Problem:

Sheep and goats are an ideal enterprise for small farms for the production of meat, wool, or milk.  There is currently a greater demand than supply for these products in the U.S. Alternatives to chemicals are needed for control of worms, the greatest health challenge in sheep and goats because of drug resistance and a desire to reduce chemical residues in food products.

 

Objectives:

•          To examine long term effects of using multiple forms of biological worm control in sheep and goats.  These include the use of feeding sericea lespedeza, a worm-trapping fungus, copper oxide wire particles, genetics, and pasture management.

•          To improve forage systems for pasture raised meat goats.

•          To examine potential plants, plant products, or other means of worm control.

 

 

Impact: THIS RESEARCH EXAMINES WORM CONTROL FOR SHEEP AND GOATS, A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM IN WARM, HUMID CLIMATES.  MINIMIZING WORMS WILL INCREASE FARM PROFITABILITY.

Dr. Joan M. Burke

Research Animal Scientist

 

Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center

6883 So. St. Hwy 23

Booneville, AR  72927

P: 479-675-3834 ext. 325

Email: joan.burke@ars.usda.gov