Texas A&M AgriLife to host small ruminant ultrasound workshop in San Angelo
Two-day, hands-on workshop will teach producers to scan sheep, goats for pregnancy and litter size
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host a small ruminant pregnancy ultrasound workshop on Nov. 23-24 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo.
The hands-on workshop from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. is designed to teach sheep and goat producers how to ultrasound their animals for pregnancy and litter size to improve flock and herd management.
The cost is $300 for Texas residents and $600 for non-residents. Applications will be accepted through Oct. 15, and available spaces are limited due to the hands-on nature of the program. To apply, visit tx.ag/SmallRuminantUltrasoundWorkshop.
On the agenda
The workshop will focus on practical, on-animal ultrasound skills for small ruminant producers. Instruction will cover:
- Techniques for confirming pregnancy status and fetal numbers..
- Information producers can use to sort ewes and does by expected lambing or kidding load.
- How to adjust nutrition.
- Factors to make more informed culling and breeding decisions.
Workshop instructors will be Jake Thorne, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension statewide sheep and goat specialist and assistant professor, Texas A&M Department of Animal Science, San Angelo, and Shawn Ramsey, Ph.D., professor, assistant department head for academics in the Department of Animal Science and Texas A&M Wool Judging Team coordinator, Bryan-College Station.
