round one 2015

Round One 2015

$325,000.00 funds available

-Committee met May 11, 2015 – Denver, CO-43 applications submitted requesting 1.4 million dollars

-11 grants awarded totaling $273,306.25

National Sheep Improvement Program

Harlan, IA

American Sheep Industry Genetic Improvement Initiative

Scope: Nationwide

Progress made:As of October, NSIP has been featured at events including workshops at:

• Midwest Stud Ram Sale-Sedalia, MO

• Center of the Nation NSIP Sale-Spencer, IA

• Leading Edge Sheep Producers symposium-Midway, UT

• Texas Sheep and Goat Expo- San Angelo, TX

• U.S. Finewool Consortium- Greeley, CO

• Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival-Jefferson, WI

• Montana Ram Sale-Miles City, MT

• Oregon Sheep Growers Assn. Convention & Symposium –Sunriver Resort, OR

• Nebraska Sheep Growers Convention

• Minnesota NSIP meeting

• Michigan Shepherds Weekend – Lansing, MI

Through these events, over 3,400 sheep producers have been present to learn how quantitative genetic selection through NSIP can help build the U.S. sheep industry.

Other projects in development:• Ram Buyers Guide

• Producer case-study videos highlighting breeders who have made advancements in productivity with NSIP technology.

• Regional breeder forums to facilitate information exchange between NSIP producers.• Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Tennesee

2016 Enrollment going on now

20 New flocks so far in January

On track for another year of record enrollment

Projecting 300 flocks

Fine Wool Consortium (Funded as part of the American Sheep Industry Genetic Improvement Initiative)

Fine Wool Breeding Group

Scope: Nationwide

Benz

Boyer

Chapman

Erk

Helle

Ketterlings

Kopren

Lehfeldt

Rafter 7

Jewell

Progress to date:

Funded gathering to initiate participation of fine wool producers in NSIP

Explained need for establishing genetic connections between flocks

Selected Abby Ketterling as chair.

Meeting summer 2016

Optimal Ag Consulting, Inc.

Fort Collins, CO

Sheep Producer Webinar Education Program

Scope: Nationwide

April 13, 2015

Farm Security and Crisis Management: Dos and Don’ts in Hiring

Kay Johnson Smith - President and CEOAnimal Agriculture Alliance – Registrants: 137 Attendees: 39

June 23, 2015

Optimizing Reproductive Efficiency in Sheep Production with Strategic Nutritional Management

Richard Ehrhardt, Ph.D. - Small Ruminant Extension SpecialistMichigan State University - Registrants: 302 Attendees: 109

August 25, 2015

Using EBVs to Achieve Your Breeding Goals

Dr. Dave Notter - Department of Animal ScienceVirginia Tech University - Registrants: 317 Attendees: 148

September 22, 2015

Dietary Supplements: A Necessity or Folly?

Dr. Robert Van Saun - Professor of Veterinary SciencePenn State University - Registrants: 281 Attendees: 106

Totals for all four webinars:

1,037 registrations402 attendees

All 50 states plus DC and 6 Canadian provinces

http://www.sheepagriculture.com/webinars2015 Online Access Data

Date Title Presenter(s) Video Slides

4/13/15 Farm Security Johnson Smith 199 471

6/23/15 Optimizing Reproductive Efficiency

Ehrhardt 565 507

8/25/15 Using EBVs Notter 335 263

9/22/15 Dietary Supplements Van Saun 741 4034

2015 Totals 1,840 5,275

2012-15 14 Webinars 2015 Totals 4,966 31,942

Utah Wool Growers

Coalville, UT

Leading Edge Sheep Production Seminar

August 17-18, 2015

Homestead Resort, Midway, Utah

Scope: Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nevada

• There were 19 Producers in attendance -representing flocks from Utah and Wyoming

• Producers in attendance own 53,700 ewes

Presenters included – Lesa Eidman – Superior Farms, Dennis Stiffler – Mt. States Rosen, Wes Patton – ALB & Road Map Committees, Alan Culham – Let’s Grow Specialist, Bill Shultz – NSIP Ram Producer,Dr. Richard Ehrhardt – Michigan State University, Rusty Bergett – NSIP Specialist, Dr. Sam Nielsen DVM, Kim Chapman – Utah State University Sheep Specialist

“I had a four producers call to tell me what an excellent program this was. Comments included: This is one of the best sheep

seminars I have ever attended, this helped me so much, why don't they do this in other states, and I am really excited about the sheep

industry again.”

Tonia Fuller Executive Secretary

Utah Wool Growers Association

SD Sheep Growers Assoc.

Bison, SD

Multi-state proposal to address proper training of sheep shearing professionals in the US

Scope: South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, and Texas

Project leaders from SD

Personnel from 5 states

Lead instructor consistent in all schools

Goal: strengthen and improve long-term sustainability of the sheep and wool industry's infrastructure

Shortage of US sheep shearing professionals is limiting factor for expansion in sheep industry

Finding foreign labor during the Australian off-season has also become problematic

There is a critical need for skilled wool harvesting professionals

Very limited opportunities for traditional on-the-job training to meet this need

Limited number schools where students can gain skills in proper shearing techniques and training in the Western US

SDSU and NDSU have consistently sponsored annual schools taught by instructors, extension specialists and seasoned shearing professionals Popular, with enrollment caps reached with very little advertisement

Curriculum follows ASI’s American Wool Council guidelines on proper shearing technique, methodology, and animal welfare

Providing producers with skilled professionals enhances the wool clip value in domestic and international marketing

To provide proper training of sheep shearing professionals allowing these individuals to get a jump start in the industry, gain more experience and be better prepared shearers.

Shearing equipment and tools purchased

5 shearing stands constructed

Trailer for transport and storage purchased

3 schools completed

44 students from 3 schools (with more to come in 2016)

50% want to learn to shear their own flock

25% quitters

25% will go on to shear professionally (~12 shearers)

10,000 hd annually, 120,000 /year

In 10yrs – 1.2 M hd or ¼ of US sheep

SDSGA and the other state sheep organizations involved in this grant would like to send their sincere appreciation for funding.

We believe we can and will make an impact on the shearing and sheep industry in the US

THANK YOU!

South Dakota State University Extension

Rapid City, SD

SD Post Weaning Lamb Performance Program

Scope: South Dakota

Montana State University Sheep Extension Program Montana Sheep Growers Association

Bozeman, MT

Montana Ram Sale SymposiumWednesday, September 16, 2015 – 10:00 a.m.

Fort Keogh Livestock & Range Center – Miles City, MT

Scope: Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming

Wednesday, September 6th 2015

Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Center- Miles City, MT

Objectives:

Educate commercial sheep producers the benefits of NSIP

Survey producer perceptions regarding NSIP and production dynamics

Establish a forum to guide decision making when purchasing rams using EBV’s

Speakers:

Dr. David Notter, Virginia Tech

Dr. Whit Stewart, Montana State University

Rusty Burgett, NSIP

Lesa Eidman, Superior Farms

Panel Discussion from NSIP Producers

Dr. Rodney Kott

Mr. John Helle (Helle Rambouillet)

Mr. Chase Hibbard (Sieben Livestock)

Mrs. Betty Sampsel (Hughes-Newford Targhees)

Outcomes• 85 Participants from 7 states and

Canada• Survey data collected to guide

educational efforts for future NSIP programming

• Purebred and Commercial producers in attendance gave very positive reviews

Ongoing Outcomes2015 Program• Survey results being analyzed and

disseminated2016 Program • “Ram Select” Workshop and

Symposium• Ram Selection Decision Making Tools• Breakout Sessions that incorporate

hands- on- learning• National Speaker Line-up

Montana Ram Sale and Symposium

• Premier Venue for Quality Sheep Genetics and Education

For more info contact:Whit.stewart1@montana.edu, 406.994.3758

Mountain States Lamb Cooperative

Douglas, WY

Use of Electronic Identification (EID) to enhance performance and value based marketing

Scope: Wyoming, Montana, Iowa, Texas, and Colorado

Producer Partners:• David Arieux , Wellman Iowa• 400 ewes, Utilizing NSIP Rams

• Cascade Colony, Sun River, MT • 700 ewes, Utilizing NSIP Rams

• Brad Boner, Glenrock, Wyoming

• 800 ewes• David Fisher, Sonora Texas• 300 ewes, Fall Lambing

Progress to date:• Project coordinator hired• Reid Redden, Texas A&M

• Readers, Tags and applicators have been distributed• Producers Partners have been trained to Protocols

and data collection.

Questions regarding the program can be sent to:

Kelley YatesExecutive Director of the KY Sheep and Goat

Development Office502-682-7780

kyates@kysheepandgoat.org.

Wyoming Wool Growers Association Casper, WY

Flock and Fiber Symposium

Scope: Wyoming

Progress to date:• Flock & Fiber Symposium

• September 23-24 in Casper, WY

•Funded for three years•Next Event scheduled for Spring 2016•Prelim. Planning underway for Youth Symposium

Progress to date:23 participants incl. speakers

Add’l funding:

UW Ext., Shepherd Magazine & Mtn. Meadow Wool

Participant Reg. Fee or $25

In-kind - 541 hrs., valued at $11,950

Oregon Sheep Growers Association

Salem, OR

Let’s Grow the Northwest! Production and

Management Courses to Improve Productivity,

Quality and Marketability of Ewes and Lambs.

Scope: Oregon and Washington

Progress to date:• Lamb 300 Workshop held in July

• The Pacific Northwest Let’s Grow Lamb and Wool Symposium – October 31 –Walla Walla, WA

• The Pacific Northwest Let’s Grow Lamb and Wool Symposium – December 5 - in Central Oregon at the Sunriver Resort.

Progress to date:

1. 70 percent responded that the workshop contributed significantly to their knowledge

2. 91 percent responded that they plan to use the information to capture higher lamb prices.

3. 25 percent indicated they felt the workshop will contribute $1000-5000 additional income in 2016

LAMB 300 Follow UP Survey Results:

Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office

Frankfort, KY

Mentor Training for Small Ruminant For Profit School

Scope: Kentucky

Progress to date:• Mentors identified and signed a

Mentor Position Description• Mentor Training held in August 2015.Mentors received notebooks with class

materialsHealth kits to use for on-farm

meetings with their mentors

• 24 mentors this year

• Assignment of mentors completed after October 17th class

• Mentors are assigned based on information commonalities with the mentees such as geographic location and types of operations

• First class on Sept. 26th and had 63 people!

• 2nd class held on October 17th in conjunction with the 2015 Annual Producer Conference which allowed everyone a good opportunity to network

• Third class held in December 2015 • Focused on nutrition and quality

assurance• All participants received hands-on

training on vaccinations, worming, hoof trimming and body condition scoring

• Next two classes will be held January 16, 2016 and March 5, 2016

• All graduates of the class will receive copies of all the presentations from the classes and a health kit with essentials needed in a small ruminant operation like a tube feeder, hoof trimmers, drench gun, etc.

• Mentors for the 2016-2017 round of classes will begin February 2016 and will be trained in August 2016

• Surveys will be given to participants and mentors to evaluate the success of the mentoring process, as well as the material provided in the program.

• SRPS was offered in 2014-2015 with 21 mentors and 55 participants • 100% of participants indicated SRPS increased their skills and/or knowledge of

sheep• Areas of improved skills and knowledge were health management, reproduction,

parasite management and nutrition• 100% of participants indicated they plan to keep better records after participating

in SRPS• 100% of participants indicated they felt more confident in small ruminant

production after the course• 52% of participants indicated they identified ways to make their herds more

productive after participating in SRPS• 37% of participants created an annual production plan for their operations;

another 16% indicated they will after reviewing the materials more after the course

• 37% of participants utilized their assigned mentors; another 11% indicated they will once they started an operation.