Author: April Wilhoit
Major Program: Small Ruminants (includes sheep, goats) and Exotic animals
Since COVID 19 became an issue in the world in 2020 we have seen an influx of folks moving from out-of-state into our area. Many of the people have little to no background in farming and are trying to find an agriculture enterprise that they benefit from operating on their farm. Small ruminants often become one of the main talking points and interests to folks. With the increase in interest in sheep and goats not only from the out-of-staters moving to the area, but even by the
Author: Nathan Rider
In the fall of 2021, the Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Agent from Bullitt County Cooperative Extension Services determined that although there are many sheep and goat producers in Bullitt County, sheep and goat programs have not been offered recently by nearby county offices of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. In cooperation with neighboring county extension agents, the Bullitt County ANR Agent delivered an interest survey to regional producers. Over 37 produce
Author: Jeffrey Lehmkuhler
On November 13, 2021 Morehead State University, University of Kentucky, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension, and Shi-bah Zing-ga Yak farm co-hosted the first Kentucky Yak Husbandry Research Conference. A total of 33 participants and presenters were in attendance. Attendees traveled from Colorado, Wyoming, Illinois, New York, Tennessee, Indiana, Iowa and Kentucky. Presenters shared information related to animal health, nutrition, geneti
Author: Victor Williams
According to the Kentucky Census of Agriculture, Laurel County’s ranking in sheep and goat production has risen from 77 in 2012 to 49 in 2017. As the local interest in sheep production has increased, so has the need for educational opportunities for farmers to learn best practices for keeping the herds healthy. On March 18, the Laurel County Extension Office worked with the Southeast Kentucky Sheep Producers and the University of Kentucky for a lamb slaughtering and proces
Author: Jonathan Oakes
In November of 2021, Russell County Extension ANR Program was invited to work with a local sheep producer, to do embryo transfer work with a new breed of sheep. The new breed was Australian White. The breed was developed in Australia about 10 years ago, and has since started to gain attention in the United States. The work done on the local producers farm was the first Australian White Embryos to be brought into the Commonwealth. Also the lambs born were the first to be b
Author: Chelsea Sapp
Sheep and Goat Association – Meetings The Marion County Cooperative Extension office has been a vital part in years past helping with the Central KY Sheep and Goat Producers. Once Covid-19 became widespread and programming in person stopped, our group no longer met. Our office then went through a change of Ag Agents. In between Covid-19 and changing office dynamics, we did not have regular meetings. It is my goal to get our Sheep and Goat Producer club meeting on a regular basis
Author: Dee Heimgartner
Crittenden County ranks second in Kentucky on the market value of sheep, goat, wool, mohair and milk products sold according to the 2017 Ag Census. Parasite control is one of the major issues with maintaining a healthy flock. Local producers had expressed an interest in learning how to conduct fecal egg samples. Crittenden County ANR Agent Dee Heimgartner worked with KY State University Extension Specialist Dr. Jessie Lay to conduct a training on how to do your own fecal egg counts. A class was
Author: Whitney Carman
Grayson County is quickly growing diverse in agriculture practices. Increasing age, new farmers, new landownership, input costs, etc. have made people step away from the traditional cattle, hay and crop production we are used to seeing. One of the fastest growing production practices is small ruminants, specifically hair sheep. Based on the 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture, Grayson County ranks 36th in the state in small ruminant production, with around $100,000 in gross sales each year. Many of
Author: Samantha Saunders
Starting in 2021, April Wilhoit and I began the discussion about how there is not much programming offered on small ruminant topics. We have seen an increase in people venturing into sheep and goat production here in the past few years. There have been several new people moving into our area and they are wanting to try something new and something different. Beef cattle can be intimidating to people that were not raised around them, therefore making them weary of jumping feet first into the cattl
Author: Corinne Belton
Small farm numbers in Shelby County continue to rapidly increase. The county has seen steady growth in land ownership in the 1-49 acre range with landowners looking for innovative ways to increase income on small acreage tracts. Sheep farms are one of the fastest growing segments here, with Shelby County jumping from a #12 ranking in Kentucky sheep production in 2012 to #9 in 2017. Due to the increasing number of producers raising sheep and goats, and their need for basic small
Author: David Embrey
Mammoth Cave Area Agriculture Agents noticed an increase in small ruminant producers and the production of small ruminants growing in popularity. It is also noted that many new small ruminant producers may very well be new to agriculture production and farming in general. The need to bring research based education to new small ruminant producers is further driven by the tendency for new producers to utilize the internet as their sole resource for gaining information. The
Author: Leann Martin
Author: Kevin Lyons
The Mammoth Cave Area Agriculture Agents noticed an increase in small ruminant producers and the production of small ruminants growing in popularity. It is also noted that many new small ruminant producers may very well be new to agriculture production and farming in general. The need to bring research based education to new small ruminant producers is further driven by the tendency for new producers to utilize the internet as their sole resource for gaining information. The Small Ru
Author: Gary Bell
Author: Christopher Schalk
