The Lead Shepherd Program was developed to address various small ruminant production and marketing challenges. Six
small ruminant producers, extension personnel, and North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA) staff were selected to visit small ruminant operations in the Pipestone system located in Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota in July 2022.
This tour provided an opportunity for participants to experience high volume small ruminant production systems and visit with producers operating those systems. Participants learned how these producers use genetic selection, nutritional and reproductive management, and housing/feeding systems to improve their flock productivity and market quality.
The purpose of the networking groups are for the Lead Shepherd Program participants to disseminate their new knowledge and improved skills to other interested small ruminant producers. The networking groups will allow for exchange of information, troubleshooting of challenges, identification of solutions, and discussion of innovative ideas to advance the small ruminant industry. These groups will provide all small ruminant producers the opportunity to communicate more efficiently and share management strategies among one another.
Interested producers will be grouped with multiple Lead Shepherd Program participants. Groups are expected to meet twice a year, but more meetings are encouraged to provide effective communication channels.
