Spring Livestock Guardian Dog Field Day set April 14 in Sonora TX

Livestock Guardian Dogs can provide protection against predators for sheep and goat raisers. The Spring Livestock Guardian Dog Field Day will take place at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Station in Sonora. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo) 

Event to include discussions on predation, ranch tour, workshops

By  Susan Himes 

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Spring Livestock Guardian Dog Field Day will be held April 14 in Sonora.

The Livestock Guardian Dog, LGD, field day will be at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Station in Sonora, 395 County Road 760. The program will start at 8 a.m. and conclude around 4 p.m. Morning refreshments and lunch will be provided.

Registration is $25 for an individual or $40 for a couple before April 7. After that date, the cost is $30 and $50, respectively. April 13 is the last day to register. Advance registration is required through the AgriLife Extension office in Sutton County at 325-387-3101.

A ranch tour of the research station and producer panel will be two of the event highlights. Vendors and LGD breeders will be onsite to speak with producers.

Predation prevention

“The biggest single loss in sheep and goat production is predation,” said Reid Redden, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension sheep and goat specialist and director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in San Angelo. “The problem is not going away and, in many areas, it’s increasing.” 

Redden said the field day will be very helpful to all LGD owners, but especially for those with little or no dog-handling experience.

“This workshop is part of the center’s ongoing effort to help producers adopt the age-old practice of keeping specially bred and trained dogs with livestock as a deterrent to predation,” said Bill Costanzo, AgriLife Research LGD specialist, San Angelo.

Field day topics and speakers

The featured topics and speakers for the field day are:

• Using LGDs on Small Versus Large Ranches – Redden.
• GPS Trackers – Thomas Remmert, Lone Star Tracking co-founder, The Woodlands.
• The Texas Livestock Guardian Dog Association: Information and Updates – Walter Pfluger, association treasurer, San Angelo.
• Sheep and Goat Predator Management Board – Curry Campbell, board member, San Angelo.