Fall 2025 Small Ruminant Field Day

Program supported by NC State Extension, Texas A&M Extension, and Southern SARE

9:00 am On-site registration, coffee and donuts

9:30 am Welcome/Introduction

10:00 am Breakdown sessions I: Collecting and recording data

• Breakout 1: FAMACHA system (primary parasites, anthelmintic resistance, targeted selective treatment)
• Breakout 2: Fecal Egg Counts (Collecting and submitting fecal samples, fecal egg counting methodology, body condition scoring)

11:00 am Producer panel: Using Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) to improve economically important traits

12:00 pm Free Lunch

12:30 pm Implementing an on-farm genetic improvement program

1:00 pm Breakdown sessions II: Collecting and recording data

• Breakout 1: Growth performance (types of ID and RFID, number of lambs born/weaned, birth weight, weaning weight, postweaning weight, and collecting tissue)
• Breakout 2: Using ultrasound for pregnancy check and carcass evaluation

2:00 pm Molecular genetics and genetic conditions

2:30 pm Group Discussion- Buying rams with good genetics using visual assessment and EBVs

3:30 pm Adjourn

Optional

3:30-4:30 pm Learn more about the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP)