Workshop offers tips on protecting sheep from disease

AMES — Sheep producers are invited to attend Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Secure Sheep and Wool Supply Plan Workshop May 9 from 1-5 p.m.

Sheep producers will learn how to best protect their flocks from disease and prepare for the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak. Attendees will also hear from guest speaker Dr. Danelle Bickett-Weddle of Preventalytics and receive a tour of the Iowa State Sheep Teaching Farm.

“Stopping disease transmission from farm to farm and animal to animal is the first step in protecting your sheep from diseases,” said Carolyn Ihde, small ruminant outreach specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension.

“Each producer can create a plan tailored to their operation and how they conduct daily management and business continuity.”

Attendees will also learn how to prevent common diseases from spreading to sheep, what to expect if foot-and-mouth disease is diagnosed in the U.S., how to prepare for business continuity and how to implement biosecurity measures.

The workshop will be offered at the Iowa State Sheep Teaching Farm pavilion at 3726 520th Ave. in Ames. There is no cost to attend.

Registration is available online for the workshop. Contact Carolyn Ihde at cihde@iastate.edu with questions.

This training is made possible, in part, by a USDA NADPRP Grant to the American Sheep Industry Association. Attendees will gain valuable information, hands-on experience and a binder containing all resources from the SSWS website.