Multi-Species Grazing

Posted on June 23, 2020 by severson

Multi-species Grazing: the How and Why for Soil & Animal Health
Online, Wednesday, June 24

Grazing multiple species both in terms of animals and plants offer many benefits to both animals and the soil. Learn about these benefits as well as considerations and helpful tips for implementing multi-species grazing on your property.

This virtual webinar is part of the Webinar Wednesday Forage and Pasture Series, brought to you by

Delaware State University

and the

University of Delaware

IPM in Sheep and Goats: FAMACHA© Certification From Home

Posted on May 28, 2020May 28, 2020 by truehart

Internal parasites are a major health problem affecting sheep and goats, particularly the blood sucking abomasal parasite, Haemonchus contortus(barber pole worm). This parasite is a major threat because once in the abomasum of the animal, it consumes large amounts of blood causing sickness and death that can hinder production. In addition, this parasite is very difficult to manage. There is data showing that this parasite has shown resistance to all available dewormers in United States and across the world. Local data has demonstrated that there is a high level of resistance to the benzimidazole classes (white drenches) of dewormers and ivermectin in Delaware and surrounding states. Therefore, a more integrated approach is needed to control this parasite. Deworming by the calendar and rotating classes of dewormers are no longer recommended for sheep and goats. Furthermore these out of date management practices are ineffective and contribute to internal parasite resistance issues.

Fecal Egg Counting and FAMACHA© workshop | Delaware State University The Delaware Cooperative Extension Small Ruminant Team is holding a FAMACHA^© certification workshop via Zoom on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm. The cost of the workshop is $15.00 to pay for the FAMACHA^© cards and the postage to mail them to producers. Registration is required.

This upcoming workshop is designed to help producers learn the basics of selective internal parasite control and covers topics such as types and kinds of parasites, dewormers, the role of pasture management, the 5 Point Check^©, FAMACHA^© and FEC. Join us as we provide training to certify producers in the use of FAMACHA^© score card and an integrated approach to parasite control in small ruminants.

To register visit: https://www.pcsreg.com/learn-integrated-parasite-control-and-get-certified-in-famacha Once registered you will receive an email link to access the Zoom training. After completing the webinar, producers will be required to pass a short web based quiz and submit a short video clip demonstrating their proficiency in the FAMCHA^© push-pull-pop eyelid technique in order to complete their certification requirements. For questions please contact a member of the Delaware Cooperative Extension Small Ruminant Team- Susan Garey truehart@udel.edu , Dr. Kwame Matthews, PhD kmatthews@desu.edu or Dan Severson severson@udel.edu

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. If you have special needs that need to be accommodated, please contact the office two weeks prior to the event.

Emergency Mini Grants Available for Livestock and Poultry Farmers from Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT)

Posted on April 1, 2020April 2, 2020 by truehart

In response to farmer feedback, FACT is now accepting mini-grant applications from livestock and poultry farmers whose businesses have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Farmers may request of up to $500 for materials, services or equipment that would help them to transition to an online or alternative sales strategy, or for other projects that would help their farm business to maintain sales during this crisis.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Farms must be located in the continental United States and be working, independent family farms. These are farms on which a family or individual owns the animals, is engaged in the day to day management of the farm and its animals, derives a share of livelihood from the farm, and produces a livestock product for sale.

Applicants must own or be employed by a farm that raises livestock (ruminants, swine) and/or poultry and express a commitment to raising their animals using humane management practices. Non-profit organizations, schools, and animal sanctuaries are not eligible.

WHAT IS ELIGIBLE?

Farmers can request mini-grants for materials, services or equipment that would help them to transition to an online or alternative sales strategy (e.g. home delivery, on-farm sales), or for other projects that would help their farm business to maintain sales during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples include but are not limited to:

Refrigeration or freezer units for on-farm store
Credit card chip reader
Insulated bags or coolers for home delivery
Website or online store development (don’t forget about our Online Farm Store Webinar today!)
Essential supplies to maintain operation or ensure safety

Please note: we are not able to fund projects related to the processing/slaughter of animals or raw milk at this time. Equine, aquaculture and beekeeping-focused projects are also not eligible for this mini-grant program.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Farmers may request a mini-grant of up to $500 by completing a short online application. Mini-grants will be awarded on a rolling basis to eligible farmers until funding is depleted, after which time farmers will be placed on a wait-list in the event that additional funding becomes available. We are only able to award one mini-grant per farm or household.

FACT staff will evaluate applications as they come in and, if deeded eligible, approve the project for funding. Funds will be distributed within 14 business days.

Farmers who receive mini-grants will be asked to complete a brief report by June 30.

If a mini-grant recipient does not complete the project for which they received funds, all funds must be returned to FACT. In the case that a project costs less than expected, we ask that any remaining funds in excess of $50 be refunded to FACT.

If you have any questions about our Emergency Mini-Grant Program after reviewing our guidelines, you may email me at lmckenna@foodanimalconcerns.org.

Please be well and stay safe and healthy.

What’s the Silver Lining?

Posted on March 26, 2020 by truehart

I just finished one of the many Zoom meetings I have already participated in this week. It’s quite remarkable really how quickly we have moved ourselves into a completely virtual, online community. The meeting was organized by Future Harvest to discuss the challenges and opportunities of COVID-19 for agriculture, in particular those facing smaller farmers who tend to be more connected to their consumers than our larger commodity production based farmers. Near the start of the meeting, one of the farmer panelists posed this very question, “What’s the silver lining with COVID-19?” With all of the negative news bombarding us 24 hours a day right now, it may not even occur to us that there might be any positive outcomes of a global pandemic. Later in the virtual discussion another farmer commented, “This is the moment we have all been waiting for as local farmers….people are looking to us for food” and I agree.

From my point of view, we are so fortunate to live in a region with a very abundant, diverse, safe and affordable food supply and if you didn’t realize this before, you likely certainly do now. In this time of uncertainty I have witnessed the shock on people’s faces at empty shelves in the big retail stores but in contrast I have seen our local, family owned, small farm markets, butcher shops, and direct to customer food producers step up to keep food on our shelves and in our refrigerators. They are doing so in an organized way, taking care of our older and at risk populations with thought and care. This is an opportune time for direct market farmers to grow their customer base. With the practice of social distancing and people becoming more reluctant to shop in a crowd, short term shortages of some food products due to overbuying, local is rapidly becoming more desirable and the “new normal”.

For some growers who supply restaurants as a large part of their customer base, this could be a scary time, since restaurants have shuttered or at best been reduced to take out only. The good news is there is still time for these types of operations to pivot, according to Beckie Gurley of Calvert’s Gift Farm. The average consumer has slightly different preferences for more basic crops than a restaurant so growers might consider changes in growing plans now. If this human health crisis occurred in the middle of the summer, when crops were already in the ground, it would be too late for farmers to make a change in their “crop portfolio”.

Future Harvest, in cooperation with organizations such Delmarva Grown, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Maryland Farmers Market Association, maintains a Find A Farmer and Market Map on their website. The site has seen exponential increases in web traffic since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Farmers in the region, including Delaware, can get listed on this site within 24 hours of submitting their information through an online Google form. The form collects such information as type of business, location, food products available, ways to order, acceptable methods of payment and how consumers pick up or receive their order. If you would like to be included on the map, the form to submit your information can be founds here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfEXHdNU0WfQhjmCfBgVE9iIPqd37IEP8Cr1nsIAh5MM1mXcA/viewform

These are unprecedented times and it’s difficult right now to predict exactly what the landscape will look like a few months down the road. I certainly hope the current increased desire to buy local will continue once we as a planet have the current pandemic controlled but without a doubt it is a good time for farmers to make some new friends and new customers.

Winter Care Tips for Horse Owners

Posted on January 10, 2019 by truehart

Winter weather has definitely arrived and along with it come additional challenges when caring for horses. Horses are surprisingly adaptable to cold weather but paying attention to the small details is especially important to ensure good horse health in the winter months. Here are a few specific things horse owners should focus on when caring for horses in the winter.

Forage/hay– After a tough year of weather conditions for local hay growers, finding good local hay may prove to be a challenging task but providing quality forage or hay in the appropriate quantity is especially critical in the winter. The microbial digestion of hay by the horse actually creates body heat, helping to keep them warm in cold temperatures. Remember the average horse should be consuming about 2.0% of its body weight daily between hay and grain but a minimum of 1.5% of that should be in hay. That’s a simple math problem. For example, if your horse weighs 1000 lbs:

1000 x 0.015(1.5% converted to decimal form) = minimum of 15 lbs of hay per day

Also consider adding soaked beet pulp or a hay stretcher to your horses’ diet if hay is at a premium. The use of these types of products can possibly help you slightly reduce the amount of hay you have to feed. Beet pulp is also a great way to help get more water into the horse and helps keep the hind gut functioning well.

Water-Water is always one of the most important nutrients for horses but it becomes especially critical in the winter when horses are consuming larger quantities of dry feed. Fresh pasture can consist of nearly 60-80% water but grain rations and hay are generally less than 15% moisture. Always make any changes to your horses’ diet gradually. The risk of impaction colic in horses becomes greater in the winter. By providing your horse with warmed water (45-65º F), you can help to decrease this risk by increasing water consumption. Research has demonstrated that by providing horses with only warmed water, they will consume a greater quantity then if they have cold water or both warmed water and cold water offered simultaneously (they will usually chose cold and drink less). Make sure that the water is always clean and pay close attention to tank heaters and other devices used to warm water. Always check that cords are not worn or damaged and there is no stray voltage that could potentially shock the horse.

Teeth– During a time of the year when we typically need to increase feed to maintain body condition, make sure that your horses are able to extract as much nutrition out of what they are consuming as possible. This is especially critical in young and senior horses. Have your horses teeth checked and floated by a professional a minimum of once a year. Some seniors and those with dental issues will need more frequent attention.

Hoof Care – Good hoof care is always important but the conditions we experience here on Delmarva make winter hoof care even more critical and more challenging. The freeze thaw cycles and the slippery mud that come along with it, can create problems. Combining these environmental issues with slower rates of hoof growth and hoof health issues such as thrush, white line disease and bruised soles can come along with winter weather. Keeping horses hooves as dry as possible and picking them regularly to remove mud or even snow/ice along with good routine farrier care is very helpful in preventing these conditions that can develop and potentially nag us into the summer months. Discuss with your farrier if your horse should remain shod or barefoot in the winter. In general horses that are barefoot have better traction and will have fewer issues with the development of snowballs or snow packing in hooves. Keep up with routine farrier appointments even though you may not be riding as much.

Mud– Controlling mud in a horse’s winter environment is easier said than done this year especially but providing the horse with an area to escape the muddy areas that typically develop around gates, feeders and waterers is necessary. This does not need to be a stall but could be a well-drained sacrifice lot or dry run in shed. Appropriate stocking rates, good footing and good sanitation/regular manure removal is critical in maintaining these areas. Besides affecting hooves, excess mud that is not removed regularly from the horse can lead to the development of bacterial infections such as greasy heel, mud fever or scratches on the lower legs.

Shelter/Ventilation– Horses do not require a fancy barn to provide adequate shelter in the winter but being able to escape the wind and wet/storms is important. Be sure that you are providing enough space that all horses can shelter at once, including the lowest in the packing order of the herd. Horses that have a winter coat and are not blanketed do not begin to expend additional energy to keep warm until the temperature reaches about 18degrees, provided there is no rain or wind. If you choose to keep your horse stalled in the winter, make sure that ventilation is adequate and that the bedding material you use is not too dusty. Confinement in a dusty stall with too little ventilation can actually cause more health problems then if horses were left outside with good footing and adequate protection from the weather.

Blanketing– Blanketing has been widely discussed among horse owners for years and could be an entire additional article. It comes down to a personal choice and how much work the horse will do in the winter. Age and body condition can also play a role in this decision. If you decide to blanket your horse with a winter appropriate turnout, then be sure to check under that blanket very regularly. Make sure the blanket stays dry, look for rubbing and chafing, inspect for the development of skin conditions such as rain rot and routinely monitor body condition scores on blanketed horses.

Horses don’t need to be doted on in the winter but by paying attention to some of these daily details of winter horse care and being well prepared, your horse will survive the winter months happy, healthy and ready to return to the arena, show ring or trail come spring.

Susan Garey, Extension Agent Animal Science, University of Delaware truehart@udel.edu

Shropshire Assocation Offers Starter Flock Award

Posted on February 26, 2016 by truehart

The National Junior Shropshire Sheep Association is pleased to announce that through the generosity and vision of several prominent Shropshire breeders, the third Shropshire Starter Flock Award will be given to a lucky youth in the spring of 2016.

The Shropshire Starter Flock Award is presented annually and helps to establish one new Shropshire flock every year. The award in 2016 will be a credit voucher of $1,500, which can be used to purchase no less than two ewes in one of the following sales: Shropshire Classic, Great Lakes, Shropshire Spectacular and The Midwest.

In addition, ewes can be purchased at any sale that has ewe lambs nominated for the Shropshire Futurity.

The National Junior Shropshire Sheep Association will identify a local breeder to act as a mentor to the recipient. The sheep will range in age from lambs to yearling ewes. The animals selected will be of sound structure and will maintain good breed type. If you are interested in winning this award flock, you are expected to write an essay to the National Junior Shropshire Sheep Association. Be sure to include background information about yourself. This document6 should illustrate your goals and intentions with the animals should you win the award. There should also be a budget included in the paperwork that is sent in. Type your essay and email it to shropsec@hotmail.com by April 1. Please include your mailing address and telephone number. All applicants should be between the ages of 8 and 20.

Winners are asked to give back to the Starter Flock Award Program in some way in the years to come. The awarded animals are asked to be shown at a county fair, state fair and a regional national show (All American Junior Show, NAILE, The Big E or the Midwest Regional Show).

All essays will be reviewed and discussed by the board members and the winner will be chosen and contacted to make arrangements to receive their award at a spring sale. Whichever sale you choose to make your purchase, you will have a $1,500 credit which can be used when you pay for your purchases. You must purchase at least two ewes with this award. Whether you are looking to add a second breed to your farm or looking to make a start in the sheep business, you are invited to take a chance and write to win.

For more information contact Alan Bruhin, wabruhin@utk.edu or Becky Peterson, shropsec@hotmail.com

Delaware 4-H and FFA Spring Dairy Show

Posted on February 25, 2016 by truehart

The 2016 Delaware 4-H and FFA Spring Dairy Show is April 2, 2016 at the Delaware State Fairgrounds. The show is open to all Delmarva Residents who are owners or lessors of Holstein, Jersey, Ayrshire, Guernsey and Brown Swiss cattle. The show will include both a Junior Division (age 21 & under as of January 1, 2016) and an Open Division which will run concurrently.

It is strongly suggested that all animals be vaccinated for shipping fever. Out of state exhibitors will need interstate health papers issued within 30 days of the show. Maryland Intrastate Health Certificates will also be accepted provided it has been checked and signed at a Maryland show within 30 days.

For rules, a complete class list, and entry form, please visit: http://extension.udel.edu/4h/projects-activities-for-members/4-h-animal-science/

Delaware Holstein Association Annual Meeting March 12

Posted on February 23, 2016 by truehart

Delaware Holstein Association

2016 Annual Meeting March 12

Host Farm – William Vanderwende & Sons, 4003 Seashore Hwy, Bridgeville, DE – 10:00

The Vanderwende Family has invited the membership to visit their home farm. Three generations of the family are involved in the operation that includes a 225 cow dairy, a 4,000 acre crop operation and most recently an on farm creamery. The farm is located about 6 miles west of Bridgeville on the north side on Seashore Highway.

Luncheon – Jimmy’s Grille, Bridgeville, DE – 12:30

To reach the restaurant from the farm, take Seashore Hwy east toward Bridgeville, following Business 404. At the first dead end turn left on Market Street and at the second turn right on S. Main Street. Jimmy’s Grille will be on the left at 18541 S. Main Street. At Walgreens, you’ve gone too far!

Annual Meeting – 1:30

Reports on 2015 Association Activities Election of Directors Junior and Senior Production Awards Junior Member Awards Program – The Story of Vanderwende Farm Creamery The Vanderwendes have diversified their dairy operation with the addition of the creamery. Taylor Vanderwende will be on hand to tell our group about the history of the creamery and their plans for the future.

Jr. Association Annual Meeting – 2:30 All Juniors are welcome to participate in the first meeting of 2016. Learn what’s in store for the coming year.

Lunch tickets will be $10.00 for adults. Junior members, under age 21, will be free. 2016 dues can be paid at the meeting. Dues are based on the number of milking registered cows. $20.00 is the base fee with an additional charge of $0.15 per cow for each registered milking animal.

Other “Dairy Dates” to Mark on the Calendar

March 30, 2016 – Delaware Dairy Princess Contest – Ag Museum, Dover

April 2, 2016 – Delaware 4-H & FFA Dairy Expo – Delaware State Fairgrounds, Harrington

May 1, 2016 – Final Futurity Entries and Payments Due

July 2 & 3, 2016 – Cow Camp 2016 – Delaware State Fairgrounds, Harrington

July 23, 2016 – Delaware Jr Dairy Futurity & 4th Annual Senior Showmanship Contest!!

A Special Note to Juniors In order to be eligible for the production awards, you must provide the following information on all animals you wish to have considered. These must be milking animals registered in your name. Please return the information below to Charmayne Busker, 1676 Drapers Corners Road, Harrington, DE 19952 by March 7th if you wish to be considered. Email is cpbusker@gmail.com Phone 398-4764. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Registration Name________________________________________ Number________________
305 day record completed in 2015:
_____age_________days ____________milk ____% _______fat ___% ________protein
Dam______________________________ Sire____________________________________
DHIA Herd in which record was completed_________________________________________
Junior Member__________________________________ Age__________

November 5th Small Ruminant Health Workshop with Dr. Wendy Freeman, VMD

Posted on October 19, 2015 by truehart

As part of a larger small ruminant health grant, please join us on the evening of November 5, 2015 at the Paradee Center in Dover, Delaware for our initial workshop in a series of health related workshops to focus on vital signs and health assessments and recognizing the signs and symptoms of pre-parturient diseases (diseases of pregnant ewes/does) and diseases in lambs and kids. Our featured guest speaker for the evening will be nationally recognized expert on small ruminant veterinary care, Dr. Wendy Freeman, VMD.

Dr. Freeman graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School in 1985. After graduation, Dr. Freeman completed an internship and residency in Field Service at the University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center in 1988. Following her residency, Wendy joined the faculty at New Bolton Center and became Assistant Professor of Medicine and Field Service in 1992, where she worked on developing and directing the small ruminant program. Dr. Freeman directed the reproductive program and implemented total health care and clinical studies of the teaching flock. Wendy is one of the most experienced small ruminant specialists in the United States and sees both large and small animal patients at Longwood Veterinary Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania on a full-time basis.

The Small Ruminant Health Program is a project developed by University of Delaware extension professionals Susan Garey and Dan Severson in response to a deficiency of veterinarians in the region with the desire to treat small ruminants. As a result, producers need to further develop their skills in assessing animal health and treating common diseases. A Risk Management Grant Proposal was funded by the Northeast Extension for Risk Management Education Center to develop the project. A needs assessment was completed to determine needs for technical training and skill development. If producers can develop knowledge and skills in assessing animal health, recognizing disease symptoms, determining treatment and performing treatment skills, producers can ultimately reduce mortality rates increase productivity of their flocks and herds.

For questions or to register for this free workshop, please contact Susan Garey, Extension Agent Animal Science, University of Delaware (302)730-4000 truehart@udel.edu or Dan Severson, New Castle County Extension Agricultural Agent, (302)831-8860 or severson@udel.edu If you have any special needs in accessing this program, please let us know two weeks in advance.

Cooperative Extension Education in Agriculture and Home Economics, University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. It is the policy of the Delaware Cooperative Extension System that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, disability, age, or national origin.

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2012-49200-20031

Click here for the full brochure for the Small Ruminant Health Workshop

Small Ruminant Winter Webinar Series Begins in February

Posted on January 15, 2015 by truehart

A five part webinar series will be held on consecutive Wednesday evenings in February and March 2015. All webinars will start at 7:00 p.m. EST and last for one hour. Each webinar will be followed by a question and answer period. The instructors will be Jeff Semler and Susan Schoenian.

A webinar is a seminar or short course conducted over the world wide web. Interaction is via a chat box. All webinars will be conducted via Adobe Connect. Anyone (anywhere) with an Internet connection may participate. A high speed connection is recommended. The webinars are open to the first 100 people who log in. While pre-registration is not required, interested people are asked to subscribe to the University of Maryland’s small ruminant webinar listserv. To subscribe, send an email message to listserv@listserv.umd.edu In the body of the message, type subscribe sheepgoatwebinars. The listserv is used to communicate with webinar participants and to notify subscribers of upcoming webinars. You can always unsubscribe to the webinar listserv by sending an email message to the same address; in the body of the message, type unsubscribe sheepgoatwebinars.

The webinars will be recorded, minimally edited, and made public for viewing. PowerPoint presentations will be available for viewing and downloading at SlideShare. Links to webinar recordings and PowerPoint presentations will be available at http://sheepandgoat.com/recordings.html.

Recordings will also be converted to YouTube videos. In fact, we are in the process of converting all previous webinar recordings into YouTube videos. Visit the Maryland Extension Small Ruminant YouTube Channel to listen to any previously recorded webinar. Previous webinar series have covered ewe and doe management, feeding and nutrition, breeding and genetics, health and diseases, ethnic marketing, foot health, internal parasites (worms), and the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP).

For more information contact Susan Schoenian at (301) 432-2767 x343 or sschoen@umd.edu or go to http://www.sheepandgoat.com/programs/2015webinars.html.

# Date Time Topic

I February 4 7 p.m. EST Planning a pasture system

II February 11 7 p.m. Pasture plants, including alternative forages

III February 18 7 p .m. Pasture and grazing management

IV February 25 7 p.m. Pasture nutrition

V March 4 7 p.m. Pasture health problems