| Background Information about the Survey
The Cornell Sheep & Goat Programs started a new project in January 2009 to evaluate kidding and lambing practices on meat goat and sheep farms in the Northeast. A major part of the project is to compare labor inputs, feed costs, mortality rates and productivity (i.e. litter size, growth rate) for farms kidding or lambing during different seasons of the year and/or using different birth management schemes. Approximately 16 farms are currently participating by providing in depth information about their lambing or kidding practices.
In addition to the 16 farms that are providing detailed records, we would like to document the practices meat goat and sheep farms in the Northeast currently use during kidding and lambing, and then document any changes that occur over the course of our 3-year study. For example, we would like to estimate:
- How many herds kid or lamb several seasons of the year?
- What sort of mortality rates generally occur during lambing and kidding at these different times of year?
- How stressful do most farmers currently find kidding and lambing time on their farms?
- How much time do farmers spend with their animals during kidding or lambing periods?
To that end, we are soliciting anonymous responses from as many meat goat and sheep farmers throughout the Northeast US as possible to the Lambing and Kidding Questionnaires.
The end goal of the project is to provide examples of kidding and lambing systems that may help manage birthing more effectively by reducing some input costs without compromising the health and productivity of herds or flocks. |
