The West KY Small Ruminant Field Day was a multi-county effort put on by the Marshall, McCracken, Graves, and Calloway County Cooperative Extension Agriculture Agents. The Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Check-off graciously sponsored the event that was a late afternoon full of great learning opportunities to bring their small ruminant operation up to the next level of quality care and profitability. Participants were able to see a live foot trimming demonstration, learn about feed and reproduction efficiencies, and were led on a pasture walk where they were able to learn how to identify problematic weeds and how to eliminate them from their pastures.

Calloway County Cooperative Extension Agent, Matt Chadwick, not only volunteered to host this field day on his farm, but also gave a presentation about feed, marketing, and reproduction efficiencies. He has proven through his own operation that he is well acquainted with taking science backed research and putting it to work on his farm. He was able to share with participants his feeding strategies, how he controls his ewe’s estrous cycles to make lambing season more manageable, and how he markets his products. Of the participants surveyed, 100% stated that they plan to adopt Extension recommended practices in animal nutrition after this presentation.

Graves County Cooperative Extension Agent, Miranda Rudolph, led the participants in a live hoof trimming demonstration where she showed them proper techniques, tricks of the trade, hoof care, and what to look for when trimming to help avoid or alleviate any foot health issues. Participants were able to watch, ask questions, and were sent home with handouts provided by the KY Sheep and Goat Development Office that they can continue to reference when doing this at home on their own farms. As an added benefit they were able to see some helpful handling equipment that Matt Chadwick uses on his farm to make these tasks easier. As with the nutrition presentation, 100% of the participants surveyed indicated increasing the skills needed to maintain proper hoof health after watching this presentation.

To end the evening the participants were taken on a pasture walk with Murray State Agronomy Professor, Dr. Megan Taylor, where she gave them an interactive lesson on how to correctly identify problematic weeds that they might find in their pastures and how to mitigate those pests. She collected samples from the field they were in and allowed participants to handle them and showed them the identifying features on each plant that would help them get ahead of controlling potential threats to their pasture health. Participants really enjoyed this session and asked many of their burning questions that they have been seeking answers to.

At the conclusion of the evening producers were sent home with a free hoof trimming kit that consisted of a convenient caddy, hoof trimming shears, a sharpener, a pre-measured zinc sulfate foot bath, and a packet of printed resources that they could reference later. This kit included everything a producer needs to ensure that they have the tools necessary to improve and maintain good foot health in their herds. Of all participants surveyed, 100% indicated that they gained knowledge relating to small ruminant production. Moving forward, the host agents are excited to see how their producers use all of the information learned during this evening to increase health and profitability in their herds.