Sheep Industry News April 2025

I n the past eight years, the Livestock Guardian Dog Field Day at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in San Angelo, Texas, has become a valuable resource for livestock producers. Whether you’re just getting started with livestock guardian dogs or need help taking your program to the next level, the May 2 event has something for everyone. Plus, there will be puppies! “We have some vendors at the field day, including breeders who will usually have guard dog puppies for sale,” said AgriLife LGD Program Specialist Bill Costanzo. “That’s always a high light.” The field day provides sheep and goat producers with an excellent opportunity to learn more about using guard dogs on their farms and ranches. The day will begin with several work shops, including: discussions on LGDs and predators by John Tomecek, Ph.D.; guard dog aggression by Wyoming producer Cat Urbigkit; and a presentation by canine behaviorist Walter Burghardt, Ph.D. “We usually have three to four workshops before lunch, and then maybe one afterward depending on the year,” Costanzo said. “Also after lunch, we have a producer panel with three to four producers who are using guard dogs on their operations. We try to have a variety of producers, including some who have only been using dogs for a few years and others who might have 30 years of experience with guard dogs. We always get a ton of questions during the panel. I think the producers who attend feel more comfortable asking questions of other producers.” While Costanzo was still finalizing the producer panel for this year’s field day, he confirmed three participants he expects to be

on hand to take questions from the audience. Chad Raines was a crop farmer who moved into sheep and is now a part of the solar grazing boom in the American sheep industry. Mario Aguirre is a goat breeder and a participant in Texas A&M AgriLife’s bonding project. He was suffering from extreme predation but the use of livestock guardian dogs virtually elimi nated the problem. And Robert Sovola handles dog management for two area ranches. The day usually ends with a ranch tour. The format has proven popular since the field day began in 2017. Attendance at that first field day was better than expected and led to more and more producers in the state and surrounding states turning to Texas A&M AgriLife with questions about livestock guardian dogs. “That interest is kind of how my position came about,” said Costanzo. “They talked with the Texas Sheep and Goat Preda tor Management Board and we ended up working with them to secure funding for the program.” The field day is now just one aspect of Texas A&M AgriLife’s Livestock Guardian Dog Program. Quarterly webinars address issues ranging from breed selection to nutrition and animal health. A producer panel much like the one planned for the field day will be conducted on May 15. Costanzo also hosts monthly question-and-answer sessions on Facebook to address questions that are regularly sent in by producers. Producers can keep up with all of the program’s hap penings at Facebook.com/TAMUlivestockguarddog. To register for the LGD Field Day, visit AgriLife-Extension district7.my.canva.site/livestock-guardian-dog-field-day. Early registration – before April 25 – is $30 per person or $50 for a couple. After April 25, the cost goes up to $35 and $60.

Field Day Schools Producers on LGDs

12 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org