Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Monday June 10^th: Christian Posbergh chaired the meeting, Brady Campbell was co-chair, and Whit Stewart was secretary (absent). Rosie Busch opened the meeting by welcoming the attendees to UC-Davis and described the timeline for both days regarding tours and station reports. Dr. Guillermo Scaglia gave a brief overview of multistate project requirements before stations reports were made by participants. A tour of sheep grazing sites at Fetzer Winery and of the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center occurred in the afternoon.

Tuesday June 11^th: Station reports continued by participants until the business meeting was called to order. A discussion occurred about reverting the group back to a NCERA vs a NC. Of the participants present the consensus was to change to a NCERA at the next renewal to allow greater participation to those involved with sheep production without a formal research appointment. Discussion also focused on recruiting new members and encouraging those who are not formal members to join. No nominations for secretary were put forward by the nominations committee. Follow up on nominations and meeting location for next year meeting will occur via email after the meeting. Business meeting adjourned and a tour of the Kaos Sheep Outfit and of their grazing sites on public ground occurred in the afternoon.   

Short-term Outcomes:

Collaborative research among member locations as described in this report all contribute to the group goal's of increasing sheep production efficiency through the four objectives 1) reproductive efficiency, 2) meat yield and quality, 3) genetics, nutrition, production systems and 4) profitable and sustainable grazing systems. Together the information this group produces will lead to U.S. sheep producers seeing increased efficiencies in each of these areas once information is disseminated to them.

Outputs & Activities:

For objective 1, the outputs in 2024 are greater understanding to the scientific community of the potential for novel compounds to regulate reproduction and factors impacting reproductive performance of hair sheep in intensive forage-based production systems. Additionally, several multi-institutional experiments have been initiated focused on quantifying genetic and non-genetic factors associated with ewe and ram reproductive performance. There were also 4 extension programs provided to regional and national audiences on improving reproductive management of sheep. In addition, there were 3 extension publications and 6 scientific publications produced by this group on the topic of understanding and improving reproductive management of sheep.

For objective 2, there were several collaborative efforts within this group aimed at improving lamb growth, meat, and carcass quality. These efforts yielded information on the potential of cover crop grazing systems to finish lambs, relationships among lamb growth and feed efficiency metrics, maintaining lamb meat quality through packaging, the impact and feasibility of methods of managing ram lambs to improve growth and carcass quality, and the interface between lamb health and post-weaning growth. Additional collaborative efforts amongst participating institutions have focused on collecting in-depth lamb carcass characteristics to aid in the development of new genetic tools aimed at improving lamb quality. These findings reached producer audiences through 3 regional extension programs and 7 scientific publications produced by this group on the topic of understanding and improvement lamb growth and carcass characteristics.

For objective 3, there are several collaborative projects underway which seek to understand genetic and non-genetic factors associated with flock productivity and health. The successful multi-institutional USDA NIFA grant (USDA ARS, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Purdue University, and the National Sheep Improvement Program; $650,000) that is incorporating genomic information into predictors of genetic merit and evaluate novel traits for their suitability in the National Sheep Improvement Program is ongoing with additional support from other members in this group providing production data. There was a strong effort by members of this group to communicate findings related to this objective to the scientific community resulting in 16 publications. In addition, outreach efforts in the form of 8 extension/outreach programs and 5 popular press articles. Group members have also disseminated findings in this objective via consultation with many producers individually and via consultation with feed companies and involvement with the National Sheep Improvement Program. Additional efforts within this objective that will create large impacts in the future of this project are the continued support for national genetic reference flocks at USDA and university ag experiment stations to provide strong genetic connectedness with industry flocks which will allow establishment of indices of genetic merit for additional traits of economic importance. Efforts to quantify these impacts will remain an ongoing effort.

For objective 4, several efforts have been initiated including a project to evaluate the environmental footprint of US lamb production, two projects evaluating novel methods to control gastrointestinal nematodes and another to understand the influence of season of birth on gastrointestinal nematode infection in lambs resulting in 4 scientific publications, 1 national podcast appearance, and 2 popular press articles published in the time period covered. Additional efforts of impact include increasing the accuracy of fecal egg count breeding values within the National Sheep Improvement Program via genotyping of reference populations and assisting members with analyses needed to obtain measures of genetic merit for parasite resistance.

Milestones: Project milestones are on target to complete project objectives by the end of the project.

Peer-reviewed publications & meeting abstracts:

Ehrhardt RA, Giesy SL, Hileman SM, Houseknecht KL, Boisclair YR. Effects of the central melanocortin system on feed intake, metabolic hormones and insulin action in the sheep. J Anim Sci. 2023 Jan 3;101:skad398. doi: 10.1093/jas/skad398. PMID: 38035762; PMCID: PMC10734672.

Recktenwald, E.B. and R.E. Ehrhardt. 2024.  Greenhouse gas emissions from a diversity of sheep production systems in the United States. Agricultural Systems 217:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2024.103915

Vergara Hernandez, F.B., B.D. Nielsen, J.M. Popovich, C.L. Panek, A.A. Logan, C.E. Robison, R.A. Ehrhardt, T.N. Johnson, N.J. Chargo, T.H. Welsh, A.M. Bradberry, J.L. Leatherwood and A.C. Colbath. 2024. Clodronate disodium does not produce measurable effects on bone metabolism in an exercising, juvenile, large animal model. PLOS One April 16, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0300360

Rosales-Nieto^, C., A. N. Thompson, J. M. Vázquez-Garcí¹, R.A. Sánchez-López, M.J. Flores-Najera, V. Cuevas-Reye⁴, R. Ehrhardt⁵, A. Veiga-Lopez, G.B. Martin. 2024. Utilising male stimulus to improve the reproductive efficiency of 8-month nulliparous ewes and adult parous ewes.  Theriogenology 217:143-150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.01.023

Ehrhardt, R.A. and B. Makela. Precision feeding of prolific sheep in highly productive management systems.  Small Ruminant Symposium, American Society of Animal Science, Albuquerque, NM, July 2023.

Manuel E.E., Bradbery A.N., McCoski S.R., Marques R.S., Roeder B.L., Posbergh C.J.* 2024. Variation in wool cortisol, progesterone, and testosterone in Targhee ewes across physiological states and varying production levels. Sheep & Goat Research Journal 39, 7-11.

Shaub D., Maninger S., Roeder B.L., Posbergh C.J.* 2023. Technical Note: The Impact of Temperature and Humidity on United States Fine-Wool Fiber Diameter Measurements. Sheep & Goat Research Journal 38, 11-15.

Posbergh, C.*; Roeder, B.; Murphy, T.; Stewart, W.; Kott, R.; Hatfield, P.; Thomas, V.; Drummond, J. 2023. Ewe and lamb body condition, breeding and production data from the Montana Agricultural Experiment station, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT from 1960 - 2012. Ag Data Commons. doi:10.15482/USDA.ADC/1528462

DelCurto, T. *, S. A. Wyffels, M. Vavra, M. J. Wisdom, and C. J. Posbergh. 2023. Western Rangeland Livestock Production Systems and Grazing Management. In: L. B. McNew, D. K. Dahlgren and J. L. Beck, editors, Rangeland Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Springer International Publishing, Cham. p. 75-106. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34037-6_4

Bochantin-Winders, K., F. Baumgaertner, J. Hurlbert, A.C.B. Menezes, J.D. Kirsch, S. Dorsam, C.S. Schauer, and C.R. Dahlen.  Divergent planes of nutrition in mature rams inflences body composition, hormone and metabolite concentrations, and offspring birth measurements, but not semen characteristics or offspring growth.  J. Anim. Sci.  (SUBMITTED).

Perez Segura LF, Ramirez RF, Relling AE, Roque-Jimenez JA, Zhang N, Vargas-Bello-Pérez E, Lee-Rangel HA. 2023. Effects of maternal calcium propionate supplementation on offspring productivity and meat metabolomic profile in sheep. PLoS One. 18:e0294627.       doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294627

Rivera-Bautista C, Grajales-Lagunes A, Relling A, Chay-Canul A, Vazquez-Valladolid A, Vargas-Bello-Pérez E, Lee-Rangel HA. 2023. Effect of age and diet on carcass and meat quality in ewes. Heliyon. 9:e22350. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22350.

Carranza Martin, A. C., A. Garcia Guerra, and A. E. Relling. 2023. Effects of polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on plasma and follicular fluid resolvin D1 concentration and mRNA abundance in granulosa cells in ewes. J. Anim. Sciences. doi:10.1093/jas/skad310

De Carlis, M. S. P, J. S. Biava, T. U. Sturion A. S. A. Lais, N. R.  Eckermann, P. D.  Montanher, P. C. Gonzales Dias Junior, A. C. Silva Vicente, J. H. Comelli, R S. Goulart, A. E.  Relling, A. V. Pires, and E. M. Ferreira, 2023. Effect of different levels of physically effective neutral detergent fibre from forage in whole corn grain-based diets for feedlot lambs. Animal Production Science. doi: 10.1071/AN22394.

Roque-Jiménez J. A.,  M. F. Oviedo-Ojeda, M. Whalin, H. A. Lee-Rangel, and A. E. Relling. 2023.  Ewe early gestation supplementation with eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids affects the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue fatty acid profile and liver mRNA expression in the offspring, Journal of Animal Science, 101:skad144, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad144

Acharya, R.S., Leslie, T., Burke, J.M., Naithani, K., Fitting, E., Loftin, K., Joshi, N., 2024. Sheep grazing influences the abundance, diversity, and community composition of wild bees and other insects in livestock pastures. Ecol. Indicat. 162, 111839.

Acharya, R.S., Burke, J.M., Joshi, N., 2024. Assessing pollinator-seed mix plantings for the presence of undesirable plant species in the livestock pasture system. J. Entomol. Sci. (In Press).

Nilson, S.M., Burke, J.M., Murdoch, B.M., Morgan, J.L.M., Lewis, R.M., 2024. Pedigree diversity and implications for genomic selection of Katahdin sheep. J. Anim. Breed. Gen. 00, 1-13  https://doi.org/10.1111/jbg.12842.

Arisman, B.C., Burke, J.M., Morgan, J.L.M., Lewis, R.M., 2023. Genotype by environment interaction and heteroscedasticity influence the expression of parasite resistance in Katahdin sheep. J. Anim. Sci. skad228, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad228

Preston, E., Williams, C., Burke, J., Delcambre, B., Scully, C., Vatta, A., 2024. Effectiveness of the nematophagous fungus, Duddingtonia flagrans, in consuming infective stage larvae following aging of the spores in sheep mineral mix. AAVP (abstr.).

Avery, R., Urie, N., Branan, M., Burke, J.M., Miller, J.E., 2024. United States Department of Agriculture National Animal Health Monitoring System Goat 2019 study: Regional distribution of gastrointestinal nematodes and lungworms in the United States. (abstr. ASAS, Calgary, CA).

Pinto, L.F.B., Lewis, R.M., Rocha, A.O., Nilson, S.M., Murphy, T.W., Wilson, C.S., Freking, B.A., Burke, J.M., Brito, L.F., 2024. Survival analyses of the productive life in U.S. Katahdin ewes. (abstr. ASAS, Calgary, CA).

Pinto, L.F.B., Lewis, R.M., Rocha, A.O., Nilson, S.M., Murphy, T.W., Wilson, C.S., Freking, B.A., Burke, J.M., Brito, L.F., 2024. Heritability estimates for longevity-related traits in U.S. Katahdin ewes. (abstr. ASAS, Calgary, CA).

Burke, J.M., Lewis, R.M., Murphy, T.W., Freking, B.A., 2024. Use of genetics to estimate resistance of gastrointestinal nematode infection in sheep. The 9^th Novel Approaches Conference, St. George’s University, Granada, West Indies. March 2024.

Forbes, R.M., Murphy, T.W., Burke, J.M., Lewis, R.M., 2024. Adding parasite resistance to the breeding objective in hair sheep. (abstr. Midwest Sec. ASAS).

Nilson, S.M., Burke, J.M., Becker, G.M., Murdoch, B.M., Petersen, J.L., Lewis, R.M., 2024. Genomic and pedigree diversity of Katahdin sheep: The impacts of breeding and selection. (abstr. Int. Plant Anim Gen.; accepted 11/27/23).

Nilson, S.M., Burke, J.M., Becker, G.M., Murdoch, B.M., Petersen, J.L., Lewis, R.M., 2024. Genomic diversity of Katahdin sheep and impacts on genomic prediction. (abstr. Midwest Sec. ASAS).

Avery, R., Urie, N., Branan, M., Burke, J.M., Miller, J.E., 2024. 2019 USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System Goat 2019 study: Distribution of gastrointestinal nematodes. J. Anim. Sci. 102 (Suppl. 1), 89 (abstr.).

Burke, J.M., Wood, E., Lee, C., Carpenter, A., Kojima, N., Fagre, A., Calvert, A., Thrasher, E., Martin, S., Staples, J.E., Gould, C., Rothfeldt, L., Dulski, T., 2024. Impact of Cache Valley Virus in an Arkansas sheep flock. J. Anim. Sci. 102 (Suppl. 1), 90-91 (abstr.).

Burke, J.M., Rohila, S., Petersson, K., Kass, E. Vatta, A.F., Miller, J.E., 2024. Determining in vivo and in vitro predatory activity of Duddingtonia flagrans and interaction with dietary coccidiostat. J. Anim. Sci. 102 (Suppl. 1), 91-92 (abstr.).

Bott, C. A., S. W. Breck, T. W. Murphy, B. A. Freking, C. A. Lopez Gonzalez, C. Peavey, D. Prause, A. Sommers, C. Landers, and J. K. Young. 2024. Flashtags: Evaluating a novel deterrent to reduce livestock predation. Human-Wildlife Interactions.

Cushman, R. A., H. K. Yake, A. P. Snider, C. A. Lents, T. W. Murphy, and B. A. Freking. 2023. An extreme model of fertility in sheep demonstrates the basis of controversies surrounding antral follicle count and circulating concentrations of anti-Müllerian hormone as predictors of fertility in ruminants. Anim. Reprod. Sci.

Knuth, R. M., C. M. Page, W. C. Stewart, G. L. Hummel, K. L. Woodruff, J. R. Whaley, A. L. Springer, K. J. Austin, T. W. Murphy, B. Bisha, and H. C. Cunningham-Hollinger. 2024. Milk microbiome in the first month of lactation and at weaning from ewes supplemented with zinc pre- and postpartum. J. Anim. Sci.

Murphy, T. W., B. A. Freking, and G. L. Bennett. 2023. Comparison of three maternal composite sheep breeds managed under pasture lambing and purebred or terminal mating systems: ewe body weight, reproductive efficiency, and longevity. J. Anim. Sci.

Forbes, R. M., T. W. Murphy, J. M. Burke, and R. M. Lewis. 2024. Adding Parasite Resistance to the Breeding Objective in Hair Sheep. Midwest Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. Ann. Meeting.

Yazar Gunes, H., L. F. Brito, T. W. Murphy, C. S. Wilson, R. M. Lewis. 2024. Estimates of genetic parameters for weight, wool, and carcass traits of Rambouillet sheep. Midwest Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. Ann. Meeting.

Julian, A. A. M., J. D. Scasta, ^#W. C. Stewart. 2024. Sheep winter diets parameterized with fecal DNA metabarcoding and forage sampling informs mineral nutrition management. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 94:168-177 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2024.03.003

Newman, C.E., Gifford, C.L., Anderson, D.P., Scasta, J.D., Stewart, W.C. 2024. US wool industry perceptions of digital record keeping and wool supply-chain traceability. App Anim Sci., 40(2), 205-211, doi.org/10.15232/aas.202302496.

Becker, G.M., K. A. Shira, J. L. Woods, S. F. Khilji, C. S. Schauer, B. T. Webb. W. C. Stewart, B. M. Murdoch. 2023. Angular limb deformity associated with TSPAN18, NRG# and NOVA2 in Rambouillet rams  Scientific  Reports. 13: 16059. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-43320-6.

Becker, G.M., J. L. Woods, C. S. Schauer, W. C. Stewart, B. M. Murdoch. 2023 Genetic association of wool quality characteristics in U.S. Rambouillet sheep. Frontiers in Genetics. 13:1081175. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.1081175

Kersh, J. D. Scasta, J. Derner, H. Fraley, W. C. Stewart. Sheep foraging relative to stock density, time of day, and sheep type in a poisonous plant context. American, Canadian, and Western Section of Society of Animal Science, July 16-20, 2023

Newman, C. L. Gifford, W. C. Stewart. Implementation of blockchain technologies in the U.S. sheep Industry: Producer and industry perceptions. American, Canadian, and Western Section of Society of Animal Science, July 16-20, 2023

McKensie Phillips, C. L. Gifford, T. W. Murphy, B. A Freking, C. E. Newman, C. R. Ritchie, W. C. Stewart. Characterization of Katahdin Lamb Carcasses in a Traditional Lamb Marketing Context. Canadian, and Western Section of Society of Animal Science, July 16-20, 2023

Laverell, T. W. Murphy, J. M. Smylie, A. Kersh, T. E. Engle, W. C. Stewart. Serum mineral and vitamin concentrations in central performance tested Rambouillet rams with and without angular limb deformities. Canadian, and Western Section of Society of Animal Science, July 16-20, 2023

Wilson, C.S., Taylor, J.B., Murphy, T.W., Stewart, W.C., Notter, D.R., and Lewis, R.M. 2023. Targhee sire benchmarking at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station. Annual meeting of the American Society of Animal Science, Albuquerque, NM, July 16-20, 2023.

Lee, J.H., Wildeus, S., Lemma, B.B., Kouakou, B. 2023. Carcass and meat quality characteristics of purebred (hair) and crossbred (wool × hair) sheep lambs grazing fescue pasture as influenced by breed type, sex, and supplementation. Journal of Applied Animal Science Research 52(1):1-14 https://doi.org/10.1080/09712119.2023.2290131

Lee, J.H.; Wildeus, S.; O’Brien, D.; Kouakou, B. Impact of Agro-Byproduct Supplementation on Carcass Traits and Meat Quality of Hair Sheep and Wool × Hair Crossbreds Grazing on Fescue Pasture. Animals 2024, 14, 1217.  https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14081217

Wildeus, Stephan, Dahlia J O'Brien, MacKenzie Robertson, Javin Davis. 2024. Use of soy hull as a supplement during late gestation and lactation for landrace hair sheep ewes in a forage-based system, J. Anim. Sci, Vol. 102, Suppl. 1:85–86, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae019.096

O'Brien, Dahlia, Stephan Wildeus, Javin Davis, MacKenzie Robertson, Kwame Matthews. 2024. Deworming to improve growth in early-weaned spring born hair sheep lambs. J. Anim. Sci., Vol. 102, Suppl. 1: 94–95, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae019.106

Robertson, MacKenzie, Dahlia O'Brien, Stephan Wildeus, Javin Davis, Kwame Matthews. 2024. Supplementation with soy hull during late gestation and lactation on parasite indicators in hair sheep ewes. J. Anim. Sci., Vol. 102, Suppl. 1: 106–107, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae019.119

Jessica Queen, Jessica,, Dahlia O'Brien, Stephan Wildeus, Javin Davis, MacKenzie Robertson, Kwame Matthews, 2024. The efficacy of a natural fungus (Duddingtonia flagrans) in reducing gastrointestinal nematode indicators in lambs. J. Anim. Sci., Vol. 102, Suppl. 1:07, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae019.120

Weaver, A.R., D.L. Wright, S.P. Greiner, and S.A. Bowdridge. 2023. Effect of sire fecal egg count estimated breeding value on parasite resistance traits in Haemonchus contortus infected Katahdin lambs. Sm. Rum. Res. 222: 106970. DOI:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2023.106970.

Johnson, S.R., Middleton, D., Greiner, S.P. and Bowdridge, S.A. 2023. The effect of innate immune receptor activation on differential breed responses to Haemonchus contortus in sheep. J. Anim. Sci, 101:Suppl_1. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad068.132

Teddleton, H.G. J.J. Garza, S.P. Greiner, and S.A. Bowdridge. 2023. Effect of sheep breed on neutrophil chemotaxis to Haemonchus contortus larval antigen. J. Anim. Sci. 101:Suppl_1. DOI:10.1093/jas/skad068.126.

Bentley, K.L., D.L. Wright, S.P. Greiner, and S.A. Bowdridge. 2023. Evaluating lipopolysaccharide-induced behavioral and immune response differences in sheep divergently bred for parasite resistance. J. Anim. Sci. 101: Suppl_1. DOI:10.1093/jas/skad068.127.

Valliere, N.K., D.L. Wright, S.P. Greiner, S.A. Bowdridge and A.R. Weaver. 2023. Evaluation of supplemental feeding behavior and growth performance in Katahdin lambs divergently selected for fecal egg count estimated breeding value. J. Anim. Sci. 101: Suppl_1. DOI:10.1093/jas/skad068.128.

Bentley, K.L., A.R. Weaver, D.L. Wright, S.P. Greiner, and S.A. Bowdridge. 2023. The effect of postweaning fecal egg count EBV on colostrum IgG concentration in Katahdin dams. J. Anim. Sci. 101:Suppl_1. DOI: 10/1093/jas/skad068.130.

Maierle, C.L., A.R. Weaver, S.P. Greiner, E.E Felton, and S.A. Bowdridge. 2023. Evaluation of feeding behavior of Katahdin lambs during Haemonchus contortus infection. J. Anim. Sci. 101:Suppl_1. DOI:10.1093/jas/skad068.131.

Extension Publications and Presentations:

Recktenwald, E.B. and R.A. Ehrhardt. 2023.  Greenhouse gas mitigation strategies for the US sheep industry-Summary.   American Lamb Board. Greenhouse+gas+mitigation+strategies+V5+(2).pdf (squarespace.com)

Ehrhardt, R.A. 2023. The basics of improving reproductive outcomes in your flock. Michigan Shepherd News

Ehrhardt, R.A. 2023. Lessons learned during 12 years of grazing cover crops with sheep. Michigan Shepherd News

Ehrhardt, R.A. 2023. The essentials of feeding market lambs. Michigan Shepherd News

Campbell, B.J. 2024. Feeding your herd. All about Goats! Spring 2024 Webinar Series. Online. April 22, 2024.

Campbell, B.J. 2024. Preparing your lambing facilities. 2024 Southwest Ohio Sheep Workshop. Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. March 22, 2024.

Campbell, B.J. 2024. 395. Integrated Parasite Management: On-Farm Producer Tools. 2024 Midwest Veterinarian Annual Conference. Columbus, Ohio, USA. February 23, 2024.

Campbell, B.J. 2024. Lamb Selection: Preparing for Success. Mahoning County Lamb Exhibitors Monthly Winter Meeting. Online. February 22, 2024.

Campbell, B.J. 2024. Grazing sheep within utility-scale solar: Thoughts and considerations. American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers – Ohio Chapter: 2024 Winter Meeting. Lewis Center, Ohio, USA. January 18, 2024.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. 2023 Solar research update. 2023 Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium. Wooster, Ohio, USA. December 2, 2023.

Thompson, B., Relling, A., Campbell, B.J. 2023. Are distiller’s grains right for your operation? 2023 Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium. Wooster, Ohio, USA. December 2, 2023.

Tacuri Vera, M., Wenner, B., Campbell, B.J. 2023. Impact of pumpkin seeds on parasite load in sheep. 2023 Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium. Wooster, Ohio, USA. December 2, 2023.           

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Forage as vegetative cover for utility-scale solar in the Midwest, understanding management considerations as it relates to forage and livestock production. EUCI hosted program: Agrivoltaics/Dual Use Solar Fundamentals & Best Practices. Online. November 15, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Understanding the Nutritional Needs and Challenges of Small Ruminant Production. 2023 Kentucky Sheep and Goat Annual Producer Conference. Danville, Kentucky, USA. October 14, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Sheep and Goat Nutrition 101: Tools of the Trade. 2023 Kentucky Sheep and Goat Annual Producer Conference. Danville, Kentucky, USA. October 14, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Ration Balancing Made Easy. 2023 Kentucky Sheep and Goat Annual Producer Conference. Danville, Kentucky, USA. October 14, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Small ruminant production research update and commonly asked questions through Extension. 2023 New ANR OSU Extension Educator On-boarding program – Livestock. Wooster, Ohio, USA. October 6, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Impacts of Large-Scale Solar on Rural Communities – A Research Perspective. Solar Energy Impact Series: Session 1 – Perspectives on the Opportunities and Impacts of Solar Installation in Agricultural Areas. Online. September 28, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Experiencing Lamb. Fall Mid-Ohio Shepherds Meeting. Sugarcreek, Ohio, USA. September 25, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. The Current Wool Breed Marketing Paradox. Farm Science Review: Small Farm Center. London, Ohio, USA. September 19, 2023. Invited presentation.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Small Ruminant FAMACHA Training Workshop. Belmont County OSU Extension Small Ruminant Training Program. Jacobsburg, Ohio, USA. August 31, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Considerations for Targeted Grazing and Vegetation Management Systems. 2023 Annual Katahdin Expo and Sale. Van Wert, Ohio, USA. August 11, 2023. 

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Integrated Parasite Management: On-farm Producer Tools. 2023 Annual Katahdin Expo and Sale. Van Wert, Ohio, USA. August 11, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Forage as vegetative cover for utility-scale solar in the Midwest, understanding management considerations as it relates to forage and livestock production. 2023 OSU EmPOWERment Bootcamp. Columbus, Ohio. USA. August 8, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Career path opportunities in Animal Sciences beyond being a veterinarian. OSU Vet Camp. Columbus, Ohio, USA. August 8, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. How sheep and goats can complement your livestock operation. Morgan County OSU Extension 21st Annual Ag and Livestock Field Day. McConnelsville, Ohio,           USA. July 31, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Using flock records and animal genetics to improve your operations end product – 2023 Howard Wyman Sheep Industry Leadership School: Lamb 509 Program. National Lamb Feeders Association Annual Event hosted by The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences. Columbus, Ohio, USA. July 10, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Small Ruminant Production Flock Nutrition Considerations – 2023 Howard Wyman Sheep Industry Leadership School: Lamb 509 Program. National Lamb Feeders Association Annual Event hosted by The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences. Columbus, Ohio, USA. July 10, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Market/Finished Lamb Evaluation – 2023 Howard Wyman Sheep Industry Leadership School: Lamb 509 Program. National Lamb Feeders Association Annual Event hosted by The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences. Columbus,        Ohio, USA. July 10, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Small Ruminant Workshop: FAMACHA and Integrated Parasite Management. Harrison County OSU Extension Small Ruminant Training Program. Cadiz, Ohio, USA. June 2, 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Protein supplementation. 2023 eBarns Report – Ohio State Digital Ag Program. p. 46-47. 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Moxidectin Utilization. 2023 eBarns Report – Ohio State Digital Ag Program. p. 48-49. 2023.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Thinking Outside the Box: The use of plant compounds as natural anthelmintics (de-wormers). Mid-Ohio Shepherds and Ohio Grazing Conference        Resource Guide. November 2023. p. 40-41.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Comparison of Wool/Meat, Hair, and Dairy Sheep. Mid-Ohio Shepherds and Ohio Grazing Conference Resource Guide. November 2023. p. 44-45.

Campbell, B.J. 2023. Capturing premiums with small ruminant products through niche marketing. The Dorper Report. Spring 2023. Vol. 27, Issue 2. p. 34-35.

Murphy, T. “Meet the research leaders at NSIP”. August 2023. American Sheep Industry Association Sheep Industry News.

Murpty, T. “A journey in sheep GEMS”. August 2023. American Sheep Industry Association Sheep Industry News.

Murphy, T. “The potential value of international sheep evaluations”. August 2023. American Sheep Industry Association Sheep Industry News.

Murphy, T. “Sheep GEMS update lambing assistance and udder health scores”. December 2023. Eastern Alliance of Production Katahdins Newsletter.