Small Ruminant Dairy  Newsletter May 8, 2000

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"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."  - Helen Keller

We were happy to send out the first dairy goat and sheep resource directory for the Vermont region a month ago. It was a collaboration between the Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the VT Dept. of Ag., Food, & Markets. Printing was paid for by the Dairy Goat and Sheep Promotion Board; data collection and postage was paid for by the Small Ruminant Dairy Project.

The directory contains an indexed list of producers, a section of service providers, and a list of useful resources, associations and websites. If you live in New Hampshire or Maine, the contacts who helped in those states can send you a copy. John Porter, UNH Cooperative Extension, 603-225-5505; Richard Brozowski, UM Cooperative Extension, 207-780-4205.

We are sorry if we missed you but we plan to print a new edition next year and solicit again for entries. Next year there will be a small fee to actually cover the cost of publication and postage. Encourage anyone not receiving this newsletter to add themselves to the list to receive an 'entry' form for next year.

If you would like a copy of the directory, contact Betty LaMothe, 802-656-5459, susagctr@zoo.uvm.edu.

Five small ruminant dairy farms are a part of the SRDP Record Keeping Project. The goal of the project was to help farms start or improve financial and feed record keeping on a monthly basis. Each month, the farms are visited or contacted by phone to collect the data, and a spreadsheet of income and expenses are mailed back to the farms. The categories are similar for many farms but are customized for each operation in the project. We wanted to validate the diversity of each farm operation and make the figures most useful to each individual farmer. At the completion of the project, each farm will have a monthly record of their operating budget and feed use to use for planning the next year.

The farmers will also benefit from advice or viewpoints from various other farmers invited in to discuss how they use their records. Others will benefit by the data collected of actual farm figures. The Sustainable Jobs Fund has agreed to fund the project for the 2000 calendar year.

If you would like more information or would like to join this project, please contact the Center for Sustainable Agriculture at 802-656-5459.

The Small Ruminant Dairy Project is funding a cheese HACCP project proposed for sheep dairies by Peter Dixon. All sheep dairies were asked to be involved and 8 accepted. Peter will be visiting farms and starting a milk sampling/analysis program. The farmers are contributing a portion of the consulting costs and all of the milk testing.

With limited funds in the SRDP, we also wanted to offer something to the licensed dairy goat farmstead cheesemakers. We have contracted with Peter Dixon to offer a limited amount of phone consultation time. The goat dairies have been contacted with this offer by mail.

There are currently three area goat discussion groups that anyone is free to join! The areas and contact people are listed below. Generally a topic is chosen for discussion, and the groups are mixes of commercial producers and part-time goat enthusiasts. Call the Center for Sustainable Agriculture to get on a group's mailing list, or call the contact person listed. Some groups meet monthly but tend to meet less often during the busy summer months.

Past topics have included goat grazing, meat marketing, feeding management, cost of production, recordkeeping, artificial insemination, 4-H goat groups, etc.

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY GOAT DISCUSSION GROUP

Jon or Cheryl Manns 802-247-3362; Kima Kellerman 802-759-3123

NORTHWEST VERMONT GOAT DISCUSSION GROUP

Suzanne McGregor 802-849-6250; Kristan Doolan 802-827-3046

NORTHEAST KINGDOM GOAT DISCUSSION GROUP

Lynn Rockwell 802-454-8353

Pride of Vermont Farms, Cindy Metayer and Theresa Lawyer

From a SARE grant written to help create a meat marketing collective of northern Vermont farmers, Pride of Vermont Farms is the name of this fledgling group. Wanting to offer a different market for farmers that find the southern Vermont Vermont Quality Meats cooperative too far to drive, this group has more marketing but fewer transportation challenges. Additionally, the group has received further funding from the VT Sustainable Jobs Fund to help them develop a few sausage recipes. Their plan for this year is to have some product samples to take to restaurants along with a survey of interest for other prime cuts.

Vermont Quality Meats, Lydia Ratcliff

VQM is now a legal Cooperative entity and surpassed $250,000 in sales since its inception last April. Currently there are 52 farmer members; they are not accepting new members at this time. This group markets whole carcasses to restaurants in New York and Boston with growing sales in Vermont.

Technical Assistance for Vermont Shepherd Farmers, Ann Works and Mark Fischer

Vermont Shepherd producers will get some on farm consulting on their cheese making practices by Jacky Mege of the CREOM cooperative of sheep dairies in the Pyrenees region of France. He will be in Vermont from July 24 to August 8, 2000.

Dairy Goat and Sheep Nutrition Projects, Bruce Clement

The second of three years of research begins again on the Major Farm sheep dairy and the Quarriers goat dairy, both grazing operations. The grant is looking at the best levels of concentrate supplementation for small ruminant dairy farms on pasture. After preliminary results, the statistical design has changed to help decrease animal variation that clouds treatment results. The concentrate is a pellet that includes about 15% soybean hulls for a digestible fiber source. This summer the treatments for the sheep will be .5 or 1.5 lbs. per day of concentrate and the treatments for the goats will be 1.5, 3 or 4.5 lbs. of concentrate per day.

The Small Ruminant Dairy Project has been able to borrow a Doppler type ultrasound to try out on dairy goats and sheep for its efficacy. The manual predicts that it can detect a pregnancy as early as 45 days. If you would like your animals tested and are willing to report back the outcome of the pregnancy, contact Carol Delaney 802-656-0915 AFTER JUNE 11.

If the machine proves to be useful, we will discuss forming a buyers group to share the use and maintenance of it. The machine is on loan from Oak Knoll dairy.

UVM: Cultures to identify bacteria and Somatic Cell Count. Each sample costs $5 and must be in an unused sterile bulk tank vile. Must be done with the involvement of your veterinarian. Contact Pat Murdough 802-656-1122, 121 Terrill Hall, UVM, Burlington, VT 05405.

Vermont Dept. of Ag. Labs: 802-244-4510. Unofficial milk testing.

Vermont Food & Dairy Lab: Private lab that offers bacteria and solids tests. Used by Vermont Butter & Cheese. Contact Brian Neilson 802-878-2905, Colchester, VT 05446.

Clancy Environmental: Microbiological, food, HACCP. Contact Ron Myers 802-524-2460, PO Box 314, St. Albans, VT 05478.

DairyOne Lab: DairyLea and Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) joined forces and offer many milk and forage testing services. Set up for goat milk tests. Contact Elaine Forcier 607-257-1272.

Vermont DHIA: Contact their headquarters at 802-295-3379.

Local creameries: Contact your local dairy processing plants to check for service availability.

Vermont Dept. of Ag., Food & Markets: Contact Dan Scruton, Milk Quality Specialist 802-828-3836

Quality Lab Services: Bacteriology and butterfat, etc. Contact Bebe Zablansky 802-263-5681, 108 Jeffery Lane, Perkinsville, VT 05151, email bbz@juno.com

I will be away in Europe from May 7 until June 7. The main impetus for the trip is the International Goat Conference in Tours, France. However, I will be spending my first week in England with Olivia Mills, visiting some small ruminant farms. After the Goat Conference, I will travel on a chartered 'goat farm' tour to see how they form groups and sell to the marketplace. I plan to gather a lot of information on the grazing of goats, of sheep dairy milk measuring and testing services, and grazing season extension practices.

If you need to get some information, contact Betty LaMothe at the Center for Sustainable Agriculture 802-656-5459 susagctr@zoo.uvm.edu and she will do her best to help you. Also, refer to the resource listing in the back of the Dairy Goat and Sheep Directory for a complete listing of support people.

A bientôt! - Carol

2000 Maine Shepherd School

May 19-21, Cumberland, ME. This practice 3-day school is designed for sheep and wool producers (adults and teens). It will involve a day of touring sheep operations in coastal Maine and two days of lectures, demonstrations, problem solving and discussions. Dr. Gary Ricketts, retired Sheep Extension Specialist from the University of Illinois will be the featured instructor. Main topics to be presented include computers and recordkeeping, sheep nutrition, sheep reproduction and facilities. Some full scholarships available for youths ages 12-18. For more information, contact the Cumberland County Extension Office at 207-780-4205, or Extension Educator Richard Brozozowski at rbrz@umext.maine.edu

Southern Vermont Dairy Goat Association Tailgate Sale

Saturday, May 20, 2000. Sale to be held at Clubhouse grounds, RT 9, Marlboro, VT, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. rain or shine. Buy/sell/trade dairy goats, meat goats, fiber goats, pygmy goats, sheep, rabbits (no other livestock, pets, or poultry allowed); livestock equipment; cheese & wool products. $5 vendor fee; pre-register by sending check to Southern VT Dairy Goat Assoc., c/or Joann H. Nichols, Clerk, 110 Chestnut Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301-6579. Questions – call John Stratton 802-823-5043.

North Country Double Sanctioned Dairy Goat Show

May 28, 2000, 10 a.m., North Haverhill, NH. All entries due on or before May 24, 2000. Pre-paid entry fee $2.75/animal; $5 animal on show day. Out of state animals must be accompanied by an import permit, available from NH Dept. of Agriculture. Rabies inoculations are recommended. Animals must be owned 30 days prior to the show. All entries must be on the grounds and checked in by 9:30 a.m. For more information/registration contact Darlyne Antos, 4 Highland St., Woodsville, NH 03785, 603-747-9935. (Registration forms also available by calling the Center for Sustainable Agriculture at 802-656-5459).

Co-op 201: Technical Assistance for Emerging Co-ops

48-hour course done in 8 6-hour sessions, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 30, June 15, July 13, August 10, September 7, October 5, November 2, November 30. At the Old Brick Church next to the Washington Electric Cooperative in East Montpelier, VT. This advanced, in-dept course on cooperative business development is designed to guide groups through the exciting process of creating a cooperative. In these sessions, you will walk through the entire Cooperative Development process, receiving intensive technical assistance on cooperative governance, market research, creating a business plan, establishing financial systems, and more. $1,400 per group of up to 4 people. Registration deadline May 19^th. For more information, contact the Cooperative Development Institute, 277 Federal Street, Greenfield, MA 01301, 877-266-7543, email info@cooplife.com

2000 Empire State Meat Goat Extravaganza

June 10, 2000, Broome County Fairgrounds, Whitney Point, NY. The event includes a meat goat show, The San Angelo Meat Goat Buck Performance Testing Program, Making Sound Breeding & Culling Decisions, and other topics. Adults: $10, youth (ages 6-11) free. To register, send your name, address and telephone number along with a check for the registration fee made out to Cornell University to Judy Sherwood, Cornell University, 128 Morrison Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, or call 607-255-4503.

Caprine Outings

September 22-24, 2000, Solon, NY. An educational event for youth to adults on all goat topics. For more information contact Judy Sherwood, 128 Morrison Hall, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY 14853, 607-255-4503.

Alternative & Herbal Livestock Health Conf.

October 20-21, 2000, University of Connecticut Bishop Center, Storrs, CT. Some of the topics will include "Alternative Methods of Disease Prevention in Herd Situations", "Homeopathy in Food Animal Practice", "Organic Standards in Livestock Production", and many others. Registration is $75 for 2 days; $45 for 1 day. For registration information contact Rochelle Syme at UConn Home & Garden Education Center, 1380 Storrs Road, U-4115, Storrs, CT 06269-4115, 860-486-6271, email ssyme@canr.uconn.edu

6^th Annual Dairy Sheep Symposium

November 2-4, 2000. Ontario, Canada. For registration/information, contact Axel Meister, Wool Drift Farm, RR 1 Rockwood, Ontario, Canada NOB 2K0, 519-856-2482, email wooldrif@sentex.net

Vermont Farm Youth Corps 12^th Summer Program

We’re looking for a few good farms needing summer help, willing to share knowledge with a young Vermonter, and seeking assistance in the hiring process. Call 802-223-2389 for more information.

Wanted: Caretaking position

Seeking caretaking position where I can bring my 10 sheep, goats, poultry and ducks. Contact Suzanne Silk, PO Box 64, Woodbury, VT 05681, 802-472-5801.

Nubian Milkers for sale.

Ages 1 year and up. Prices start at $200. Contact Cindy or Bill at River Mist Farm, 29 Fiskdale Rd., Brookfield, MA 01506, 508-867-3824, email cindyvtdhi@aol.com

Interested in raising cashmere goats?

Looking for comments/information on raising cashmere goats in Vermont. Please contact Donald Rowan, 13 Marvin St., Montpelier, VT 05602, email aymara54@hotmail.com

Alpines for sale

1 yearling milker, 2 3-year old milkers, 1 bred yearling, 1 dry yearling. $150 each for the 3 milkers and bred yearling; $100 for the dry yearling. Individually or as a group. Please contact Carol & Ernie Zintel at 802-487-2570.

For sale

20-gallon stainless steel steam or hot water kettle with cover used for making cheese, $1,000 O.B.O. 250 gallon round Mueller bulk tank with agitator and compressor, $800 O.B.O. Call Mark Fischer at 802-824-6135

Intern wanted

Intern wanted to work on sheep dairy in southern Vermont. Milking 75 ewes and making Farmstead Cheese. 40 hours/week. Room and stipend if interested. Call Mark Fischer at 802-824-6135.

Northeast Dairy Goat Herd Improvement Association, Inc.

NDGHIA’s Board of Directors is made up of dairy goat breeders who are always available to address any of your questions or concerns. President: John Pieck, 518-861-5522, goatladyl@prodigy.net; Vice President: Lynn Fleming, 914-744-6089, lynnhaven@compuserve.com; Secretary: Jean Thorkildsen, 518-399-5670, caprican@localnet.com; Treasurer: Monique Roeth, 518-797-3075, lbterre@localnet.com

The Legal Guide to Direct Farm Marketing by Neil D. Hamilton

An eminently readable how-to on everything a farmer needs to know for direct farm marketing, including a state by state list of direct farm marketing resources. Available for $20 from Drake University Agricultural Law Center, 515-271-2065.

National Livestock Producers Association Sheep & Goat Fund

NLPA’s goals: make capital available for increasing production or improving production efficiency; improve marketing efficiency or product quality. Eligible borrowers include public, private or cooperative organizations; associations (including non-profit groups); public or quasi-public agencies; or any other recognized business organization. Funds are not available for individuals. For more details or to receive an application send your name, address, telephone #, fax #, and email address to NLPA, 660 Southpointe Court, Suite 314, Colorado Springs, CO 80906. 719-538-8843; email NLPA@worldnet.att.net

Women’s Agriculture Network (WAgN)

You can reach WAgN at the following locations:

Audiotapes/books from the Center for Sustainable Agriculture at UVM

Copies of Why Grassfed is Best by Jo Robinson is available for $6. The following audiotapes from the recent Grazing Conference are available for $8 each: Pasture Feeding for Prosperity & Health; "Soy Products for Grass Fed Meat & Dairy…Not so Fast"; How to Keep the Value Added Down on the Farm: - all by Sally Fallon. Putting the Profit in Grass Based Dairy Farming; Pasture Management & Feed Planning in Wet & Drought Years – both by Dave Forgey. Small Scale Cheese Making by Peter Dixon. Agriculture, the Farm & Parasites by Dave Hoke. Alternative Animal Health Homeopathy by Anne Lazor & Willow Smart. From the Soil Up – Growing Healthy Forages, Grains & Pasture by Jack Lazor & Alex Brand. Grazing, Fence & Water System Basics by Bill Murphy. Diversity Farming by Paul Stecker & Tim Sanford. Marketing Grass Fed Products by Jonathan Gates, Todd Murphy, Elizabeth Squier. Mail a note indicating your choices along with a check made out to VGFA to the Center for Sustainable Agriculture, UVM, 590 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05405.

The Small Dairy Resource Book

Information sources for farmstead producers and processors. Produced by the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN). To order SAN publications, visit www.sare.org/san/htdocs/pubs/ or call 802-656-0484.

The Small Ruminant Dairy Project is supported at UVM by the Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Animal Sciences Department

University of Vermont Extension, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offers education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status.

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