The Peru Gazette

Cornell Cooperative Extension will present 2014 NNY Sheep and Goat Week programs in six North Country communities between April 8 and April 17. The program agenda includes activities for youth, families and adult livestock handlers, including the CSI Sheep and Goat: Health From the Inside Out presentation that includes learning how to do a basic necropsy.
 
“Necropsies are a very good way to understand what goes on inside an animal and to gather information to share with your veterinarian in a timely manner using digital pictures and the internet.  The 2014 Sheep and Goat Week programs offer the opportunity to learn what data to collect to help figure out sheep and goat health challenges,” says NNY Sheep Week organizer Betsy Hodge, a livestock educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County and team leader for the Northern New York Regional CCE Livestock Team.
 
The 2014 NNY Spring Sheep and Goat Week programs are as follows:
·      April 8: Plattsburgh, 7pm, CCE Clinton County office, activities include CSI Sheep and Goat: Health From the Inside Out; register with Peter Hagar at 518-561-7450.
·      April 9: Canton, 7pm, CCE St. Lawrence County Extension Learning Farm, adult-level program with veterinarian Carolyn Pierce and CCE Livestock Specialist Betsy Hodge, activities include CSI Sheep and Goat: Health from the Inside Out; register with Betsy Hodge at 315-379-9192.
·      April 15: Burke, 1pm, Downing Acres Farm, hands-on activities include body condition scoring, health assessment, showing, possible necropsy, and more, evening videos/photos with information on performing necropsies and working with your veterinarian; register with Diane Dumont at 518-483-7403.
·      April 16: Canton, 1pm, CCE St. Lawrence County Extension Learning Farm, youth-level program, activities include body condition scoring, grading, conducting a physical exam, working with your veterinarian, showing, and more; register with Amy Sands at 315-379-9192.

The evening meetings also include an update on the sheep artificial insemination project and a discussion of the Northern Adirondack Lamb Cooperative (NALC) proposal to develop a protocol for taking NALC-approved lambs to the livestock auction in New Holland, PA, to encourage better prices. 

According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, there were 70,000 sheep and lambs on farms in New York State in 2013. Learn more about small livestock management by contacting Cornell Cooperation Extension in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis, or St. Lawrence County or go online to www.ccenny.com.
 
Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.