USDA, ARS Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center Booneville, AR

USDA, ARSUSDA, ARSDale Bumpers Small Farms Research CenterDale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center

Booneville, ARBooneville, AR

The mission is to develop technology and scientific principles to enhance profitability and sustainability of small farms.

Booneville, Arkansas

NP-205 Program: Management of southeastern grazing lands and livestock to optimize small farm

sustainability

• Develop grazing systems for niche meat production

• Develop quality forages that bridge the summer gap

• Etc.

Goals Specific to Small Ruminants

• Organic approach to H. contortus control in sheep and goats

• Use of condensed tannin-rich plants to control H. contortus (sericea lespedeza and others)

• Copper oxide for H. contortus control

Multiple use of COWP in hair breed lambs

Days after initial COWP treatment

0 14 28 42 56 70 84 98 112126140154

FEC

, eg

gs/g

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

Levamasole (n = 8)0.5 g COWP (n = 9)1 g COWP (n = 9)

Use of a Trace Element Bolus in Peri-Parturient Goats

Days after TEB administration

0 7 14 21 28 35 42

FEC

, egg

s/g

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

CON (n = 17)TEB (n = 19)

2

1

1

2

1

8

7

3

3

Goals Specific to Small Ruminants

• Rotational (mostly bermudagrass/fescue) vs. continuous (bermuda or SL) grazing

• Systems approach (combinations of techniques including FAMACHA, COWP, SL, deworming “diets”)

• Establishment of browse for goats

Rotational Grazing

Grazing SL and administration of COWP

Day of SL grazing

0 7 14 21 28

FE

C,

eggs

/g

0

2000

4000

6000

8000TF no COWP TF 5 g COWP SL no COWP SL 5 g COWP

Day of SL grazing

0 7 14 21 28

PC

V,

%

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

30

32

3

2

3

2

Gulf Coast Native

Katahdin

St. Croix