Join us November 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Reidsville, NC for our Fall 2025 Field Day! Register  online for the Field Day.

This year's focus is improving productivity through genetics. This program is supported by Southern SARE, NC State, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

Tentative Agenda

9:00 am On-site registration, coffee and donuts

9:30 am Welcome/Introductions

10:00 am Breakdown sessions I: Collecting and recording data

• Breakout 1: FAMACHA system (primary parasites, anthelmintic resistance, targeted selective treatment)
• Breakout 2: Fecal Egg Counts (Collecting and submitting fecal samples, fecal egg counting methodology, body condition scoring)

11:00 am Producer panel: Using Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) to improve economically important traits

12:00 pm Free Lunch

12:30 pm Implementing an on-farm genetic improvement program

1:00 pm Breakdown sessions II: Collecting and recording data

• Breakout 1: Growth performance (types of ID and RFID, number of lambs or kids born/weaned, birth weight, weaning weight, post-weaning weight, and collecting tissue)
• Breakout 2: Using ultrasound for pregnancy check and carcass evaluation

2:00 pm Molecular genetics and genetic conditions

2:30 pm Group Discussion- Buying rams with good genetics using visual assessment and EBVs

3:30 pm Adjourn

Optional

3:30-4:30 pm Learn more about the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP)