The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in San Angelo will host a livestock guardian dog, LGD, tour and meeting on June 26 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The cost is $15, payable by cash or check at the door, and lunch is included. An RSVP is requested by June 21 to [email protected].
Topics and speakers
Reid Redden, Ph.D., center director and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service sheep and goat specialist, and Bill Costanzo, Texas A&M AgriLife Research livestock guardian dog specialist, both of San Angelo, are the featured speakers.
There will be a presentation on the AgriLife Research LGD Bonding Project, the overall program and a tour of the LGD bonding pens. The Texas LGD Association will also hold its first official meeting, which is open to all LGD owners and breeders.
Livestock guardian dogs
With a dedicated LGD research specialist and carrying out LGD-specific research, Texas A&M AgriLife’s LGD program in San Angelo is one of a kind in the U.S. LGDs are utilized by livestock producers, typically with small ruminants, as a predation deterrent.
“LGD can be the single most important tool to keep predators from running sheep and goat ranchers out of business,” Redden said. “However, properly raising and managing LGDs requires a lot of strategic management and perseverance, plus a little bit of luck. Our workshops on LGDs have been very popular in the past, as people are craving unbiased best-management practices for LGDs.
Additional information and videos on LGDs can be found on the LGD YouTube channel and the LGD Facebook page.
Costanzo said organizers are excited about the program and the future of LGD research and education.
“We encourage those who use, or plan to use, LGDs to come out and learn more about what we do here at the center and the research being done,” said Costanzo. “The creation of the Texas LGD Association is an important step in securing the effective use of LGDs to protect livestock across Texas for the future.”
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