The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host the Central Texas Sheep and Goat Conference on May 28 in McGregor.

A livestock guardian dog watches over a herd of sheep. Guardian dogs will be one of the session topics featured at the Central Texas Sheep and Goat Conference in McGregor.
The Central Texas Sheep and Goat Conference in McGregor will feature a session on best practices for using livestock guardian dogs on farms. (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife)

Shane McLellan, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in McLennan County, said there are more and more sheep and goats in Central Texas and this annual program offers educational information on specific topics that sheep and goat owners want to know more about.

Hosted by the AgriLife Extension offices in Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Johnson, Hamilton, Limestone and McLennan counties, the conference runs from 8 a.m.-2:15 p.m. at The Exchange Events Center, 300 S. Jefferson Ave., McGregor, with registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. Breakfast and lunch will also be provided.

Cost to attend is $30 and is payable by cash or check only. Contact the AgriLife Extension office in McLennan County at 254-757-5180 or email Nicole Kosier at [email protected] to RSVP.

On the agenda

Conference topics and speakers include:

  • Managing internal parasites in small ruminants — Andrew Roemisch, DVM, veterinarian, Cottonwood Creek Veterinary Hospital, Waco.
  • Texas Solar Sheep presentation — J.R. Howard, owner and operator, Texas Solar Sheep, San Angelo.
  • Nutritional needs of sheep: A panel discussion — Jacob Thorne, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension sheep and goat specialist and professor, Texas A&M Department of Animal Science, San Angelo; Howard; Kayce Hungate, owner, Hungate Farm, Marlin; and McLellan.
  • Goat and lamb market update: Price seasonality and opportunities — David Anderson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension economist, professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Bryan-College Station.
  • Livestock guardian dogs: Best management practices: Bill Costanzo, AgriLife Extension guardian dog specialist, San Angelo.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email