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 | Article 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 | Article 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 | Article

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.

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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

Tube Feeding Neonatal Small Ruminants: An Essential Skill for Sheep and Goat Farmers

Lambing and kidding are well under way. It is essential that sheep and goat producers learn how to tube feed young animals. This simple procedure can often save a young animal’s life, thereby increasing lambing and kidding crop rates and enhancing profitability. With a brief amount of instruction and a little practice, even children can perform this crucial task quickly, safely and effectively.

Susan Kerr | Dec 2009 | Online resource Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Over-the-counter sale of livestock antibiotics ends June 11, 2023. How can you prepare?

Federal rules in 2023 end the over-the-counter sale of some livestock antibiotics. You will need prescriptions from a veterinarian to treat your animals.

Charles Estill | Mar 2023 | Article Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Nutrient Requirements of Sheep

These tables contain the nutrient requirements of sheep in pounds and as a percentage of the diet. Table 1 is for mature ewes, Table 2 is for ewe lambs and ram lambs, and Table 3 is for growing and finishing lambs.

Aug 2019 | Article

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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.

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Photo: Betsy Hartley (Cropped from original)

Sheep

How to navigate poor marketing conditions for lambs

Selling lambs during a down market can be a challenge. If you decide to hold your lambs until the market improves, here are some strategies for feeding and maintaining their health.

Shelby Filley | Aug 2019 | Article Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Good choices on rams now translate to good flock production later

There is no room for snap judgments when selecting breeding sheep. Next year’s lamb crop depends on careful choices. Taking the time to look closely at prospects will pay off with an improved flock down the road.

James Thompson | Aug 2018 | Article

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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

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Related news

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.

May 2023 | Impact story

Despite pandemic, county fairs and livestock shows go on for 4-H exhibitors

Oregon 4-H faculty, staff and volunteers worked throughout the spring and summer to highlight the hard work of 4-H youth exhibitors and provide a quality educational fair experience in a healthy, safe environment.

Shana Withee, Jan Williams, Elli Korthuis, Traci Reed, Dani Annala, Wendy Hein, Erin Hansell-Heideman, Jon Gandy, Amy Derby, Susan Busler, Marilee Anderson | May 2021 | Impact story

Livestock producers embrace progressive tactics for dealing with wolves

Extension’s efforts have allowed members and organizations from the cattle industry to work with other organizations they traditionally avoided.

Ian McGregor | Apr 2021 | Impact story

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Logan Bennett

Small Farms Program Coordinator

Contact for Farming and Gardening Questions in Douglas County

Diane Choplin

Small Farms Education Program Assistant 2

Shelby Filley

Regional Livestock & Forages

Rebecca Thistlethwaite

NMPAN Program Manager

Contact for meat sales, science, & processing questions.

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