Introduction to Sheep and Goat Grazing Management

Beth Reynolds & Robert Rutherford

Beth Reynolds is an animal science lecturer and the Supervisor of the sheep center and goat enterprise at Cal Poly, SLO. She also brings her unique experience of owning and operating a vegetation management business in San Luis Obispo since 2005. Focused on promoting the use of sheep and goat herds as effective land management tools, Beth has obtained jobs ranging from firebreaks around housing developments, targeted grazing of noxious weeds for environmental projects, clearing creeks for flood control, in addition to providing vegetation management to a multitude of private, institutional and governmental agencies. Beth is also hired as a consultant to setup and help manage goat herds owned by local vineyards, ranches, and homeowners.

Robert Rutherford is a Holistic Management Certified Educator and a graduate of UC Davis with a Bachelor of Science and Standard Secondary Teaching Credential for Ag Education and a Master of Science in Agriculture at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). Rob retired after serving for 39 years as a Professor of Animal Science at Cal Poly. Within that position, as well as teaching and advising students, he was charged with managing the sheep operations on campus, which entails grazing management in order to enhance resource function and productivity.