By Jackie Swift
New York State small ruminant extension specialist with Cornell PRO-LIVESTOCK, likes to joke that animals rule her life. “Personally and professionally, it’s animals all the time,” she said. “There’s no part of my life that doesn’t involve them.”
Outreach and extension work with farmers who raise and maintain small ruminants (sheep, goats and camelids) make up 80% of Waltemyer’s position, with an additional 10% of her time devoted to small ruminant research and 10% teaching within the Animal Science Department. Add to that caring for the 70 dairy cattle and 20 sheep her family owns, and her life does, indeed, appear to revolve around animals 24/7.
But Waltemyer wouldn’t have it any other way. Although she always wanted to build a career around livestock, her love of sheep, and of outreach and learning, make her ideally suited for her position. She credits it to the mentorship of the late Michael Thonney, Cornell professor of animal science and sheep expert. She met him when she came to the university for a master’s degree in professional studies. “He ignited a passion for further knowledge in me,” she said. “Working alongside him really sparked my small ruminant interest, particularly in sheep.”
New York State currently supports around 83,000 sheep and 12,000 dairy goats. Sheep numbers have been growing in response to increased consumer demand for sheep-milk products and the developing practice of grazing sheep under large solar installations, Waltemyer explained. Small ruminant producers in New York, whose numbers are on the rise, also repeatedly requested extension assistance from the state.
Source : cornell.edu