The Symposium starts out on Friday, Oct 12^th with hands on activities for new and experienced goat and sheep raisers starting at 2 pm. Farmers can rotate through four structured stations practicing important livestock skills such as hay evaluation, tubing newborns, hoof trimming, dealing with dystocias. Dr. Mary Smith, DVM will teach a hands-on field necropsy workshop at the Teaching Bar aimed at more experienced goat and sheep raisers. We’ll also have a lecture on goat/sheep raising 101 for beginners, a poisonous plans workshop and a workshop on using online software to balance feed diets.   

 Saturday’s lineup also includes both hands-on events and formal presentations. We will have talks on diagnosing diseases and on the current status of Johnes testing by Cornell veterinarians, a talk on marketing wool products by CeCe Tkaczyk of CeCe’s Wool, Francis Chester-Cestari of Cestari Sheep & Wool Company will discuss their “Let’s Grow Wool Sheep Together” program, panel discussions on improving pasture productivity and on artificial rearing by local producers/extensionists, a reproductive technology workshop, a presentation by Rene DeLeeuw on selecting sires and preparing them for the breeding season to name just a few activities.

Sunday’s activities include an integrated parasite management workshop with FAMACHA certification and info on the status of new alternatives to chemical dewormers, a hands-on workshop on fecal parasite egg counts, and a workshop on entering herd data for the National Sheep Improvement Program’s Genetic Evaluation program.

Go to http://blogs.cornell.edu/newsheep/2018-sheep-goat-symposium/  for online registration, info on parking and lodging and short descriptions of the activities. 

Registration fees are $60 for the first person ($50 for each additional person) from a farm/family and includes all 3 days of the Symposium.  If you are coming for only Friday and/or Sunday (I.e. not attending Saturday) registration is $15 only.  Hands-on activities that require prior sign up to insure a space are noted in the Symposium Schedule and registration forms. For a paper registration form contact Barbara Jones at 607-255-7712.