Sheep and Goats

Extension educational programs for sheep and goat producers in Maryland are coordinated by Susan Schoenian, Sheep and Goat Specialist, at the Western Maryland Research & Education Center. Susan holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Animal Science from Virginia Tech and Montana State University, respectively. She has been with the University of Maryland Extension since 1988.

Explore Maryland Small Ruminant Programs

FAMACHA© and Integrated Parasite Management

FAMACHA© and Integrated Parasite Management

Internal parasites (worms) are the primary health problem affecting small ruminants (sheep goats, and camelids). Due to dewormer resistance, it is no longer recommended that animals be treated preventively. Only clinically-parasitized animals should be dewormed. FAMACHA© is a decision-making tool for deworming small ruminants. It estimates the level of anemia (blood loss) in the animal. Anemia is the primary symptom of barber pole worm infection. In order to get a FAMACHA© card, you must take an approved training and become FAMACHA© certified. Because of Covid, online FAMACHA© certification is now available. It consists of watching a presentation (YouTube video) passing a quiz (70%), and making a video demonstrating proper FAMACHA© scoring technique.

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The Junior Sheep & Goat Skillathon

The Junior Sheep & Goat Skillathon

The Junior Sheep & Goat Skillathon is always held on the Sunday of the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. The Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival is always held the first full weekend of May at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, Maryland.

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Small Ruminant Webinars

Small Ruminant Webinars

A webinar is a seminar presented through the world wide web. All you need to participate in is a computer with an internet connection. High-speed internet access is recommended. Interaction is via a chatbox. Most webinars are recorded, and the recordings are uploaded to YouTube (or some other similar). The University of Maryland Small Ruminant Extension Program has been doing webinars since 2011. Webinar offerings have increased substantially due to COVID-19. 

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Subscribe to Listservs

Subscribe to Listservs

The University of Maryland Extension Small Ruminant Program has created four listservs (Wild and Woolly, Sheep Research, Webinars, and WORMinfo) to communicate with producers and disseminate information pertaining to sheep and goat production and marketing. Anyone may subscribe to one or more of the listservs.

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  • Bucks at the Western Maryland Research and Education Center

    Maryland Small Ruminant Page

  • Ewe

    Sheep 101

  • Ewe with her lambs

    Sheep 201

  • Small Ruminant Q & A; Sheep Grazing

    Small Ruminant Q & A

  • sheep grazing

    WormX

  • Lamb grazing at the Western Maryland Research and Education Center

    WMREC Research Blog

Check Out Our Wild & Woolly Newsletter

  • Wild & Woolly 2021 Fall Issue (pdf)

  • Wild & Woolly Newsletter Archives

Small Ruminant Research and Extension Team

Maegan Perdue
Extension Educator
UME-Worcester County
mperdue@umd.edu
(410) 632-1972

Jeff Semler
Extension Educator
UME-Washington County
jsemler@umd.edu
(301) 791-1304

Chris Anderson
UME 4-H Youth Development Specialist
canders2@umd.edu
(301) 314-7187

Ashley Travis
UME 4-H Youth Development Educator
UME-Washington County
ashley90@umd.edu
(301) 791-1304

Dr. Amanda Grev
Forage & Pasture Specialist
UME-WMREC
agrev@umd.edu
(301) 432-2767 ext. 339

Charlie Sasscer
Extension Educator
UME-Prince George's County

csasscer@umd.edu
(301) 868-9366

Pam Thomas
Business Service Specialist
UME-WMREC
pthomas@umd.edu
(301) 432-2767 ext. 315