Cooperative Extension conducted four workshops for veterinarians and technicians and four open lectures covering “Small Ruminant Health,” one each on O‘ahu, Maui, the Big Island, and Kaua‘i. They featured David Pugh, a board-certified veterinary specialist in nutrition, parasitology, and theriogenology. The author/editor of the textbook
Sheep and Goat Medicine, Dr. Pugh recently retired as the director of the Alabama Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System and clinical professor in the Department of Pathobiology at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. The purpose of the project was to increase the state’s capacity to provide food animal veterinary services in the area of small ruminant health. Specialized hands-on training was provided to veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Health information was also provided to producers and members of the public to help them better deal with health issues affecting their animals. Participating CTAHRites included Extension veterinarian Jenee Odani; HNFAS faculty Birendra Mishra, Rajesh Jha, and Halina Zaleski; Kaua‘i Extension agent Savannah Katulski; Maui Extension agent Kyle Caires; and grad student Melelani Oshiro. Jenny Kelly from Windward Community College’s Veterinary Technician Program and Travis Heskett and Raquel Wong from Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture also provided much assistance. The workshops were made possible through USDA NIFA Veterinary Services Grant Program funding.