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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Click on the arrow below to view other small ruminant programs.

  • 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

Dr. Brittany Fletcher
Extension Specialist, Ruminant Livestock
Western Maryland Research and Education Center
18330 Keedysville Road
Keedysville, MD 21756
(301) 226-7576
bfletch1@umd.edu

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

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