January 17, 2002

Feb. 13 Sheep Day in Hettinger to Highlight Out-of-Season Reproduction

The seasonality nature of sheep production prevents sheep producers from guaranteeing a constant supply of top quality product to retailers. Research at the North Dakota State University Hettinger Research Extension Center has led to consistent breeding success for lambing in the month of September with western white-faced sheep.

"Western white faced sheep are the largest sheep gene pool in the United States which offers hope that a large of producers may be able to adapt out-of-season lambing technology on their farms and ranches, says Tim Faller, director of the center at Hettinger. A summary of out-of-season lambing research from NDSU and South Dakota State University will be highlighted at Sheep Day 2002 held at the Hettinger Armory Feb. 13.

The day begins at 9:30 a.m. (MST) with coffee and registration at the Armory. There will be an early bird drawing at 10:15 a.m. towards the purebred Columbia ewe lamb that will be given away at the end of the program.

The morning program will feature research updates from NDSU on sheep research conducted at both Fargo and Hettinger. Research highlights will include:

• out of season lambing
• nutritional studies
• multi-species grazing studies
• embryo transfer
• results of winter grazing studies (beef cattle)

The morning program will conclude with a demonstration of the newest technology in wool grading by Rodney Kott of Montana State University. Producers who would like to have a sample of wool scanned should bring a 2-4 ounce sample in a small sandwich-type bag.

A lamb dinner will be served at the armory at noon. The afternoon program begins at 1:10 p.m.

Animal damage control highlights will be presented by Phil Mastrangelo of the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service. Lowell Slyter, retired animal scientist at SDSU, will summarize seasonal lambing studies conducted there. Roger Haugen, NDSU sheep specialist, will discuss the changing face of the North Dakota sheep industry. Jeff Held, SDSU sheep specialist, will give a realistic view of fall lambing, and Susan Keller, assistant North Dakota state veterinarian will outline how scrapie will effect the sheep industry.

The program will conclude with closing remarks from Burton Pfliger, president of the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association, followed by coffee and door prize drawings.

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Source: Tim Faller, (701) 567-4324, tfaller@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu