05/22/2026
Last Fall (2025), we were asked to be “Cooperating Farmers” for a study being conducted by the University of Arkansas. This study, “Hope Islands,” (funded by Southern SARE) is looking at the feasibility and effectiveness of utilizing plants with Condensed Tannins, such as Sericea lespedeza, plantain, chicory and others to serve as a dewormer for sheep and goats. We posted a video about planting these plants last fall, and you can watch that here.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRJC-0HjboD/?igsh=anl0MGZvMWI1dGtt
Commercial dewormers for both small ruminants (sheep and goats), and large ruminants (cattle) are becoming less and less effective due to the parasites (“worms”) developing resistance to the drugs. There was an article discussing this on Drovers earlier this week, you can read that below ⬇️
God has given us some amazing forages/plants that will help our livestock “deworm.” We are excited to be involved in researching the feasibility and effectiveness of some of these plants planted into “Islands” on our farm! As Dr. Dan Quadros reminded me several weeks ago when he and Brian Haller visited Rose Bud Acres; part of the study is feasibly! Establishing these plants in an exceptional drought year has proved to be challenging! We will replant this year, and plant to conduct the grazing portion of the study next (2027) year and possibly 2028 as well.
https://www.drovers.com/news/end-blanket-deworming-why-your-parasite-strategy-must-change
