Virginia Cooperative Extension at Virginia State University helps small-scale sheep farmers across Virginia reduce expenses, increase profits and provide exceptional products with innovative, evidence-based strategies. With demand for lamb outstripping domestic supply, local, small-scale farmers and consumers can benefit from systems developed by Extension and the Agricultural Research Station at VSU.  

To assist small-scale farmers, Cooperative Extension at Virginia State University (VCE-VSU) designed a mobile processing unit (MPU) and developed an MPU Certification Program, which is funded by NIFA at USDA. The certification program consists of four online modules and a hands-on module at VCE-VSU’s Randolph Farm.

VSU’s Small Ruminant Mobile Processing Unit has been in the making for five years, but is scheduled to finally be unveiled and fully operational this spring. It couldn’t come soon enough for O’Brien and many small ruminant producers.

On April 9, small ruminant experts, Dr. Dahlia O’Brien, extension specialist at Virginia State University (VSU) and Dr. Niki Whitley, extension specialist at Fort Valley State University (FVSU), hosted a live Small Ruminant FAMACHA© Certification and Parasite Management online training. There were 130 participants from all over the United States, as well as other countries around the world, including Pakistan.