UACES Facebook Sheep & Goat Genetic Improvement Field Day
skip to main content

Sheep & Goat Genetic Improvement Field day

Join us for a free field day on the use of genetics to improve sheep and goat health, performance and carcass traits!
 
When: November 14, 2025, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: USDA/ARS Dale Bumpers
Small Farms Research Center
6883 South State Highway 23, Booneville, AR
 
 

Goals: 

  1. Educate sheep farmers on emerging genetic technologies to improve animal health and performance.
  2. Educate sheep farmers on how to match genetic potential of sheep and sustainable flock management strategies, such as multispecies grazing, targeted nutrition, selective deworming, rotational grazing and flock performance data management to optimize the entire farming system.
  3. Demonstrate these genetic technologies and production practices that have been successfully applied by farmers in 5 different environmental regions within the SARE southern section.
  4. Provide networking opportunities for sheep farmers and ranchers with each other and educators.

Tentative Agenda

9:00 am: On-site registration, coffee and donuts

9:30 am: Welcome, Dr. Joan Burke, USDA/ARS

9:45 am: Economic benefits of using rams/bucks with EBVs, Dr. Murphy, USDA/ARS

10:30 am: Breakdown sessions I: Collecting and recording data

  • Parasites: FAMACHA system, Dr Joan Burke, USDA/ARS
  • Parasites: Collecting and submitting fecal samples, fecal egg counting methodology, body condition scoring, Dr. Dan Quadros, UADA and Dr. Susan Rohila, USDA/ARS

12:00 pm: Lunch

12:30 pm: Implementing an on-farm genetic improvement program, Dr. James Morgan, Round Mountain Consulting 

1:00 pm: Breakdown sessions II: Collecting and recording data

  • Growth performance: types of ID and RFID, number of lambs born/weaned, birth weight, weaning weight, postweaning weight and collecting tissue, USDA/ARS and Texas A&M University
  • Buying rams with good genetics: visual assessment vs. EBVs, Dr. Joan Burke, USDA/ARS
  • Using ultrasound for pregnancy check and carcass evaluation, Dr. Jake Thorne, Texas A&M AgriLife

2:30 pm: The future development of the NSIP, Dr. Murphy, USDA/ARS and Dr. Jake Thorne, Texas A&M AgriLife

3:00 pm: Producer Panel: Using Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) to improve economically important traits

  • Christine Hernandez, Heifer Ranch
  • Lauri Cellela, Rockwall, TX
  • Tia Broderick, The Farm House on Persimmon Hill 
  • Zac Vann, Rafter V Ozark Farms

3:30 pm: Adjourn

Optional, 3:30 p.m - 4:30 pm: Learn more about the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP)

  • Dr. Joan Burke, USDA/ARS
  • Dr. Jake Thorne, Texas A&M AgriLIfe
  • Dr. James Morgan, Round Mountain Consulting 
  • Dr. Murphy, USDA/ARS
Top