Ala. 2012 small ruminant health workshops

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System at Alabama A&M University is offering a series of workshops on “Small Ruminant Health from A to Z,” including gastrointestinal parasitism management and FAMACHA training. The workshops are conducted at the beginning of the grazing and kidding season in early spring since this is the season when many health problems are more prevalent.

The objective of the workshops is to educate farmers, veterinarian practitioners, Extension agents, and other interested persons on:

·       Best health management practices for small ruminants

·       FDA-approved and non-approved parasite deworming methods to treat GI parasitism among goat and sheep herds, including the FAMACHA test developed by South African scientists

·       McMaster technique of nematode fecal-egg identification and counting 

·       Life cycle of gastrointestinal worms

·       Consequences of parasite-host interactions

In addition, FAMACHA cards will be available for purchasing.

The workshops are free; however, participants are encouraged to pre-register by calling the appropriate county Extension office or Dr. Maria Browning at (256) 372-4954.

Schedule of Workshops 

February 4

9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Marshall County Extension Office

Suite G21, 424 Blount Avenue

Guntersville, AL 35976-1132

To register: Contact Eddie Wheeler at (256) 582-2009 or willed@aces.edu.

Directions: Enter Guntersville on US-431 N (Blount Avenue). Courthouse is located between US-431 N (Blount Avenue) and US-431 S (Gunter Avenue). Use Blount Avenue entrance to courthouse. Parking available around courthouse.

February 23

8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Landmark Park

430 Landmark Drive, Highway 431 North

Dothan, AL 36301

To register: Contact Willie Durr at (334) 794-4108 or durwill@aces.edu.

Directions: From Dothan, travel cross Ross Clark Circle, turn onto US-431 North. Travel approximately 3 miles and turn onto Landmark Drive.

March 2

8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Baldwin County Extension Office

Gulf Coast Research & Extension Center

8300 State Highway 104

Fairhope, AL 36507

To register: Contact Anthony Wiggins at (251) 575-3477 or wiggia1@aces.edu.

Directions: From I-65 turn south onto 287. Follow 287 to Bay Minette. Turn onto 59 south, then east onto 104. Gulf Coast Regional Research and Extension Center is on 104 approximately 13 miles from 59.

March 24

8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Lawrence County Extension Office

13075 ALA-157, Suite 6

Moulton, AL 35650

To register: Contact Robert Spencer at (256) 766-6223 or rds0002@aces.edu.

Directions: From I-65 travel west on ALA-157 to Lawrence County Agricultural Center.

April 9

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Hale County Agricultural Extension Center
701 Hall Street
Greensboro, AL 36744 To register: Contact Tommie Teacher at (334) 624-8710 or teachto@aces.edu.

Directions: Enter Greensboro from ALA-69, ALA-61, ALA-14, or ALA-25. Travel to intersection of ALA-69 and ALA-14. Travel east on ALA-14 approximately 300 yards to Centreville Street. Turn right on Centreville Street. Go 0.25 mile to Hall Street. Turn left onto Hall Street. Extension Office is located in the Hale County Agricultural Extension Center, clearly visible on the right by the baseball fields.

May 5

8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Tennessee State University

Meat Goat Research Facility

Ed Temple Blvd

Nashville TN 37228

To register: Contact Dr. Richard Browning at (615) 963-5837 or rbrowning@tnstate.edu.

Directions: Take I-40 West to 28th Avenue Exit #207. Turn right at end of exit ramp. Proceed north past Walter Davis Blvd (third traffic light). Farm entrance is the first driveway on the left.