Shepherd's Symposium

2023 Shepherd's Symposium Proceedings (pdf)

Recording from the 2023 Virginia Shepherd's Symposium- Wednesday, January 11

Contents:

• Do Not Let High Feed Costs Ruin Your Lamb Crop - Dr. Dan Morrical, Professor Emeritus, Iowa State University; Premier 1 Production Specialist
• Understanding and Using Forage Tests and Feed Tags – Kevin Spurlin, Virginia Cooperative
  Extension– Grayson County
• Lamb Market Situation and Outlook - Dr. David Anderson, Professor and Extension Specialist -Livestock and Food Product Marketing, Texas A&M University; Matthew Sponaugle, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
  
  

Recording from the 2023 Virginia Shepherd's Symposium- Thursday, January 12

Contents:

• Sheep Health Tips and New Antibiotic Policies - Dr. Kevin Pelzer, Virginia-Maryland
  College of Veterinary Medicine
• Back to the Basics With Parasite Control - Dr. Scott Bowdridge, West Virginia University
• Update from ASI - Lisa Weeks, ASI Executive Board- Region II Director, Virginia
  Virginia Sheep Industry Updates - reports from Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia Sheep Industry Board, and Virginia Sheep Producers Association
• 
  VSPA Director Elections - Gary Hornbaker, President

2022 Virginia Virtual Shepherd's Symposium Proceedings

Wednesday, January 12

• Reproduction in Sheep– Key Components - Dr. Jamie Stewart, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
• Using Reproductive Technologies– Synchronization, AI and ET– Dr. Daniel Poole, Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University
• Saving Baby Lambs - Dr. Kevin Pelzer, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

Thursday, January 13

• Applying Genetics and Genomics to Enhance the Flock - Dr. Andrew Weaver, Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University
• Successfully Using Guardian Animals: Producer Perspective - producer panel
• Update from ASI - Lisa Weeks, ASI Executive Board- Region II Director, Virginia
• Virginia Sheep Industry Updates - reports from Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia Sheep Industry Board, and Virginia Sheep Producers Association
• VSPA Director Elections - Mandy Fletcher, President

2021 Shepherd's Symposium Proceedings

Wednesday, January 6th (Part 1 )

• Nontraditional Markets for Sheep - Dr. Reid Redden, Sheep & Goat Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
• Producer Spotlight- Joe Gingerich, Gingerich Family Katahdins and Gretchen Frederick, Solitude Wool; Debbie Webster, Whispering Pines Farm, Dairy & Cheese

Wednesday, January 6th (Part 2)- Parker and Annual Meeting

• Update from ASI - Jimmy Parker, ASI Executive Board- Region II Director, Alabama
• VSPA Annual Meeting - Mandy Fletcher, President

Thursday, January 7th (Part 1)

• Proper Use of Antibiotics on the Farm - Dr. Kevin Pelzer, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
• Parasite Control Research; Update-Anne Zajac, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

Thursday, January 7th (Part 2)

• Farming with labels- Organic, natural, humane, grass-fed: What does it all mean? - Susan Schoenian, Sheep and Goat Specialist, University of Maryland
• Update from VDACS - Dan Hadacek, DVM, Northern Regional Veterinary Supervisor
• Opportunities With Virginia Sheep Industry Board - Matthew Sponaugle, VDACS

2020 Shepherd's Symposium Proceedings

Nick Forrest Lamb Recipes

2019 Shepherd's Symposium Proceedings

2018 Shepherd's Symposium Proceedings

2017 Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings

• Table of Contents
• 2017 Shepherd's Symposium Sponsors
• Making the Most of Your Forgages - Dr. John Fike
• Feeding Strategies for the Ewe Flock - Dr. Dan Morrical
• Dealing with Parasites: Where are we headed? - Dr. Anne Zajac
• What is VFD and What Does It Mean For Sheep Producers? - Dr. John Currin
• Evaluation of Terminal Sires in Hair Sheep Production Systems - Andrew Weaver
• Economic Impact of Selection for Parasite Resistance and Growth - Tom Stanley
• Return on Ram Selection
• Lambing Management Tips
• Outstanding Sheep Producer Award Recipients 

2016 Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings

Contents:

• 2016 Shepherd's Symposium Schedule
• Table of Contents
• 2016 Shepherd's Symposium Sponsors
• Understanding the Opportunities Using NSIP - Dr. Dave Notter
• Experiences with NSIP as a tool for Parasite Resistance - Dr. Scott Greiner
• Update from the American Sheep Industry Association - Bob Leer
• Making the Most of Your Forages - Dr. Bain Wilson
• When to call the Veterinarian - Dr. Kevin Pelzer

2015 Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings

Topics:

• 2015 Shepherds' Symposium Schedule
• Table of Contents
• 2015 Sponsors
• New Research and its Applications to Dealing with Parasites
• Lamb Market Situation and Outlook
• Keeping and Using Flock Records
• Timely Management Strategies for the Flock
• Determining the Value of Your Wool
• Marketing Opportunities for Your Wool
• Report from the American Sheep Industry Association
• Lambing Time Management: Keys to Success
• Keys to My Sheep Operation: Producer Panel and Virtual Tours:

- Sponaugle Suffolks
- Ashley Club Lambs
- Ridgeview Acres
- Shamoka Run Farm

• Outstanding Sheep Producer Award Recipients
• Useful Information for Wool Producers

2014 Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings

Topics:

• 2014 Symposium Schedule
• Table of Contents
• 2014 Sponsors
• Key Components to Successful Flock Health
• Lamb Market Situation and Outlook
• The Hale Report - American Lamb Industry Roadmap Project
• Minerals and Vitamins for the Flock
• Experiences with CIDRs in the Virginia Tech Dorset Flock
• Capturing Marketing Opportunities to Add Value
• Outstanding Sheep Producer Award Recipients

2013 Shepherd's Symposium Proceedings

Topics:

• Table of Contents
• 2013 Sponsors
• Sheep Health - Common Problems, Mistakes, and Remedies
• A New Approach: Forage-Based Ram Test for Evaluation of Performance and Parasites
• Utilizing Fecal Egg Counts as Parasite Management Tool
• The Sheep Business - National Perspective from ASI
• Flock Nutritional Strategies
• Ram Selection
• Successful Marketing - What You Need to Know - Gary Hornbaker
• Successful Marketing - What You Need to Know - Mike Carpenter
• Outstanding Sheep Producer Award Recipients

2012 VA-NC Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings

Topics:

Schedule of Events

• Table of Contents
• Sponsor Page (PDF | 10KB)
• Sheep Parasite Management - Past, Present, Future
• FAMACHA Overview
• On-farm Applications of FAMACHA for Parasite Control
• Our Experiences with Direct Marketing of Lamb and Wool
• twoPlus Campaign Overview
• Let's Grow with twoPlus Campaign, Implications for Virginia
• Ewe Body Condition Scoring
• Hay Quality and Supplementation
• Small Ruminant Vaccine Program
• Improving Carcass Merit in Sheep
• Experiences with Sheep CIDRs to Induce Fall Lambing
• Award Recipients

2011 VA-NC Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings

Topics:

• Managing Parasites - Keys to Success
  
• Selected Tools for Internal Parasite Management in Sheep
  
• Trying to Get the Job Done with COWP
• National Issues Impacting Sheep Producers
• Out-of-Season Breeding Using the Eazi-Breed CIDR-G in Ewes
  
• Expansion Decisions for the Part-Time Sheep Producer
• Working with Your Local Livestock Market
  
• Successful Wool Marketing - Our Story
• Award Recipients

2010 VA-NC Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings

Topics:

• Table of Contents and Sponsors  
• Keys to a Successful Lambing Season  
• Strategies for Genetic Improvement of Parasite Resistance in Sheep  
• Practical Solutions for On-Farm Mortality Disposal  
• Making the Most of Lamb Marketing
• Ewe Nutrition and Management Do's and Don'ts
• Award Recipients

2009 VA-NC Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings

Topics:

• Foreign Animal Diseases That Threaten Livestock
• Lessons from the West Virginia Sheep Project
• Forage Management and Fertilization Strategies
• Parasite Management Strategies for Grazing Lambs
• Country of Origin Labeling - What Sheep Producers Need to Know
  

2008 VA-NC Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings

Topics:

• Routine and Emergency Medicine for the Sheep Flock
• Forage Management: Preparing for 2008
• Feeding Strategies for Drought Conditions
• Agriculture Laws and Your Operation
• Key Components to Making Money in the Sheep Business

2007 VA-NC Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings

Topics:

• The Livestock Guardian Dog
• Strategies for Improving Flock Genetics
• Parasite Resistance: Only for Hair Sheep?
• Comparative Health Concerns for Sheep and Goats
  Making the Most of Your Feed Dollars
  

2006 VA-NC Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings

Topics:

• Building a Grazing System for Small Ruminant Production
• Ewe Nutrition
• Ewe Obsetrics and Newborn Lamb Management
• Sheep Selection 101
• Sheep Food Care and Treatment
  

2005 VA-NC Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings

Topics:

• Managing Worms in Your Sheep and the FAMACHA System
• Minerals and Vitamins for Sheep
• Deworming Agents
• Assessing Forage Quality and Using Results in Flock Nutrition
• Lamb Quality Assurance
• Preparing for the Lambing Season
• Lamb Carcass Evaluation
• Lamb Grading and Evaluation
• Body Condition Scoring Ewes and Late Gestation

2004 VA-NC Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings

Topics:

• Managing Worms in Your Sheep (Or Is thee Life After Drugs
• The US Animal Identification Plan
  USAIP - "Sheep Industry Issues"
• "Ewe Obstetrics and Newborn Lamb Management
• Genetic Lessons from the United Kingdom
• Overview of National Wool Programs
• National Programs and Their Impact on Virginia Producers
• Evaluation of Hair Sheep Composite Breeds: Summary of Results
• Lamb Grading and Evaluation
  

2003 VA-NC Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings

Topics:

• Pasture Mainenance and Revitalization Following Drought
• Religion and Lamb Consumption
• Experiences of the Scott County Katahdin Co-op
• Update on the Northeast Sheep and Goat Marketing Program
• Understanding USDA Payment Programs for Sheep Producers
• The Status of the Virginia Cooperatiave Coyote Damage Control Program - Fiscal Year 2002
• Successful Ewe Lamb Development, Breeding, Lambing

2002 VA-NC Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings

Topics:

• National Scrapie Eradication Program: Producer Implicatioins
• Evaluation of Hair Sheep Composit Breeds for Easy-Care Lamb Production: Progress Report
• Understanding the Lamb Market
• Commercial Production Systems that Make Economic and Marketing Sense
• Adding Value to My Sheep Operation - Producer Panel
• Pasture Management and Renovation
• Club Lamb Fungus: Prevention and Treatment
• Current Concepts in Sheep Parasite Control
• Control of Abortion and Ringwomb in Ewes
• Shepherd's Supply Inventory
  

2001 VA-NC Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings

Topics:

• Genetics of Scrapie Resistance
  Lamb Marketing in Virginia: Historical Prices and Competing in the Future
• Direct Marketing Off the Farm: What You Need to Know
• Marketing Systems that Work for Me: Producer Panel
• Manipulation of the Breeding Season
• Ewe Vaccination Programs
• Nutritional Management of the Ewe Flock
• Ewe Nutrition
• Baby Lamb Management