Tackling dystocia with Youth Sheep and Goat producers
4-H and Youth Programming
Jacci Smith
Extension Educator ANR/4-H
Ohio State University
Delaware
Abstract
Every year production units in the livestock industry did not meet their full potential. Dystocia targets all livestock producers, especially new and unexperienced farmers. Sheep 4-H projects in Ohio continue to be steady to slightly increasing. The topic of dystocia is literally life and death, this can be fearful, stressful and concerning to the most experienced members of the sheep and goat community but specifically to the newer herdsman. To tackle this issue, a set of birthing simulators have been created and used for over 5 years to help current and potential future sheep and goat farmers practice handling dystocias. The nature of dystocia in sheep and goats requires smaller and more nimble hands, sometimes this is passed down to youth that have hands that meet those requirements. Participants will have their turn at tackling different dystocias at the simulators after they have heard a brief presentation of the most common dystocia reasons. This presentation also explains a normal presentation of birth. The simulators can be set up for multiple different malpresentations including breech, head back, and tangled twins. The evaluations for the simulators are very positive. 98% of participants felt more prepared to handle a dystocia, 95% had and increased confidence on when to intervene with a dystocia, 97% are more confident in diagnosing and solving malpresentations, and 98% are more likely to have a successful birthing season after attending the session. Participants are also referred to a video created with the simulators. The video has 195.3 educational hours recorded. A shepherd noted that he took his iPad to the barn during a dystocia to watch and guide him while trying to handle the dystocia himself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsEZB4kOg34
Authors: Jacci Smith, Rob Leeds, Kate Hornyak
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Jacci Smith Extension Educator ANR/4-H, Ohio State University , Ohio, 43015-1707
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Rob Leeds Extension Educator ANR, Ohio State University , Ohio, 43015
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Kate Hornyak Program Coordinator , Ohio State University , Ohio, 43015