Annual Sheep Day Set for February 10, 1999 in Hettinger

President's Comments
My fellow sheep producers it is time to make plans for a successful 1999! One of the first steps is to renew your membership in the NDLWPA. Your membership, along with other producers, enables the association to be a strong voice for the sheep industry in matters of promotion, research, regulation, legislation and production. In fact, I along with other producers appeared before the Education subcommittee of the House Appropriations on Jan.19, 1999 to ask for the reinstatement of the extension sheep education position as a part of House Bill 1021. I want to thank the sheep producers who took time to attend on behalf of the sheep industry. I encourage everyone to contact their local legislators and ask them to support the reinstatement of the extension sheep education position as an addition to House Bill 1021. Also, please make a commitment in support of your sheep industry by returning the membership form found at the end of this newsletter with the dues of $15.00. THANK YOU!!
Jim Marshall, Jr., President of NDLWPA, Oriska

Sheep Day Program
Wednesday, February 10 (MST)
9:00-10:00 am Open House at barns; tour projects and view "Ram Test"
10:15 am Current Research Updates:
 1. Lean Lamb Project - Dr. Paul Berg, ARS Dept, NDSU
 2. Field Peas as a Feedstuff for Sheep - Dr. Marc Bauer, ARS Dept, NDSU
 3. Sheep on Shares - Dan Nudell, Hettinger REC
 4. Multi Species versus Single Species Grazing on Leafy Spurge Infested Rangeland - Jack Dahl, Hettinger REC
 5. 1998 Ram Test Information - Dr. Jeff Held, ARS Dept, SDSU
 6. Easy Sheep - Tim Faller, Hettinger REC
12:00 noon Lunch: American Lamb
1:00 pm "Opening Comments" - Peter Orwick, Executive Director, ASI
1:10 pm "Cool Season Grasses and their Nutritive Values" - Dr. Kevin Sedivec, Range Scientist, ARS Dept, NDSU
1:40 pm "New Wool Packing Requirements, What will be the Impact?" - Larry Prager, Manager of Center of the Nation Wool Inc., SD
2:10 pm "Disease Impacts on the Commercial Sheep Operator" - Dr. Charles Stoltenow, Extension Veterinarian, NDSU
2:55 pm "Closing Remarks" - Jim Marshall, Jr., President of NDLWPA, Oriska, ND

Wool Committee Issues Statement on Acceptable Packaging Materials (ASI)
The Wool Packaging Committee and other U.S. wool industry members released a joint statement last week in hopes of removing doubt surrounding the implementation of new wool packaging materials in the United States.

As of Jan. 1, 1999, all newly shorn wool should be packaged in "clear film" material, and/or nylon packs as proposed and agreed to by the USA Sheep Industry in January 1998. Failure to do so, says the Wool Packaging Committee, will severely restrict wool-selling possibilities since U.S. wool processors have clearly stated their preference for wool packaged in clear film or nylon packs.

However, since the development of new film products has taken longer than expected, and the inventories of HDPE (high density polyethylene) square packs and burlap bags are larger than anticipated, the calendar year 1999 will be used to phase in film packs and bags and phase out burlap and HDPE packs. However, wool packaged in burlap and HDPE packs will not be accepted after Jan.1, 2000.

Baby Lamb Losses - Management Review
by Roger G. Haugen, NDSU Extension Sheep Specialist
Since most of the cost of producing a lamb occurs before it's born, a major effort should be made to save as many lambs as possible. Mortality rates usually are the highest in the first few days of life. Review the following points as they relate to baby lambs.

COLOSTRUM - The average lamb born under normal conditions needs 3.2 ounces per pound of bodyweight in the first 18 hours for heat production to avoid hypothermia. Lambs are capable of consuming more if fed ad lib. If you are feeding orphans, it is suggested that the needed amount be divided into 3 or 4 feedings to prevent overdistension of the stomach.

Underfed ewes give approximately half the quantity of colostrum that well fed ewes give during the first 18 hours after parturition. Well fed ewes with single lambs produce enough colostrum to feed a second lamb, while underfed ewes seldom produce enough colostrum for twins.

STARVATION - Although there are many potential causes of early deaths, starvation is probably the most common cause. The degree of losses due to starvation in a flock is strictly related to management. Unless a lamb receives colostrum within two to three hours after birth, its body energy reserves become critically depleted. The biggest prevention of starvation is to make sure that a ewe's udder is open and every lamb nurses.

Starvation typically occurs during the first three days of life. Symptoms include standing around with head down, ears drooping, and back arched. In some cases, the lamb is too weak to stand. The stomach is empty and shivering or shaking may occur.

Treatment should begin with revival of vital signs. If the lamb is too weak to suck, a stomach tube should be used to get milk directly into the stomach. Followup care is extremely important if the lamb is to survive. Lambs which have been severely stressed will require a day or two of intensive care. Lambs which are still weak after treatments cannot be simply returned to their mothers. Many still can't suck. Repeat feedings with the stomach tube should be done until the lamb can nurse.

Remember that the maternal care of a ewe is unique in that there is a very rapid bond made between her and her lambs. Tests have shown that when a lamb is removed from a ewe soon after birth the ewe will not accept it back if more than 4 to 6 hours have passed. When helping starving lambs, keep this in mind and don't let the lamb out if the ewe's sight too long. A possible solution is a cardboard box for the lamb to lay in where the ewe can still see and smell her lamb. Additional heat may also be required for the lamb. By recognizing and treating starvation, you could reduce losses by as much as 10%.

UDDERS - The need to keep the ewe's udder working well cannot be over-emphasized. Milk is the lamb's main food for at least the first 30 days. There is a close relationship between milk yield and lamb growth and development, especially during the first stage of lactation. The capacity of the offspring to consume milk is one of the principal factors governing the amount of milk produced by a ewe. Ewes with twins produce about 50 percent more milk than ewes with singles.

Sound, well-shaped udders are extremely important. Ewes with pendulous udders, extremely large teats, or hard spots in the udder should be watched carefully after lambing. Sometimes it is hard to get lambs started nursing on ewes with low-hanging udders, since their natural instinct is to go up under the flank. You may have to help lambs whose mother has extremely large teats (balloon teats). It may take as long as a week for these teats to become small enough that the lambs can nurse without assistance. Ewes with these problems are good candidates for culling (especially with the present day cull markets).

During lambing, you may want to consider artificially rearing the lambs from problem ewes rather than take a chance of losing some lambs by leaving them with their mothers. If the udder is hard or lumpy, the ewe may have mastitis. Treat with antibiotic. If only one side is affected, leave one lamb to nurse, foster or bottle the twin or triplets. If both sides are affected, foster or bottle all the lambs. With healthy udders, be sure teats are open and clear of wax and milk is flowing.

Observe ewes and lambs carefully throughout the lactation period to detect sickness or other disorders before these become major problems. One of the potential trouble spots is the udder. If it becomes injured or infected and the condition is not treated early, the ewe may lose the milk-producing ability of one or both sides of the udder. Udder sores provide excellent avenues for harmful bacteria to enter the body. Keeping the barn well bedded will help cut down udder problems.

LAMB'S TEETH - When a ewe accepts and mothers her lamb or lambs initially, then after a few days seems to be rejecting one or both, it is very possible that she has a tender udder. This may be due to infection or it could be due to one or both of the lambs having excessively sharp teeth. Like baby pigs, you may be surprised how sharp a lamb's two center teeth can be. Close inspection of the ewe's udder may show a cut or punctures close to her nipples, which can make nursing very painful. If this is the problem, treat the wounds and ease off the milk supply by hand until she heals enough to accept the lambs fully. Use a nail file to take the edges off the lamb's teeth. You may have to supplement the lambs for a few days by bottle until the ewe is healed.

MANAGEMENT - Keep the flock well watered. Remember, water is the largest ingredient in ewe milk. Give the best hay to the milking ewes, especially those with twins or triplets. If lambing pens are crowded, use night lights to help prevent trampling of newborn lambs during periods of disturbance or excitement. Locate the lamb creep in the most desirable place, away from cold and drafts. Find a bright spot. Dark corners are not attractive to lambs. Keep the aisles and pens free of booby traps. Hurdles/gates that are not tied can easily fall on baby lambs and kill them. Loose twine laying around can easily hang a lamb. Keep pens dry, well-bedded and draft-free. Sniffles, heavy breathing and rectal temperatures above 104 degrees are danger signals. Have antibiotics handy.
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North Dakota Winter Shows
The 1999 North Dakota Winter Shows in Valley City is scheduled for March 4-14. The sheep show and sale is on Monday, March 8. There is a Junior (4-H & FFA) and Senior Division with both divisions open to out of state. ENTRY DEADLINE is February 6, 1999. For more information or entry forms contact Roger Haugen, Hultz Hall, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58105 (701/231-7645).

SHEEP INVENTORY NUMBERS
North Dakota, January 1, 1994 - 98
Class                               1994  1995  1996  1997  1998
                                            - - - Thousand Head - - -
ALL SHEEP & LAMBS^1/       166   127    125    135    110
Market                                 41    34      34      30      26
Breeding                            125     93      91    105      84
Replacement Lambs
    Ewes                              14
                                               {11.0   {11.5  {11.5  {12.5
    Wethers & Rams               3
One Year & Older
   Ewes                              104     79     77     91       69
   Wethers & Rams                4       3     2.5    2.5      2.5
^1/Includes new crop lambs.
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ASI Convention News
More than 200 people attended the American Sheep Industry Convention in Denver in January. Attendance was strong with particularly good participation in the two-day Board of Directors information session at which the proposed plan for a new, national U.S. sheep organization was discussed. The creation of a united national sheep industry association moved ahead with a vote by the Board of Directors of the American Sheep Industry Association to support a 6-person task force to continue to work toward an industry-wide organization. Three members of the task force will be appointed by ASI President Lorin Moench, Jr. Three members will be chosen by the Transition Team, a 14-member group that met for eight months last year to implement the Tecker Project. The task force will work on the structure of the new organization's programs as well as the organization's relationship with state and individual members. The ASI Board of Directors voted to authorize funding of the appropriate activities of the task force, including a Business Development Council, marketing programs and industry communications. The Board of Directors also directed Moench to create a task force with the National Lamb Feeders Association to explore the possibility of a mandatory checkoff. Another motion by the Board directed that regulatory and legislative activities continue within ASI until American sheep producers are satisfied that the new organization is well established and presents the ability to carry these important functions for producers in Washington, D.C.

ND Ewe Sale Results
The first ND Bred Ewe/Ewe Lamb Sale held in conjunction with the North Dakota Sheep Convention was on October 30, 1998 at Bismarck State College. Both commercial and purebred ewes were offered in the sale.

RESULTS: 25 purebred ewes were offered with 16 selling at an average of $237. 152 commercial ewes were offered with 52 selling at an average of $90. High selling ewe was a Hampshire ewe from NDSU selling for $400. The sale was sponsored and managed by the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association. Plans are to have another sale in 1999.
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Make It Yourself With Wool News
The National Make It Yourself With Wool Contest was held at the Marriott Hotel, Denver Tech Center. North Dakota was well represented by Jessica Horner from Devils Lake and Courtney Dawley from Munich.

Jessica was the Senior division winner from North Dakota and wore a long formal gown.

Courtney was the Junior division winner wearing a suit (skirt and jacket). Her garment was part mohair so that qualified her to enter the Mohair division in which she placed sixth. Lisa Mader from Gillette, Wyoming won first place in the Mohair division.

At Nationals there were sixty-two contestants. The National Senior winner was Lindsay Layne from Lynchburg, Ohio and Junior winner was Molly Stanley from El Paso, Arkansas. The Adult National winner was Rhonda Goss from Brookings, South Dakota.

The North Dakota Make It Yourself With Wool Contest will be held in conjunction with the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Convention in Mandan in the fall of 1999.

Marie Lehfeldt, The National Make It Yourself With Wool Coordinator, from Lavina, Montana, will announce later this year the date and location where the national finals will be held.

Anyone interested in the Make It Yourself With Wool Contest should contact Mary C. Scheetz, 2546 16th ST. SW, Center, ND 58530-9443 or phone 701-794-8743.

Dakota Lamb Growers Slaughter Plant
Ole Erickson of Page had an idea how to increase profits for the farmers raising sheep and lambs. At a board meeting on March 25, 1996, Dennis Kubischta made a motion to start a lamb processing co-op based on Ole's idea.

After receiving an APUC grant plus donations from area business places and individuals, a feasibility study was done by Dan Nudell of Hettinger and Tim Petry of NDSU. This was completed in January, 1998. The study showed that the slaughtering plant was "close" to being profitable. The Valley Wool Growers of Page then decided to work on the marketing of the finished product. With the help of Irv Rustad of the Lake Agassiz Regional Council and a food broker in Milwaukee, WI, the Dakota Lamb Growers donated 8 lambs to 5 Greek restaurants in Milwaukee and one in Chula Vista, CA. The restaurant owners said they liked the American lamb over the New Zealand lamb they had been serving.

We are now to the point of going before APUC again and asking for another grant to further study this project and get some start up money so we can begin shipping the boxed lamb to Milwaukee using the Casselton Meat Plant as our slaughtering plant. As our markets continue to develop, we will have to work on erecting a new slaughtering plant. Our goal is to be able to pay the producer a higher market price than we currently receive.

Any one interested in getting on our mailing list can do so by calling our executive secretary, Shirley Stevens or myself, Jim Ostlie. A donation of $50 would be appreciated to help defray some of the costs involved with this project and to stay on our mailing list.

Shirley Stevens, Valley Wool Growers             Jim Ostlie, Pres. VWGA
13822 18th Street SE                                         RR 2 Box 120
Page, ND 58064                                                 Northwood, ND 58267
701-668 -2210                                                   701-587-5778
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Future Articles for the Newsletter
The next newsletter will be published the end March for April 1 delivery. I invite anyone to submit articles to be included. Please let me know ahead of time that you are sending an article. I will need them by the middle of March. Thank you! Roger Haugen, Extension Sheep Specialist, Hultz Hall, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58105. Phone: 231-7645; Fax: 231-7590; Email: rohaugen@ndsuext.nodak.edu.

APHIS Survey Yields Favorable Results
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal Plant Health Inspection Service announced on January 13, 1999 that for the first time in recent history, every contiguous state in the nation has a quarantine authority for scrapie. "This is very exciting news for the U.S. sheep industry," said Paul Rodgers, the American Sheep Industry Association's Director of Animal Health. "It is an important step in controlling and eventually eradicating this disease." APHIS made the announcement after tabulating the results of a recent survey. ASI assisted with an initial survey approximately three years ago, which showed that some states did not have quarantine authority. Since that initial survey, ASI has been working with APHIS and several states to assist them in state statutory and regulatory changes concerning quarantine authority for scrapie. ASI expects APHIS to soon publish a proposed rule in the Federal Register, which will require states to quarantine flocks that are infected with scrapie, are scrapie source flocks or have sheep movement from restricted flocks.

Officers and Directors of NDLWPA
Pres: Jim Marshall, Jr., Oriska 845-2744
V.Pres: Dave Pearson, Hettinger 567-4488
Sec: Scott Bredahl, Berthold 453-3698
Treas: Theo Johnson, Tuttle 867-2875
SE Dir: Brent Stroh, Tappen 327-4526
SE Dir: Harvey Dawson, Brampton 724-3405
SW Dir: Don Lawson, Flasher 597-3133SW 
Dir: David Merwin, Hettinger 567-2723
NE Dir: Dennis Kubischta, Hope 945-2623
NE Dir: Jim Ostlie, Northwood 587-5778
NW Dir: Don Maston, Watford City 842-3150
NW Dir: Lyle Warner, Baldwin 255-1183
ASI Dir: Burdell Johnson, Tuttle 867-2875
MIYWW: Mary Scheetz, Center 794-8743
Past Pres: Darold Benz, Beulah 873-5124

NDSU Research, Extension and Teaching
Hettinger: Tim Faller 567-4324
Fargo: Roger Haugen 231-7645
Wes Limesand 231-7782
Bert Moore 231-7651