EAST LANSING, Mich. — The 2017 MSU Small Ruminant Health Symposium will take place on Saturday, October 14, 2017 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Scobie has made a big impact on both the Australian and New Zealand wool industries by creating high value wool sheep with greatly reduced risk of fly strike. He extended these selection efforts to other traits as well, creating sheep that do not don’t require docking and that excel in productive traits. His insight and perspectives on improving sheep and goat welfare and productivity will be shared throughout his talks and during the afternoon workshop. Other program highlights will include research and management updates from MSU by Dr. Kurt Williams and Dr. Richard Ehrhardt, as well as the popular afternoon necropsy lab presented by veterinary pathologist, Dr. Dalen Agnew.
Agenda
8:30 – 9 a.m. Registration Sign-in G150 lobby, College of Veterinary Medicine (light refreshments provided)
9 – 9:15 a.m. Welcome and Introductions Room G150, College of Veterinary Medicine
9:15 – 10:05 a.m. Sheep genes that have management and welfare advantages Dr. David Scobie, AgResearch, Christchurch, New Zealand.
10:05 -10:15 a.m. Break
10:15 -11 a.m. Research and Management updates from MSU:
• What can we learn from goats and sheep about human health and disease? Dr. Kurt Williams, MSU CVM, Department of Pathobiology
• Health and management of newborn kids/lambs. Dr. Richard Ehrhardt MSU ANR and CVM, Department of Animal Science and Large Animal Clinical Science
11 a.m. -12 p.m. What can we learn from feral sheep and goats? Dr. David Scobie
12-1 p.m. Lunch Tables will be organized by interest topic to allow for networking
1 – 4p.m. Labs/workshops-choose two (bus transportation provided to and from CVM)
• Necropsy Lab, 1300 Anthony Hall, Dr. Dalen Agnew, Michigan State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology , East Lansing, MI
• Recognizing traits that have welfare advantages. MSU Sheep Teaching and Research Center. Dr. David Scobie
• Birth management of kid/lambs to improve welfare. MSU Sheep Teaching and Research Center. Dr. Richard Ehrhardt and Mr. Mike Metzger, MSU Extension
4 – 5 p.m. Reception and Panel Discussion. Room A213, College of Veterinary Medicine
Registration: $40 per person (includes proceedings, lunch and transportation to labs), online access: $20 per person. THIS EVENT IS LIMITED TO 150 PARTICIPANTS. Pre-registration is required to attend and can be completed online. Registration closes when full or on Tuesday, October 10. Please contact Sherye Robitaille with any questions (517) 884-7816.
— Mike Metzger, Michigan State University Extension
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