Small Ruminant Grazing Conference Jan. 12 in Lexington

QUICKSAND, Ky., (Dec 2, 2009)

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture is teaming up with sheep and goat breed associations, Kentucky State University and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund to offer the 2010 Kentucky Small Ruminant Grazing Conference at the Fayette County Cooperative Extension Service office in Lexington. Scheduled for Jan. 12, the conference will offer many sessions for all levels of experience.

"We've got something for anyone who is interested in raising small ruminants," said David Ditsch, director of the UK Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability in Quicksand. "We're going to present science-based research in ways that producers can understand and apply in their own operations."

Registration begins at 9 a.m. with sessions starting at 9:15 a.m. The conference is divided into four main areas including nutrition, grazing management, producer presentations and an economic and marketing outlook. Topics include:

• Meat Goat Production as Affected by Grazing Infected Tall Fescue
• Strategic Supplementation of Forage for Lamb Production
• Effects of Rotational Grazing on Forage Production, Quality and Persistence
• Fencing Construction for Rotational Grazing
• Grazing Behavior and Forage Use: Are All Sheep Created Equal?
• Using Goats to Eradicate or Manage Kudzu
• Production and Marketing of Lambs from Forage
• Sheep and Goat Marketing Outlook for 2010
• Developing a Small Ruminant Production Budget

KSU's Ken Andries will offer an optional FAMACHA training at 3:10 p.m.

Registration, due Dec. 11, is $15 for the conference and an additional $10 for the FAMACHA training.

Those planning to attend the conference should send name, address, phone number and e-mail along with payment to UK Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability, Attn. Jackie Allen, 130 Robinson Road, Jackson, KY 41339.

The 2010 Small Ruminant Grazing Conference is sponsored by the UK Barnhart Fund for Excellence, Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office, Kentucky Goat Producers Association, Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association, UK Cooperative Extension Service, Kentucky State University and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund.

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Writer: Aimee Nielson, 859-257-7707

UK College of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission, reaches across the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension to enhance the lives of Kentuckians.

Contact: David Ditsch, 606-666-2438, ext 231

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