NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

November 25, 1998

Small Flock Plays Big Role with 1998 Master Sheep Producer

With about 2,000 tillable acres planted to row crops and small grains spread across some 20 miles in northeastern North Dakota, Jim Ostlie might consider his small flock of sheep little more than an interesting hobby. But he insists that's not the case.

"Sheep fit very well into my farming operation," Ostlie says. "They add income and they add some reliability to farm income." That reliability, diversity and stability are likely to become even more important under Freedom to Farm legislation, he says.

Ostlie, a Northwood area farmer, was recently named Master Sheep Producer by the N.D. Lamb and Wool Producers Association at the group's annual convention in Mandan. The award recognizes excellence in sheep production management as well as Ostlie's long-term involvement in promoting the N.D. sheep industry.

"The selection committee was very impressed with the amount of time and effort that Jim has invested in promoting the industry," notes Roger Haugen, sheep specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service.

Ostlie serves on the board of directors of the N.D. Lamb and Wool Producers Association, the Valley Wool Growers Association and the N.D. Grain Growers Association. During the past three years he's led the Valley Wool Growers Association's lamb in the classroom program that provides cuts of lamb to home economics classes in 15 to 20 schools in eastern North Dakota.

"The program gives students a chance to prepare and taste lamb. It's likely they've never ordered it in a restaurant or bought it in a grocery store," he explains.

In addition to helping introduce lamb to that potential market, Ostlie was also involved in an effort by the Valley Wool Growers Association to ship North Dakota lamb to ethnic restaurants in metropolitan areas of Wisconsin and California. "A lot of lamb moves through ethnic restaurants, but they're used to serving New Zealand lamb. We want them to see and taste the difference in lamb that's raised in the United States and North Dakota in particular," Ostlie says. Because New Zealand's sheep industry is largely geared toward producing wool, lamb meat is marketed at very low prices. One goal of the Valley Wool Grower's project is to illustrate the value of larger, grain-fed U.S. lambs.

Despite the time that such efforts take away from his farm, his wife, Audrey, and the rest of his family, Ostlie considers them an investment. "I do it for my own betterment," he explains. "Anything I can do to help the industry is going to come back and benefit me."

Ostlie began raising sheep in 1971 when he started farming. Back then, the sheep were a way to add income by using some existing livestock buildings on the farm he purchased. The sheep were such a good fit, his farm has never been without them.

The sheep keep building sites trimmed and clear of weeds, grass and brush. When crop production is in full swing, the sheep require little attention. Ostlie has even scheduled lambing around the full slate of meetings and events he attends in early March. "The sheep give us a way to make better use of available labor on the farm," he explains.

That labor force includes his children, Shawn, a student at NDSU; Kevin, Fargo; Michael, a high school freshman; and Jeanette, a sixth grader.

The size of the flock has fluctuated over the years and now numbers about 45 Columbia, Ramboulet and Suffolk cross ewes, slightly fewer than average for N.D. flocks. Ostlie feeds out his own lambs—about 70 each year.

Ostlie says simplicity is a key in his sheep management strategies. One example: he notches the ears of lambs that are born as twins or triplets. He selects replacement ewes by watching for ear-notched lambs with good rates of gain. The strategy helps him increase both lambing potential and rate of gain in his flock.

"Compared to hogs and cattle, getting established isn't as costly and sheep are often more profitable than other livestock," he says. Through his involvement in the N.D. Lamb and Wool Growers Association, he's noted an increase in the number of sheep producers who rely on the animals to supplement income from other farm enterprises or off-farm jobs. Many retired people also look to sheep as a source of activity and income, he says.

"The key to success," he says, "is to have a strong interest in sheep and enjoy working with them."

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[EDITORS: A photograph of Ostlie is available by contacting Tom Jirik at (701) 231-9629 or tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu.]

Source: Jim Ostlie (701) 587-5778

Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629