61 Sheep Grazier's Workshops Improve Producer Understanding of Important Production Practices

Abstract

Abstract Three workshops were held to increase producer awareness of new production practices and opportunities for sheep production. These events were coordinated by Amazing Grazing with the assistance of county livestock agents. All workshops included classroom and breakout sessions featuring hands-on activities. In September 2016, the first sheep-focused workshop was held at the E. Carroll Joyner Beef Education Unit in Raleigh. Topics included opportunities for sheep production, ram selection, marketing, using temporary electric fence, grazing management to improve soil health, grazing sheep in solar farms and health management. The 2017 event was held in May at the Western NC Regional Livestock Center near Canton. Producers learned about opportunities for sheep production, improved grazing management, sheep marketing and fencing options. The Piedmont Research Station near Salisbury served as the location for the 2018 workshop. The agenda featured hoof health management and pre-breeding nutrition management, improving forage systems, breeding stock selection, pasture improvement cost-share programs and hoof trimming. Total registration was 132 with 83 evaluations completed. Participants were 60% male and 40% female with 57% being over age 50. Total pasture hectares grazed by participants was 886 with 97 ha as hay. Livestock inventories totaled 2,183 sheep, 733 goats, 720 beef cattle and 99 horses. A few participants had no livestock but were gathering information for future ventures. Post-workshop evaluation indicated 100% of attendees increased understanding of each major agenda topic. On a scale of 1 to 4 (1 = not satisfied to 4 = very satisfied), participants indicated they were very satisfied with the instructors’ knowledge (3.80±0.45), workshop environment/format (3.68±0.58), and overall quality (3.78±0.44). Ninety-seven percent of the attendees indicated that this workshop met their expectations, and one hundred percent would recommend it to others. Producer responses indicate a growing interest in sheep/goat production and a need for practical education programs.