| PROJECT SUMMARY |
Because veterinary support for pasture-based small ruminant livestock is limited, risk management strategies are in high demand. Current treatments are often ineffective, time-consuming and costly. Drs. Woody Lane, Jean-Marie Luginbuhl, and tatiana Stanton led 2 workshops each, teaching Vermont producers about pasture-raised livestock risk management strategies. Topics included parasite and pest problems, nutritional pasture balances, and diseases on pasture, with discussion of organic certification requirements. Each workshop was held at two or more grass-based Vermont farms, ensuring the greatest geographic accessibility and for demonstrations and hands-on farmer training.
With partnership funds leveraged through the NECRME grant, two additional sessions on small ruminant management were held at the 12th annual Vermont Grazing Conference. Dr. Luginbuhl led sessions on small ruminant health and on grazing goats on fallow lands to meet land management and herd nutrition needs. Additionally, a portable field microscope and McMaster fecal slides were purchased for future farmer training.
|
| NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 147 |
| TOPICS COVERED |
| Product and enterprise diversification |
| Understanding of economic risks associated with new production technologies |
