SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report

Sections

Basic Information
Additional Info

Status: Approved

Basic Information

Project No. and Title: NCERA214 : Increased Efficiency of Sheep Production
Period Covered: 10/01/2015 to 09/30/2016
Date of Report: 08/02/2016
Annual Meeting Dates: 06/06/2016 to 06/08/2016

Participants

Attached file:

NCERA-214-Minutes-2016.pdf

Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Attached file:

NCERA-214-Minutes-2016.pdf

Accomplishments

Accomplishments

Dale Bumper Small Farms Research Center, USDA, ARS, Booneville, AR

Control of internal parasites in sheep. Alternatives to synthetic anthelmintics remain critical due to the prevalence of dewormer resistant parasites that cost farmers worldwide billions of dollars every year. Copper oxide wire particles (COWP) were determined to control barber pole worm, a worm that causes blood loss and death; recently two forms with different particle diameters appeared on the U.S. market for small ruminants to treat copper deficiency. Scientists at USDA, ARS in Booneville, AR, Louisiana State University, University of Arkansas, and Fort Valley State University determined that the smaller diameter particles reduced the percentage of barber pole worm better than the larger diameter, and reduced fecal egg counts in lambs, a sign of worm infection. There has been widespread interest by southeastern U.S. small ruminant producers and extension agents in the use of copper oxide for worm control, one of the few options remaining to sustain these industries. The results are important to organic and conventional farmers, poor resource farmers worldwide, extension specialists, and scientists with the aim of controlling barber pole worm in sheep and goats, which can save the industry lost income due to morbidity and mortality.

Cornell University

Data collection for experiments on use of copper oxide wire particle to control barber pole worm was completed. Data collection on the value of ivermectin in protocols to treat sheep and goats with signs of infection with deer worm was completed. Data collection and analysis was completed on an experiment to document the development of immunological response by sheep against deer worm.

University of Kentucky

Conducted 3 Eweprofit Schools. An average of 30 producers attended each school. Developed materials for 3-ring binder for distribution to producers at Eweprofit I; materials added when producers returned for Eweprofits II and III. If producers completed all three schools, they had a complete guide for annual ewe management.
Conducted Lambing School (35 producers)
Conducted Shearing School (12 students)
Developed Second Small Ruminant Profit School with Kentucky State University, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and Kentucky sheep and Wool development Council.
- Taught 60% of material
- Developed 60% of notebook
Demonstrated the effect of supplementation (2% BW daily) of early-weaned White Dorper and Polypay lambs grazing alfalfa from June to October.
- Polypay lambs gain faster than White Dorper
- Gain differences between Polypay and White Dorper lambs more pronounced when supplemented (2% BW daily) than when unsupplemented.

Louisiana State University

Presented programs at the following: 1) Sheep Production and diversification of small ruminants, FAMACHA certification. Southern University Goat Field Day, April 18, 2015, Baton Rouge, LA., 2) Potential new dewormer methods. What Works With Worms Congress, May 25-26, 2015, Pretoria, South Africa., 3) Does diatomaceous earth have a role in worm control? What Works With Worms Congress, May 25-26, 2015, Pretoria, South Africa., 4) Integrating anthelmintics FAMACHA and other alternative measures for controlling nematodes in small ruminants. Small ruminant producer meeting, June 11, 2015. Cobleskill, NY., 5) What small ruminant producers should know about internal parasites. Small ruminant producer meeting, June 16, 2015, Gray, ME., 6) Integrating anthelmintics FAMACHA and other alternative measures for controlling nematodes in small ruminants, GoatCamp, October 27, 2015, Lohn, TX., and 7) Integrating anthelmintics FAMACHA and other alternative measures for controlling nematodes in small ruminants, Southeastern Kiko Goat Association, November 13, 2015, Hattiesburg, MS.

University of Rhode Island

This research and outreach program continues to investigate sustainable alternatives to commercial dewormers and educate small ruminant producers in best management practices for parasite control.

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. State, national and international audiences recognize the accomplishments of SDSU Animal Science in formulating lamb and sheep diets with co-product ingredients.

Recently the SDSU sheep extension staff published a SDSU – Sheep Research Report. The report summarizes the scientific investigation, results and conclusions from 12 different studies at SDSU. Educational topics areas studied include nutrition, reproduction, health and management practices. The work reported on the use of co-product feed ingredients (soyhulls, DDGS and corn stover) in lamb finishing and lactation diets has been widely accepted by the end-users in the sheep industry including national and international audiences. Studies conducted at SDSU on managing flock reproduction with the sheep CIDR served as a valuable resource for seedstock and commercial flocks implementing fall lambing systems. This report has been disseminated in print and electronically through the SD extension iGrow web based platform.

With the successful development of the sheepSD new and beginner sheep producer mentorship program the SDSU sheep extension staff has provided an educational template for the sheep industry to meet several objectives of the “Let’s Grow” initiative. Dave Ollila, Sheep Extension Field Specialist is coordinating this effort from the SDSU West River Extension Center in Rapid City, SD.

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.

The annual Texas A&M Sheep & Goat field day was held in August 2015. The annual Texas A&M Ram Performance Test Field day was held in March 2016. The Texas A&M Ram performance test website (http://sanangelo.tamu.edu/performance-tests/ram-performance-test/) was updated with results from the 2015-2016 performance test.

Utah State University

We tested the effects of increasingly diverse combinations of PSC-containing legumes on intake and diet digestibility in lambs. Freshly-cut birdsfoot trefoil (TRE), sainfoin (SAN) and alfalfa (ALF) at the early flowering stage were offered in ad libitum amounts to forty-two lambs in individual pens assigned to 7 treatments (n=6): Single species, a choice of all possible 2-way combinations, or a 3-way choice of the legumes. Composited forage and fecal samples and acid detergent lignin were used to determine in vivo DMD. The change in concentration of BUN from the beginning to the end of the study (24 d) (ΔBUN) was also assessed. Dry matter intake (DMI) and digestible DMI (DDMI) were analyzed as repeated measures design with lambs (random effect) nested within treatments. A complete random design was used for the remaining variables with treatment as a fixed factor. Lambs preferred ALF>SAN>TRE in 70:30 and 50:35:15 ratios for 2- and 3-way combinations, respectively (P < 0.05). Average DMI and DDMI were 10% greater for 2- and 3-way choices than for single species (Table 1). Digestibility values of tannin-containing legumes (SAN and TRE) and their combination were greater than those recorded for the saponin-containing legume (ALF) or ALF/TRE (Table 1). Feeding SAN in a single diet or in combination had lower ΔBUN and greater fecal N/N consumed ratio (Table 1) than ALF, TRE or ALF/TRE, suggesting a shift in the site of N excretion from urine to feces. In conclusion, combinations of PSC-containing legumes have the potential to enhance intake and digestibility while shifting N loses to feces relative to some legume monocultures.

Treatments									CHOICE vs Single Diets
Items	ALF	SAN	TRE	ALF SAN	ALF/ TRE	SAN/ TRE	ALF/ SAN/ TRE	SEM	P-Value
DM,%	19.7^a	18.2^ab	16.6^b					0.67
CP,%	16.5^b	13.4^c	19.3^a					0.42
ADF,%	31.1^b	39.3^a	31.6^b					1.13
DMI, gr/KgBw/ d	35.9^ab	32.4^b	27.4^c	37.8^a	34.3^ab	33.5^ab	36.0^ab	1.88	0.0217
DMD,%	59.3^d	68.1^a	65.7^b	64.2^b	61.6^c	68.4^a	64.6^b	0.67	0.5450
DDMI, gr/KgBw/d	21.3^b	22.1^ab	18.0^c	24.3^a	21.0^b	22.9^ab	23.2^ab	1.12	0.0087
Fecal N/N consumed ratio	0.33^cb	0.38^a	0.28^d	0.35^b	0.32^c	0.35^b	0.34^cb	0.01	0.3390
ΔBUN, mg/dL	-1.0^bc	-4.2^d	2.3^a	-1.7^dc	1.7^ab	-0.3^abc	0.0^abc	1.18	0.3457

Table 1.

Means in a row with different superscripts differ (P < 0.1).

Forty lambs (4 months old) were randomly assigned to two groups (n=20). The parasitized group (PG) was infected with 3,000 L3 stage larvae of Haemonchus contortus, and the other group (non-parasitized; NP) was not infected. Animals were submitted to preference tests by offering a free choice between sainfoin pellets with high (T+; 4%) or low (T-; 2%) concentration of condensed tannins during three periods of 4 days each: Initial (Test 1), after the group PG developed an infection (Test 2), and after conditioning, when all animals consumed just T+ for 21 days so that parasitized animals experienced the benefits of therapeutic doses of condensed tannins (Test 3). Preference ([intake of T+ or T-] x 100/[total intake]) and fecal egg counts (FEC) were analyzed as a repeated measures design with animals nested within group. The group PG showed a clear increase in FEC after infection (from 0 to 3512 ± 446.34 eggs per gram; P < 0.05), but no further increase was observed after animals received T+ during conditioning (3145 ± 401.44 eggs per gram; P > 0.05). During Tests 1 and 2 animals preferred T- (Test 1: PG=71.0 ± 3.9 %; NP=71.2 ± 4.3 %; Test 2: PG=73.9 ± 2.8 % NP=74.7 ± 2.7 %; P < 0.05). However, preference reversed after conditioning (Test 3): Both groups, PG and NP, preferred T+ (PG=61.0 ± 3.9 %; NP=62.6 ± 3.4 %; P < 0.05). These results stand in contrast with previous studies using other types of antiparasitic condensed tannins (e.g., tannins extracted from the quebracho tree) with antinutritional properties. In such studies, only parasitized animals increase preference for a quebracho tannin-containing food relative to non-parasitized individuals. When condensed tannins do not exert negative post-ingestive effects on consumers, or even provide post-ingestive benefits (i.e., improved nitrogen utilization) like those observed in sainfoin, both parasitized and non-parasitized animals may display similar levels of acceptability to the tannin-rich feed. These results are consistent with a feed-forward mechanism in which endoparasitic loads are controlled by the frequent ingestion of safe bioactive-containing feeds which are typically preferred by consumers.

Virginia State University

Research evaluated the use of terminal sire (Dorset rams) under and accelerated mating system using landrace hair sheep. Matings were completed in November and July, purebred and crossbred lambs produced from these mating were raised under rotational grazing in Spring and Fall with or without agro-byproduct supplementation. Lambs were harvested and carcass characteristics and composition were determined.

University of Wisconsin-Madison

The sheep flock at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arlington Agricultural Research Station has reduced its incidence of Ovine Progressive Pneumonia (OPP) from 47% in 2012 to 3% in 2015 with the goal of eliminating OPP within the next few years. This has been done without the total culling of OPP positive ewes and without extensive artificial rearing of lambs, but instead by separation of OPP negative and OPP positive ewes into separate flocks and annual testing for OPP.

The 21^st Annual Symposium of the Dairy Sheep Association of North America was held on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus on November 5-7, 2015 with a record attendance of over 160 dairy sheep producers, sheep milk processors, commercial company representatives, government representatives, and sheep scientists and educators.

After completing the requirements of the Ph.D. degree in Animal Breeding and Genetics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, working with dairy sheep data, in summer 2016, Tom Murphy will move to Montana State University to take up a faculty research/teaching position in sheep production and management.

Impacts

Cornell University 1. Experiments and presentations on controlling internal parasites have raised awareness of farmers about the proper dosage of copper oxide wire particles to control H. contortus (stomach worm, barber pole worm) in sheep and goats. 2. Hundreds of goat and sheep farmers have reduced the use of dewormers and prevented increased dewormer resistance in their herds and flocks after being trained about how FAMACHA scoring and evasive grazing can reduce worm infections. 3. The effectiveness of copper oxide wire particles to control H. contortus (stomach worm, barber pole worm) in sheep and goats is variable from farm to farm in the Northeast. 4. Although some farmers report higher infection rates, a P. tenuis (deer worm) infection rate of about 1% in 3,660 ewes from 13 years of Cornell flock data suggests that many more acres of unused pasture frequented by whitetail deer in the Northeast could be grazed by ewes with low anxiety about ewes becoming infected with P. tenuis. 5. Detection of P. tenuis (deer worm) infection symptoms early to treat ewes and does with fenbendazole and dexamethasone is more important than including ivermectin in the treatment protocol. 6. Ewes infected with a low number of third-stage P. tenuis (deer worm) larvae dramatically increased antibodies to P. tenuis a year later in both challenged and unchallenged ewes, suggesting that a vaccine against P. tenuis would be effective.
Texas A&M Agrilife Research Sheep producers need to be profitable in a changing economic environment. Choice of which breed to raise is an important factor that has an impact on profitability. Texas A&M AgriLife Research conducts range sheep production research to provide information to sheep producers about production from Rambouillet and Dorper sheep, which are 2 breeds that make up a large proportion of the flock in Texas and other areas in the US. The project is recording lamb production, ewe longevity, and other economically important traits, so that producers will have the knowledge needed to make an informed choice about which breed to raise. Findings include: Lambs from Dorper ewes are similar in weight at weaning to lambs from Rambouillet ewes, Dorper ewes produce more lambs than Rambouillet ewes, and Dorper lambs are earlier maturing than Rambouillet lambs. A significant number of sheep producers have switched from raising Rambouillet to raising Dorper sheep. From 2010 to 2015 the proportion of Dorper and Dorper-cross sheep went from 42% to 69% at the San Angelo auction, which is the largest sheep & goat auction in the US, with 65,000 lambs/year sold during this 6-year period.
University of Kentucky 1. Three Eweprofit Schools continue to be taught annually. An outcome of these schools has been the development of the Small Ruminant Profit School (SRPS), funded by the American Sheep Industry and conducted cooperatively with the University of Kentucky, Kentucky State University, Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Kentucky sheep and Goat Development Council. One hundred and twenty clientele have graduated from SRPS since 2013. These, along with the 100 new producers who participate in Eweprofit Schools annually, make up a 25% increase in knowledgeable sheep producers. Total sheep numbers have increased 34% since 2013 and 10% from 2015 to 2016. Gross income from sheep and lambs has increased over $7 million since 2013. 2. The purebred White Dorper flock, developed from Polypays, continues to be evaluated from a forage based production system. Supplementation with a concentrate at 2% of body weight daily increases growth of lambs grazing alfalfa by 50%, regardless of breed, resulting in a net gain of 20¢ per pound of gain.
University of Wisconsin-Madison 1. The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Spooner Agricultural Research Station, as the site of the only dairy sheep research program in North America, continued to conduct studies in support of the small, but growing, dairy sheep industry. In 2015-16, studies focused on nutritional trials and a novel method for controlling internal parasites in grazing sheep. 2. The University of Wisconsin-Madison organized and hosted the 21st Annual Symposium of the Dairy Sheep Association of North America in Madison, WI on Nov. 5-7, 2015. Over 125 producers, milk processors and university and government personnel attended from throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. 3. The sheep flock at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s (UW-Madison) Arlington Agricultural Research Station continued to positively impact the U.S. sheep industry through the successful marketing of purebred sheep with estimated breeding values (EBV) generated from the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP). The UW-Madison flock contains sires that are EBV trait leaders in both the Polypay and Hampshire breeds. 4. The UW-Madison Arlington flock has utilized research results from the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) to demonstrate that the incidence of OPP can be reduced in a flock through testing and separation of positive and negative animals. The incidence of OPP in the UW-Madison flock has gone from 46% in 2011 to less than 1% in 2016. This has been accomplished without the artificial rearing of lambs, which was thought to be the primary method for eliminating OPP prior to the research results from USMARC. The elimination of the artificial rearing of lambs in an OPP eradication program results in significant labor and cost savings.
Utah Agricultural Experiment Station 1. The transformative new system proposed to finish animals - grazing a diversity of legumes containing bioactive compounds - will eliminate grain feeding and reduce environmental impacts relative to feed yards while maintaining beef production levels, enhancing profitability for producers and the quality of the product for consumers. 2. A better understanding of the net benefit of self-selection of bioactive-containing plants by livestock in complex feeding environments will allow for the development of innovative managing strategies aimed at providing the food alternatives and conditions for improving the nutrition, health and welfare of grazing animals. Virginia State University Landrace hair sheep breeds are well adapted to cope with marginal production conditions and gastrointestinal parasitism, but output is limited. We explored the use of a terminal sire breed to improve lamb growth rate on pasture with these breeds. Results showed that faster growth rates of crossbred compared to purebred lambs were achieved only when grazing was supplemented with agro-byproducts, and gastrointestinal parasitism was more prevalent when crossbred lambs were not supplemented. Producers adopting crossbreeding in land race hair sheep need to be adapt their production system to maximize the impact.

Publications

Publications (Journal Articles, Abstracts, Book Chapters, Extension, Outreach)

Dale Bumper Small Farms Research Center, USDA, ARS, Booneville, Arkansas

Journal Articles

Lay, C.T., Burke, J.M., Paulsen, D.B., Chowdhury, S.I., 2015. A triple gene mutant of BoHV-1 administered intranasally in lambs replicates efficiently in the nasal epithelium and induces neutralizing antibody. Int. J. Vacc. Immuniz. 2.1, 1-4.

Acharya, M. Burke, J.M., Coffey, K.P., Kegley, E.B., Miller, J.E., Smyth, E., Welborn, M.G., Terrill, T.H., Mosjidis, J.A., Rosenkrans, C. Jr., 2016. Changes in concentrations of trace minerals in lambs fed sericea lespedeza leaf meal pellets with or without dietary sodium molybdate. J. Anim. Sci. 94, 1592-1599.

Riley, D.G., Burke, J.M., Chase, C.C., Jr., Coleman, S.W., 2016. Heterosis and direct effects for Charolais-sired calf weight and growth, cow weight and weight changes, and ratios of cow and calf weights and weight changes across warm season lactation in Romosinuano, Angus, and F₁ cows in Arkansas. J. Anim. Sci. 94, 1-12.

Burke, J.M., Miller, J.E., Terrill, T.H., Smyth, E., Acharya, M., 2016. Examination of commercially available copper oxide wire particles in combination with albendazole for control of gastrointestinal nematodes in lambs. Vet. Parasitol. 215, 1-4.

Matthews, K.K., O’Brien, D.J., Whitley, N.C., Burke, J.M., Miller, J.E., Barczewski, R.A., 2016. Investigation of possible pumpkin seeds and ginger effects on gastrointestinal nematode infection indicators in meat goat kids and lambs. Small Rum. Res. 136, 1-6.

Riley, D.G., Burke, J.M.,Chase, C.C., Jr., Coleman, S.W., 2015. Genetic effects for reproductive performance of straightbred and crossbred Romosinuano and Angus cows in a temperate zone. Livest. Sci. 180, 22-26.

Abstracts

Muir, J.P., T.H. Terrill, J.A. Mosjidis, J.-M. Luginbuhl, J.E. Miller, J.M. Burke., 2016. Harvest regimens to maximize sericea lespedeza crude protein and condensed tannins. Proc. 70^th Southern Past. For. Crop Impr. Conf., 17 (Abstr.).

Wright, S., Arsi, K., Donoghue, A.M., Hale, M., Spencer, T., O’Gorman, M., Goodwin, H.L., Jose, S., Fanatico, A.C., Gekara, O.J., Burke, J.M., Pote, D.H., 2016. Armed to farm: Soldiering the success of military veterans in new poultry, livestock and agroforestry enterprises. Small Farms Conf. 2016.

Miller, J.E., Kelly, V., Burke, J.M., 2016. In vitro efficacy of three novel compounds on development and survival of gastrointestinal nematode larvae in feces of sheep. J. Anim. Sci. 94 (E-Suppl. 2), (Abstr.).

Acharya, M., Burke, J.M., Smyth, E., Ngere, L., Rorie, R.W., 2016. Serum anti-mullerian hormone as an indicator of fertility in Katahdin ewes. J. Anim. Sci. 94 (E-Suppl. 2), xx (Abstr.).

Acharya, M., Burke, J.M., Smyth, E., Davis, A., Lester, T.D., Rorie, R.W., 2016. Effect of semen extender and storage temperature on ram sperm motility over time. J. Anim. Sci. 94 (E-Suppl. 1), 53 (Abstr.).

Spangler, G.L., Burke, J.M., Notter, D., Morgan, J., Rosen, B.D., Sonstegard, T.S., Van Tassell, C.P., 2015. Structural analysis of the Katahdin sheep genome. BARC Poster Day.

Cornell University

Posbergh, C. J. 2015. Genotypes of Cornell Dorset and Dorset Crosses Compared with Romneys for Melatonin Receptor 1a. Cornell University Undergraduate Research Honors Thesis.

Stanton, tatiana L. “Dealing with Frostbite on Newborn Lambs and Kids.” Country Folks Magazine, Sheep & Goat Issue, 10 August 2015. Print, online 21 October 2015 at eXtension at http://articles.extension.org/pages/73207/dealing-with-frostbite-of-newborn-lambs-and-kids

Stanton, tatiana L. “Tis the Season for Deer Worm.” Country Folks Magazine, Sheep & Goat Issue, 09 November 2015. Print, online at http://www.scribd.com/doc/289637806/Tis-the-Season-for-Deer-Worm

University of Kentucky

Factsheets

Aaron, Debra K. and Donald G. Ely. 2015. ASC-219: An Introduction to Sheep, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Lexington.

Aaron, Debra. K. 2015. ASC-220. Basic Sheep Genetics. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Lexington.

Aaron, Debra K. 2015. ASC-221: Keeping and Using Flock Performance Records. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Lexington.

Aaron, Debra K. 2015. Sheep Breeding: Heritability, EBVs, EPDs, and NSIP. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Lexington.

Aaron, Debra K. 2015. ASC-223: Inbreeding in Sheep. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Lexington.

Aaron, Debra K. 2015. ASC-224. Crossbreeding Considerations in Sheep. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Lexington.

Ely, Donald G. and Endre Fink. 2015. ASC-214: Is Creep Feeding Lambs a Profitable Undertaking. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Lexington.

Outreach

Aaron, Debra K. 2015. Genetically Speaking: The Sheep’s Role in History (Part 1). Hoofprint 21:18-20.

Aaron, Debra K. 2015. Genetically Speaking: The Sheep’s Role in History (Part 2). Hoofprint 22:18-20.

Ely, Donald G. 2015. News To Ewes: Alternative Forage Crops. Hoofprint 20:20-23.

Ely, Donald G. 2015. News To Ewes: Nutritional Architecture of the Sheep. Hoofprint 21:22-25.

Ely, Donald G. 2015. News To Ewes: What is This Stuff We Call Energy. Hoofprint 22:22-25

Ely, Donald G. and Debra K. Aaron. 2016. Genetically Speaking…News to Ewes: Stomach Worm x Breed x Management Interactions. Hoofprint 23:18-25.

Louisiana State University

Journal Articles

Kommuru, D.S., Whitley, N.C., Miller, J.E., Mosjidis, J.A., Burke, J.M., Gujja, S., Mechineni, A., Terrill, T.H., 2015. Effect of sericea lespedeza leaf meal pellets on adult female Haemonchus contortus in goats. Vet Parasitol 207, 170-175.

Acharya, M., Burke, J.M., Coffey, K.P., Kegley, E.B., Miller, J.E., Huff, G.R., Smyth, E., Terrill, T.H., Mosjidis, J.A., Rosenkrans, C., 2015. Changes in hematology, serum biochemistry, and gastrointestinal nematode infection in lambs fed sericea lespedeza with or without dietary sodium molybdate. J Anim Sci 93, 1952-1961.

Khan, S., Afshan, K., Mirza, B., Miller, J.E., Manan, A., Irum, S., Rizvi, S.S.R., Qayyum, M., 2015. Anthelmintic properties of extracts from Artemisia plants against nematodes. Trop Biomedicine 32, 257–268.

Min, B.R., Wilson, E.A., Solaiman, S., Miller, J., 2015. Effects of condensed tannin-rich pine bark diet on experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus in meat goats. Int J Vet Health Sci Res. 3, 49-57.

Book Chapters

Miller, J.E., 2015. Internal and external parasites. In: T.A. Gipson, R.C. Merkel, K. Williams, T. Sahlu (Eds.), Meat Goat Production Hand Book, The (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University, Langston, OK: 105-122.

Proceedings/Abstracts

Hamilton, T., Terrill, T.H., Kommuru, D.S., Rivers, A., Mosjidis, J.A., Miller, J.E., Burke, J.M., 2015. Effect of supplemental sericea lespedeza leaf meal pellets on health and productivity of grazing goats. Proc USDA SCC-81, 10-11.

Acharya, M., Burke, J.M., Miller. J.E., Terrill, T.H., Smyth, E., Coffey, K., Rosenkrans, C., 2015. Changes in GIN infection measures and heat stress in lambs fed sericea lespedeza (SL) with or without sodium molybdate. Proc USDA SCC-81, 12-14.

Miller, J.E., Burke, J.M., Terrill, T.H., 2015. Potential new dewormer methods. Proc What Works With Worms Congress (Pretoria, South Africa), CD.

Whitley, N.C., Miller, J.E., 2015. Does diatomaceous earth have a role in worm control? Proc What Works With Worms Congress (Pretoria, South Africa), CD.

Smyth, E., Burke, J.M., Acharya, M., Miller, J.E., Coffey, K.P. 2015. Grass finishing systems for lambs born in fall and winter. Ann Meeting Amer Soc Anim Sci Southern Section, 9.

Hamilton, T.N., Terrill, T.H., Kommuru, D.S., Rivers, A., Mosjidia, J.A., Miller, J.E., Burke, J.M., 2015. Effect of supplemental sericea lespedeza leaf meal pellets on health and productivity of grazing goats. Ann Meeting Amer Soc Anim Sci Southern Section, 10.

Burke, J.M., Acharya, M., Miller, J.E., Terrill, T.H., Smyth, E., Huff, G.R., Kegley, E.B., Coffey, K.P., Rosenkrans, C.F., 2015. Influence of sericea lespedeza on relationships between gastrointestinal nematode infection and hematology, serum biochemistry, and trace minerals in lambs. Ann Meeting Amer Soc Anim Sci Southern Section, 44.

Burke, J.M., Miller, J.E., Terrill, T.H., Smyth, E., Acharya, M., 2015. Efficacy of copper oxide wire particles from three sources to control Haemonchus contortus in lambs. Ann Meeting Amer Soc Anim Sci Southern Section, 46.

University of Rhode Island

Abstracts

Barone, C., Zajac, A., Reed, J., Krueger, C., Petersson, K. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of Haemonchus contortus exposed to cranberry vine in vivo. AAVP 2016 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, August 5-9, 2016.

Barone, C., Ferguson, S., Zajac, A., Brown, R., Reed, J., Krueger, C., Petersson, K. In vitro screening of anthelmintic efficacy of commercial varieties and cultivars of birdsfoot trefoil against Haemonchus contortus. 2016 Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) (ASAS-ADSA-CSAS-WSASAS) in Salt Lake City, Utah, July 19-23, 2016.

Videos

Why and How To Practice Integrated Parasite Control For Sheep and Goats. This video was produced with funding from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project 1007290. This is contribution #5435 of the College of the Environment and Life Sciences, University of Rhode Island. February 2016. This video is part of an online series of videos developed for the purpose of providing small ruminant producers with an online option for FAMACHA© certification as part of NESARE grant LNE15-342.

South Dakota State University

Refereed Publications

Redding, P.L., J. E. Held, C.L. Wright and J.A. Clapper. 2014. Effect of fat source on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing lambs. Sheep and Goat Journal Vol.29:45-50.

Crane, A.R., R.R. Redden, M.S. Crouse, J.D. Kirsch, J.E. Held, and C.S. Schauer. 2015. Influence of dried distiller’s grains with soluble on ram lamb growth and reproductive traits. Proceedings of the ASAS Western Section Vol.66.

Non-Refereed Publications

Held, J.E., A. Kolthoff, J. Reiners and D. Brake. 2015. Effect of corn stover on lamb growth performance and dry matter intake during the finishing period. Proceedings of the 2015 NCERA-214 coordinating committee.

Presentations

Held, J.E.^*, A. Kolthoff, J. Reiners and D. Brake. 2015. Effect of corn stover on lamb growth performance and dry matter intake during the finishing period. Proceedings of the 2015 NCERA-214 coordinating committee.

Held, J.E. 2015. 2015 South Dakota Master Lamb Producers Awards Program Highlights. SDSGA Annual Convention September 26, 2015. Rapid City, SD

Held, J.E. 2015. SDSU Research Program Summary. SDSGA Annual Convention September 26, 2015. Rapid City, SD

Held, J.E. 2015. Impact of veterinary feed directive (VFD) on the sheep industry. 2015. Center of the Nation NSIP Sheep Sale Education Program-Spencer, IA

Held, J.E. 2015. Factors that influence lamb growth efficiency. 2015. Center of the Nation NSIP Sheep Sale Education Program-Spencer, IA

Popular Press Publication

Held, J.E. 2015. Shear Courage. Farm Journal Business Section – June 2015. National scope.

Texas A&M AgriLife Research

Journal Article

Waldron, D.F., W.J. Thompson, and R.J. Hogan. 2015. Factors affecting lamb prices in San Angelo, Texas. Sheep & Goat Res. J. (accepted)

Theses

Ebert, M. 2015. Comparison of Texas Rambouillet sheep with Merino F1 crosses and their wool as it undergoes manufacturing within the United States apparel industry. M.S. Angelo State Univ.

Smartt, J. 2015. Anti-Mullerian hormone: Potential association with fertility in ewes. M.S. Angelo State Univ.

Texas A&M AgriLife Research Publications

Waldron, D.F. 2016 Improvement of sheep through selection of performance-tested and progeny-tested breeding animals. Texas A&M AgriLife Res. San Angelo. Rep. 2016-1. (http://sanangelo.tamu.edu/performance-tests/ram-performance-test/)

Waldron, D.F. 2016. Sire summary of ram test performance (1995 – 2016). Texas A&M AgriLife Res. San Angelo. Rep. 2016-2. (http://sanangelo.tamu.edu/performance-tests/ram-performance-test/)

Utah State University

Villalba, J.J., Spackman^†, C., Goff, B., Klotz, J.L., Griggs, T., and MacAdam, J.W. 2016. Interaction between a tannin-containing legume and endophyte-infected tall fescue seed on lambs’ feeding behavior and physiology. Journal of Animal Science. 94: 845-857.

Lagrange, S.P. and Villalba, J.J. 2016. Influence of forage diversity on feeding behavior and diet digestibility in lambs. The American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS), 2016 Joint Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, Utah. July 19-23, 2016.

Villalba, J.J., Costes-Thiré, M., and Ginane, C. 2016. Phytochemicals in animal health; diet selection and trade-offs between costs and benefits. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. In Press.

Reeve, J., Hoagland, L., Villalba, J.J., Carr, P., Atucha, A., Cambardella, C., Davis, D., Delate, K. 2016. Organic farming, soil health and food quality: considering possible linkages. Advances in Agronomy. In Press.

MacAdam, J.W. and Villalba, J.J. 2015. Beneficial effects of temperate forage legumes that contain condensed tannins. Agriculture. 20:475-91.

Villalba, J.J., Provenza, F.D., Catanese, F., and Distel, R.A. 2015. Understanding and manipulating diet choice in grazing animals. Animal Production Science. 55:261-271.

Villalba, J.J., Costes-Thiré, M., and Ginane, C. 2016. Phytochemicals in animal health; diet selection and trade-offs between costs and benefits. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. In Press.

Costes-Thiré, M., Villalba, J.J. and Ginane, C. 2016. Increased intake of tannin-rich sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) pellets by parasitized and non-parasitized sheep after a period of conditioning. The American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS), 2016 Joint Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, Utah. July 19-23, 2016.

Virginia State University

Journal Article

K. Matthews, D. J. O’Brien, N. C. Whitley, J. M. Burke, J. E. Miller, and R. A. Barczewski. 2015. Investigation of possible pumpkin seeds and ginger effects on gastrointestinal nematode infection indicators in meat goat kids and lambs. Accepted to Small Ruminant Research 136 (2016) 1–6.

Abstracts

Schoenian, J. Semler, D. Gordon, M. B. Bennett, and D. O’Brien. 2015. Health, performance, and carcass characteristics of pen-fed vs. pasture-raised meat goats. American Society of Animal Science Southern Section. J. Anim. Sci. Vol 93, Suppl. S3: 101.

Lemma, B., Lee, J. H., Wildeus, S., Kaanan G. Kouakou, B. 2015. Chemical composition and quality of fresh lamb from rationally grazed hair and wool x hair sheep lambs as influenced by soy hull supplementation. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 93, Suppl. s3:168

Lemma, B., Lee, J. H., Wildeus, S., Kouakou, B., Kaanan G. 2015. Fatty acid composition of different fat depots from hair and wool x hair sheep supplemented with soy hull on pasture. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 93, Suppl. s3:791

Wildeus, S. O’Brien, D. 2016. Effect of sire breed on pregnancy rate in landrace hair sheep during summer mating. Proc. Ann. Meet. South. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci., p.54.

O’Brien, D., Wildeus S., Nartea, T. J., Lee, J. 2016. The influence of breed and supplementation on consumer ratings of meat quality attributes of pasture-raised lambs. Proc. Ann. Meet. South. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci., p. 52.

Wildeus, S. Lee, J., Teutsch, C.D., Nartea, T.J. 2016. Use of agro-by-products to supplement hair and wool x hair crossbred lambs grazing fescue pasture: Growth and gastrointestinal parasites. Proc. Ann. Meet. South. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci., p. 50.

Tripp, C., Lee, J., Wildeus, S., Lemma, B.B. (2016) Use of agro-by-products to supplement hair and wool x hair crossbred lambs grazing fescue pasture: Carcass characteristics. Proc. Ann. Meet. South. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci., p. 50

West Virginia University

Articles

Holt, R.M., E.A. Shepherd, A.G. Ammer, S.A. Bowdridge. 2015. Effects of peripheral blood mononuclear cells on Haemonchus concortus larval motility in vitro. Parasit. Immunol. 37:553-556.

Jacobs, J.R., S.P. Greiner, S.A. Bowdridge. 2015. Serum interleukin-4 (IL-4) production is associated with lower fecal egg count in parasite-resistant sheep. Vet. Parasitol. 211:102-105

Bowdridge, S.A., A.M. Zajac, D.R. Notter. 2015. St. Croix sheep produce a rapid and greater cellular immune response contributing to reduced establishment of Haemonchus contortus. Vet. Parasitol. 208:204-210.

MacKinnon, K.M., S.A. Bowdridge, I. Kanevsky-Mullarky, A.M. Zajac, D.R. Notter. 2015. Gene expression profiles of hair and wool sheep reveal importance of IL-13 and other Th2 immune mechanisms for increased resistance to Haemonchus contortus. J. Anim. Sci. 93:2074-2082.

Jacobs, J.R. K.N. Sommers, A.M. Zajac, D.R. Notter, S.A. Bowdridge. 2016. Early IL-4 gene expression in abomasum is associated with resistance to Haemonchus contortus in hair and wool sheep breeds. Parasit. Immunol. DOI: 10.1111/pim.12320

Knights, M., D. Singh-Knights (2015). Lifetime Productivity of the Ewe Flock Starts With the Ewe Lamb. The West Virginia Small Farm Advocate, Summer 2015 Edition, pg. 16 & 17

Knights, M., Redhead, A.K., D’Souza, K.N.D., S.L., and Baptiste, Q. (2015). Effect of stimulation with a gonadotropin mixture on reproductive outcome in nulliparous ewes bred during seasonal anestrus and early breeding season. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 159: 198-204.

Rastle-Simpson, S.L., D’Souza, K.N.D., Singh-Knights, D., Baptiste, Q., and Knights, M. (2015). Effect of system of lamb rearing and season on early postpartum fertility of ewes and growth performance of lambs in Katahdin sheep. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition (Accepted manuscript ID is JAPAN-Sep-15-530.)

Knights, M., and Singh-Knights, D. (2015). Use of Controlled Internal Drug Releasing (CIDR) Devices to Control Reproduction in Goats: A Review: Animal Science Journal (In Review manuscript ID is ASJ-2015-0508).

L. Deacon, M.L., Knights, M. and Inskeep, E. K. (2015). Effects of photoperiodic manipulation on growth rate and ability to breed fall-born ewe lambs in spring. Sheep and Goat Research Journal 30: 30-35.

Conference Proceedings

Garza, J., S.A. Bowdridge. 2015. Texel crossbred lambs show increased resistance Haemonchus contortus. 60^th Annual Meeting AAVP, Boston, MA.

Jacobs, J.R., S.A. Bowdridge. 2015. Peripheral immune cells of St. Croix sheep rapidly produce IL-4 in response to Haemonchus contortus antigen in vitro. 60^th Annual Meeting AAVP, Boston, MA.

Shepherd, E., J. Garza, S.A. Bowdridge. 2015. Quantification of Haemonchus contortus larval death after culture with host immune cells by measuring larval ATP. 60^th Annual Meeting AAVP, Boston, MA.

Crawford, C., D.J. Mata-Padrino, D.P. Belesky, E.E. Felton, S.A. Bowdridge. 2015. Effects of protein supplementation on parasitism in grazing lambs. ASAS Southern Section Meeting, Atlanta, GA.

Paul, C.D., Greenleaf, E.N., Redhead A.K. and Knights, M. (2015). Effect of timing of PGF2α administration in a short term progesterone-based estrous synchronization protocol on fertility in ewes. Joint Annual Meeting of the ADSA/ASAS Orlando, FL, USA, July 12-16, 2015. J. Anim. Sci. 93: (Suppl. 3):495

Greenleaf, E.N., Paul, C.D., Adebiyi, A.E., Powell, K.J., Redhead A.K. and Knights, M. (2015). Effect of weaning rapid rebreeding in Katahdin ewes. Joint Annual Meeting of the ADSA/ASAS Orlando, FL, USA, July 12-16, 2015. J. Anim. Sci. 93: (Suppl. 3):495

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Journal Articles

Murphy, T. W., D. L. Thomas, and T. L. Montgomery. 2016. Linear and nonlinear mixed model analyses of growth performance of commercial U.S. dairy buck kids. Small Ruminant Res. 136:151-155.

Contributed Papers

Ferreira, V.C, G.J.M. Rosa, Y.M. Berger, and D.L. Thomas. 2015. Effects of breed and hybrid vigor on lamb survival. Proc. 63^rd Annual Spooner Sheep Day, Dept. Animal Sci., Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison. pp. 23-25.

Ferreira, V. C., G. J. M. Rosa, Y. M. Berger, D. L. Thomas. 2015. Effects of breed and hybrid vigor on lamb survival. Proc. 21^st Dairy Sheep Association of North America Symp., Madison, Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dept. of Animal Sciences. pp. 86-88.

Ferreira, V.C, D.L. Thomas, B.D. Valente, and G.J.M. Rosa. 2015. Number of lambs born and milk production. Proc. 63^rd Annual Spooner Sheep Day, Dept. Animal Sci., Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison. pp. 55-57.

Murphy, T. W. 2015. Estimated breeding values do predict future performance. Proc. 63^rd Annual Spooner Sheep Day, Dept. Animal Sci., Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison. pp. 3-8.

Murphy, T. W. 2015. Estimated breeding values do predict future performance. Proc. 21^st Dairy Sheep Association of North America Symp., Madison, Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dept. of Animal Sciences. pp. 80-85.

Murphy, T. W. 2015. Organizing breeding groups: An approach to maximize whole-flock genetic gain while controlling for inbreeding. Proc. 63^rd Annual Spooner Sheep Day, Dept. Animal Sci., Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison. pp. 46-51.

Murphy, T. W. 2015. The effect of late gestation ambient environmental temperature on subsequent litter birth weight in twin-bearing dairy ewes. Proc. 63^rd Annual Spooner Sheep Day, Dept. Animal Sci., Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison. pp. 52-54.

Petzel, E. A., T. W. Murphy, R. L. Burgett, and P. W. Holman. 2015. The effect of sodium bicarbonate supplementation on dairy ewe performance. Proc. 63^rd Annual Spooner Sheep Day, Dept. Animal Sci., Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison. pp. 32-35.

Petzel, E. A., T. W. Murphy, R. L. Burgett, and P. W. Holman. 2015. Does feeding hay after milking increase milk yield in pastured dairy ewes? Proc. 63^rd Annual Spooner Sheep Day, Dept. Animal Sci., Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison. pp. 36-39.

Thomas, D. L. and T. W. Murphy. 2015. Strategic use of terminal meat sires to improve flock production. Proc. 63^rd Annual Spooner Sheep Day, Dept. Animal Sci., Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison. pp. 9-14.

Book Chapters

Thomas, D.L. 2016. Dairy Sheep. In: Dairy Production & Processing: The Science of Milk and Milk Products, J. R. Campbell and R. T. Marshall (Eds.). Waveland Press, Inc., Long Grove, Illinois. pp. 247-262.

Thomas, D. L. 2016. Breeding and Selection. In: SID Sheep Production Handbook. Vol. 8. American Sheep Industry Association, Inc., Centennial, CO. Revised and edited the chapter. (In Press).

Thomas, D. L. 2016. Production of Sheep Milk. In: Handbook of Milk of Non-Bovine Mammals (second edition), W. L. Wendorff, Y. W. Park and G. F. W. Haenlein (Eds.). Wiley, Oxford, U.K. (Submitted)

Extension/Outreach

Thomas, D. L. 2015. Reducing the incidence of ovine progressive pneumonia in a Midwestern flock. The Shepherd 60(7):16.

Thomas, D. L. 2015. Reducing the incidence of ovine progressive pneumonia in a Midwestern flock. The Wisconsin Shepherd. Spring 2015. p. 16.

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