Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this reporting period included: 1. Student hands-on learning with program rams: 9college students from Navajo Technical University (Vet Tech, Animal Science, Biology, Welding), 3 Colorado State University 2nd year veterinary students, 3 Pre-Vet/Animal Science students from the University of Puerto Rico,New Mexico State University, and Southern University A&M Louisiana gained experience in shearing, handling, vaccinating, deworming, hoof trimming, physical exams, body condition scoring,and animal husbandry throughout the year utilizing the program's animals. Navajo Tech students were also involved in breeding soundness exams, blood testing, and fecal analyseswith veterinarians and in surveying for brucellosis, scrapie disease, parasitism,and other diseases. 2. Ram breeding program: 15Navajo families from across the Navajo reservation utilized Merino rams from NTU to breed their ewes to improve the quality of their wool and meat. The families were interested in increasing flock numbers for multiple purposes. The producers participated in informational seminars regarding proper care, nutrition, reproduction, pregnancy, lambing, lactation, and husbandry of their ewes and rams. Rams were tested to be scrapie resistant, fully vaccinated and dewormed. NTU Veterinary Technology, Animal Science, Biology, Welding, and other students assisted with all of the ram preventative medicine and care, breeding soundness exams, and daily feeding/watering/care of the livestock as part of their experiential learning of large animal veterinary procedures. 3. Herd Health program: NTU college students and 7 outside university vet and pre-vet/Animal Science students, a USDA Veterinary Medical Officer, an Assistant State Veterinarian, and Land Grant staff provided a free physicalexam wellness, vaccination and deworming campaign for small ruminants owned by Navajo elders in the Navajo easternagency community. Over 65 elderly families received this community service and outreach with flocks ranging from 1 - 120 sheep and goats for a total of 1,200 animals. Indigenous small ruminant producers received information and informal education of the importance for herd health, exams, vaccination, parasite diagnosis and control, husbandry, brucellosis, and scrapie disease. 4. Sheep Shearing and Wool Evaluation project: 30Indigenous sheep producers learned how to shear sheep with electric shearers during a 2-day in person workshop. Producers were of all ages from mid 20 to 55years from across the Navajo Nation. Producers also learned about marketing and branding wool and other products. NTU students assisted with the workshops. 5. Indigenous youth through pre-kindergarten, primary and secondary school presentations, agriculture youth camp, boys and girls clubs, etc. attended a 4-day youth summer sheep ranch management camp for students. Students learned about sheep and goat husbandry, body condition scoring, physical exams, hoof trimming, restraint/handling, weighing livestock, record keeping, fecal analyses, performing blood peripheral smears and identifying blood cells. 6. Sheep conference addressing priority areas in cultural preservation, agricultural productivity, and sustainable use of natural resources was held for 75 Indigenous sheep producers from the Navajo Nation. Topics included herd health, reproduction, pregnancy, lactation, ram selection, genetics, husbandry, animal identification, sheltering, marketing lambs and rams, etc. 7. Indigenous youth (middle and high school students) participated in a 2 week agriculture camp and learned about performing small ruminant physical exams, fecal analyses, deworming, vaccinating, body condition scoring, hoof trimming, restraing and handling, marketing lambs and wool, sheep shearing, etc. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Land Grant administrative assistant attended the annual FALCON conference to learn more about programs offered by other institutions. The staff received training in CPR/1st aid, excel program, and human resource such as sexual harrassment, customer service, creative thinking and problem solving, and adversity intelligence for leaders. The Project Director received training in Accomodating Higher Ed Students with Disabilitites, sexual harrassment prevention, Title IX Final Rule for Faculty & Staff, and FERPA for Staff in Higher Education. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the opportunities for staff training and professional development involvingtravel have been slow to resume to normal. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Ram program metrics were collected and compiled and shared with producers at the ram breeding presentation during ram day. Results were also shared with sheep conference and sheep shearing participants. Sheep and beef quality assurance participating producer metrics were compiled and used in future programs and shared in the spring training/certification class. Information regarding the youth camp was disseminated via radio announcements, flyers, applications, program brochures, and social media and shared with USDA APHIS ONTL program. Land Grant staff traveled to over 120 local schools to share important youth Agriculture enrichment program and academic programs with teachers, counselors, principals, and students regarding the success of the youth camp. The ram project information was provided to the public via flyers in local stores as well as in the local newspaper.Sheep conference information was disseminated via flyers and local newspaper advertisements. The results of the youth activities and programs were shared with the parents of NTU during the end of the program presentations on what they learned and what new learned knowledge and skills they will apply. Our USDA partners were informed of the results. The results of the events, workshops, programs, and outreach were shared with the community members to encourage future promotion and recruitment. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The Land Grant program personnel planto continue hosting and organizing all of their annual events, workshops, and activities as we get further from the pandemic and health restrictions are lifted. All grant work will be completed by August 31, 2025.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. Student hands-on learning with program rams: 9college students from Navajo Technical University (Vet Tech, Animal Science, Biology, Welding), 3 Colorado State University 2nd year veterinary students, 3 Pre-Vet/Animal Science students from the University of Puerto Rico,New Mexico State University, and Southern University A&M Louisiana gained experience in shearing, handling, vaccinating, deworming, hoof trimming, physical exams, body condition scoring,and animal husbandry throughout the year utilizing the program's animals. Navajo Tech students were also involved in breeding soundness exams, blood testing, and fecal analyseswith veterinarians and in surveying for brucellosis, scrapie disease, parasitism,and other diseases. 2. Ram breeding program: 15Navajo families from across the Navajo reservation utilized Merino rams from NTU to breed their ewes to improve the quality of their wool and meat. The families were interested in increasing flock numbers for multiple purposes. The producers participated in informational seminars regarding proper care, nutrition, reproduction, pregnancy, lambing, lactation, and husbandry of their ewes and rams. Rams were tested to be scrapie resistant, fully vaccinated and dewormed. NTU Veterinary Technology, Animal Science, Biology, Welding, and other students assisted with all of the ram preventative medicine and care, breeding soundness exams, and daily feeding/watering/care of the livestock as part of their experiential learning of large animal veterinary procedures. 3. Herd Health program: NTU college students and 7 outside university vet and pre-vet/Animal Science students, a USDA Veterinary Medical Officer, an Assistant State Veterinarian, and Land Grant staff provided a free physicalexam wellness, vaccination and deworming campaign for small ruminants owned by Navajo elders in the Navajo easternagency community. Over 65 elderly families received this community service and outreach with flocks ranging from 1 - 120 sheep and goats for a total of 1,200 animals. Indigenous small ruminant producers received information and informal education of the importance for herd health, exams, vaccination, parasite diagnosis and control, husbandry, brucellosis, and scrapie disease. 4. Sheep Shearing and Wool Evaluation project: 30Indigenous sheep producers learned how to shear sheep with electric shearers during a 2-day in person workshop.Participants learned aboutevaluating wool and preparing the fleece to increase the market value. Producers were of all ages from mid 20 to 55years from across the Navajo Nation. Producers also learned about marketing and branding wool and other products. NTU students assisted with the workshops. 5. Indigenous youth through pre-kindergarten, primary and secondary school presentations, agriculture youth camp, boys and girls clubs, etc. attended a 4-day youth summer sheep ranch management camp for students. Students learned about sheep and goat husbandry, body condition scoring, physical exams, hoof trimming, restraint/handling, weighing livestock, record keeping, fecal analyses, performing blood peripheral smears and identifying blood cells.Students learned about marketing their animals and developing branding of their end products. They attended business related presentations as well. 6. Sheep conference addressing priority areas in cultural preservation, agricultural productivity, and sustainable use of natural resources was held for 75 Indigenous sheep producers from the Navajo Nation. Topics included herd health, reproduction, pregnancy, lactation, ram selection, genetics, husbandry, animal identification, sheltering, marketing lambs and rams, etc. 7. Indigenous youth (middle and high school students) participated in a 2 week agriculture camp and learned about performing small ruminant physical exams, fecal analyses, deworming, vaccinating, body condition scoring, hoof trimming, restraing and handling, marketing lambs and wool, sheep shearing, etc. 8. Producers attended two ruminant quality assurance classes during the year learning about the benefits of herd health, vaccinations, addressing parasitism, husbandry, nutrition, reproduction, etc. Sixty producers from across the Navajo Nation attended to provide healthy, wholesome mutton and meat products for the public.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this reporting period included: 1. Student hands-on learning with program rams: 10college students from Navajo Technical University, 5 veterinary students and 1 Equine Science studentfrom Colorado State University, and 2pre-veterinary/animal sciencestudents from New Mexico State University gained experience in shearing, handling, vaccinating, deworming, hoof-trimming, physical exams, and animal husbandry throughout the year utilizing the program's animals. Navajo Tech students were also involved in breeding soundness exams and blood testing with veterinarians and in surveying for brucellosis and other diseases. 2. Ram breeding program: 18Navajo families from across the Navajo reservation utilized Merino rams from NTU to breed their ewes to improve the quality of their wool and meat. The families were interested in increasing flock numbers for multiple purposes. The producers participated in informational seminars regarding proper care, nutrition, reproduction, pregnancy, lambing, lactation, and husbandry of their ewesand rams. Rams were tested to be scrapie resistant, fully vaccinated and dewormed. NTU Veterinary Technology, Animal Science, Biology and other students assisted with all of the ram preventative medicine and care, breeding soundness exams, and daily feeding/watering/care of the livestock as part of their experiential learning of large animal veterinary procedures. 3. Herd Health: NTU college students and outside university vet and pre-vet/animal science students, a USDA Veterinary Medical Officer, an Assistant State Veterinarian, Brand Inspector Supervisor, and Land Grant staff provided a free physical exam wellness, vaccination and deworming campaign for small ruminants owned by Navajo elders in the Navajo eastern agency communit.Over 65elderly families received this community service and outreach with flocks ranging from 1 - 150sheep and goats for a total of 1,600 animals. Indigenous small ruminant producers received information and informal education of the importance for herd health, exams, vaccination, parasite diagnosis and control, husbandry, brucellosis, and scrapie disease. 4. Sheep Shearing and Wool Evaluation project: 22 Indigenous sheep producers learned how to shear sheep with electric shearers during a 2-day in personworkshop. Producers were of all ages from mid 20 to 60years from across the Navajo Nation. NTU students assisted with the workshops. 5. Indigenous youth through pre-kindergarten, primary and secondary school presentations, agriculture youth camp, boys and girls clubs, etc. attended a4-day youth summer sheep ranch management camp for students. 6.A half day sheep conference addressing priority areas in cultural preservation, agricultural productivity, and sustainable use of natural resources was held for 20 Indigenous sheep producers from the Navajo Nation. 7. Indigenous youth (middle and high school students) participated in a 2 week agriculture camp and learned about the importance of small ruminant herd health, husbandry, sheltering, hoof trimming, and body condition scoring. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Land Grant administrative assistant attended the annual FALCON conference to learn more about the land grantuniversity system and programs offered by other institutions. The staff received training in CPR/1st aid, excel program, andhuman resource such as sexual harrassment, customer service, creative thinking and problem solving, and adversityintelligence for leaders. The Project Director received training in Accomodating Higher Ed Students with Disabilitites, sexualharrassment prevention, Title IX Final Rule for Faculty & Staff, and FERPA for Staff in Higher Education. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic,the opportunities for staff training and professional development were canceled due to travel restrictions imposed by NTU, State of New Mexico, and Navajo Nation. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results of the youth activities and programs were shared with the parents and administrators of NTU during the end of the program presentations on what they learned and what new learned knowledge and skills they will apply. Our USDA partners were informed of the results. The results of the events, workshops, programs, and outreach were shared with the community members to encourage future promotion and recruitment. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The Land Grant program personnel plans to continue hosting and organizing all of their annual events, workshops, and activities as we get further from the pandemic and health restrictions are being lifted.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. Student hands-on learning with program rams: 10college students from Navajo Technical University, 5 veterinary students and 1 Equine Science studentfrom Colorado State University, and 2pre-veterinary/animal sciencestudents from New Mexico State University gained experience in shearing, handling, vaccinating, deworming, hoof-trimming, physical exams, and animal husbandry throughout the year utilizing the program's animals. Navajo Tech students were also involved in breeding soundness exams and blood testing with veterinarians and in surveying for brucellosis and other diseases. 2. Ram breeding program: 18Navajo families from across the Navajo reservation utilized Merino rams from NTU to breed their ewes to improve the quality of their wool and meat. The families pursued increases of theirflock numbers for multiple purposes. The producers participated in informational seminars regarding proper care, nutrition, reproduction, pregnancy, lambing, lactation, and husbandry of their ewesand rams. Rams were tested to be scrapie resistant, fully vaccinated and dewormed. NTU Veterinary Technology, Animal Science, Biology and other students assisted with all of the ram preventative medicine and care, breeding soundness exams, and daily feeding/watering/care of the livestock as part of their experiential learning of large animal veterinary procedures. 3. Herd Health: NTU college students and outside university vet and pre-vet/animal science students, a USDA Veterinary Medical Officer, an Assistant State Veterinarian, Brand Inspector Supervisor, and Land Grant staff provided a free physical exam wellness, vaccination and deworming campaign for small ruminants owned by Navajo elders in the Navajo eastern agency communit.Over 65elderly families received this community service and outreach with flocks ranging from 1 - 150sheep and goats for a total of 1,600 animals. Indigenous small ruminant producers received information and informal education of the importance for herd health, exams, vaccination, parasite diagnosis and control, husbandry, brucellosis, and scrapie disease. 4. Sheep Shearing and Wool Evaluation project: 22 Indigenous sheep producers learned how to shear sheep with electric shearers during a 2-day in personworkshop along with evaluating wool and preparing the fleece to increase the market value. Producers were of all ages from mid 20 to 60years from across the Navajo Nation. NTU students assisted with the workshops. 5. Indigenous youth through pre-kindergarten, primary and secondary school presentations, agriculture youth camp, boys and girls clubs, etc. attended a4-day youth summer sheep ranch management camp for students. Students learned about marketing their animals and developing branding of their end products. They attended business related presentations as well. 6.A half day sheep conference addressing priority areas in cultural preservation, agricultural productivity, and sustainable use of natural resources was held for 20 Indigenous sheep producers from the Navajo Nation. 7. Indigenous youth (middle and high school students) participated in a 2 week agriculture camp and learned about the importance of small ruminant herd health, husbandry, sheltering, hoof trimming, and body condition scoring.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this reporting periodincluded: 1. Student hands-on learning with program rams: 5college students from Navajo Technical University,4 veterinary students from Colorado State University, and 3 pre-veterinary students from New Mexico State University, University of Idaho, and Fort Sam Houston State University gained experience in shearing, handling, vaccinating, deworming, hoof-trimming, physical exams, and animal husbandry throughout the year utilizing the program's animals. Navajo Tech students were also involved in breeding soundness exams with veterinarians and in surveying for brucellosis. 2. Ram breeding program: 20Navajo families from across the Navajo reservation utilized Merino rams from NTU to breed their ewesto improve the quality of wool and meat. The families were interested in increasing flock numbers for multiple purposes. The producers participated in informational seminars regarding proper care, nutrition, and husbandry of their ewes and rams. Rams were tested to be scrapie resistant, fully vaccinated and dewormed. NTU Veterinary Technology, Animal Science, Biology and other studentsassisted with all of the ram preventative medicine and care, breeding soundness exams, and daily feeding/watering/care of the livestock as part of their experiential learning of large animal veterinary procedures. 3. Herd Health: NTU college students and outside university students, a USDA Veterinary Medical Officer, anAssistant State Veterinarian, and Land Grant staff provided a free physical exam wellness, vaccination and deworming campaign for sheep and goats owned by Navajo elders in the Navajo eastern agency community during the summer of 2022. Over 60elderly families received this community service and outreach with flocks ranging from 1 - 65 sheep and goats for a total of 1,800animals. Communitymembers received information and informal education of the importance for herd health, vaccination, parasite control, husbandry, and scrapie disease. 4.Sheep Shearing project: 10Navajo sheep producers learned how to shear sheep with electric shearers during a 2 day workshop. Producers were of all ages from mid 20 to 65 years from across the Navajo Nation. NTU students assisted with the workshops. Changes/Problems:The following projects and activities were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and tribal restrictions that were still in place lowering participation numbers: Quality Assurance fall and spring workshops, sheep conference and workshops spring, NTU Ranch Camp summer youth Ag camp summer, Innoventure Native Ag Youth Camp (partnership with New Mexico State University), Wool evaluation and fleece preparation training, etc. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly all of the opportunities for training and professional development were canceled due to travel restrictions imposed by NTU, State of New Mexico, and Navajo Nation. The Land Grant Program staff were able to attend several of the trainings including producing online flyers, brochures, etc. during the virtual FALCON conference. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff have not had the opportunity to share results of the success of the programs and activities with other communities of interest. All other programs were canceled. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The Land Grant Program operation depends on the status of the COVID pandemic and if it will receive NTU and Navajo Nation authorization to organize in person (face to face) events, outreach, activities, etc. The program will continue to accomplish its goals by preparing pre-recorded camp presentations for the virtual youth events and organizing the virtual camps.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The majority of the Navajo Technical University Land Grant Program events, activites, and outreach were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic however a few of the programs were organized and hosted with safety for all participants, staff and students in mind during the planning stage.1. Student hands-on learning with program rams involved 5college students from Navajo Technical University,4 veterinary students from Colorado State University, and 3 pre-veterinary students from New Mexico State University, University of Idaho, and Fort Sam Houston State University where studentsgained experience in shearing, handling, vaccinating, deworming, hoof-trimming, physical exams, and animal husbandry throughout the year. Navajo Tech students were also involved in breeding soundness exams with veterinarians and in surveying for brucellosis. 2. Ram breeding program: 20Navajo families from across the Navajo reservation utilized Merino rams from NTU to breed their ewesto improve the quality of wool and meat. The families were interested in increasing flock numbers for multiple purposes. The producers participated in informational seminars regarding proper care, husbandry,nutrition, reproduction, lambing, pregnancy, lactation, and sheltering basicsof their ewes and rams. Rams were tested to be scrapie resistant, fully vaccinated and dewormed. NTU Veterinary Technology, Animal Science, Biology and other studentsassisted with all of the ram preventative medicine and care, breeding soundness exams, and daily feeding/watering/care of the livestock as part of their experiential learning of large animal veterinary procedures. 3. Herd Health: NTU college students and outside university students, a USDA Veterinary Medical Officer, anAssistant State Veterinarian, and Land Grant staff provided a free physical exam wellness, vaccination and deworming campaign for sheep and goats owned by Navajo elders in the Navajo eastern agency community during the summer of 2022. Over 60elderly families received this community service and outreach with flocks ranging from 1 - 65 sheep and goats for a total of 1,800animals. Communitymembers received information and informal education of the importance for herd health, vaccination, parasite control, husbandry, and scrapie disease. 4.Sheep Shearing project: 10Navajo sheep producers learned how to shear sheep with electric shearers during a 2 day workshop. Producers were of all ages from mid 20 to 65 years from across the Navajo Nation. NTU students assisted with the workshops. The wool evaluation and fleece preparation training was cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic.
Publications
|