia. Individually, these ingredients have all been report-
ed to have possible deworming properties capable of reducing internal parasites in livestock. However, most of this
information is anecdotal and not supported by scientific data.
So far, scientific studies evaluating commercial, non-chemical dewormers have found that they fail to reduce fecal egg
counts in sheep and goats. The results from these two studies also supports that at the recommended dose and under
the conditions of the studies, Hoegger’s Herbal Wormer was not an effective dewormer.
Read full article at http://www.acsrpc.org/Resources/Topics/herbaldewormers.html
Herbal Dewormer Fails to Control Parasites
More Information On Sheep & Goats Can Be Accessed At:
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/
http://www.sheep101.info/
http://mdsheepgoat.blogspot.com
http://www.acsrpc.org
http://mdgoattest.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/MDSmallRuminant
https://twitter.com/MDSheepGoat
The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Maryland has
hired a new Associate Dean and Associate Director of University of Maryland Extension.
He is Dr. Stephen Wright.
Dr. Wright comes to Maryland from Ohio State University, where he held an administra-
tive position. Dr. Wright is a native of Maryland. He earned his undergraduate degree in
geography, a masterʹs degree in urban studies, and a Ph.D. in agriculture and extension
education from the University of Maryland.
Dr. Wright has a strong connection to the sheep and goat industry. He managed as many as 150 goats and 200 ewes at his
Sunland Mountain Farm in Mt. Solon, Virginia. The first livestock Dr. Wright purchased were Tennessee Fainting goats, a
rare breed. Dr. Wright joined the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (now called The Livestock Conservancy). With-
in a year of purchasing the goats, he added St. Croix sheep to his farm. Dr. Wright was instrumental in getting farmers to
raise hair sheep in his area.
Before moving to Ohio, Dr. Wright sold his farm; however, he still maintains a small flock of St. Croix sheep that he plans
to move back east. Welcome back to Maryland, Dr. Wright!
(Photo by Edwin Remsberg, UMD)
P A G E 7
W I L D & W O O L L Y
V O L U M E X I I I I S S U E
According to a 2010 study funded by the American
Sheep Industry Association, ethnic markets comprise
a significant and growing portion of the US sheep
market. For this reason, producers need to consider
the dates of various ethnic holidays (or religious ob-
servances) when developing their marketing plans.
Traditionally, the demand for lamb increases at East-
er. This year, both (Eastern) Orthodox and Roman
(Western) Easter will occur on the same day, April
20. Often, the Easters occur on different Sundays, as
different calendars are used to calculate the dates of
the holidays. When targeting the Easter markets, be
sure to sell the right kind of lambs (usually milk-fed
and “fat”) and place lambs in the market place at
least 5-10 days before the holiday. As an option, you
might consider spreading your risks and sending
some lambs directly after the holiday. Prices some-
times are high afterwards as supply is decreased due
to the holiday.
Muslim holidays have become increasing important
to the US lamb market. There are two major Muslim
holidays. Eid ul Fitr or the “Festival of Fast Breaking”
follows the holy month of Ramadan, in which Mus-
lims fast from sunrise to sunset and have celebratory
meals in the evening. In 2014, this three day holiday
will occur on July 29-31. The most important Muslim
holiday is Eid ul Adha or the “Festival of the Sacri-
fice.” In 2014, it will occur October 4-7. This holiday
commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his
son in obedience to God. Instead, he sacrificed a lamb
(ram).
Muslim holidays cannot be predicted with exact cer-
tainty, since they are based on a lunar calendar and
the siting of the moon. For this same reason, Muslim
holidays move forward approximately 11 days each
year.
The type of lamb demanded by Muslim consumers
Determining the age of sheep and goats
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwpXzdE7h1I
When is my lamb ready to be butchered?
Fact sheet and video: https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=459
varies, but is usually
an older, unblem-
ished lamb or year-
ling, usually an intact
male. As with any
market segment, it’s
important to learn
what potential cus-
tomers want and will
pay a premium for.
To help US sheep producers evaluate and develop
potential markets to ethnic consumers, three Univer-
sity Extension systems have partnered with their re-
spective sheep associations to help address this op-
portunity. Maine, Maryland and Ohio received fund-
ing from ASI’s Let’s Grow campaign in 2013 for this
effort. A series of webinars on marketing lamb to
ethnic consumers was presented in November and
December of 2013. These webinars, each 1-hour in
length, were recorded and are available for viewing.
In addition, the tri-state ethnic marketing project has
created several tools to help producers make better
marketing decisions. Susan Schoenian Sheep &
Goat Specialist for University of Maryland Extension
has developed several spreadsheet templates to help
producers evaluate marketing options. Richard
Brzozowski, Small Ruminant Specialist for the Uni-
versity of Maine has developed a template for pro-
ducers to use in learning more about specific ethnic
consumers as well as a set of questions for possible
use in customer surveys.
For these tools on marketing lamb and mutton to eth-
nic consumers, go to http://umaine.edu/livestock/
sheep/ethnic-marketing-of-lamb-and-mutton/.
For links to the webinar series on marketing lamb
and mutton to ethnic consumers, go to http://
www.sheepandgoat.com/recordings.html#ethnic.
New Resources from NCAT/ATTRA
Preparing for Ethnic Holidays
P A G E 8
New Product: Electric Hoof Knife
W I L D & W O O L L Y
The Electric Hoof Knife is
the newest and most inno-
vative tool available for
trimming goat and sheep
hooves. Designed to im-
prove hoof health and
make trimming hassle-free,
the Electric Hoof Knife is a
power tool that buffs in-
stead of cuts to remove
hoof material.
After eight years of development, the Electric Hoof Knife
now has a disc created specifically for trimming goat and
sheep hooves. This lightweight tool is easy to maneuver
and can trim tough and overgrown hooves with little
effort on part of the user. People who have limited access
to electrical power can easily run the Electric Hoof Knife
off of a generator or an automobile’s DC/AC power con-
verter, so the tool is accessible anywhere, anytime.
Using the Electric Hoof Knife can
lead to better hoof health for two
reasons. First, users see a signifi-
cant decrease in the amount of
blood during trimming because
the tool is precise and accurate
when removing hoof material.
Second, the disc puts a smooth
finish on the hoof, so dirt, muck
and bacteria cannot get stuck in
the cracks lead to infection.
The Electric Hoof Knife Goat & Sheep set, which retails
for $254.95, comes with the Electric Hoof Knife power
unit, two Goat & Sheep Trimming discs, a pair of safety
glasses, and a carrying case.
For more information, or to watch videos of the Electric
Hoof Knife in action, visit www.ElectricHoofKnife.com or
call (877) 320-8203.
The 2014 Junior Sheep & Goat Skillathon will be held Sunday, May 4, at the
Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. The Festival is always held the first full
weekend of May at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship. Reg-
istration for the contest begins at 8 a.m. The contest starts at 9 a.m. Awards
will be presented at approximately 1 p.m. A small donation is requested to
cover the cost of lunch (pizza and sodas).
A skillathon provides youth with the opportunity to blend knowledge and
skills acquired in livestock judging, demonstrations, and care and exhibition
of animals into a single activity. It consists of a series of stations where youth
are tested on their knowledge and abilities related to livestock. In the Sheep &
Goat
Skillathon, all stations will pertain to sheep and/or goats.
The skillathon is open to any youth between the ages of 8 and 18. Individuals and teams (of 3 or 4) from any county or
state may compete. Youth compete according to their age as of January 1st of the current year. Youth ages 8 to 10 com-
pete as juniors; youth ages 11 to 13 compete as intermediates; and youth 14 to 18 compete as seniors.
The Maryland Sheep Breeders Association provides ribbons and premiums to the top ten individuals in each age divi-
sion and festival t-shirts to the members of the top three teams in each age division. Additional awards are provided
by the University of Maryland Extension Small Ruminant Program
Pre-registration of individuals and teams for the 2014 Junior Sheep & Goat Skillathon is requested by April 28. Pre-
register by sending names, ages, and team affiliations via e-mail to Susan Schoenian at [email protected] (or via fax at
(301) 432-4089). Online registration is possible at www.sheepandwool.org.
For more information, contact Susan at (301) 432-2767 x343 or visit the web site at http://www.sheepandgoat.com/
programs/skillathon/skillathon.html.
Junior Sheep & Goat Skillathon
(Images by Electric Hoof Knife)
V O L U M E X I I I I S S U E I I
W I L D & W O O L L Y
P A G E 9
MPWV Spring Educational Conference
Grilled Lamb Sirloin
1-1/2 pounds lamb sirloin or sirloin chops
2 lemons
3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
3 anchovy fillets, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup pitted black olives, plus a few for garnish
2/3 cup flat leaf parsley leaves
2 tablespoons cocoa nibs
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Pat the sirloin dry with paper towels and place in 8
-inch square baking dish. Coarsely chop the zest of
one lemon and place in the bowl of a food proces-
sor or a blender jar. Add the juice of both lemons,
garlic, anchovies, olives, parsley, cocoa nibs and
olive oil. Roughly puree the contents by pulsing
the food processor or blender several times, until
the mixture is smooth with some small chunks.
Rub the puree over the meat. Loosely cover the pan
with plastic wrap and marinate at least 2 hours in
the refrigerator, preferably overnight.
Remove the sirloin from the refrigerator one hour
prior to cooking to allow the meat to come to room
temperature. Heat a gas or charcoal grill so that
one section is approximately 450°F degrees, and a
second section is cooler, about 350°F. When the
grill is hot, scrape any excess rub off the sirloin and
place it on the hot side of the grill, flat side down.
Sear 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until nicely charred.
Move the sirloin to the cooler side of the grill and
continue to cook, covered, until it reaches 135°F
degrees, approximately 25 minutes or 15 to 20
minutes per pound. For individual chops, use me-
dium hot grill, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Allow meat
to rest, loosely covered with foil, for 15 minutes
before slicing.
Recipe courtesy of American Lamb Board
The MPWV Meat Goat Producers Association and Universi-
ty of Maryland Extension will hold an educational event on
Saturday, June 7, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Carroll County Ag
Center in Westminster, Maryland.
Seminar topics will include: traditional veterinary and
health care; selling your goats; pasture and nutrition; non-
traditional goat health care; and the pros and cons of regis-
tering your goats. A separate educational track for youth is
being planned. It will cover selecting, raising, and getting
your kid(s) ready for the show and sale. Speakers will in-
clude veterinarians, extension agents, and experienced goat
producers.
The day will begin with a very brief business meeting and
discussion of upcoming events. The deadline for early regis-
tration is May 15. The registration fee is $10/person or $20/
family for members and $15/person and $25/family for non-
members. Registration paid at the door is $5 extra.
For more information, contact Pam Adams at (443) 802-3734
or [email protected] or visit the Facebook page at https://
www.facebook.com/MPWVMeatGoatProducers.
The MPWV* Meat Goat Producers Association was orga-
nized to promote the meat goat industry and provide its
members with information to help them breed and market
high quality meat goats. The association includes members
from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Member-
ship dues are $35 for the first year and $20 for subsequent
years.
*Maryland-Pennsylvania-West Virginia
Recipe
P A G E 1 0
W I L D & W O O L L Y
By Susan Schoenian
University of Maryland Extension
Abomasal bloat (tympany) is a
common health problem affecting
artificially-reared lambs and kids,
especially hand-fed ones. Some
farms have experienced death loss-
es as high as 25 to 30 percent. On
other farms, it is a sporadic disease.
While the mechanism of abomasal bloat is not com-
pletely understood, it is believed to be caused by a
build-up of bacteria in the stomach of lambs and kids.
Bacteria such as clostrid ium perfringins type A and
species of Sarcina have been identified in the stomachs
of affected animals.
As the bacteria multiply, the sugars in the milk ferment
with excess gas production. At the same time, the stom-
ach becomes more acidic to the detriment of other bac-
teria. As the gas cannot escape, it bloats the abomasum.
Death is rapid and unpleasant.
Abomasal bloat seems to occur most commonly in
lambs that are 2 to 4 weeks of age. It may occur later in
goat kids, as they are typically fed milk for a longer
period of time. The incidence is highest when lambs/
kids are fed warm milk infrequently, e.g. twice daily.
Feeding goat kids in a pail or trough without a nipple
may cause similar greedy feed-
ing behavior.
Warm milk provides an ideal
substrate (lactose) for fermen-
tation. Abomasal bloat is rarely
seen in lambs/kids that are self-
fed cold milk. The use of cheap
or poor quality milk replacers
can also contribute to the inci-
dence of abomasal bloat.
Treatment
Treatment of abomasal bloat is
often unrewarding. It is estimated that 75 to 100 percent
of cases die. Affected lambs/kids will have swollen bel-
lies. They will be dull and lethargic. Abdominal pain
(colic), accompanied by teeth grinding is common. The
disease can progress rapidly, within 30 minutes of feed-
ing. Sometimes, all you find is a dead lamb or kid.
Early intervention is the key to saving
affected lambs/kids. Many treatments
have been advocated. Oral penicillin may
help to counteract the bacteria. Sodium
bicarbonate (baking soda) mixed in water
is the common treatment for bloat, as it
helps to neutralize acid. Dosing with
cooking oil or antacids may also help.
Powdered ginger may help with mild
cases of bloat. Pain meds may also be giv-
en to affected lambs/kids.
Prevention
Milk replacers should be mixed according to the manu-
facturerʹs instructions. Lumps can contribute to aboma-
sal bloat. Diluted milk replacer may cause lambs/kids
to gorge, especially if they are on an automatic feeding
system.
Milk replacer is usually mixed in warm water, then
cooled to body temperature before feeding. Cooling
milk to at least 40°F (4°C) has been shown to help con-
tain the growth of Sarcina bacteria.
The risk of abomasal bloat will be reduced if lambs/
kids are self-fed milk using a bucket feeder, nipple bar,
or automatic feeding system. Self-feeding simulates
dam-raising, as lambs/kids are able to ingest smaller
amounts of milk at frequent intervals.
Sour milk is another proven way to prevent abomasal
bloat. Sour milk is made by adding acidophilus yogurt
to milk replacer and allowing it to convert for several
days. You can also add probiotic powder to milk. The
addition of formalin to milk replacer has also been
shown to reduce the incidence of bloat.
Since clostridial bacteria have been implicated in abo-
masal bloat, it is essential that lambs/kids be vaccinated
for clostrid ial perfringins type C & D.
The early introduction of high quality concentrates will
promote rumen function and lessen the risk of aboma-
sal bloat.
Feeding lambs milk replacer for too long can increase
the incidence of abomasal bloat. The ideal weaning age
is 30 days. There is usually no benefit to later weaning.
Read full article at http://www.sheepandgoat.com/
articles/AbBloat.html
Abomasal Bloat
V O L U M E X I I I I S S U E I I
W I L D & W O O L L Y
P A G E 1 1
Breeding Better Sheep and Goats (continued from page 1) Who should enroll in NSIP?
NSIP is a non-profit organization that was established in
1986 by the US sheep industry. Until 2010, data was pro-
cessed at Virginia Tech. In 2010, data processing was
transferred to Australia’s LambPlan.
While all sheep producers can benefit from the data that
NSIP provides, it is seedstock (purebred) producers who
should consider enrolling their flocks and herds. Com-
mercial and small-scale producers benefit by purchasing
rams with EBVs. Meat goat producers can derive the
same benefit from NSIP as sheep producers.
How much does it cost?
There is an annual enrollment fee, based on flock/herd
size. It usually equates to approximately $2.50 to $3.50
per ewe/doe. This fee is paid to NSIP. There is also a data
processing fee due to LambPlan. It is $2 per animal; it
covers the animal’s lifetime data.
Calendar of Events May 4
Junior Sheep & Goat Skillathon
@ Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival
Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, Maryland
Info: http://www.sheepandgoat.com/programs/skillathon/
skillathon.html
May 30
Delivery date for bucks in Western Maryland
Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test
http://mdgoattest.blogspot.com
June 7
MPWV Meat Goat Producers Association Educational Event
Carroll County Ag Center, Westminster, Maryland
Info: https://www.facebook.com/MPWVMeatGoatProducers
June 18
Maryland Wool Pool
Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, Maryland
Info: Emily Chamelin at [email protected]
June 28
Start of Ramadan
July 29‐31
Eid ul-Fitr (Muslim Festival of Fast Breaking)
July 29‐31
Goat Twilight Tour (Open House) and Tasting
Western Maryland Research & Education Center,
Keedysville, Maryland
Info: Susan Schoenian at (301) 432-2767 x343or
April 1‐May 15
Nomination period for Western Maryland Pasture-Based
Meat Goat Performance Test
Info: http://mdgoattest.blogspot.com
April 20
Western Roman Easter and Eastern Orthodox (Greek) Easter
April 22
Grow Our Flock Webinar:
Managing your pastures better: management
intensive grazing (MIG) 101
Info: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/
register/5755892051703340802
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and June 5
National Webinar Series: NSIP
Hosted by University of Maryland Extension (8 p.m. EST)
Download flyer: http://www.sheepandgoat.com/
programs/2014NSIPWebinars_flyer.pdf
May 2
Integrated Parasite Management (IPM)/FAMACHA©
Workshop @ Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival
Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, Maryland
Info: www.sheepandwool.org
May 3‐4
Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival
Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, Maryland
Info: www.sheepandwool.org
To encourage new enrollment, NSIP is waiving the first year
of the annual enrollment fee. For producers under the age of
22, the enrollment fee will be waived for three years. The
Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance
Test is considering providing an economic incentive for con-
signors to enroll their herds in NSIP.
Relaunching NSIP
The American Sheep Industry Roadmap Project has charged
the US sheep industry with making various productivity im-
provements, including widespread use of quantitative genet-
ic selection. As part of this charge, an NSIP Relaunch Com-
mittee was formed. Dr. Reid Redden from North Dakota
State University is the chair of the committee, whose goal is
to increase enrollment in NSIP, including involvement of
meat goat producers.
To learn more about NSIP, visit their web site at nsip.org.
Wild & Woolly, is published quarterly by the University of Mary-
land Extension. It is written and edited by Susan Schoenian,
Sheep and Goat Specialist, at the Western Maryland Research
& Education Center (WMREC), 18330 Keedysville Road,
Keedysville, MD, tel. (301) 432-2767 x343 or 315, fax (301) 432-
4089; e-mail: [email protected] or Pamela Thomas, Adminis-
trative Assistant, [email protected]. The cost of receiving the
newsletter by mail is $10 per year, payable to the University of
Maryland. The newsletter can be accessed for free on the Inter-
net at http://www.sheepandgoat.com/news/index.html. Sub-
scribers to the newsletter listserv will receive an e-mail mes-
sage when a new newsletter has been posted to the web. To
subscribe, send an e-mail message to
[email protected]. In the body of the message, type
subscribe sheepgoatnews.
Comments and suggestions regarding the newsletter are al-
ways welcome. References to commercial products or trade
names are made with the understanding that no discrimina-
tion is intended and no endorsement by University of Mary-
land Extension is implied.
Articles and photographs may be reprinted with permission.
University of Maryland Extension Western Maryland Research & Education Center 18330 Keedysville Rd Keedysville MD 21756
August 2
Pennsylvania Performance Tested Ram & Sale
and Invitational Ewe and Doe Sale
PA Livestock Evaluation Center, PA Furnace, PA
Info: Greg Hubbard at (814) 238-2527 or [email protected]
August 23
Virginia Performance Tested Ram Lamb Sale
Shenandoah Valley Research & Education Center,
Steeleʹs Tavern, Virginia
Info: Scott Greiner at (540) 231-9159 or [email protected] or
http://www.apsc.vt.edu/extension/sheep/va-ram-program/
index.html
August 30
West Virginia Performance Tested Ram and Buck Sale
Reymann Memorial Farm, near Wardensville, West Virginia
Info: sheepandgoats.wvu.edu
September 5‐6
Bluegrass Performance Invitational Sale: sale of top-performing
bucks from Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat
Goat Performance Test
Lakeview Park, Frankfort, Kentucky
Info: http://www.bluegrassperformanceinvitational.com/ and
http://mdgoattest.blogspot.com
Calendar Of Events Continued from page 11