Shepherd's Symposium
Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Sheep Producers Association host the Virginia Shepherds’ Symposium annually in early January. This program is open to all sheep producers from the region and provides an educational opportunity for producers, educators and other professionals in sheep and related agribusiness industries. The program features speakers on a variety of topics, and the event hosts the annual meeting of VSPA.
Previous Shepherd's Symposium proceedings and recordings have been posted below for reference.
Recording from the 2023 Virginia Shepherd's Symposium- Wednesday, January 11
Recording from the 2023 Virginia Shepherd's Symposium- Thursday, January 12
2022 Virginia Virtual Shepherd's Symposium Proceedings
Wednesday, January 12
- Reproduction in Sheep– Key Components - Dr. Jamie Stewart, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
- Using Reproductive Technologies– Synchronization, AI and ET– Dr. Daniel Poole, Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University
- Saving Baby Lambs - Dr. Kevin Pelzer, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
Thursday, January 13
- Applying Genetics and Genomics to Enhance the Flock - Dr. Andrew Weaver, Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University
- Successfully Using Guardian Animals: Producer Perspective - producer panel
- Update from ASI - Lisa Weeks, ASI Executive Board- Region II Director, Virginia
- Virginia Sheep Industry Updates - reports from Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia Sheep Industry Board, and Virginia Sheep Producers Association
- VSPA Director Elections - Mandy Fletcher, President
Wednesday, January 6th (Part 1 )
- Nontraditional Markets for Sheep - Dr. Reid Redden, Sheep & Goat Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
- •Producer Spotlight- Joe Gingerich, Gingerich Family Katahdins and Gretchen Frederick, Solitude Wool; Debbie Webster, Whispering Pines Farm, Dairy & Cheese
Wednesday, January 6th (Part 2)- Parker and Annual Meeting
- •Update from ASI - Jimmy Parker, ASI Executive Board- Region II Director, Alabama
- •VSPA Annual Meeting - Mandy Fletcher, President
Thursday, January 7th (Part 1)
- Proper Use of Antibiotics on the Farm - Dr. Kevin Pelzer, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
- Parasite Control Research; Update-Anne Zajac, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
Thursday, January 7th (Part 2)
- Farming with labels- Organic, natural, humane, grass-fed: What does it all mean? - Susan Schoenian, Sheep and Goat Specialist, University of Maryland
- Update from VDACS - Dan Hadacek, DVM, Northern Regional Veterinary Supervisor
- Opportunities With Virginia Sheep Industry Board - Matthew Sponaugle, VDACS
- 2017 Shepherd's Symposium Proceedings Cover
- 2017 Shepherd's Symposium Schedule
- Table of Contents
- 2017 Shepherd's Symposium Sponsors
- Making the Most of Your Forgages - Dr. John Fike
- Feeding Strategies for the Ewe Flock - Dr. Dan Morrical
- Dealing with Parasites: Where are we headed? - Dr. Anne Zajac
- What is VFD and What Does It Mean For Sheep Producers? - Dr. John Currin
- Evaluation of Terminal Sires in Hair Sheep Production Systems - Andrew Weaver
- Economic Impact of Selection for Parasite Resistance and Growth - Tom Stanley
- Lambing Management Tips
- Outstanding Sheep Producer Award Recipients
- 2016 Shepherd's Symposium Proceedings Cover
- 2016 Shepherd's Symposium Schedule
- Table of Contents
- 2016 Shepherd's Symposium Sponsors
- Understanding the Opportunities Using NSIP - Dr. Dave Notter
- Experiences with NSIP as a tool for Parasite Resistance - Dr. Scott Greiner
- Update from the American Sheep Industry Association - Bob Leer
- Making the Most of Your Forages - Dr. Bain Wilson
- When to call the Veterinarian - Dr. Kevin Pelzer
- 2015 Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings Cover (PDF | 25KB)
- 2015 Shepherds' Symposium Schedule (PDF | 16KB)
- Table of Contents (PDF | 12KB)
- 2015 Sponsors (PDF | 8KB)
- New Research and its Applications to Dealing with Parasites (PDF | 635KB)
- Lamb Market Situation and Outlook (PDF | 794KB)
- Keeping and Using Flock Records (PDF | 527KB)
- Timely Management Strategies for the Flock (PDF | 546KB)
- Determining the Value of Your Wool (PDF | 5MB)
- Marketing Opportunities for Your Wool (PDF | 4MB)
- Report from the American Sheep Industry Association (PDF | 762KB)
- Lambing Time Management: Keys to Success (PDF | 458KB)
- Keys to My Sheep Operation: Producer Panel and Virtual Tours
- Outstanding Sheep Producer Award Recipients (PDF | 12KB)
- 2014 Shepherds' Symposium Proceedings Cover (PDF | 20KB)
- 2014 Symposium Schedule (PDF | 17KB)
- Table of Contents (PDF | 10KB)
- 2014 Sponsors (PDF | 12KB)
- Key Components to Successful Flock Health (PDF | 224KB)
- Lamb Market Situation and Outlook (PDF | 401KB)
- The Hale Report - American Lamb Industry Roadmap Project (PDF | 478KB)
- Minerals and Vitamins for the Flock (PDF | 319KB)
- Experiences with CIDRs in the Virginia Tech Dorset Flock (PDF | 47KB)
- Capturing Marketing Opportunities to Add Value (PDF | 323KB)
- Outstanding Sheep Producer Award Recipients (PDF | 12KB)
- 2013 Shepherd's Symposium Proceedings Cover (PDF | 9KB)
- 2013 Symposium Schedule (PDF | 12KB)
- Table of Contents (PDF | 10KB)
- 2013 Sponsors (PDF | 8KB)
- Sheep Health - Common Problems, Mistakes, and Remedies (PDF | 88KB)
- A New Approach: Forage-Based Ram Test for Evaluation of Performance and Parasites (PDF | 60KB)
- Utilizing Fecal Egg Counts as Parasite Management Tool (PDF | 1MB)
- The Sheep Business - National Perspective from ASI (PDF | 75KB)
- Flock Nutritional Strategies (PDF | 153KB)
- Ram Selection (PDF | 130KB)
- Successful Marketing - What You Need to Know - Gary Hornbaker (PDF | 195KB)
- Successful Marketing - What You Need to Know - Mike Carpenter (PDF | 80KB)
- Outstanding Sheep Producer Award Recipients (PDF | 9KB)
- Cover Page (PDF | 30KB)
- Inside Front Cover - Schedule of Events (PDF | 13KB)
- Table of Contents (PDF | 8KB)
- Sponsor Page (PDF | 10KB)
- Sheep Parasite Management - Past, Present, Future (PDF | 963KB)
- FAMACHA Overview (PDF | 11KB)
- On-farm Applications of FAMACHA for Parasite Control (PDF | 946KB)
- Our Experiences with Direct Marketing of Lamb and Wool (PDF | 1MB)
- twoPlus Campaign Overview (PDF | 9KB)
- Let's Grow with twoPlus Campaign, Implications for Virginia (PDF | 556KB)
- Ewe Body Condition Scoring (PDF | 25KB)
- Hay Quality and Supplementation (PDF | 24KB)
- Small Ruminant Vaccine Program (PDF | 19KB)
- Improving Carcass Merit in Sheep (PDF | 64KB)
- Experiences with Sheep CIDRs to Induce Fall Lambing (PDF | 45KB)
- Award Recipients (PDF | 7KB)
- Front Cover and Schedule (PDF | 82KB)
- Table of Contents and Sponsors (PDF | 64KB)
- Managing Parasites - Keys to Success (PDF | 1005KB)
- Selected Tools for Internal Parasite Management in Sheep (PDF | 261KB)
- Trying to Get the Job Done with COWP (PDF | 155KB)
- National Issues Impacting Sheep Producers (PDF | 431KB)
- Out-of-Season Breeding Using the Eazi-Breed CIDR-G in Ewes (PDF | 1MB)
- Expansion Decisions for the Part-Time Sheep Producer (PDF | 158KB)
- Working with Your Local Livestock Market (PDF | 68KB)
- Successful Wool Marketing - Our Story (PDF | 297KB)
- Award Recipients (PDF | 40KB)
- Front Cover and Schedule (PDF | 62KB)
- Table of Contents and Sponsors (PDF | 46KB)
- Keys to a Successful Lambing Season (PDF | 447KB)
- Strategies for Genetic Improvement of Parasite Resistance in Sheep (PDF | 361KB)
- Practical Solutions for On-Farm Mortality Disposal (PDF | 481KB)
- Making the Most of Lamb Marketing (PDF | 258KB)
- Ewe Nutrition and Management Do's and Don'ts (PDF | 162KB)
- Award Recipients (PDF | 27KB)
- 2005 VA-NC Shepherds' Symposium Table of Contents and Sponsors
- Managing Worms in Your Sheep and the FAMACHA System
- Minerals and Vitamins for Sheep
- Deworming Agents
- Assessing Forage Quality and Using Results in Flock Nutrition
- Lamb Quality Assurance
- Preparing for the Lambing Season
- Lamb Carcass Evaluation
- Lamb Grading and Evaluation
- Body Condition Scoring Ewes and Late Gestation