Teaching the next generation about worms.
Sericea lespedeza has been shown to reduce barber pole worm infections in small ruminants.
Hair sheep tend to be more resistant to gastro-intestinal parasites than wooled sheep or goats.
Susan Schoenian
Western Maryland Research & Education Center
18330 Keedysville Road
Keedysville, Maryland 21756
Susan Schoenian is a retired Sheep & Goat Specialist for University of Maryland Extension. She joined the University in 1988 as a county extension agent. Susan received a B.S. degree in Animal Science from Virginia Tech and a M.S. degree in Animal Science from Montana State University. She had a 100 percent extension appointment. She conducted extension education programs for youth and adults in all aspects of small ruminants, including integrated parasite management (IPM). From 2006-2016, Susan conducted the Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test and did studies comparing carcass characteristics of pen-fed and pasture-reared goats. In 2018, she transitioned to sheep research. Her first project was a comparison study of ram, wether, and short-scrotum lambs. Her last project was a pasture supplementation project. Susan's international experiences include Brazil, China, Egypt, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Poland, Russia, South Africa, and various Caribbean islands. Susan is the author of several web and social media pages pertaining to small ruminants including the Maryland Small Ruminant Page (www.sheepandgoat.com) and Sheep 101. Susan maintains the web site for the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control. She raises Katahdin sheep on her small farm in Western Maryland.

Publications
Timely Topic: Sericea lespedeza for natural control of coccidiosis [May 2014]
Parasite control in dairy sheep [October 2012]
Timely Topic: The periparturient egg rise [December 2012]
Timely Topic: Oral moxidectin more effective [November 2012]
Timely Topic: Role of fecal egg counts in sheep/goat health [August 2020]
Best Management Practices: Targeted Selective Treatment [January 2020]
Podcasts
Worms during kidding season [March 2021]
Using dewormers correctly [October 2020]
Last updated 05.18.22