Annual Sheep Day Scheduled for Feb. 14 at NDSU Hettinger Research Extension Center

Ways to boost profitability and improve management will be highlighted at the 42nd annual Sheep Day at North Dakota State University's Hettinger Research Extension Center Feb. 14.

"This event gives sheep producers a chance to preview the research that will have an impact on their farms and to hear from leaders in the industry," says Tim Faller, director of the center. "It also brings together producers, researchers and others from the region to discuss common issues and opportunities."

The day begins at 9 a.m. with an open house at the research center's barns to tour projects and view rams on the ram test. The day's events will conclude at about 3:30 p.m. The Hettinger Armory opens at 9:30 for coffee and registration for an early bird drawing for a Columbia ewe lamb to be given away before the program begins at 10:15 a.m. The morning program at the armory features research updates from the center and the NDSU animal and range science department. Research highlights will include:

• an update on the use of sheep in multi-species grazing to control leafy spurge.
• techniques for winter grazing.
• work to improve the success of out-of-season lambing systems.
• reduced labor requirements of the "Easy Sheep" system.
• an update on nutritional studies.

A lamb dinner will be served at the armory at noon. A program for spouses begins at 1 p.m. The Adams County Family and Community Education clubs will present a food fair program coordinated by Colleen Svingen, Adams County Extension Agent and West River Health Services Wellness Educator.

Afternoon research sessions open at 1 p.m. with a welcome from Keith Bjerke, assistant to the president at NDSU. Research presentations include:

• The basics of bagging forage for profit will be presented by Kevin James of the Ag-Bag Corporation.
• Janet McNally, sheep producer from Hinkley, Minn., will outline her strategies for managing a prolific flock using a pasture system.
• A producer’s perspective on the low-labor sheep production system called "Easy Sheep" will be presented by Dean Swensen, a Walcott rancher who has been cooperating in studies of the system with the Hettinger Research Extension Center.
• An update on the Southwest Feeders Report will be presented by Faller and Chip Poland, livestock specialist at the NDSU Dickinson Research Extension Center.
• Burt Pfliger, president of the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association, will provide closing comments.

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Source: Tim Faller (701) 567-4323, tfaller@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu