Texas Sheep and Goat Expo set for Aug. 16-17 in San Angelo

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Texas Sheep and Goat Expo, the largest event in the U.S. for small ruminant producers, will be held Aug. 16-17 in San Angelo.  

The Expo will take place at the First Community Credit Union Spur Arena, 4722 Grape Creek Road. Cost is $100 for online registration until Aug. 14 at https://tx.ag/ExpoRegistration. After that date, participants must register onsite for $150.

“I know when the event first started in 2015 no one ever dreamed we’d have the turnout to make it an annual event,” said Robert Pritz, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources regional program leader, San Angelo. “Now we are marking a decade of the Texas Sheep and Goat Expo, and this annual event draws producers from across the country as well as internationally.”

Prior to the Expo on Aug. 16, the 51st annual Sheep and Goat Field Day will be held from 8-11:30 a.m. at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 7887 U.S. Highway 87 N., San Angelo. There is no cost to attend the field day. Onsite registration will start at 7:30 a.m.

Additionally, on Aug. 17, the Expo will include the Texas Sheep and Goat Expo Youth Program and Skill-a-thon.

Embracing opportunities

The theme of this year’s expo is “embracing opportunities.”

“This unique sheep and goat event provides producers and other interested persons the opportunity to attend educational presentations,” Pritz said. “The program is designed to meet the needs of a very diverse sheep and goat industry. We want to help producers embrace the opportunities that come their way, so they are raising the right animals for their environment and resources, and that they are prepared to meet future needs.”

The expo will feature industry experts as guest speakers, educational seminars and numerous live sessions for participants to choose from. The event covers a range of industry topics, including addressing the concerns and challenges facing today’s producers, as well as the exciting changes happening in the industry involving technological advances and new services.

Aug. 16 events

Programming begins at noon with registration and lunch. Participants will also have time to view exhibits. Pritz will open the Expo with an overview followed by featured speaker Dan Hale, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension associate director for agriculture and natural resources. Hale will present “Trends in the Protein Landscape.”

An animal evaluation will follow that will include:

• Fitting the right animal to your environment.
• Genetic selection and visual assessments.

Participants will then attend the concurrent session of their choosing from 4:30-6 p.m.

The “Hardcore Carnivore” author Jess Pryles will be the guest speaker at dinner. Pryles is a live fire cook, media personality, meat specialist and barbecue expert.

Following dinner will be conference practicum sessions, which will conclude around 8:30 p.m.

Concurrent sessions

Concurrent sessions for Aug. 16 will be:

Session A: Business and Marketing

• Product Development and Marketing.
• Small Business Owners Panel.

Session B: Sheep and Goat 10: Health and Management

• Gastrointestinal Parasites.
• Producer Lambing Panel.

Session C: Wildlife Management

• Adolescent Behaviors of Livestock Guardian Dogs.
• Fencing Options for Predator Management.
• Feral Hog Management and Toxicant Update.

Session D: Innovative Practices

• High-Intensity, Multi-Species Grazing System.
• Utilization of Grazing Sheep in Vineyards.

Aug. 17 events

Registration and breakfast will begin at 7 a.m. on day two of the Expo followed by an animal handling demonstration. After the concurrent sessions, lunch will be served and door prizes awarded.

Concurrent sessions

The concurrent sessions will start at 9:05 a.m. and conclude before lunch at noon.

Wool Sheep

• Regenerative Ranching Concept.
• Range Management/Prescribed Burning.
• Sustainability in Ranching-What Does it Mean?

Hair Sheep

• Managing and Marketing a Multi-Species Operation.
• Dorper Sire Progeny Trial Update.
• Association Updates.

Angora Goats

• The History and Progression of Angora Goats in Texas.
• The Future of Angora Goats: Producer Panel Discussion.
• Mohair Grading.

Meat Goats

• Meat Goat Predation.
• Land Leases and Easement Issues.
• Major Challenges of U.S. Goat Producers and the Way Forward.

Club Lambs

• Ewe Management from a Nutritional Standpoint: Seven Nutritional Phases.
• Ram Management for Successful Breeding and Semen Collection.
• Nutritional Considerations for Rams.
• Preparing Rams for Breeding Season and Collection.

Texas Sheep and Goat Expo Youth Program

The Youth Program and Skill-a-thon will be held at the San Angelo Fairgrounds Gandy Ink Livestock Barn Sale Pavilion, located next to Spur Arena. It will begin at 8 a.m. and include breakfast and lunch. There is no cost to attend but advance registration is required at https://tx.ag/YouthRegistration.

Contact Marty Vahlenkamp, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Runnels County, at 325-365-2219 for additional information on the youth events.

Youth topics and events will include:

• Ultrasound.
• Genetic Selection.
• Mohair Judging.
• Skill-a-thon Skills.
• Skill-a-thon Contest.