Livestock guardian dog research focus of May 21 webinar

The webinar is free and will begin at 3 p.m. Participants must register on the LGD Facebook page.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo is home to a unique research program dedicated to LGDs and their role in reducing predation of sheep, goats, poultry and other livestock. The webinar is part of an ongoing series focused on LGDs featuring AgriLife Extension and industry experts who cover a wide range of relevant topics.

Featured speaker, webinar focus

Linda Van Bommel, Ph.D., postdoctoral researcher with the Fenner School of Environment and Society in Canberra, Australia, will be the featured speaker. Van Bommel specializes in LGDs and predator management in grazing systems.

She has worked extensively with livestock producers across Australia to improve guardian dog management and reduce livestock losses. Her research focuses on the effectiveness, behavior and impacts of LGDs on the environments in which they work.

Van Bommel has produced a LGD best practice manual, which is a resource for ranchers worldwide on LGD use.

“I’m very excited to have Dr. Van Bommel as our featured speaker for this webinar,” said Bill Costanzo, AgriLife Extension livestock guardian dog specialist, Bryan-College Station. “She has been a leader in LGD research for many years and is an expert in the effective use of the dogs protecting livestock.”