| No. 16 June, 2001 |
| North Dakota Lamb and Wool Industry Newsletter |
| North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association / NDSU Extension Service Roger G. Haugen, Extension Sheep Specialist and Editor 701-231-7645 |
Comments from the NDLWPA President
Moments to Remember
It was a late Sunday afternoon I had just
finished working sheep and was feeling tired and wornout. I had that oily
feeling on my hands and my clothes only someone who has worked sheep would
recognize. My eyes and ears were full of the dust that was swirling around me
all day thanks to the forty-mile an hour winds that seem so prevalent in North
Dakota. That sick ewe had just died and now I had two more orphans to
bottle-feed. I found myself questioning. Why am I doing this? My counter parts
are carefree for the weekend. My thoughts needed further examination. It seemed
my personal costs out weighed the benefits. As my hands worked at cleaning up my
chores, my mind worked its way back to my childhood and to some of my first
experiences with sheep and farm life.
I remembered those long summer days when the sun would greet you face with a warm glow and the fresh smell of newly mowed hay lingered in the barn. How my sisters and I would work with our 4-H lambs all day only for that short fleeting moment when we would be named grand champion, best in show. I remember the day my dad brought home the champion and reserve champion Hampshire ewes at the North Dakota Winter Show Bred Ewe Sale. Dad and I had visions of all the champions we would raise from those two sheep. Or the day dad purchased a new stud ram, and how I would sit and ponder the matings just to get the right lamb for show. And anyone who has raised sheep cannot deny the good and natural feelings that come with spring time and lambing. I recalled the excitement and amazement of a fourteen year-old boy who is cut loose at the state fair, and given the task of preparing sheep for show. But most important in all these situations are the people you develop relationships with. Each of us starts life long associations with individuals whose paths we have crossed. Some more colorful than others, some only brief but memorable.
The clang of the closing barn door brought me out of my reverie. As it faded, I realized that=s's how I got here, and that's why I am staying. I know the sacrifices made by my parents to get me here, and that's a debt of gratitude I gladly repay. The purpose is enriching your life and the lives of others, and surmounting the obstacles that stand in your way. And reaping a reward of humanity greater than the sum of all the obstacles. These are the moments each of us will remember all of your lives and for them I am truly grateful.
Take some time this summer to create new memories and lasting friendships and take an active part in sheep events, show, sales and fairs. I hope to see you in my memories.
Burton Pfliger, President of NDLWPA, Bismarck
News from the State
Minutes from NDLWPA Board Meeting
April 18, 2001 Seven Seas, Mandan
Members present: Rodney Hickle, Dave Merwin,
Burton Pfliger, Lowell Nester (guest), Roger Haugen, Don Lawson, Jane Horner,
Burdell Johnson and Lyle Warner. Members absent: Scott Bredahl, Jeff Strand,
Steve Copenhaver, Brent Stroh and Ula Widdel.
The meeting was called to order by Burton Pfliger. It was moved and seconded to suspend the rules.
Dr. Keller - Hoof and Mouth and Scrapie update
Indemnity: In the US, producers would be paid fair market value prior to an outbreak. For registered animals there is an allowance for an appraisal process to increase the price above fair market value.
Vaccine: Vaccinating animals can create carrier cases and other countries may not trade with anyone vaccinating animals. It is used to stop the spread of the disease by creating a buffer zone. Vaccinated animals would have to be destroyed the same as animals found to have the disease.
There are 7 main and 60 substrains of the virus. It is the most contagious virus in the world. US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica are the only countries in the world at the present time that are free of hoof and mouth disease. The virus can live in the human respiratory tract for up to 48 hours.
Scrapie Eradication
In the US there are 7.026 million
sheep, 4.432 million of them are breeding sheep. Of the producers, 99% are small
farms, 85% having less than 100 head and .3% of the farms account for 26% of the
sheep population.
The program goal is: Eradicate scrapie. To do this they have three immersed goals: 1) develop effective scrapie control, 2) determine regional prevalence and 3) develop slaughter surveillance with the ability to trace back to the flock of origin. To accomplish this they are developing tags that will be either flock tags or individual animal tags. Burton, Roger and Lyle will go through the document and meet with the state veterinarian.
The regular meeting was reopened and the minutes were approved as read.
Treasurers report: Current balance of $6399.11. The treasurers report was approved as read.
Sheep Mentorship Program Proposal -
Dave Merwin
Lowell Nester proposed a mentorship
program with the goal of increasing ewe numbers in ND by 30,000 to 60,000 in the
next five years. He asked for $2000 seed money from NDLWPA to get the program
started, the remainder of the money needed to support the program would come
from tuition and grants. Don L. moved to table the issue and send information to
the other board members. Seconded by Lyle W.
Make it Yourself With Wool - Jane
Horner
The National Convention will be in
San Antonio, TX next year. Jane will implement a $10 state entry fee beginning
at the 2001 Convention. There will also be two new categories: Made For Others
and Wearable Accessories. Jane will be going to Napoleon to teach a vest sewing
class.
Dakota Lamb Growers
- Dave Merwin
They are delivering 85 - 90 lambs per week to Roche Brothers of Boston. They are
putting it in 6 of their 15 stores and it is replacing imported lamb.
The meeting was adjourned. The next board meeting will be June 18, 2001 at the Seven Seas.
2001 NDLWPA Market Lamb and Ewe Junior Futurity by Lyle Warner
AWARDS: Awards will be awarded in three categories: market lamb, junior female (spring lambs) and senior female (falls and yearlings).
POINT SCHEDULE: (Based on placing of JUNIOR futurity
animals within the class. Ex. if a junior futurity lamb were to place 2nd and
5th in class in the open show, they would receive 10 and 9 points respectively.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
9th 10th
Year end points will be accumulated on 2/3 of the eligible shows for the year. Ex. If there are 10 eligible shows, the highest points, from up to 7 shows, will be added to determine the total points for the year.
SUPREME CHAMPION: An additional 1 point per junior entry in each category (market lamb - breeding female) will be awarded, with a maximum of 25 points per show. Ex. If there are a total of 22 wether lambs entered, the grand champion would receive 22 points in addition to class points.
RESERVE SUPREME CHAMPION: An additional
2 point per junior entry in each category (market lamb - breeding female) will be awarded in addition to class points.List of Shows approved for the 2001 NDLWPA Junior Sheep Futurity
Badlands Classic - Bowman July 14
Contact: Michelle Rotenberger (605) 576-3208
Tri-County Fair - Wishek July 14
Contact: Bill Kline (701) 288-3465
North Dakota State Fair - Minot July 23 - 24
Breeding sheep - the evening of July 23
Market lambs - the morning of July 24
Contact: See State Fair book
Adams County - Hettinger August 4
Contact: Dave Pearson (701) 567-4488
Morton County - New Salem August 4
Contact: Jackie Buckley (701) 667-3346
News from the National Scene
EPA Approves FMD Disinfectant
The product, Oxy-Sept(R) 333 (EPA Reg. No.1677-129), is an antimicrobial disinfectant used in housing facilities and other sources of cross contamination. Formulated for rapid soil penetration and disinfecting properties, its effectiveness is based on a stabilized peroxyacetic acid formulation, the company stated.
"As a technology, peroxyacetic acid has been known for its effective disinfecting and sanitizing applications for some time. Ecolab expanded the applications of this material into several areas in the food safety arena," explained Chris Sigurdson, Agri Senior Marketing Manager, Ecolab. "It is already used in processing plants to protect vegetables, dairy products, red meat and beverages.
This new approval takes our program to the next level by offering a new biosecurity solution for food animal producers." Oxy-Sept 333 is an "effective" disinfectant against bacteria and viruses. It controls a wide range of pathogens, including: Salmonella chloraesius and enteriditis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli, as well as viruses such as several types of Influenza A (H10N7), Newcastle Disease virus, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), and now FMD (Aphthovirus).
"In the past, food animal producers and livestock owners have concentrated their disease-prevention efforts around animal vaccination and treatment, which are of course crucial elements of disease control. But without a solid environmental sanitation program in place, we're potentially leaving too many open doors for disease transmission," Sigurdson added. For more information on Oxy-Sept 333, contact Ecolab at 1-800-392-3392 (U.S.).
Protein saves bone in elderly people
The study was conducted by researchers with the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged, Research and Training Institute; Boston University; and the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, all in Boston, Mass. The USDA center is funded by the department's chief scientific research agency, the Agricultural Research Service.
Articles for the August Newsletter
The next newsletter will be published the end
of July for August 1 delivery. I invite anyone to submit articles to be
included. I will need them by the middle of July. Thank you! Roger
Haugen, Extension Sheep Specialist, Hultz Hall, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58105. Phone:
231-7645; Fax: 231-7590; Email: rohaugen@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Educational Information
by Roger G. Haugen, NDSU Extension Sheep Specialist
Ram Selection - What
=s Important ?The old saying "a good ram is half the flock" is a very true statement. But don't forget the following, "a poor ram is all of the flock to be". Long after a poor ram is dead and gone, his genes live on. Unless you realize what a poor ram has done in your flock and eliminate his offspring, his genes will be around to haunt you in years to come.
We all know of the countless "bargain" rams that have been sold over the years. Maybe we have even bought one or two. Evidence of their harm to the industry is all around us.
What about selection? What are the guidelines you should use in selecting your ram? Basically they fall into two categories: production information and physical appearance.
It is to examine records first, select the top rams on records and then look at their physical appearance. Rams need to be selected that have the genes for rapid gains, desirable carcass qualities, and the ability to sire daughters with greater reproductive ability. The key factor in a profitable sheep enterprise is pounds of lamb produced per ewe per year.
What records are important? First of all, individual records on the ram himself are the most important, especially in his growth record. A ram that does not possess the genetic potential to grow seldom sires offspring that do. Next, records on his sire and dam are important. If the ram's sire has produced several sons that were outstanding producers and his dam gave birth to several outstanding individuals, that is good evidence that he will do likewise. Remember, the more records on an individual, the more accurate is the selection.
A ram's ancestors production records are extremely important when selecting rams with the genetic potential to sire prolific daughters. Records from the North Dakota Sheep Production Testing Program indicate real difference in the daughter averages of different sires. In addition, lamb death loss differences among sires are evident from the records.
Physically, a ram should be examined from head to toe. Is his conformation desirable? Does he have indication of desirable muscling? Has he got a good head, normal eyes with no indication of inverted eyelids, and a mouth with a normal bite? He should be tipped over and his testicles checked for uniformity and size. No evidence of epididymitis should be present. Be skeptical about any abnormality affecting any portion of the reproductive tract. His feet should be free of defects or diseases.
Check the ram closely for external parasites. Healthy sheep have a characteristic pink color to their skin (slightly darker in the black-face breeds). Note the color of the mucous membrane of the mouth and eyes. Absence of color indicates anemia, yellowness may indicate a liver disorder. When in doubt about a health question, seek the advice of a veterinarian.
What about reproductive and structural soundness? Do we sometimes sacrifice this or even overlook it when selecting some rams that are superior in other areas, especially size. Besides growth, ram selection should include an examination of the following:
*Testicular development - research results have shown that there is a positive relationship between testicular size and reproductive performance. The scrotum on a ram should be full and pliable. The testicles should be even, shaped like an avocado and feel firm to the touch, yet not hard. Testicles that feel soft and mushy may indicate a possible fertility problem. The viability of semen is dependent on the regulatory ability of the scrotum. A functional scrotum will keep the semen in the testicles at a lower temperature than the ram's body.
* Sound mouth - the importance of a correct mouth cannot be stressed enough. Teeth should meet the pad evenly. Sometimes we discriminate against a good ram for having a bad mouth because of his teeth, when really it's okay. A truly "bad mouth" is when the whole jaw is either overshot or undershot with the result that the teeth never meet the pad. This is heritable and undesirable. However, when a ram or ram lamb has been kept on heavy feeding for a long period of time, the lower gum will often become soft, allowing the teeth to move forward so they don't meet the pad. In this case, the teeth can be moved with a finger and is different from the true "bad mouth" which is a problem of breeding, not feed management.
* Feet and legs - a ram should stand up on the front of it's toes. Walking on it's heels or pasterns is undesirable. Often times, a big, fast-gaining buck lamb will grow faster than the strength of his muscles and will go down on his pasterns. Rarely will he come back up again and as he gets older will probably develop sore feet and will prefer to stay off them rather than breed. Bad pasterns are a structural fault and no matter how fast a ram grows, he still has to stand up and breed to be effective. The hock should have a noticeable bend to it. Straightness all the way down in the back legs is known as postlegged. This condition gets worse as an animal gets older until the legs bend the wrong way making it difficult to get around. Postleggedness is very heritable and should be avoided both in rams and ewes.
* Front end - the brisket and front end of a ram should not be too heavy, but should blend in well with the shoulder and front legs. As long as the front legs are straight and balance the front end, they need not be two feet apart. Wide fronts on rams are nice to look at but they sure create problems during lambing.
Finally, when you are deciding on which ram to buy, remember the following, "the best available ram is never too good". The bargain ram often costs money in the long run instead of making you money. There has never been a flock yet that had too much improvement.
Hay/Straw - Bale or Ton
BALE WEIGHT
Price/Bale 30 LBS 40 LBS 50 LBS
60 LBS
$0.50
$33.33 $25.00 $20.00
$16.67
$0.75
$50.00 $37.50 $30.00
$25.00
$1.00
$66.67 $50.00 $40.00
$33.33
$1.25
$83.33 $62.50 $50.00
$41.67
$1.50 $100.00
$75.00 $60.00 $50.00
$1.75 $116.67
$87.50 $70.00 $58.33
$2.00 $133.33
$100.00 $80.00 $66.67
$2.25 $150.00
$112.50 $90.00 $75.00
$2.50 $166.67
$125.00 $100.00 $83.33
$2.75 $183.33
$137.50 $110.00 $91.67
$3.00 $200.00
$150.00 $120.00 $100.00
COST PER TON
BALE WEIGHT
Price/Ton 30 LBS 40 LBS 50
LBS 60 LBS
$30
$0.45 $0.60
$0.75 $0.90
$40
$0.60 $0.80
$1.00 $1.20
$50
$0.75 $1.00
$1.25 $1.50
$60
$0.90 $1.20
$1.50 $1.80
$70
$1.05 $1.40
$1.75 $2.10
$80
$1.20 $1.60
$2.00 $2.40
$90
$1.35 $1.80
$2.25 $2.70
$100
$1.50 $2.00
$2.50 $3.00
$110
$1.65 $2.20
$2.75 $3.30
$120
$1.80 $2.40
$3.00 $3.60
$130
$1.95 $2.60
$3.25 $3.90
COST PER BALE
Dakota Lamb Growers Cooperative
This spring has been an exciting time of year for sheep producers also. More exciting if you are members of the DLGC. Our lamb is currently on supermarket shelves in Boston. We started out slaughtering 88 lambs/week, we are currently up to 130 lambs/week. The DLGC is working on marketing lamb in other cities also.
At a board meeting on April 26 in Bismarck, ND, the board of directors of the DLGC voted to hire Dave Merwin of Hettinger, ND as the permanent CEO. Dave has done such a good job of operating the coop, he was a very good candidate.
Mark November 30 and December 1 on your calendar. More details in next newsletter.Jim Ostlie, President of DLGC
Attention Board Members!!
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