WERA_OLD39: Coordination of Sheep and Goat Research and Education Programs for the Western States
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
WERA_OLD39: Coordination of Sheep and Goat Research and Education Programs for the Western States
Duration: 10/01/2000 to 09/30/2005
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
The American sheep industry is undergoing a new awareness of its role in food and fiber production within an ecologically and economically sustainable production setting. Sheep and goats in modern management systems provide more than just the production of meat and fiber. They lend themselves as tools to improve or enhance ecological systems. Where sheep numbers have declined, many ecological problems have increased. For example, encroachment of noxious, non-native plants, although present for over one hundred years, dramatically increased with the decline of small ruminant grazing. Sheep provide the most economically and environmentally sound means of controlling many of these invaders; additionally, they may be able to be used to control small grain insect pests and add value to crop residue. Although the role of sheep in enhancing environmental conditions is an evolving frontier for scientists and producers, improving the ability of the American sheep industry to compete in a rapidly developing world market requires new and refined information and communication for enhancing the biological efficiency of meat and wool production.
(See below attachment for complete issues and justification)
Objectives
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Identify ecologically and economically sound land management practices using sheep and goats for a) managing and sustaining native plant communities, b) controlling invasive, non-native plant species, and c) improving nutrient cycling and pest management through integration of sheep into cropping systems.
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Improve sheep and goat production efficiency and profitability in range and pasture ecosystems by a) developing value-based marketing systems for meat and fiber, and b) improving biological efficiency through better understanding of nutritional, physiological and genetic events that influence meat and wool production.
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Identify practices that enhance fiber production efficiency and profitability in sheep and goats by a) breeding for increased quantity and improved quality, b) developing efficient methods of evaluation, and c) improving methods of handling and preparation.
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Procedures and Activities
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- The successes cited regarding the development and adoption of rapid methods of measuring fiber diameter, the evaluation of Australian Merinos, cost effective supplementation strategies, and identification of gene regulation of lean tissue accretion exemplify the expected outcomes of this committee. We will continue to identify and investigate critical research issues that relate to sheep and goat production in the Western region with ramifications nationwide. This will be achieved by coordinating specific research projects among several stations to allow for better use of resources and a more focused effort toward project objectives. Results of coordinated, multi-location projects will be published by cooperating stations in various forms; i.e., research progress reports, extension bulletins, popular articles, symposia proceedings, and refereed journal articles. Thus, research information will be presented in usable forms for all segments of the sheep and goat industries.
- Examples of specific expected outcomes include: 1) Integrated natural resource and crop management systems with sheep and goat production to reduce specific noxious plants, reduce fuel loads for fire control in sensitive areas, and add value to crop residues through pest control and nutrient cycling to enhance crop production; 2) Improved lamb survival by enhancing immune function and fetal energy status; 3) Develop value-based marketing to reward quality production; 4) Enhanced value-based marketing of wool and mohair; 5) Increased collaborative research across disciplines; 6) Continued growth, cooperation and communication among regional institutions; and 7) Effective outreach and communication through peer-reviewed publications, bulletins, and effective interactions among sheep producers, researchers and extension personnel.
- The committee has identified specific contributions of each member to the targeted, multi-institutional projects. Each committee member is committed to reporting individual achievements in these subject areas and to contributing data and time to cooperative publications. Exchange of information among participants will be in the same format as that used in past years; i.e., an annual brief summary/progress report on each contributing project from each committee member, submitted in advance, bound, and presented and discussed at the annual WCC-039 meeting.
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
The WCC-039 objectives encompass the major research priorities formulated by the research and education task force of the American Sheep Industry Association and by WCC-039 research and extension members. The committee wishes to include industry input as much as possible Because of the challenges being faced by the sheep and goat industry at the current time, it is important to quickly share our findings with the industry. Results will be presented in popular press articles, regional publications, extension bulletins, and regional educational seminars. The committee will continue to encourage publishing in the Sheep and Goat Research Journal, and development of new (and refinement of traditional) means of technology transfer.
Another specific goal of the committee is development of a producer program on wool quality improvement to be delivered at national and regional sheep producer meetings. The program will educate wool producers and marketing personnel about use of current and future objective measurements for appraising and marketing wool. Four WCC-039 committee members have already conducted a portion of these programs in several states. The number of programs delivered will depend in part on external funding. Programs conducted to date have proven effective and successful.
Organization/Governance
1998 - 1999 Officers
Chairman: Pat Hatfield
Secretary: Dale Holcomb
Duties as outlined by Western Directors check list.
Two officers will be elected each year at the Annual Meeting. Two slates of officers will be submitted to the membership by a Nominating Committee, appointed by the Chairman and consisting of 3 past-Chairmen. Nominations from the floor will also be accepted. In the past, the current Secretary has typically been elevated to Chairman and a new Secretary elected. Most communications from the Administrative Advisor and Chairman will be mailed directly to the membership. The Secretary will record and mail out minutes of the Annual Meeting, and will also be responsible for binding into one volume and distributing the Station Reports at the
Annual Meeting.
Literature Cited