Sheep and goats

Featured resources

Livestock Evacuation during Wildfires

Learn about the development of an Ag Pass Program in California to improve farmer and rancher access to properties to take care of livestock during wildfires. Mathew Shapero, University of California Extension Livestock and Range ...

Mar 2022 | Video

How to get ewes to adopt orphan lambs

Getting ewes to adopt orphan lambs requires the orphans to smell like the ewe's own brood. There are several ways to transfer the ewe's smell to the orphan and pull off a successful adoption. Here's how to do it.

Cassie Bouska | Jan 2022 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Gray level)

How to meet the mineral needs of livestock in mixed pastures

Minerals are critically important for the health and well-being of livestock. Cattle, sheep and goats are frequently pastured together, but sheep can be harmed by copper, which cattle and goats need. Options to get animals the ...

Shelby Filley | Sep 2021 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Tips for livestock care in high temperatures

When a heat wave hits, don't forget that livestock need help to cope with the high temperatures too. Here are five things you can do to help livestock stay cool.

Jenifer Cruickshank | Jun 2021 | OSU Extension Catalog

Living on the Land: Getting Started with Sheep and Goats: Nutrition and Feeding

By Susan Kerr , Ashley Conway , Brian Tuck , Ellen Hammond and Shilah Olson

Sheep and goats require five essential nutrients: water, energy (carbohydrates and fat), protein, vitamins, and minerals. A deficiency in any of these can cause illness, poor growth or performance, and even death. This publication describes ruminant digestion and nutrition.

View Catalog Here

Photo by Daniel Robison (Cropped from original)

Photo: Candi Bothum

Livestock auction, scales, and marketing services

A collection of items concerning livestock auctions, scales, and marketing.

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Latest resources

New World screwworm

New World screwworm (NWS, Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a devastating pest. When NWS fly larvae (maggots) burrow into the flesh of a living animal, they cause serious, often deadly damage to the animal. NWS can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, occasionally birds, and in rare cases, people.

Jun 2025 | Online resource

Foot and Mouth Disease fact sheet

This handout provides an overview of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in sheep, highlighting its symptoms, transmission routes, and prevention strategies. It emphasizes the importance of biosecurity measures and early detection to protect sheep health and prevent outbreaks. The document also outlines steps for managing FMD risks on farms and encourages farmers to stay informed about the disease.

Spanish: Foot and Mouth Disease fact sheet

Oct 2024 | Online resource

Foot and Mouth Disease overview

Learn sustainable sheep farming practices, emphasizing the importance of environmental stewardship and animal welfare. Key topics include rotational grazing techniques, the benefits of diversified pasture management, and strategies for enhancing soil health.

Oct 2024 | Video

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Living on The Land: Getting Started with Sheep and Goats—Building a Flock or Herd

By Susan Kerr , Brian Tuck , Shilah Olson and Ellen Hammond

This is a second publication in the Living on The Land series on how to make a good start with sheep and goats. It gives more detail on how to choose healthy, high-quality animals, including specific signs of good health; tips on choosing a reputable seller; the diseases to ask a veterinarian to screen for; and managing new animals’ entry into your existing flock.

View publication

Photo: Betsy Hartley (Cropped from original)

Goats

Price of goats

What's the price of goats? This USDA Ag. Marketing Service website has prices for goats across the US. Use these as a guide to prices for goats in Oregon.

USDA | Jul 2020 | Online resource

Footrot in sheep and goats

This publication from Purdue University Extension describes footrot and other foot disorders so that you can make a proper diagnosis of the problem. It also covers treartment and preventive measures such as hoof trimming, foot baths, and culling of animals not responsive to treatments.

Dec 2020 | Online resource

Goat Meat Quality

This short article from Michigan State University Extension has information on goat meat quality.

Jeannine P. Schweihofer | Jun 2020 | Online resource

More goat resources

Related news

Living on the Land supports small-acreage landowners in the south Willamette Valley

OSU Extension collaborates with Oregon’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts and watershed councils to develop the series to best address natural resources concerns in the local area.

Melissa Fery | Apr 2024 | Impact story

Series of livestock clinics enhances 4-H experience in Lake County

4-H in Lake County held livestock fitting and showing clinics throughout 2022 that were open to both 4-H and FFA youths.

Jeannie Anderson | May 2023 | Impact story

OSU Extension assists with livestock rescue efforts as Oregonians flee fires

When the fires started raging on Tuesday, OSU Extension employees started preparing barns and other buildings for animals, in addition to sorting through donations of food and water. Since then, they’ve been working day and night.

Chris Branam | Sep 11, 2020 | News story

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Meet Our Experts

Diane Choplin

Small Farms Education Program Assistant 2

Shelby Filley

Professor, Animal and Rangeland Science, Area Livestock and Forages Faculty

Julie Scism

4-H Education Program Assistant

Contact me with 4-H Questions in Clatsop County.

Rebecca Thistlethwaite

NMPAN Director

Contact for meat sales, science, & processing questions.

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