We’re excited to host our first ever pair of small ruminant seminars with Aimee Braxmeier of Slippery Slope Goats and Katrina Hamilton, Veterinary Technician with Green Mountain Bovine. Whether you want to keep a pair of Nigerian Dwarfs just for cuteness or manage a backyard herd of milking Saanens, Aimee and Katrina will help you start off on the right hoof with all the basics of goat care.
Ages 12 & up, please. Workshops will be capped at 20 participants each day.
Cost: Single Day Workshop: $90. Sign up for both days: $170.
Download your registration form here. Stop by the store or call to register!
Workshop 1 | Goat 101 with Aimee, Saturday, April 18
The goal of Saturday’s session is to provide new goat owners and prospective goat owners with the basic tools needed to successfully keep and raise goats on a small scale. We also want class attendees to walk away from this simple introduction to goats with the tools you will need to further your research into the care of your own goat herd. The resources we are sharing with you are trusted, from academic sources, and we often share them amongst other goat owners. A very brief list of what we’ll learn about:
- Terminology
- Breeds of Goats and Breed Selection
- Goat Digestion System
- Feeding and Mineral Supplements
- Shelter
- Fencing
- Herd Health
- What to Ask When Purchasing Goats
- Record keeping
Workshop 2 | Parasite Management / FAMACHA Scoring Certification with Katrina, Sunday, April 19
Parasites are the number one health issue in small ruminants. The classroom portion covers best management practices for parasite management as outlined and defined by the American Consortium of Small Ruminant Practitioners. It will cover the types of parasites they are exposed to, signs, symptoms and strategies for how to reduce parasite exposure and the different methods for managing intestinal parasites in a flock or herd, when/how/why to run a fecal egg count test and perform a 5-point check as well as basic “what is FAMACHA”. Use of the FAMACHA system allows small ruminant producers to make deworming decisions based on an estimate of the level of anemia associated with barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortus) infection. The barber pole worm is the most common cause of anemia during the grazing season in most of the U.S. During the field portion of the day at the barn, you will have the opportunity to evaluate multiple animals to receive your FAMACHA certification.
Katrina is a licensed veterinary technician at Green Mountain Bovine Clinic. She graduated from Purdue University and has over 20 years of experience with small ruminants, including her own herd of Boer goats. She is a certified FAMACHA trainer through the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control.
For Both Workshops…
Where: Meet at Chester Town Hall for classroom sessions, and travel to Aimee’s barn (in Chester) for fieldwork.
What to Bring: Drinks, snacks, lunch & comfortable clothes/layers. Washable rubber boots are required to enter the barn.
Cost: $90 per workshop. Register for both days and save $10. Payment is due upon signup to secure your spot!
Download your registration form here. Stop by the store or call to register!