Sustainable Management of Internal Parasites in Sheep and Goats in the Upper Midwest and Northeast USA 2024

Virtual webinar series:
Tuesday evenings at 7-9 p.m. ET including question and answer time. Eastern Time.

April 16, April 23, April 30, May 7 (4 sessions)

Workshop:
May 11, noon to 4 p.m.
at The Michigan State University main campus

Join us for a virtual webinar series (4 sessions) followed by an afternoon workshop at the MSU main campus and the MSU Sheep Teaching and Research Center (MSUSTRC).

Control of internal parasites is a major health challenge in sheep and goat farms. Previous control methods have led to the development of drug resistant parasites, furthering the problem. Effective and sustainable parasite control programs require a program tailored to each farm’s unique circumstances. An effective and sustainable program will reduce animal health and productivity losses while minimizing the advance of resistance problems.

The MSU Small Ruminant Extension Team will be hosting a series of four webinars Tuesday evenings (at 7 p.m. ET) to discuss which parasites are a problem in the Midwest/Northeast, risk factors for infection, grazing strategies to reduce parasite load, infection monitoring, effective drug treatments and farm specific control programs.  

This will be followed by an optional workshop on May 11 on the Michigan State University campus that will provide instruction on the FAMACHA parasite monitoring program and the practice of fecal egg counting.

Virtual program (all sessions at 7 p.m. ET with recording available 2 days later).
Session 1: April 16 - Parasites of impact in sheep and goats, and basics of their lifecycles
Session 2: April 23 - Factors that determine risk of parasite infection and grazing management strategies to reduce exposure
Session 3: April 30 - Control and infection monitoring approaches and methods to maintain refugia
Session 4: May 7 - Putting it all together: developing a successful sustainable integrated parasite control program for your farm

Workshop on May 11, noon to 4 p.m., MSU campus Participants will learn how to monitor infection using the FAMACHA system on sheep at the MSU STRC and then travel to the nearby MSU main campus to learn how to perform quantitative fecal egg counting. Participants will receive a FAMACHA anemia scoring card and training certificate.
Workshop participants must attend or listen to the recordings of the 4-part webinar series to attend the workshop.

COST:
$25 per household for webinar series only
$30 per person additional for the workshop (50 participant limit, each will receive a FAMACHA card and guide)
No cancellation fee.