1 of 17

Johnson Ranch Field Day

Debrief

Expanding producer access to research, skills, and resources for small ruminant production in Nebraska via in-person experience.

Brock Ortner

UNL Livestock Systems

Extension Educator

​

May 1, 2026

2 of 17

  • Needs Assessment
  • Small Ruminant Field Day (Hyannis, NE)
  • Challenges Identified
  • Future Directions

​

​

​

​

​

​

Overview

3 of 17

Needs Assessment

4 of 17

    • Woody encroachment on NE Sandhills
      • Between 1990 and 2019, NE grasslands lost over 402,000 acres to woody encroachment (Rangeland Production Lost to Tree Encroachment)
      • Couple existing prescribed fire curriculum with small ruminant grazing
    • Cow-calf barriers to entry
      • Access to capital, tax burden, and increasing input costs jeopardize transition of cattle operations to new ownership
      • In-family transitions strained by dividing income between addition families
        • Identify complimentary enterprises for cow-calf operations

​

​

​

Needs identified

5 of 17

Johnson Ranch Field Day

6 of 17

    • 8/26/25 SE of Hyannis
    • 18 participants
    • Toured 300 head goat herd in extensive grazing system

​

Overview

6

7 of 17

      • Introduction
        • Share regional needs identified and pyric herbivory overview
      • Central facilities tour
        • Infrastructure recommendations
        • Sourcing genetics
        • Production benchmarks
      • Observation at grazing sites
        • Compare before-and-after grazing on horseweed stand
        • Observe grazing on upland dune site
        • Predator control findings
      • Flock health Q & A

​

​

Agenda

7

8 of 17

Hyannis Small Ruminant Field Day: Summary Data

8

  • (n = 14)
  • Roles:
    • Beef = 7; Sm. Rum = 7; Ranch Mngr. = 3; Custom Grazer = 2; Other = 1
  • AVG acres (owned/managed): 1,948 ac
  • AVG experience (beef or sm. rum.): 7 years
  • AVG $/ac impact from program: $10.29

​

​

9 of 17

Hyannis Small Ruminant Field Day: Takeaways

9

    • Knowledge Gains (Pre 🡪 Post; 1-5 scale)

​

​

Topic

Before

After

Δ

Infrastructure for small ruminants

3.07

4.43

+1.36

Estimating flock profitability using production benchmarks

2.71

4.00

+1.29

Leveraging grazing for woody control

2.83

4.08

+1.25

10 of 17

Hyannis Small Ruminant Field Day: Takeaways

10

    • Intended Adoption (Short, worded response)

​

​

Theme

Count

Infrastructure

6

Range Management

6

Add Enterprise

4

Health

2

General Management

1

11 of 17

Challenges &�Future Directions

12 of 17

      • Regionality
        • Winter annuals viewed as more pressing issue
        • Semi-arid climate may limit suitable burn days
        • Persistent drought may prolong recovery of burned acres
      • Current state of sheep and goat production
        • Sparsely distributed small operators
        • Limited market access 🡪 increased freight
        • Producer perception

​

​

Challenges Identified

12

13 of 17

Hyannis Small Ruminant Field Day: Future Directions

13

Generative AI recommendations from evaluation data:

  • Prioritize hands-on support for electric fencing and working facilities (strong interest and largest knowledge gains).
  • Provide advanced modules on using small ruminants to target woody species/weed control—emphasize grazing pressure, timing, and rotation.
  • Offer decision aids for adding sheep/goats; include predator mitigation and livestock guardian dog management; and best practices for genetics sourcing.
  • Guidance for vaccination timing, kidding date changes, and winter-feeding logistics.
    • Health program and kidding date likely operation specific – can discuss tradeoffs
    • Nutrition suited for classroom learning

​

14 of 17

Brock Ortner, MS

UNL Livestock Systems

Asst. Educator

bortner2@nebraska.edu

308-327-2312

15 of 17

Nebraska Sheep and Goat Practicum�Proposal

16 of 17

    • Increase awareness:
      • Potential of sheep and goats in Nebraska and Great Plains systems, including their use alongside beef cattle.
    • Increase understanding:
      • Targeted grazing can support rangeland objectives when coupled with prescribed fire program.
      • Core principles of grazing management from nutritional perspective, including strategic supplementation
      • Genetic selection for sheep and goats under varied management schemes.
      • Foundational flock health and parasite management strategies, including prevention, monitoring, and targeted treatment.
      • Enterprise budgeting and marketing options for sheep and goat enterprises.
    • Skills and application:
      • Apply grazing management concepts in a hands-on setting, including animal movement, paddock setup, and forage assessment.
      • Incorporate new knowledge and resources to improve or implement a small ruminant enterprise within production system

​

​

Learning Outcomes

17 of 17

  • N1: Historical perspective of small ruminants in Great Plains region (NGPC and UNL content expert)
  • N2: Recoupling fire and herbivory for woody species management (Ryan Benjamin
    • Incorporating small ruminants for targeted grazing of woody species and forbs
  • N3: Flock nutrition in extensive grazing scenario
    • Nutrient requirements throughout production cycle
    • Strategic supplementation and monitoring body condition
  • N4: Wholistic approach to genetic selection and flock health program
    • Matching “seedstock” to management
    • Developing a health program
  • N5: Business management of sheep and goat enterprise
    • Using production benchmarks for enterprise budget
    • Marketing considerations
  • Grazing Workshop: Tour a scaled operation in eastern or western Nebraska
    • Apply classroom discussion to hands-on rotational grazing demonstration
    • Implementing fencing infrastructure suitable for small ruminants
    • Q&A session with producer

​

​

Program structure