Baa's and Bleat's - The AASRP Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Bridging the Gap Between Academia & Producers with Jessica Waltemyer May 07, 2026

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This month we sat down with Jessica Waltemyer - NY State Small Ruminant Extension Specialist at Cornell University. Jessica discusses her background in small ruminant production and her work on small ruminant parasite resistance and resilience.

To learn more about the Sam Guss Memorial Fund or to donate and support future research: https://aasrp.org/Main/Main/About/Sam-Guss-Memorial-Fund.aspx

To find an AASRP member near you, visit the AASRP "Find A Small Ruminant Veterinarian" page: https://www.aasrp.org/Main/Main/About/Find-A-Small-Ruminant-Veterinarian.aspx?hkey=e59ebdd0-6d57-493b-9ae2-e838323b9a38

If your company or organization would like to sponsor an episode or if you have questions about today's show, please email Office@AASRP.org

Creating Practice-Ready Small Ruminant and Camelid Veterinarians with Dr. Pippa Gibbons Apr 06, 2026

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This month we sat down with Dr. Pippa Gibbons - Assistant Professor of Practice at Texas Tech University. Dr. Gibbons discusses her background in small ruminant medicine and her work developing a survey to identify common clinical cases and skills needed for new veterinarians, with the goal of creating a “day-one” competency list for sheep and goat practice. This episode highlights how these findings can improve veterinary education, externships, and preparedness for real-world practice, especially in mixed and rural settings. They also emphasize the importance of programs like the AASRP Sam Guss Scholarship in supporting student externships and exposure to small ruminant medicine.

To learn more about the Sam Guss Memorial Fund or to donate and support future research: https://aasrp.org/Main/Main/About/Sam-Guss-Memorial-Fund.aspx

If your company or organization would like to sponsor an episode or if you have questions about today's show, please email Office@AASRP.org

Rethinking FAMACHA with Dr. Isabelle Louge Mar 02, 2026

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This month we sat down with Dr. Isabelle Louge - Assistant Clinical Professor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Dr. Louge discusses work from her residency at Cornell University where she investigated the efficacy of FAMACHA scoring to assess parasite burden in small ruminants.

To find the peer reviewed paper discussed in today's episode, follow this link: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/264/3/javma.25.07.0510.xml

Learn more about Dr. Isabelle Louge and with questions about the contents of today's episode: https://vet.tufts.edu/people/faculty/isabelle-louge

If your company or organization would like to sponsor an episode or if you have questions about today's show, please email Office@AASRP.org

Sponsored Episode: Fly Predators by Spalding Labs Feb 02, 2026

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This month, we sat down with Jessica Starcevich – a passionate entomologist and Chief Science Officer at Spalding Labs – to discuss Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and biological fly control methods for sheep and goats. Jessica provides details about effective fly control methods for ruminant operations’ unique needs. She also dives into the science behind Fly Predators - beneficial insects that kill flies before they hatch - and provides resources to understand which fly control methods will be most effective for your farm's unique needs.

Learn more about biological fly control and Spalding Labs Fly Predators here:
https://info.spalding-labs.com

Parasite Resistance with Dr. Emma Borkowski Nov 09, 2025

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This month we sat down with Dr. Emma Borkowski - Assistant Professor of Pathology at Ontario Veterinary College - to discuss her work surrounding parasite management in sheep and goats. Dr. Borkowski discusses a project that was funded by AASRP to help evaluate efficacy of various methods of storing fecal samples before analysis for fecal egg counting. She also shares insights that she has gained through her research on resistance and resilience to parasites along with future directions for her research.

Learn more about Dr. Borokowski's work here: https://ovc.uoguelph.ca/pathobiology/people/faculty/emma-borkowski/

Learn more about the AASRP research grant application process here: https://www.aasrp.org/Main/Main/Research/AASRP-Research-Grant.aspx?hkey=546d2e15-f2cd-4ce8-a837-a16cfd4f3790

If your company or organization would like to sponsor an episode or if you have questions about today's show, please email Office@AASRP.org

New World Screwworm with USDA's Dr. Rosemary Sifford Oct 01, 2025

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This month we sat down with Dr. Rosemary Sifford - Deputy Administrator and Chief Veterinary Officer for USDA-APHIS to discuss a zoonotic health threat that is creeping closer to the United States: New World Screwworm. Dr. Sifford explains what New World Screwworm is, why it is a threat to US livestock, and what veterinarians should do if they suspect they are dealing with an infected animal. Veterinarians play a key role in surveillance for diseases such as NWS and early reporting is imperative.

*Note: There are no known cases of NWS in livestock in the US as of the publication of this podcast.*

To learn more about New World Screwworm, visit the USDA-APHIS website: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/cattle/ticks/screwworm

For updates on the current outbreak in Mexico and Central America, visit the USDA website: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/cattle/ticks/screwworm/outbreak-central-america

For veterinarians who need help identifying their State Animal Health Official, visit the US Animal Health Association website: https://usaha.org/saho/

To review the USDA fact sheet on NWS for veterinarians, follow this link: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/factsheet-nws-private-veterinarians.pdf

To complete the NWS module for veterinarians, visit the NAVP Training Module website and complete Module 41: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/nvap/training-modules#:~:text=Module%2041:%20New%20World%20Screwworm,not%20play%20on%20mobile%20devices

To watch the USDA webinar on NWS for veterinarians and animal health officials, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxPTfFPxlIk

For insights on treatment options (not prevention) visit the FDA website: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/safety-health/new-world-screwworm-information-veterinarians

If your company or organization would like to sponsor an episode or if you have questions about today's show, please email Office@AASRP.org

Producer Spotlight: Heritage Sheep Breeds & On-Farm Research with Richard Marlar Sep 09, 2025

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This month we sit down with Richard Marlar, a physician and president of the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association to talk about heritage livestock breeds - specifically the Navajo-Churro - which have been integral to the settlement and development of the US. Richard also discusses Split Upper Eyelid Disorder (SUED), a developmental disorder that affects four-horned sheep such as the Navajo-Churro. Dr. Marlar explains how he and his wife worked with their veterinarian as well as human physicians to develop a hypothesis about the cause of this disease based on similar diseases that affect humans. This collaboration also helped the Marlars devise a prevention plan by improving their animals' nutrition, especially around breeding and during gestation which has eliminated the incidence of SUED in their flock. Richard provides unique insight for producers and veterinarians about collaborating across medical specialties to develop hypotheses and carryout their own mini-research trials to address challenges that they face within their operation and beyond. This episode highlights the importance of a One Health approach to veterinary challenges and the important role that a veterinarian can play in advocating for their clients through collaboration with university connections, extension programs, and human medical experts when novel challenges are identified.

Resources discussed in this episode:

American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners - Find a small ruminant veterinarian: https://aasrp.org/Main/Main/About/Find-A-Small-Ruminant-Veterinarian.aspx?hkey=e59ebdd0-6d57-493b-9ae2-e838323b9a38

The Livestock Conservancy: https://livestockconservancy.org/

Shave 'Em to Save 'Em: https://livestockconservancy.org/get-involved/shave-em-to-save-em/

Navajo-Churro Sheep Association: https://www.navajo-churrosheep.com/?doing_wp_cron=1757476384.7682878971099853515625

To access Dr. Marlar's article on his experiences with SUED email: rmarlar@salud.unm.edu

Dairy Goat Sustainability with Jenn Bentley Aug 04, 2025

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Join us for a discussion about a collaborative research project currently in the works headed up by Iowa State University. Jennifer Bentley, a dairy field specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, discusses the aims of the current project including assessing prevalence and treatment options for common diseases affecting dairy goats, developing financial assessments and benchmarks for goat dairies, and improving kid survival rates.

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Goat site can be found here: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/dairy-goats-sheep

Veterinarians may contact Jennifer via email at jbentley@iastate.edu to discuss participation in data collection for this project.

Learn more about Ms. Bentley's extension and outreach programs, visit her ISU staff profile: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/staff/jbentley

Learn more about Dr. Amanda Kreuder's research, visit her faculty page: https://vetmed.iastate.edu/directory/pub/info/akreuder

Review the results of the 2020 Iowa Dairy Goat Survey: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/files/documents/2020_dairy_goat_-_august_nwl.pdf

If your company or organization would like to sponsor an episode or if you have questions about today's show, please email Office@AASRP.org

Producer Spotlight: Alpaca Farming with Christian Davies & Dr. Rachel Friedrich Jul 01, 2025

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This month we sit down with Christian Davies (of C&M Acres Alpacas and Fiber Mill) and his veterinarian, Dr. Rachel Friedrich from Iowa State University's Veterinary Field Service. Christina and his wife, Michele, raise alpacas and operate a fiber mill in Maxwell, IA. Dr. Friedrich not only provides veterinary care for C&M Acres but also collaborates with Christian and Michele to curate camelid-specific clinical training opportunities for third and fourth year veterinary students. This episode is all about producers and veterinarians learning and working together!

Resources discussed in this episode:

American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners - Veterinarians and vet students join today!

https://aasrp.org/Main/Main/Membership/Join-AASRP.aspx?hkey=6878474f-d347-4a79-bdbe-5a1896781821

The Alpaca Owners Association: https://www.alpacainfo.com/

Textbook: Veterinary Techniques for Llamas and Alpacas by DE Anderson, M Jones, & MD Miesner

Textbook: Llama and Alpaca Care by MS Cebra, A Tibary, LW Johnson, R Van Saun, & DE Anderson

If you or your organization would like to sponsor an episode of Baas and Bleats, please contact office@aasrp.org to learn more.

Range Sheep and Guardian Dogs with Dr. Jake Thorne Jun 03, 2025

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Join us for a discussion about genetic evaluations, parasite management, and livestock guardian dogs with Dr. Jake Thorne, Assistant Professor and Extension Sheep and Goat Specialist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Station in San Angelo, TX.

In this episode, Dr. Thorne discusses methods for genetic evaluation of sheep with a special focus on resistance to Barber Pole Worm. He also discusses his vision for how extension agents and veterinarians can work together to better serve small ruminant producers in the United States. Finally, Dr. Thorne digs into some excellent livestock guardian dog training research that is taking place to give us some insights on when and how to introduce these dogs to our livestock.

More information about Dr. Thorne's work can be found here: https://sanangelo.tamu.edu/people/jacob-thorne/

Dr. Thorne is also the host of the American Sheep Industry's Research Update Podcast. We highly recommend giving him a listen at https://www.sheepusa.org/research-podcast

If your company or organization would like to sponsor an episode or if you have questions about today's show, please email Office@AASRP.org

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