By ANN ALLEN
Indiana Correspondent

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University extension’s goat and sheep blog offers proof blogs can be more than personal journals.

Updated every Wednesday by small ruminant specialist Mike Neary, the site http://sheepngoats.wordpress.com provides information about what other operations are doing and hot topics about breed selection, animal health and training stock guard dogs. Recent entries have included subjects such as how to manage the flock during lambing, scrapie – a fatal, degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats – and record-keeping.
“Goat and sheep producers want to know what other operations are doing,” Neary said. “This blog gives them information and items of interest, whether they are animal- or human-related.”

With current high market prices making it a good time to be involved in the industry, Neary said the blog offers timely small-ruminant information and advice for both new and veteran producers. He hopes the blog will teach goat and sheep producers something they may not have thought to research themselves.

In addition to viewing blog posts on the website, readers can subscribe for e-mail reminders for weekly updates by going to https://lists.purdue.edu/mailman/listinfo/pusheepngoats