Where do research projects come from?

This edition of Reid’s Ram-blings was composed by Jake Thorne, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Program Specialist.

I love what I do for a career. My job provides a living for my family, it feeds a personal passion, and it allows me to be surrounded by the best type of people in the world. But I am betting exactly what we do in research/extension is probably a little hazy to most, even sheep and goat industry folks who we work with regularly. I’ll admit, it‘s not always clear cut.

For me and my family, the holiday season usually involves airplane travel to visit relatives. I don’t know why it catches me off guard, but inevitably my seat-neighbor on a flight will ask the question that everyone goes to when you are forced to rub shoulders with a complete stranger while trapped in a metal tube hurdling across the atmosphere at if-we-crash-this-is-certain-death speed…
“So… what do you do?”

I swear I never answer this question the same way twice. Consider it a lifelong ambition to find the perfect one sentence response that explains my job clearly and floods the likely non-ag employed questionee with complete understanding. It’s a work in progress. My current go-to is, “I study/analyze/read about/talk about/ write about/stare at sheep and goats, and then do my best to help the folks who are kind of into that too.” Like I said, I think it needs some tweaking…

But in reality, what we do is a little complicated and so now that my attempt at witty writing has sucked you into this article this far- here goes.

Our research projects at the center are born from ideas of how to benefit the sheep and goat industries. But there is a caveat- research costs money, money that we usually need to seek out in the form of a grant. Grants can be offered from many entities- private or government, but they usually are tied to advancing a cause or purpose.

In small ruminants, we are fortunate to have a couple of granting bodies that are dedicated to helping our specific industries improve, and for this we are very grateful! However, some of our larger research programs also require us to seek funding from sources such as the USDA, because of the larger dollar amounts they can offer.

To receive these grants, we need to write applications that align with the initiatives of the USDA and clearly explain how the proposed project will be beneficial to a broad section of the industry, is novel science (and is a foundation for future projects), and show there is a clear plan is in place of how to execute it. Sometimes these projects address an immediate concern for the sheep and goat industries and sometimes they satisfy a more long-term vision of what is to come.

A review panel then compares our grant application against a pool of others and decides which ones to fund. For perspective, getting funded one-third of the time in some fields is a success. Think baseball here – a career batting average of .333 means you’re a sure-fire hall of famer. But that also means in many cases we don’t receive funding and the project needs to be redesigned or else it pretty much ends before it ever gets started. Once the funding is secured though, the work can begin.

Why is research expensive, and how much are we talking? Research academics are evaluated by their employers (universities) in many ways, but a major criteria is the number and impact of articles they publish in peer-reviewed journals. Consider this a universal grading system across all fields of science. To publish an impactful article, the science often needs to not just be a repeat of what someone else has done previously and it needs to be done on a scale to definitively answer a question. All the resources, including equipment, animals, lab supplies, testing materials, worker salaries, and overhead, to accomplish this can add up pretty fast.

For a project to be large enough to find significant results, it is not uncommon for these costs to be in the tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. While this seems like a lot, science can be a bit of “you get what you pay for.” Good information comes with a price tag. From these projects, researchers will compile the results into an article and submit it for peer review (which can be stringent, and for good reason). Multiple published articles a year, per researcher, is typically the university’s expectation. There is a saying in academia “publish or perish,” and it can be pretty accurate.

For those in extension specialist roles, the job is a little different. Whereas research conducts science and compiles information from a project, it is the role of extension to disseminate these results to industry stakeholders. As a specialist it is necessary to understand how the industry works and it’s needs for progress, but at the same time, have knowledge of the capabilities of science and what can be accomplished. When something is learned in the lab, how it can be applied on the farm is not always a given, thus extension plays a very important role in the translation of that information. Often this includes conducting “applied research” which are projects that test a tool or strategy developed through “traditional research” to solve an immediate industry concern.

Conducting collaborative projects that involve producers and successfully applies new science/information can also be very successful and gratifying. At the same time, working directly with producers in a hands-on way allows us to better understand their challenges and how not-yet-developed technology could possibly benefit their operation. How do these applied and collaborative projects get paid for? You guessed it- grants. How do we show if these projects were successful? In many cases, publications.

I can’t say for sure what compelled me to write on this topic, but I wanted to give a bit of perspective on how the wheels turn in research and extension. There are also A LOT of perks to the job- namely that we get to work with livestock and for those that raise them for a living. We get to travel, we get to network, and every day is different – though livestock workdays are the best!

With this said, my next flight leaves in a couple days… any suggestions on how to condense this into one sentence?

To provide feedback on this article or request topics for future articles, contact me at jake.thorne@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7220. For general questions about sheep and goats, contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county office. If they can’t answer your question, they have access to someone who can.

Varying View of Hunting

As I sit down to write this column, temperatures have dropped and deer season is in full swing.  Buck fever definitely has a hold on the youngest members of our household and it reminds me that while I am thrilled my kids love the outdoors and harvesting their own food, I’ll admit my own relationship with the sport is complex.

Deer season was the time of the year that I looked forward to the most in my adolescence.  The love of outdoors and unrealistic expectation of killing a record breaking buck had me hooked.

My father was exceptionally supportive of my hunting passion.  Looking back, I suspect that his encouragement for my hunting efforts were to try to run as many deer out of the oat field as possible.  Nonetheless, it was a win-win situation for the both of us.

As time passed, my passion for deer hunting in Texas transitioned to a passion for livestock production and public land hunting. I have been fortunate my career has taken me to such places as western Montana, and I was suddenly enthralled with chasing bull elk through landscapes so dramatic they almost can’t be described. The concept of what I had loved as a child lost its shine. Maybe I hadn’t been “hunting” so much as just “shooting” deer all along? Suddenly, I found myself scoffing at those who lived and breathed the traditional Texas hunting style.

Twenty years later, I have to eat crow.  My son is an avid hunter, just as I was at his age.  While I am not excited to hunt deer from a blind looking over a corn feeder myself, it brings me tremendous joy to share this experience with him.  Life has a way of teaching us valuable lessons.

Here are a couple that I have come to realize.

• There isn’t a right or wrong way to hunt deer and it is ok to realize that it can be both good and bad for the ranching industry. As I talk with sheep and goat raisers, there are varying views of hunting. Similar to politics, those with the strongest views tend to be on the extremes.  Some folks hunt themselves and embrace hunting that takes place on their properties.  Others despise hunters as it disrupts their ranching enterprise, but put up with it because of the significant revenue is brings them or the landowner.

 

• I need to be more careful about developing strong opinions on how people should view the world. Deer hunters are major drivers of rural economies and represent a critical path to preserving the rural lifestyle.  While, there may be differences of opinion, I’d argue we have a lot more in common than the average American. We all deeply care about where our food comes from, realize that its important to have a connection to the land and nature, and want nothing more than to pass along these traditions to our kids.

 

My philosophies on deer hunting are similar to those of my views on raising livestock.  The diversity in our industry and varied motivations for being in this business is a strength of agriculture! We raise different breeds, focus on different breeding objectives, manage predators in a different way, etc.  Almost, no two sheep and goat ranchers are alike.  We should embrace our differences, learn from each other, and most importantly stick together.  We share more in common than we might first think.

 

To provide feedback on this article or request topics for future articles, contact me at reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7324.  For general questions about sheep and goats, contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county office.  If they can’t answer your question, they have access to someone who can.

 

What Does Sustainability Mean to You?

It seems like certain words get coined these days in the media or politics in an attempt to sound some type of deep-seeded alarm in your conscious. Before long these terms trickle down to your everyday conversations at the feedstore or local coffee shop.  A clear example of this is oft-used expression “sustainability”, something we can all agree is likely a good thing, but are likely a little vague on the definition of.  I suppose it depends on the context of the word and the ideals of the person using it.

To be honest with you, the term sustainability has a different meaning to me depending on my mood.  Some days, I would argue that modern agriculture needs to make some major adjustments to sustain itself and the natural resources it depends upon.  Others days, I would argue that agriculture is one the most sustainable of all industries.  Maybe, both statements are true.

What I don’t waiver on is that agriculture seems to be disproportionally accused of being unsustainable when it comes to climate change or green house gas emissions.  I suspect that it is because farmers only represent 2% of the population and can’t fund a wide-reaching “sustainability marketing campaign” to inform people of their environmentally friendly efforts.  Too use another buzzword – we take a more “grass roots” approach. I have been pleasantly surprised by the number of outspoken farmers/ranchers on social media sharing their daily life and how their enterprises are built to last for generations. I‘ll give extra kudos to the sheep and goat producers leading this effort. Often I see something on social media that alludes to the fact that small ruminants, who’ve existed as we know them for thousands of years, should hardly be public enemy #1 for a present day climate issue. I just hope the right people are seeing these messages. Keep up the good work!

I am fortunate to have been asked to serve on the Sustainability Task Force for the American Lamb Board.  This taskforce is working to create a sustainability strategy for the US sheep industry, including but certainly not limited climate related points.  For me it has been helpful to hear others views on the positive and negative sustainability aspects of the US sheep industry.  This task force will outline this strategy at the ASI annual convention, which will be Jan. 19-21, 2023 in Forth Worth, TX.  I encourage you all to make plans to be there.

In the meantime, I hope you begin thinking about the sustainability of your sheep and/or goat operations.  Maybe the best definition that I’ve heard of sustainable agriculture is production practices that satisfy human food and fiber needs, enhance environmental quality, efficiently use natural resources, are profitable, and enhance farmer quality of life.  While this definition can be a wordful, it is important that we don’t just focus on one aspect, such as climate change. Maybe just ask yourself an honest question– if I keep what I’m doing now, will my operation still exist in 50 years?

From my perspective, sheep and goat operations greatest strength is our history.  So many of the ranches that support sheep and goat production have been operated by the same families for decades.  Things that stand the test of time are “sustainable”.  In contrast, our greatest weakness is the relatively low return on investment.  I’m not saying that sheep and goats aren’t profitable.  Rather, the investments required such as land, fencing, facilities, and equipment are extremely high compared to even a few decades ago. These costs are largely beyond the control of most ranchers, but the trend is a serious concern, nonetheless.

However, this can be used as a positive message to consumers and environmentalists.  “Ranchers produce food and fiber for the world because they have a calling to care for the land, livestock, and environment. Most ranchers would see a higher rate of return, if they sold their land and invested elsewhere.  Therefore, profit is not the focus, rather a means to sustain themselves and continue their ranching legacy for generations to come.”

 

To provide feedback on this article or request topics for future articles, contact me at reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7324.  For general questions about sheep and goats, contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county office.  If they can’t answer your question, they have access to someone who can.

Brutal Honesty

I’m an easy going person and like to keep things light-hearted (refer to every previous edition of this column). However, I’ll draw the line and be brutally honest when it comes to the sustainability of our industry and way of life. Sheep and goat producers have indeed experienced some nice successes in recent history, thanks to the work of a lot of hard working industry members.

But let me be clear, small ruminant production in Texas as a whole needs take action against some serious threats that continue to chip away at our industry. Our future prosperity requires a mindset shift on some major points.  If not, we can expect the same issues to cause the same results!

Dealing with predation is one of these topics.  Predation in all likelihood is going to continue to get worse. I get it, predation is hard on the psyche of the rancher and a kid crop alike, and exchanging all the sheep and goats on the place for a few varmint-resilient cows has crossed all of our minds at some point. Reality is that those who can see the grander benefits and opportunities with sheep and goats have continued to adapt to predators and implemented new strategies. Consider this a challenge to be this type of producer.

I’m exceptionally proud of the AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog program.  It has heightened awareness of the importance of LGDs to the sustainability of the sheep and goat industry.  This program has remained successful even despite resistance from some people within our own industry that disliked LGDs as they can make it harder to apply lethal control tools.

We have also raised the bar on how important it is to actively manage these dogs for them to be successful.  Most often, poorly managed dogs don’t work and give those that do a bad reputation.  Silver bullets don’t exist, but LGD and good fences are the best predator management tool for a lot of sheep and goat ranchers.  They are a tool that allows us to combat predation vs allowing predators to dictate our success or failure.

Improving genetic selection strategies is another major topic, specifically not utilizing the available tools for genetic improvement of sheep and goats.  Without these tools, we are limiting our potential, losing ground to foreign competition (who widely uses this technology), and may very well be selecting for animals that are less productive or less fit for our environmental conditions.

If we are real honest with ourselves, the way we have been ingrained to select small ruminants exclusively by how they look has created a barrier to other methods. Yes, genetics is a part of outward appearance, but our magnetism to visual appraisal above all else has lead to the breeding of animals that don’t perform at a high level or require unsustainable inputs to do so.

While there are a few exceptions, most breeding programs are entrenched in this longstanding approach. Same actions equals same results.  For Texas, this is an 80% lamb crop confined to semi-arid low parasite risk regions of the state.  When there is genetic potential for 150% lamb crop that can withstand much higher parasite loads, as demonstrated by foreign competitors.

Estimated breeding values (EBVs) through the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP) are grossly underutilized by the Texas sheep and goat industry.  These are not meant to replace current breeding strategies.  In contrast, it expands the tools that breeders can use to find better genetics and/or eliminate genetics that are inferior.  Especially for selection of traits that are hard to visually identify, such as reproductive potential and parasite resistance.

I strongly urge seedstock breeders to utilize the most state of art breeding programs for the betterment of their operations and the sustainability of commercial producers that source genetics from them.  Similarly, I urge commercial breeders to buy breeding stock from breeders that offer EBVs and/or let their current seedstock breeders know that this is important to them. These technologies were developed using sound science and proven to have significant positive impact in other livestock species domestically and sheep industries outside of Texas.

Admittedly, this technology can be complex and will take time to learn. To add confusion, genomically enhanced breeding technologies are rapidly becoming available to small ruminants thanks to the progressive actions of other livestock industries. In essence, genetic technology can take multiple forms and is best utilized in concert with each other.  We are always here to help with the adoption and implementation of these technologies.  Never hesitate to ask questions or share concerns that you may have.

In summary, change can be hard and it rarely comes without complications. But without leaders that take on this challenge, the majority of people will sit on the fence and wait for someone else to do it. I think it is a fair generalization to say that raising sheep and goats in a drought-prone area is hard. And I know that with the lack of rain, growing predator pressure, and fluctuating markets it can be difficult to invest time and money into a long-term management change. I would like to point out that history has always favored those that think ahead, act before it was too late, and see opportunity where others see toil. I’m confident that the leaders in Texas are capable of embracing new technology and redefining our destiny.  Consider this article a strong urge to do so!

 

To provide feedback on this article or request topics for future articles, contact me at reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7324.  For general questions about sheep and goats, contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county office.  If they can’t answer your question, they have access to someone who can.

 

Dog Days of Summer

As I sit to write this article, the actual temperature is 110 degrees Fahrenheit.  It is down right uncomfortable for anybody or anything that has to be outside during the heat of the day.  Definitely, the “Dog Days of Summer.”

If you read this article regularly, you know that I am a dog enthusiast.  Border collies and livestock guardian dogs of varying breeds are what I have personally and most of what we work with at the Research and Extension center.  Neither of these breed types were originally selected to endure this type of heat.  Black coat color absorbs the most heat and long dense coats are the hardest to thermoregulate in these extreme conditions.

Growing up I always thought that “Dog Days of Summer” was a pun on how these animals in particular had to endure the hottest months of the year.  But in preparation for this article I did a little research and learned it has nothing to do with Border Collies or big white dogs at all.

According to the farmers almanac, the hottest part of the summer coincides with the time of the year that the star “Sirius” rises and sets with the Sun.  Sirius is part of the constellation Canis Major, the Greater Dog.  Ancient Romans believed that Sirius was responsible for the added heat, when in reality it has to with the length of time the Earth is exposed to direct sunlight.

Heat stress can have a big effect on the health and productivity of sheep and goats.  I conducted a heat stress research project during my masters program in New Mexico.  During the summer it routinely reached 110 degrees throughout July and August.  We tried to measure the impact of embryonic survival when sheep were bred during these hot periods.  Unfortunately, the research project failed to identify any measurable difference in embryonic loss compared to traditional fall breeding.  This was countrary to other published literature.

As we tried to decipher why this difference occurred, we concluded that our research project only exposed sheep to heat during the day and not at night.  The sheep were able to maintain normal body heat, as long as they limited activity to the cooler nights, which are common in the Chihuahua desert.  As the saying goes, I learned more from this failure than had we been successful.  This learning has stuck with me for nearly two decades.

When people ask me how to help animals deal with heat stress.  My initial question is always “What temperatures does it drop down to at night?” and “Can the animals relax in the shade during the day?”  These are important aspects to determine if heat stress is evident or not. Adding multiple water sources could also potentially help utilize more pasture, as livestock typically don’t travel far from water when experiencing constant extreme temperatures. It is also critical to reduce as many other “stressors” that your sheep and goats may be experiencing as well, e.g. monitor them closely for internal parasite burden and if livestock must be worked, try to contain the activities to just the early morning hours.

One thing that further worries me about this year in particular in the San Angelo area is the lack of quality forage in the pasture.  I am routinely observing whitetail deer up and foraging during the heat of the day.  Why would they be doing this instead of seeking shade?  I suspect, it is the lack of quality forage in the pasture for them to find at night and they are forced to search for nutrition during the day.  Basically, adding insult to injury.

For our livestock, I would encourage you to supplement sheep and goats that are exhibiting this same type of behavior to help them get through the dog days of summer without losses in productivity.

And, of course, pray for rain!

To provide feedback on this article or request topics for future articles, contact me at reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7324.  For general questions about sheep and goats, contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county office.  If they can’t answer your question, they have access to someone who can.

 

Sharpen the Saw

The United States is the greatest country in the World, and we owe more than we will ever realize to those that built it with their bare hands. It is easy to look back on the generations that came before us and draw inspiration in our own lives about working hard and “embracing the grind” to be successful in life.

This mindset serves the agriculture community very well, but an unfortunate reality of modern times is that it is easier than ever for those that always saying yes to new projects and plans to become over committed and bogged down. Technology that was designed to make our lives more efficient at multi tasking is a double edge sword. Sometimes we don’t realize that really the most efficient thing for us to do is take a step back, breathe a bit, and think about what it is we are actually “grinding” at and if that is truly leading to progress in our ranch.

I am reminded of one of the best professional development activities that I have had the privilege to take part in.  It was a week long program called “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” which was based on the Stephen Covey book.  We had to disconnect from work obligations the entire week, which I was very reluctant to agree to at the time.

During the training, there was an example of a someone sawing wood.  They were working expecptionally hard to keep up with workload and it wasn’t going well.  This person was doing what a lot of ranchers do when times get tough; working harder and longer hours. Then, another person comes by and asks the man if he would like help to sharpen the say; and he said “No. I am way too busy for that.”  While, it may seem obvious to someone from the outside looking in, we can all get caught up in daily chores and don’t take time to sharpen our own saw.

I encourage you to break away from the ranch this summer and engage in some sheep and goat professional development opportunities.

• TSGRA Annual Convention, July 14 – 16, Kerrville, TX
• American Lamb Summit, Aug. 8-9, East Lansing, MI
• Texas Sheep and Goat Expo, Aug. 19-20, San Angelo, TX

We tend to think about these events as places where we go to gain knowledge and insight that can be helpful to your farm or ranch.  While, this is true, these events are also great opportunities to network with other like minded agriculturalists.  As the saying goes, “it’s not always what you know, but who you know.”  In addition, showing up at these events allows ranchers to share their thoughts and views on the industry with other ranchers, industry leadership and/or politicians.

Getting away from the homeplace for a few days is a challenge, but I think we can agree that sometimes the notion that the “ranch can’t run without me being here 24/7” is actually all in our heads.

I hope to see you at one of more of these events!

 

To provide feedback on this article or request topics for future articles, contact me at reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7324.  For general questions about sheep and goats, contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county office.  If they can’t answer your question, they have access to someone who can.

 

Do You Speak the Language?

If you are a long-time reader of this column, you’ll likely know that I am a strong proponent of Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGD).  These dogs can be a game changer for mitigating predation of sheep and goats but admittedly, implementation of a successful LGD program is much easier said than done.  Some people seem to be great at it, while others seem to have one problem after another.

Since 2015, we have been actively conducting research and educational programs to help farmers and ranchers with LGD management.  Over the years, I’ve read literature, studied the animals, and observed management practices that people use to make LGD programs work.  To be honest, it confuses me at times when I try to apply the scientific process to rule out what should or shouldn’t be done.

What we often take for granted in livestock research is behavior of ruminants within a flock or herd does not vary a whole lot. Sure, there are some nuanced cases of sheep or goats having individual personalities (the ex-bottle lamb definitely comes to mind), but “personalities” takes on a whole new meaning when discussing dogs. Each dog is absolutely different, which makes applying a stepwise scientific process to development a challenge.

As I have ruminated on the topic for years, there tends to be one major trend that seems to be consistent amongst those who raise successful LGDs.  People who are successful have a natural gift to work with animals.  These individuals are the same type of folks that train their own horses and working dogs, as well.  In essence, they speak the language!

My father is one of those types of people. I highly doubt he ever read a book on it.  Rather, he learned from experience and sought advice from others in the community.  Growing up on the ranch, I can always recall that he was training a horse for one purpose or another–a passion that he passed on to my brother.  As sheep and goats became more of a focus at the ranch, he transitioned to training working dogs and developing LGDs.  This became a passion of mine.

Over the years, I have tried to immolate his process to train working dogs but I inevitably adjust to what fits my style.  When we talk, our conversations are typically dominated by discussions around a working dog in training.  We have a friendly debate on who’s dog is better but I have to acknowledge he usually has the advantage.  Please don’t tell him I said that!

The point of my rambling about working dogs is that my family has successfully used LGD to protect sheep and goats for several decades.  A big part of this success is having good dogs, which are a result of having someone who can speak the language to make it work.

This begs the question.  Do you need to speak the language to have LGDs?  I would argue that you do not have to, but it helps if you do.  If you are not a gifted animal trainer, then you may look into purchasing a bonded LGD, similar to how people buy horses that are trained for a particular purpose.  With that said, LGDs that are bonded and raised on the ranch tend to have a higher success rate than those bonded elsewhere.  Depending on the situation, it may be best to bond freshly weaned LGDs at the ranch but to work closely with someone who speaks the language during the first year. Working with someone who has been successful will also allow you to pick up on some of the subtleties of dog training that are not always noticeable at first glance, but make a huge difference. Think of this as taking a canine language arts course!

Whatever your plan, it is imperative to remember that developing LGDs is a long term investment of time and money. Having the patience to see the process through will almost always allow you to come out ahead in the long run.

For more information about the Texas A&M AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog program, visit our website (sanangelo.tamu.edu/research/lgd/) or contact Bill Costanzo (325- 657-7311).  We also want to express appreciation to the Sheep and Goat Predator Management Board for their support of the program.

To provide feedback on this article or request topics for future articles, contact me at reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7324.  For general questions about sheep and goats, contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county office.  If they can’t answer your question, they have access to someone who can.

 

Can the Texas Sun Energize the Sheep Industry?

This edition of Reid’s Ram-blings was composed by Jake Thorne, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Program Specialist.

I just filled my pickup up with $4.00/gallon gas on my way in to work today and though it was a tough pill to swallow personally, my greatest concern is for how current energy prices are affecting America’s farmers and ranchers. The extra squeeze on agriculture to continue to “produce more with less” is another formidable obstacle for a sector of society that seems to already have a mountain range of hills to climb. With that said, my job title isn’t “chief lamenter”, and I don’t write this column to pour salt on your wounds either. Instead, I choose to find the silver lining in every obstacle, and as the trend to find alternatives to fossil fuels intensifies, I do see a major opportunity “shining” on the horizon for West Texas sheep producers.

I started this with a pessimistic grumble about fuel prices, but pragmatically I do not pretend to fully understand the dynamics by which oil and gas production, renewable energy, and ranching comingle in West Texas. It seems crude oil at $100/barrel brings salvation to one landowner and is a blow on the chin for another; but don’t worry that isn’t what I am intending to debate with this piece. With that said, the push for renewable energy has made it all the way to the heart of American fossil fuel production country. Solar farms are popping up everywhere in our region, including in true Texas fashion, a 2700-acre behemoth in McCamey (naturally, the largest in the USA). Behind their tightly enclosed fences and underneath the rows and rows of glimmering panels, grass and weeds still grow. I stand behind the fact that there is not a more well equipped, economically sensible, and carbon-recycling consumer of weeds than San Angelo’s unofficial mascot—sheep.

Grazing underneath solar panels is not something new. This niche style of production has been well reported for some time here and there, but for the most part, it is a new thing in our area. Loosely, how it works is solar companies are looking for ways to effectively control vegetation that grows underneath the panels (of course, rain is required for this, but I promised no negative thoughts earlier, so we’ll disregard the drought for now). Mowing, weed-eating, or chemical treatment are all options, but tend to be labor intensive and expensive. So, enter the four-legged mowers. Sheep producer and solar farm company can work out a mutually beneficial agreement in which sheep, a species that generally don’t pose quite as much of a damage risk to the panels as some other ruminants, provide the vegetation control. It will vary depending on several factors, but the compensation for grazing to the sheep owner can be $20 up to several hundred dollars per acre. Not to mention, the fences are new and tight, and the panels provide excellent summer shade. More information about budgets, benefits, and previous grazing projects can be found at the American Solar Grazing Association website; https://www.solargrazing.org/ .

Now it should be pointed out that solar grazing is more than just dropping off a load of ewes at a site, slapping ourselves on the back for finding such an opportunity, and then coming back in a couple weeks to make sure the float hasn’t fallen off the water trough. In reality, the sheep will need to be monitored as will the level of vegetation, which is ultimately the goal for the solar company, to keep the weeds/grass down. However, as we all know, overgrazing isn’t the answer either, because what will grow back likely won’t be palatable and might have thorns on it ready to do battle with beast or man alike. Such is life in Texas, even our plants can be mean and tough. So the solution is usually to develop a forage-crop through seeding and perennial management. Produce something the sheep will eat and thrive on, but don’t graze it to the point of killing it off. This will likely mean grazing on the solar sites will also not be year-round.

As solar becomes more established in our area, I anticipate that it won’t be long before sheep will be a common occurrence under panels throughout the Concho Valley and grazing opportunities might be hard to come by. However, this generally is a pro-sheep area with ranchers and farmers already scouring the landscape for lease country. I encourage you to broaden your horizons and look for chances to graze solar sites wherever they are being put in across Texas, because there is a tremendous upside for both parties to have sheep under the panels. Not to overpromise on something we can’t deliver, but we have kicked around the idea of hosting a solar grazing conference here in Texas sometime in the future, be on the lookout for more information if that is something that ends up coming together. I know I have said it before, but I am really optimistic about the future of sheep production in the U.S. They are versatile, sustainable, valuable, good for the land, and generate fantastic commodities to eat or wear. Continuing to find ways to produce them in a dynamic world is going to be a win-win for all.

To provide feedback on this article or request topics for future articles, contact me at jake.thorne@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7220.  For general questions about sheep and goats, contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county office.  If they can’t answer your question, they have access to someone who can.

Risk Management

As I am writing this article, the world seems to be in complete disarray.  The news from Ukraine is absolutely heartbreaking.  Inflation and fuel prices are out of control.  And the drought across the sheep and goat region of Texas is worsening by the day.

On the bright side, the sheep and goat market has remained strong through all this turmoil.  While we hope that this market is the new normal, it is prudent we recognize the possibility of a down turn.  Trying to predict the market is risky business but it is the reality for industries that are price takers.

I keep thinking back to 2012, when the market collapsed.  Two years prior, I had just taken my first academic position at North Dakota State University.  The ethnic market had established itself as a major part of the US lamb industry, a historic drought in Texas was greatly impacting supply of lamb, and US dollar had weakened which reduced import pressure.  As a result, lamb and goat prices hit all-time highs.  All we could talk about at industry meetings was “This market is here to stay, and we need to capitalize on it!”

As with most commodities, the high prices started to reduce demand and harvest volumes slowed.  Lambs in the feedlots got heavier and heavier.  The US dollar started to gain strength which further enticed the oceanic countries to ramp up imports into America.  And as quickly as our domestic market climbed; it came crashing down.  The traditional lamb industry was hit the hardest, the non-traditional lamb industry to a lesser degree, and the meat goat trade came out mostly unscathed.

I am not necessarily predicting a major market crash in the near future. Factors are very different, and potentially more favorable in 2021 compared to 2011.  For me the real question is “How high can the market climb without negatively impacting consumer demand?”  Based on presentation at the ASI convention in San Diego, restaurant and retail markets are reducing orders and/or switching to cheaper import product.  The ethnic market for lamb and goat tend to not compete with imported product.  But a rising tide lifts all boats; therefore, it isn’t fully immune to it either.  And the same principles of supply and demand for both consumer and producer apply.

It is also prudent that we consider the seasonal market flux here in Texas.  The yearly market data we collect and publish on our website indicates strong markets in the winter markets and weaker markets in the summer.  As we transition to spring, the volume of animals sold at auction will go up with the natural production cycle and it will likely have a negative impact.  In addition, the ethnic holiday seasons are now earlier in the spring and early summer.

For me, the greatest risk for the sheep and goat industry in today’s market is buying high priced breeding animals.  As long as someone is making this purchase with a long-term approach, they should be fine.  But new or expanding producers that are relying on high priced lambs or goats in the short term might find themselves a tough situation, if a market correction occurs in the near future.

While, I tend to be an optimist and look at the glass half full, I also feel obligated to share my experience from being too optimistic in the past.  In full transparency, I was concerned last year that the market was going to see a correction and it didn’t.

As an industry, we must be able to weather the highs and lows of the market, along with drought, parasites, predators, just to name a few.  Hence the reason that raising livestock takes a special breed of people. Time and time again history has showed us that business’ that manage their assets and expenditures to be robust against price crashes are able to persist long-term.

Time will tell what our future holds.  Hopefully, that includes a stable and sustainable market for all segments of the industry.  Just as importantly, I pray spring rains are right around the corner to quench the thirst of this droughty landscape.

 

To provide feedback on this article or request topics for future articles, contact me at reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7324.  For general questions about sheep and goats, contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county office.  If they can’t answer your question, they have access to someone who can.

Dealing with Drought

As I drive around this region of the state the landscape is all just variable shades of brown- forage, dirt, and trees included. If it wasn’t for the blaring heater and an obnoxiously fluorescent Fahrenheit reading from the dash of my pickup, I could almost be confused if it is 20 or 120 degrees outside. Warm season grasses are dormant, cool season grasses never really came up, and even the wheat fields have mostly thrown in the towel. It appears that most everyone in West Texas (and much of the western U.S.) is dealing with this same abysmal situation, and here at the research station in San Angelo we have not been spared. Adding insult to injury the long-range weather forecast indicates that this will persist through the spring.

Typically, when wide-spread drought conditions occur, ranchers are left with no choice but to sell lambs or kid goats at lighter weights and often cull harder on their breeding females.  If a large percent of the industry takes this action at the same time, it can oversupply the market and force prices down.  Fortunately for the sheep and goat industry, this is the time of the year that supply of all classes of sheep and goats at market are lower and prices are strong.

Another option for ranchers is to feed through the drought.  Again, if a lot of people take this approach, then the price of hay and supplement (which are also in short supply because of said drought) will escalate.  The unfortunate situation for this year is the market for livestock feed was high even before the faucet from the heavens turned off in early fall.  Luckily, the high market price of sheep and goats have allowed for ranchers to purchase higher priced feeds and still generate a return on investment.

Like many of you, we are at a point that supplementation rates of our research flocks and herds have had to increase substantially to keep adequate condition on our animals.  Without rain in the near future, we won’t be “supplementing” the animals but rather feeding them most of their entire diet.  In this case, we will have to dry-lot most of the animals as leaving them too long on pasture will result in overgrazing that will make it even harder for the range to recover when drought breaks.

Fortunate for us, we pregnancy scanned all the ewes that are due to lamb this spring.  This allowed us to cull all our mature ewes that were not pregnant early this winter.  As drought persisted, we culled the two-year old ewes that were also open.  Then, we sorted off the thin ewes and twin-bearing ewes into a separate pasture to provide them with extra feed before lambing in March. If we can keep them in proper condition, the extra pound of energy these females get each day will more than pay itself back in the added lamb production. This strategy of separating singles and twin bearing ewes also ensures that the ewes that are physically hindered by late gestation of multiple fetus’ aren’t bullied off the feedline by the single carrying ewes who are stronger and more agile. Unfortunately splitting the flock spreads the guard dogs out a bit, but there is give and take with every management decision (insert cliché about “if it was easy…”).

As I talk with ranchers that have successfully navigated drought in the past, it seems that most good decisions are made early. Sometimes they don’t work out perfectly. But catastrophic effects of dealing with drought tend to occur to those that wait too long and are left with very few options. In hindsight I could have been a little timelier with this advice! Nonetheless, drought is something we have all endured before and will again. Every scenario in ranching is an opportunity to learn and this provides a good barometer for the resilience of your operation. With that said I absolutely hope that you all receive rain in the near future.  But if you don’t, I hope that your recent decisions are wise ones and allow your sheep and goat operations to sustain themselves for generations to come.

To provide feedback on this article or request topics for future articles, contact me at reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7324.  For general questions about sheep and goats, contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county office.  If they can’t answer your question, they have access to someone who can.