The Artificial Insemination (AI) Workshop held on September 21st was the first in the series of Small Ruminant workshops recently launched by the Cooperative Extension Program (CEP) & Cooperative Agricultural Research Center (CARC). Ten persons, the maximum number allowed, attended the workshop.
Following the welcome by Dr. Ali Fares, Associate Director of Research and Professor, opening remarks were given by Dr. Bill Foxworth, Research Scientist, who gave an introduction and spoke about the history of the use of artificial insemination in small ruminants. Research Specialist Scott Horner discussed the importance of nutrition and body condition, with Research Veterinarian Dr. Alphina Ho-Watson following with a presentation on goat health and AI. Dr. Foxworth then gave key information on goat AI reproductive tract practice. Attendees and staff spent the remainder of the workshop engaged in hands-on AI with goats.
All ten of the attendees completed workshop evaluations, with 100% of the participants stating that their understanding of three or more of the topics covered during the workshop was increased. One hundred percent of the participants also stated that they probably will or definitely will adopt some of the practices covered during the workshop.
The next workshop in this series, Integrated Parasite Management Workshop II, will be held on November 18, 2017 from 8:30am-4pm at the Prairie View A&M University main campus in the Carden-Waller Extension Building. Seats are limited and pre-registration is required. Interested persons can pre-register at www.pvamu.edu/ruminantseries.
The registration fee is $50. Please visit http://cahsspvd.pvamu.edu for other Caprine healthcare questions.
The Small Ruminant Workshop Series is funded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture through its Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Grant.
Angela Moore
Extension Associate, Agriculture and Natural Resources
(936) 261-5002
almoore@pvamu.edu