Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Cornell University- New York. The 500-ewe flock at Cornell University completed another year of testing the STAR accelerated management system. Record drought conditions limited pasturing and forage preservation for winter feeding, which required purchases of very high-priced feed ingredients. The rate and extent of fermentation of high fiber feed ingredients demonstrated that fiber in soy hulls and wheat midds is quickly utilized. Thus, fast rate of passage resulting from high consumption of diets that include these ingredients should not limit their digestibility. Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, USDA, Arkansas. Sericea lespedeza (SL), a condensed tannin-rich legume, was determined to be effective in the control of Haemonchus contortus and Eimeria spp. in sheep and goats by grazing or supplementation of the SL pellet. Team research included NCERA-214 members from ARS and Louisiana State University, as well as Fort Valley State University, Auburn University, University of Arkansas, and a small family farm. Fort Valley State University. Established that the use of crossbreeding among two hair sheep breeds creates functional and productive brood stock for sheep production systems in the deep South. Research with novel methods of parasitic gastrointestinal nematode control has enabled an expansion of sheep production in Georgia. The FVSU abattoir provides a location where market lamb producers from across the state can obtain processing services under federal inspection. Louisiana State University This research group continues to demonstrate viable alternative methods for sustainable parasitic nematode control which will benefit sheep production in low input systems. Michigan State University. Outreach accomplishments involved the presentation of programs with proceedings/manuals on birth management, parasite management and grazing management. Applied research efforts included projects to document anthelmintic efficacy and infection dynamics in large commercial sheep flocks, evaluation of birdsfoot trefoil as a biological control method in parasite infection and to determine the feasibility and benefits of cover crop grazing. Current applied research efforts include complimentary forage crop research, out of season breeding field studies, evaluation of local/regional lamb marketing efforts and the development and assessment of integrated parasite management plans. Courses were offered as a clinical clerkship to DVM students on small ruminant production medicine and to undergraduate students on sheep production. International outreach activities included presentation of small ruminant management and health program via distance learning to Iraqi producers and DVMs. North Dakota State University. We produced 15 educational programs, 35 presentations, and 23 popular press publications related to improving flock management. Two proceeding papers and four peer reviewed extension publications were published on sheep research consistent with the mission of the NCERA group. South Dakota State University. Our work with co-products, soyhulls, DDGS and pelleted corn stover has demonstrated these feed ingredients can lower unit cost of production, improve production efficiency and reduce labor requirements in sheep operations. Studies with pelleted corn stover inclusion into lamb and ewe diet formulations at SDSU have shown excellent palatability and performance. This ingredient has the potential to reduce traditional forage needs by 20% in intensive farm flock systems. The EAZI-BREED CIDR was equally effective for estrus synchronization using a 6, 9 or 12 d insertion period in seasonally anestrous Polypay or Hampshire mature ewes held in a common pen. Data from this study will be used in local, regional and national audiences through outreach programming. The sheep CIDR enhances flock reproductive management options and could improve labor efficiency and facility utilization. With the successful launch of the sheepSD mentorship program in the fall of 2012 the South Dakota extension staff will provide an educational template for the sheep industry to meet several objectives of the 2-Plus program  Lets Grow initiative. Dave Ollila, Sheep Extension Field Specialist is coordinating the program from his base location in western South Dakota. Texas A & M Agrilife Research. A study has been implemented to estimate performance differences between Dorper and Rambouillet ewes. Estimates of breed differences for fertility, number of lambs born, lamb birth weight, lamb weaning weight, and lamb carcass traits were documented from records on ewes from 2 to 9 years of age. The main objective of this study is to evaluate lifetime lamb production from Dorper and Rambouillet ewes. University of Maryland. Collectively, University of Maryland social media reaches more than 500,000 small ruminant producers and others with an interest in small ruminants. University of Rhode Island. This research and outreach program continues to educate small ruminant producers in best management practices for parasite control and investigate more sustainable alternatives to chemical dewormers. University of Wisconsin  Madison. We confirmed in one of our research flocks the recent research results from the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center that showed a significant decrease in the incidence of OPP among sheep with two copies of the 1 haplotype of the TMEM154 gene. U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, USDA-ARS. Easycare ram lambs are genotyped for TMEM154 and genotypes are used to supplement selection of rams to decrease the prevalence of OPP. Flocks of Katahdin and Polypay sheep are being genetically managed to represent contemporary industry germplasm and to serve as industry controls for future research on easy-care breeds. Three experiments are underway to estimate gene action of TMEM154 haplotypes on ovine progressive pneumonia (OPP) incidence under conditions of natural exposure. Virginia State University. Research continues to improve accelerated mating for hair sheep under a pasture/forage-based production system. Strategies have been evaluated to concentrate the incidence of estrus early in the mating period, and to improve nutrition of ewes during lactation. West Virginia University. Demonstrations with farmers from the area in attendance were conducted at the WV Purebred Sheep Sale in Petersburg, WV on June 2 with 40 in attendance, at the Clarence Elmore farm near Lewisburg, WV in Greenbrier County in June (a bag of 20 CIDRs was given as a door prize at this event) and in August during the WV State Fair with 12 and 15 farmers in attendance, and at George Wherrys farm in Scenery Hill, PA for 26 farmers, county commissioners, legislators and representatives of farm organizations including Wildlife Services and PA Extension. Other flocks used for research and partial demonstrations and discussions with smaller numbers of guests included Mark Teets SnowyCreek Dorsets in Preston County, WV; Chuck Fitzwaters in Garrett County, MD; Ginger Nelsons with yearlings in Greenbrier County, WV; Marvin Warners and Jimmy Deans in Randolph County, WV; Joe Hattons in Monongalia County, WV; Ed Cokeleys in Ritchie County, WV; and Rick Humphreys in Marion County, WV. We continue to work with producers, providing not only educational opportunities, but also routine reproductive management services, such as breeding soundness examinations, pregnancy diagnoses, and synchronization of estrus. Collaborative Accomplishments Cornell University - New York. A sabbatical leave project was carried out in collaboration with colleagues at Washington State University to evaluate the rate and extent of fermentation of high fiber feed ingredients. Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, USDA - Arkansas. Hair sheep resources (Katahdin lambs) were shared between NCERA-214 members at USDA, ARS in Booneville, Arkansas and Louisiana State University to further Objective 4 of the current Project. A collaborative project was conducted among members at ARS in Booneville and Louisiana State University examining grazing systems using sericea lespedeza for control of GIN in lambs and the use of sericea lespedeza leaf meal pellets for long term control of gastrointestinal nematodes and Eimeria spp. as part of USDA, SBIR and USDA, OREI grants. Romanov rams obtained from USDA, ARS, MARC generated Romanov x Katahdin ewes (half and one-quarter) to examine prolificacy and economics of fall lambing Katahdin straight bred or crossbred ewes. Fort Valley State University  Georgia. Collaborated with several other NCERA-214 institutions and centers through the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control including USDA/ARS/Booneville, Louisiana State University, Virginia State University, Virginia Tech, Ohio State University, University of Maryland, and West Virginia University. Collaborated with USDA/ Rural Development, USDA/NRCS, and Farm Credit Service in educating staff and clients on matters related to sustainable sheep forage-based production systems. Collaborated with University of Georgia in Southern Risk Management training for small and medium-sized farmers through enterprise diversification including sheep enterprises. Louisiana State University - J.M. Burke (USDA ARS, Booneville, AR), T.H. Terrill (Fort Valley State University), N.C. Whitley (North Carolina A&T University). Michigan State University - Dr. Richard Ehrhardt is collaborating with Dr. Joan Burke, USDA, ARS Booneville, AR and Dr. Jim Miller. LSU on a USDA OREI funded project A Systems Approach to Control Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Organic Small Ruminant Production. North Dakota State University - We have collaborated with Montana State University, University of Wyoming, South Dakota State University, US Meat Animal Research Center, and US Sheep Station on research project, grants, and/or extension programming. South Dakota State University - Cooperating with Dr. Mike Thonney at Cornell University and a private sector firm Iowa Biofibers, Inc. Harlan, IA to measure animal performance of growing/finishing lambs fed traditional starch based diets compared to diets formulated with processed and chemically treated corn stover. Studies at both universities, South Dakota State and Cornell, focused on the relationship between animal performance and nutrient availability and rumen physiology associated with corn stover inclusions in lamb finishing diets. Drs. Thonney and Held have co-designed the experimental diet formulations for upcoming research trials and have a working relationship with the private sector firm Iowa BioFibers, Inc. Texas A & M Agrilife Research - Texas A&M AgriLife research has supplied DNA samples and production records to Utah State University and to USDA, ARS, Animal Disease Research, Pullman, WA for research projects. University of Maryland - The University of Marylands use of social media facilitates the dissemination of research from the NCERA 214 committee. In other research and extension programs, the University of Maryland has collaborated with many other universities including University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Delaware State University, Virginia State University, University of Maine, Ohio State University, and the institutions represented by members of the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control. University of Rhode Island - We are working with Virginia Tech (Anne Zajac), Louisiana State University (Jim Miller), Wisconsin State University (Jess Reed), Rutgers University (Amy Howell), West Virginia State University (Jim Kotcon, William Bryan, Scott Bowdridge), University of Connecticut (Joyce Meader), University of Massachusetts (Mark Huyler, Stephen Purdy), University ofVermont (Dan Hudson) and Cornell University (Tatiana Stanton) to identify alternativeanthelmintics to gastrointestinal nematodes and to improve the parasite control practices of farmers in the region through parasite control workshops supported by farm visits. University of Wisconsin-Madison - We consulted with Dr. Kreg Leymaster, a lead researcher on the OPP genetics research at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, on our OPP situation and project at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station. Dr. Leymaster gave an invited talk on his OPP research at the Annual Arlington Sheep Day in March 2013. U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, USDA-ARS - Scientists at the USMARC and the USSES collaborate on a maternal line evaluation project at the USSES. White Dorper x Romanov crossbred rams produced at USMARC were used to produce crossbred daughters for evaluation at the USSES. Ten rams were transferred to the USSES during 2008, nine during 2009 and eight during 2010. Scientists at the USMARC and the USSES collaborated to confirm TMEM154 risk factors by doing a cohort analysis of data from each institution. Virginia State University - There was cooperation with scientists from Virginia Tech on research related to gastrointestinal parasitism in hair sheep, and rotational grazing of hair sheep. The sheep and goat extension specialists from the University of Maryland, assisted in hosting of a Hair Sheep Day at Virginia State University. Virginia Tech also cooperated in securing Dorset rams representative of the breed in the Mid-Atlantic region for a terminal sire crossbreeding study. West Virginia University - We collaborated with the WVU Extension Service for this research project, through the Small Ruminant Project Director, Mr. Brad Smith; Dr. Doolarie Singh-Knights- Extension Economic Specialist; Dr. Scott Bowdridge- Asst. Professor- Parasitologist; and Extension agents in Western MD and PA. We have also collaborated closely with 12 sheep producers, who have graciously provided their flocks for research.