OSU Extension Livestock Webinars

Hardin County – Corn, soybean, and wheat provide most of the agriculture income to farmers in the area. However, livestock is still a major source of income for many farmers even though the industry is much smaller than 30 to 40 years ago.

The Ohio State University Extension (OSUE) has many programs on livestock production this winter. Because of the pandemic, these programs will be virtual. The programs offered will be for sheep, goat, and beef producers and applicable for both small and large operations.

The 2021 Small Ruminant Webinar Series will include sheep and goats. Ruminants are grazing animals that can digest complex forage material in a special stomach consisting of four chambers. The small ruminant webinars will be offered on the following dates with different topics covered each evening.

Tuesday, February 16, 7:00-8:30 p.m. – Nutrition: OSUE Sheep Team will address the importance of providing adequate protein, carbohydrates, and minerals in the forms of processed grains, hay, grazed pasture, minerals, and supplements to your flock/herd. Flock refers to a group of sheep and herd refers to a group of goats.

Tuesday, March 16, 7:00-8:30 p.m. – Weaning, Sorting and Marketing Lambs and Kids. OSUE Sheep Team will offer strategies for weaning lambs/kids and preparing them for joining the breeding flock or entering the meat processing chain.

Also included will be examples of marketing strategies and determining what to do with ewes/does and rams/bucks that are no longer meeting breeding needs of the flock/herd. Rams are male sheep; bucks are male goats.

Programs are free, but registration is required at: https://go.osu.edu/smallruminantwebinars2021.

Time for questions and answers will be allowed at the end of each webinar. Programs will be recorded, so if a producer misses the live webinar, they can watch the recording later. The OSU Sheep Team consists of State Specialists and County Educators specializing in sheep production.

2021 Cow/Calf Management Webinar Series: The OSUE Beef Team will be offering weekly webinars on topics to increase profits for beef cow-calf producers. The OSU Beef Team consists of State Specialists and County Educators specializing in beef production.

The following programs will be discussed on a given date:

January 25, 6:00-8:00 p.m. – Annual forage options for hay shortfalls and baleage management.

February 1, 6:00-8:00 p.m. – Importance of forage analysis and storing forage properly.

February 8, 6:00-8:00 p.m. – Managing the herd during the breeding season and breeding for cow longevity.

February 15, 6:00-8:00 p.m. – Managing reproduction.

February 22, 6:00-8:00 p.m. – Culling the herd and maximizing feed calf value.

Beef producers may also attend the virtual Cow-Calf Outlook on January 26, 6:30-8:00 p.m. — Dr. Kenny Burdine, Livestock Marketing Specialist, University of Kentucky will be the speaker.

Register for the link to attend the Cow/Calf Management Webinars and the Outlook at https://u.osu.edu/beefteam/2021-beef-school/