OLD_SCC81: Sustainable Small Ruminant Production in the Southeastern U.S.
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
OLD_SCC81: Sustainable Small Ruminant Production in the Southeastern U.S.
Duration: 10/01/2007 to 09/30/2012
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
In 2006, there were more than 1.5 million sheep and lambs in southern states, Missouri, Maryland, and West Virginia, more than a 4% increase since 2005. There were nearly 2 million goats in these states, more than a 5% increase since 2005. Increased sheep and goat numbers reflect a growing demand by ethnic populations and niche markets. However, the U.S. is still importing more lamb and goat meat than it is producing for domestic consumption. There is also a growing market for organic meat products (Green and Kremen, 2003).
Both conventional and organic lamb and goat production in the southeastern US is challenged because of the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN), particularly the blood-sucking Haemonchus contortus which has developed resistance to available dewormers (Mortensen et al., 2003). Research to find new methods of GIN management is necessary. Priority areas include improved genetics, novel products or feedstuffs that act as anthelmintics, and integration of the FAMACHA system (Kaplan et al. 2004), a selective deworming program, and alternative forage systems.
An abundance of forages in the southeast allows for organic and forage-fed systems for small ruminants. But low forage quality of warm season species during summer months limits growth and productivity of livestock. Although these forages are hardy, they often cannot meet nutritional needs during growth and lactation phases. Goats prefer browse species which have been grazed out of many pastures or were not available if goats were added to existing sheep or cattle operations.
Forage-based, low-input production systems require appropriately adapted small ruminant germplasm. Traditional, high producing breed types may not necessarily be the breed resources best suited for the environmental and management conditions in the southeastern U.S., but rather small-framed breed types, such as hair sheep and landrace goat breeds may be a better fit. Although these breed types have slower growth rates, their production efficiency may be higher, and their leaner and smaller carcasses are well accepted by most ethnic markets (Wildeus 1997). Research is needed to evaluate the production potential of various breed types and crosses under forage-based production systems.
These research priorities, parasite control, forage resource management, and identification of appropriate breed resources, require coordinated efforts of multiple research institutions, each contributing their specific expertise towards the design of integrated systems.
Objectives
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Develop integrated GIN control methods that decrease reliance on chemical dewormers through the use of selective deworming (FAMACHA system), better forage management and grazing options, and breed or animal selection for nematode resistance or resilience.
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Develop a forage-based feeding system for year-round grazing that meets nutritional requirements by evaluating performance of forage (legumes, grass, and browse) varieties and/or forage systems and animal performance.
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Evaluate the production potential of pure- and crossbred sheep and goat germplasm under low-input, forage-based production systems in the southeastern US.
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Disseminate research results and information to producers through station field days, workshops, websites.
Procedures and Activities
Objective 1:
Integrated control methods will include the strategic use of anthelmintics, FAMACHA, copper oxide wire particles (COWP), condensed tannin containing forages, complete balanced rations, nematode-trapping fungi, vaccines and resistant breeds. Participating agencies include Louisiana State University (LA), Fort Valley State University (GA), USDA ARS Booneville (AR), Langston University (OK), University of Maryland Western Shores (MD) and Delaware State University (DE). The importance of evaluating these methods in various combinations is to achieve adequate control with minimal use of anthelmintics. FAMACHA will continue to be evaluated at all participating agencies for selecting animals with infection that requires treatment. Studies involving condensed tannin containing forages including the legume sericea lespedeza, sorghum, etc. will be conducted at all participating agencies to evaluate potential both as a forage (grazing schemes and fed fresh) and as processed (hay, pellets, cubes, extracts, etc.) products. OK will compare sericea lespedeza with Kobe lespedeza for effect and palatability. Trials in LA, AR and GA will evaluate COWP administered in capsules and in supplement feed. Trials in LA and GA will evaluate nematode-trapping fungus administered in feed and bolus. Trials in LA will evaluate an antigen from Haemonchus contortus as a potential vaccine. Trials in LA, AR and DE will evaluate the use of breeds resistant to worm infection. Trials in LA and AR will evaluate and compare COWP, sericea lespedeza and complete balanced ration for use in organic farming. Ultimately, the results of these trials will lead to an integrated strategy for controlling worms.
Objective 2:
Cool-season and warm-season annual and perennial forages will be established, evaluated and compared to determine forage availability and quality, stocking rate, and animal performance during different stages of production by North Carolina State University and Kentucky State University for goat production systems, and by the USDA-ARS Grazinglands Research Laboratory, Reno, OK, for sheep production systems. At North Carolina State University, another thrust will be the integration of fodder trees into grazing systems for goats.
Co-grazing of cattle and meat goats on reclaimed coal-mined land to control invasive species such as broadleaf weeds and brushy and woody vegetation will be evaluated by Virginia Tech, as an environmentally friendly alternative to herbicide application or mechanical cutting. Fort Valley State College will use goats and sheep in browse-type vegetation management experiments for the removal of unwanted species or for the management of browse areas as a feed resource. Kudzu will be one of the invasive species under evaluation.
Low-input establishment of Sericea lespedeza as a summer grazing/hay crop for small ruminants will be evaluated by Fort Valley State University, whereas Langston University will compare the efficacy of grazing Sericea lespedeza and Kobe lespedeza to help control gastrointestinal tract nematodes in goats.
Objective 3:
The performance of different hair sheep breed types under an accelerated mating system will be evaluated at the University of the Virgin Islands and Virginia State University. St. Croix, Barbados Blackbelly and Dorper x St. Croix (20 ewes/breed) will be used in VI, whereas Barbados Blackbelly, St. Croix, and Katahdin (40 ewes/breed) will be used in VA. At both locations ewes will be mated and lamb in 8-months intervals, and bred during 35 and 30 day breeding seasons, respectively. Systems at both locations will be forage-based using rotational grazing, except during the dry season and winter, respectively, when hay and concentrate supplementation will be provided. Lambing will occur unassisted on pasture, and lambs will be weaned at ~ 63 days. Ovulation pregnancy, and lambing rate, and prolificacy and production efficiency will be recorded for ewes. Mortality, birth and weaning weight, and pre-weaning average daily gain will be recorded in lambs. Two landrace goat breeds (Myotonic and Spanish; 30 does/breed) will be evaluated for their production efficiency under a forage-based production system, using an annual breeding and kidding cycle. Does will bred during a 30 day breeding season in October following an MGA synchronized estrus using 3 single sire mating groups per breed. Kidding will occur unassisted on pasture, and kids will be weaned at 90 days. Ovulation pregnancy, and lambing rate, and prolificacy and production efficiency will be recorded for does. Mortality, birth and weaning weight, and pre-weaning average daily gain will be recorded in kids.
At the USDA, ARS Grazinglands Research Laboratory, OK, differences in postweaning forage gains will be evaluated in purebred Dorset, purebred St. Croix, and reciprocal-cross fall-born stocker lambs over a period of three years. Approximately 100 Dorset and St. Croix ewes will be bred to Dorset and St. Croix rams to produce the lambs. Lambs will be weaned at 80 days of age and conditioned on high-roughage rations in dry lot for two weeks. After conditioning, one third of the lambs will be placed on wheat pasture with no supplement, one third will be placed on wheat pasture with cracked corn supplement ~ 0.75% of body weight) and one third will remain in dry lot on a high roughage mixed ration. Body weight gains will be evaluated for fall grazing and spring grazing. In a similar experimental design, approximately 100 Suffolk and Katahdin ewes will be bred to Suffolk and Katahdin rams to produce purebred Suffolk, purebred Katahdin, and reciprocal-cross spring-born lambs. After conditioning, one third of the lambs will be placed on bermudagrass pasture with no supplement, one third will be placed on bermudagrass pasture with soybean meal/cracked corn supplement (~ 0.75% of body weight the amount of soybean meal contingent on forage crude protein), and one third will remain in dry lot on a high roughage mixed ration. Body weight gains will be evaluated for summer grazing.
Objective 4:
Producer workshops, which teach the use of FAMACHA©, fecal egg counts, and other integrated parasite control strategies will be taught throughout the region. Parasite control will continue to be an important educational focus in the region. Efforts are strongly supported by the work in the other objectives.
Local, county and regional meetings will be held in each of the states. Maryland and Delaware will work together on their educational efforts. Efforts will continue to update extension field faculty on small ruminant production and management. Kentucky State University will host two field days focused on goat production, as part of their nationally recognized Third Thursday Thing programming. Information from several research stations is presented at these field days, which typically attract more than 120 producers from several states in the region.
Producer information will be posted to various web sites, including the Small Ruminant Section of the Virginia State University School of Agriculture, the University of Kentucky, Langston University, and the Maryland Small Ruminant Page at www.sheepandgoat.com.
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- Improved forage-based systems for conventional and organic small ruminant production.
- Improved selection for sheep and goat resistance to GIN to reduce need for deworming.
- Improved summer gains for growing lambs and kids on forage-based systems.
- Identification of sheep and goat breed types most suited for production in the southeastern US.
- Exchange of ideas and information.
- Outcome/Impact 6; Coordination of specific research and extension programs to accelerate goals; Outcome/Impact 7; Identification of critical research objectives; Outcome/Impact 8; Improved outreach to scientific community and producers;
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
Technical committee members of this project have been involved in organizing producer workshops and field days at their respective institutions. These events will be the basis of the educational and outreach activities of this project. The project will facilitate the coordination of these activities and provide a range of subject matter expertise in the selection of the presenters at the workshops and field days. Members will prepare articles for publication in industry magazines. There are several participants from 1890 Land Grant institutions that have a special mandate to serve under-represented groups and small-scale, limited resource farmers. These groups have shown a particular interest in small ruminant production that will benefit from activities from this project.
Organization/Governance
A nominating committee proposes a slate of officers consisting of chair, chair-elect, and secretary. Traditionally, the chair-elect becomes the chair the following year and the secretary becomes the chair-elect. Officers are elected from official representatives of participating stations. The committee then votes to accept or reject the proposed slate of officers.
Literature Cited
Green, C., Kremen, A., 2003. U.S. organic farming in 2000-2001: Adoption of certified systems. USDA, Economic Research Service, Resource Economics Division, Agriculture Information Bulletin No. 780.
Kaplan, R.M., Burke, J.M., Terrill, T.H., Miller, J.E., Getz, W.R., Mobini, S., Valencia, E., Williams, M., Williamson, L.H., Larsen, M., Vatta, A.F., 2004. Validation of the FAMACHA© eye color chart for detecting clinical anemia on sheep and goat farms in the southern United States. Vet. Parasitol. 123:105-120.
Mortensen, L.L., Williamson, L.H., Terrill, T.H., Kircher, R., Larsen, M., Kaplan, R.M., 2003. Evaluation of prevalence and clinical implications of anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes of goats. JAVMA 23, 495-500.
Wildeus, S. 1997. Hair sheep genetic resources and their contribution to diversified small ruminant production in the United States. J. Anim. Sci. 75:630-640.