Feb. 11 Event at Hettinger Research Extension Center Expanded to Include Beef

In its 45th year of holding an annual winter event, the North Dakota State University Hettinger Research Extension Center is expanding its traditional sheep day program to include beef research. The event is Wednesday, Feb. 11.

“The expanded program reflects the changes that we’ve made to our programs over the past few years,” says Tim Faller, director of the center. “The addition of a feedlot here at the center and the additional work we’re doing in grazing and beef management give a more integrated approach to our research. It’s natural that you’d see that in our outreach programs as well.”

The day opens at 8:30 a.m. with tours of the Dakota Ram Test and facilities at the Hettinger Research Extension Center. At 9:30 a.m. doors open at the Hettinger Armory. An early-bird drawing for a Columbia ewe lamb will be held at 10:10 a.m.

Presentations begin at 10:15 a.m. with updates on beef and sheep research being conducted at Hettinger and Fargo. NDSU research associate Chris Schauer will discuss dormant season protein supplementation for both sheep and beef. NDSU Extension Service range management specialist Kevin Sedivec will review grazing studies being conducted in southwest North Dakota.

Leif Anderson, animal scientist at the Hettinger Research Extension Center, will report on progress of the Southwest Feeders Project. South Dakota State University Extension sheep scientist Jeff Held will discuss a four-state project on lamb backgrounding and finishing. NDSU’s sheep specialist, Roger Haugen, will discuss the Spring Ram Test.

An American lamb and beef dinner will be served at noon.

Afternoon sessions will begin at 1 p.m. Janet Alverson and Lynn Herrmann, scientists with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service in Pullman, Wash., will outline the history, science and current implications of scrapie. Alverson and Herrmann are part of the USDA-ARS research team leading efforts to explore and eradicate scrapie in the United States.

Fred Provenza, an animal behavioral specialist from Utah State University, will discuss using animal behavior to manage livestock. A major focus of his research is to use trained and inherited behavior in livestock to manage grazing distribution. He suggests that a working knowledge of animal behavior characteristics can improve livestock management by reducing stress and improving productivity of both animals and the humans caring for them.

The program will close at 3:15 p.m. with comments from Brent Stroh, president of the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association.

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