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NCERA214: Increased Efficiency of Sheep Production

Annual/Termination Reports (SAES-422): [07/20/2010] [07/08/2011] [10/12/2012]

Date of Annual Report: 07/20/2010

Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 06/13/10 to 06/16/10
  • Period the Report Covers: 10/2009 to 09/2010

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    Monday, June 8 The meeting was called to order at 8:30 am by Henry Zerby, Chair, in the E.S. Good Barn on the campus of the University of Kentucky. Don Ely and Debra Aaron, hosts of the meeting, and Dr. Bob Harmon, Department Head, welcomed the group. Henry Zerby then asked us each to introduce ourselves. As per the discussion last year, we were asked to think about following up on the request of Christopher Schauer to have a joint meeting (WERA 112/NCERA 190, now 214) in 2011. Mike Thonney volunteered to Chair the Resolutions Committee and Joan Burke and Katherine Petersson agreed to serve. Kreg Leymaster volunteered to Chair the Nominations Committee and Jim Miller and Dave Thomas agreed to serve. Since Justin (current Vice-Chair) has dropped out of NCERA-214 after moving to Wisconsin, it was decided to move Jim Miller to Chair for the 2011 meeting and to elect a new Vice-Chair and Secretary. The Sheep Curriculum Development Committee established last year (Mike Thonney (Chair), Jeff Held, Richard Ehrhardt and Debra Aaron) will meet tomorrow and report. Paul Rogers suggested that a committee be established to attend the National Program 101 Stakeholder meeting next year to provide input of food animal production needs. We will talk about this tomorrow afternoon and go from there. Henry Zerby chaired station reports. Objective 1- Develop and evaluate methods to improve reproductive efficiency: Cornell University (Mike Thonney),Texas Agrilife Research (Dan Waldron), U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, USDA Nebraska (Kreg Leymaster), Sheep Experiment Station, USDA, Idaho (Greg Lewis), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (David Notter) and Virginia State University (Stephan Wildeus). Objective 2 - Develop strategies to improve and predict efficiency of lean growth, carcass quality, and meat palatability: South Dakota State University (Jeff Held) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Scott Greiner). Adjourned for lunch Objective 2 (continued) - Iowa State University (Dan Morrical). Objective 3 - Evaluate genetic resources, nutrient requirements, and production systems for milk production: University of Wisconsin-Madison (David Thomas). Objective 4 - Develop profitable and sustainable production systems (including parasite control and other health issues): Cornell University (Mike Thonney), Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, USDA, Arkansas (Joan Burke), Fort Valley State University (Will Getz), Louisiana State University (Jim Miller), Michigan State University (Richard Ehrhardt), U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, USDA, Nebraska (Kreg Leymaster) and Virginia State University (Stephan Wildeus). Objective 5 - Wide dissemination of research results and information to universities, regulatory agencies and producers: University of Maryland (Susan Schoenian) and others as presented in the proceedings. Adjourned for dinner Objective 4 (re-visited)  University of Rhode Island (Katherine Petersson). Business meeting called to order by Henry Zerby (Chair) at 7:40 pm. Approval of the 2009 meeting minutes was requested by Henry Zerby. Dan Morrical moved to approve the minutes and Jeff Held seconded the motion. Motion approved. Nomination Committee: Kreg Leymaster nominated Jim Miller (Chair), Richard Ehrhardt (Vice-Chair) and Jeff Held (Secretary) as the 2010-11 officers. Mike Thonney moved to accept the nominated officers, and Jim Thompson seconded the motion. Motion approved. Meeting next year  Greg Lewis reiterated that WERA-112 would like to have a joint meeting to be held in Rapid City, SD. South Dakota State University would be the NCERA-214 host (Jeff Held and Julie Walker). The proposed dates would be June 6-8, 2011. Dave Thomas moved to approve the joint meeting and Kreg Leymaster seconded the motion. Motion approved. Jim Miller indicated that Utah State University (Noelle Cockett) wants to host the 2012 meeting in Logan, UT. Debra Aaron asked why our Administrative Advisor was not present. John Kirby was scheduled to come for Monday, but there was a meeting schedule overlap that interfered with him coming. Dave Thomas indicated that Raluca Mateescu was not here because her Experiment Station Director would not provide travel funding. It might help if someone would either write a letter or speak privately to her Director about the importance of attending. Lowell Slyker (Sheep and Goat Research Journal) thanked reviewers for their service to the journal. He encouraged us to use the journal especially for practical applications. The journal has been indexed by CAB since 2005 and will now start to make full articles available. Jim Morgan (National Sheep Improvement Program) said the website will have enrollment forms available later in the month (Portal to Pedigree Wizard). Flock enrollment fees will go up to allow getting Pedigree Wizard, and funds will be used to run the NSIP office. Ten reasons to partner with LAMBLAN were presented. There was discussion on NSIP data input and distribution in conjunction with LAMBPLAN. Guy Flora (American Sheep and Goat Center) indicated that the grants program that was previously funded will hopefully start again next year after 2 years in hiatus. The new Center has been authorized with funding at one million dollars a year (10% will be for administration and 90% for grants). Paul Rogers (American Sheep Industry) indicated he will Chair the Production, Research and Education Council and encouraged contributions to the effort of the Council. The producer survey is on the website. The NAHMS Sheep Survey indicated health issues were primary. There is some interesting non-traditional lamb marketing information on the website. The optical image scanning project at Colorado State University is finishing up with some preliminary data (collecting loin and tenderness). Appropriations  Scrapie eradication funds not easy to get and there are additional funds for Bighorn research. There is a sheep handling video featuring Temple Grandin being made. There will be a genetics conference in Ohio July 10-11. Dan Morrical reported that the Research Symposium at the national ASI meeting was well received. There was discussion on whether it should be a regular annual event or less often. Every other year would make travel funding easier. Or, have 3 of the 6 topics every year and alternate. Henry Zerby closed the Business Meeting by indicating that resolutions, curriculum and future directions/research will be addressed tomorrow. Meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm. Tuesday, June 9 Morning  The group had a very nice visit to Keenland Thoroughbred Racing and Sales and then a tour of the UK Sheep Farm which ended with a lunch of smoked lamb. Business meeting (continued) was called to order at 1:00 pm. Curriculum/education Committee initiated discussion on mechanism for providing materials for those (producers, undergraduate/graduate students, etc.) that dont have access. Hook up with Pipestone model is a possibility. Need credit eligible courses to be university accepted. Not many animal science departments have small ruminant course anymore. ASI has discussed education and should be considered when funding is available again for grants. Difficult to get students interested in sheep research when career opportunities are scarce. The Committee will continue to function with Jeff Held as Chair and Dan Morrical, Henry Zerby and Richard Ehrhardt to serve. Discussion on future research directions. ASI survey (3000 respondents) indicated a high percentage thought increased revenue is what is needed. We as a group of national researchers need to make research transferable. Need to integrate programs for regional application. Buy in concept important. How can operations expand? Convince producers to pursue successful business models (hard to do). How can producers be provided with a good plan/recipe for business success? Can something be learned from the successful parasite control concept acceptance? Maybe need to fall back to experience/expertise of ASGC and ASI. We need to concentrate on how to integrate objectives 1-4 into objective 5. Should plan be geared for new producers or established producers who want to make changes? ATTRA (ATTRA.org) has a planning manual for sheep/goats and may be a good resource as a starting point. Important to have intensive short duration programs with hands-on followed by mentoring. We need more than just a list of research priorities. We need to know what can be done. Three areas were mentioned as researchable now: terminal sires, parasite control and easy care production. Healthfulness (wholesomeness) of our products will become more visible and product development is important. This is different than food safety which is being addressed adequately. One strategy is to identify good producers in regions and ask them about what has made them successful and what they need to get better. Discussion ended with establishing, what are producer problems and what are researchable producer problems. On behalf of the resolutions committee Mike Thonney presented the following resolutions: 1) Be it resolved, the members of the NCERA-214 committee on Increased Efficiency of Sheep Production express thanks to Debra Aaron, Don Ely, members of the Block & Bridle Club, students, and staff at the University of Kentucky for their hospitality in organizing a successful annual meeting of the NCERA-214 sheep research and extension committee. (To be sent to Robert Harmon, Chair of Animal and Food Sciences, and Dean M. Scott Smith, University of Kentucky). 2) Be it resolved, the members of the NCERA-214 committee on Increased Efficiency of Sheep Production wish to express appreciation to the following: a) the American Sheep Industry Association for the presence of Paul Rodgers and Will Getz at the NCERA-214 meetings. (To be sent to Peter Orwick, Executive Director of ASI and Glen Fisher, President of ASI.) b) the American Sheep and Goat Center for the presence of Guy Flora and their support for sheep and goat research in the U.S. (To be sent to Chase Hibbard, Chairman of the Board, American Sheep and Goat Center.) c) Jim Morgan, for his continued dedication to the National Sheep Improvement Program and the mission of NCERA-214. Dan Morrical motioned to approve the resolutions and Kreg Leymaster seconded the motion. Motion approved. Meeting was adjourned at 4:00 pm. Respectfully submitted, Jim Miller, Secretary June 21, 2010

    Accomplishments:
    Cornell University used a quadratic NDF equation that explained only 17% of the variation in DMI as a percentage of BW for growing lambs. Dividing NDF into that which is fermentable and indigestible accounted for 57% of the variation. This raises two important points: 1) NDF is a poor predictor of DMI compared to its fermentable and indigestible components and 2) the traditional approach of balancing diets by assuming a set amount of DMI is not consistent with the fact that dietary components influence DMI. Cornell University conducted experiments to document the effects of lambing cubicles on intensity of lambing management and on lamb survival are under way. Cubicle use at lambing appears to result in easier sheep movement and reduced shepherding, but does not appear to effect the development of maternal bonding and behavior in ewes.

    Cornell University continued to collect phenotypes on ability to breed and lamb out-of-season for a project designed to identify DNA markers.

    The Cornell STAR accelerated lambing system has been shown to be a feasible way of making better use of buildings and equipment and year-round labor. It also increases opportunities to take advantage of optimal times to market lambs. Methods continue to be tested to improve reproductive rates and lamb survival under the system.

    Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center (USDA  Arkansas) initiated several long term research projects to examine the long term effect of alternatives to chemical dewormers on GIN population, lamb production, and economics of using these technologies. Studies on the integration of FAMACHA, copper oxide wire particles and sericea lespedeza have been published.

    Louisiana State University continued to investigate and demonstrate viable alternative methods for sustainable parasitic nematode control which will benefit sheep production in low input systems.

    South Dakota State University worked with co-products, soyhulls and DDGS to demonstrate that these feed ingredients can lower unit cost of production and improve production efficiency in sheep operations.

    South Dakota State University conducted a study to evaluate the effect of glycerol supplementation in a lamb finishing diet on growth performance and carcass traits. No animal response or carcass merit differences were found among treatment animals offered diets with 0, 5 or 10 % glycerol substituted for corn. Glycerol is a co-product created from new-generation ethanol production facilities.

    South Dakota State University conducted a 64-d finishing trial that evaluated Southdown compared to Hampshire sired crossbred lambs which resulted in a significant growth performance advantage to the Hampshire yet similar gain efficiency. Although feed efficiency was equal the Hampshire sired lambs gained 3.3 more pounds during the trial.

    Texas Agrilife Research implemented a study to estimate performance differences between Dorper and Rambouillet ewes. Estimates of breed differences for fertility, number of lambs born, lamb birth weight, lamb weaning weight, and lamb carcass traits were documented from records on ewes from 2 to 7 years of age. The main objective of this study is to evaluate lifetime lamb production from Dorper and Rambouillet ewes.

    U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USDA  Nebraska) has implemented plans to increase the number of easy-care sheep for evaluation in a low-input, pasture-lambing production system to about 2,000 head. The breed composition of the easy-care maternal line of prolific hair sheep was changed based on analyses of data collected during 2009.

    U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USDA  Nebraska) has genetically managed flocks of Katahdin and Polypay sheep to represent contemporary industry germplasm and to serve as industry controls for future research on easy-care breeds at USMARC.

    U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USDA  Nebraska) conducted an experiment to collect tissues for investigation of effects of myostatin and callipyge mutations on gene transcription profiles in skeletal muscle of lambs.

    University of Wisconsin-Madison conducted a 5-day intensive Dairy Sheep School which was held at the Spooner Agricultural Research Station of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in cooperation with the Dairy Business Innovation Center. Enrollment was limited to 13 students, but more than 50 applications from throughout the U.S. were received. Students received classroom instruction from scientists, regulatory personnel, and dairy sheep producers and participated in hands-on activities in care of ewes and lambs at lambing, rearing of lambs on milk replacer, and milking.

    University of the Virgin Islands Agricultural Experiment Station Animal Science Program gave tours of the Sheep Research Facility to over 500 students from the public schools. The Animal Science Program mentored one graduate and two undergraduate students supported by funds from the USDA-CSREES grant for resident instruction in agriculture in the insular areas (No. 2006-38416-17727).

    Utah State University continued to demonstrate the importance of molecular genetics to identify genetic regions of economic importance. This research group has shown the importance of SNPs in identifying economically important genetic profiles.

    Virginia State University continued progress in identifying factors that influence the efficacy of liquid semen AI system for use in hair sheep production systems.

    Impact Statements:
    1. The effects of indigestible (INDF) and fermentable (FNDF) portions of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) on feed intake, growth, and efficiency of weaned lambs were quantified so that farmers can balance the animal health advantages of added INDF and FNDF against the reduction in growth rate. Cubicle lambing management was demonstrated as a strategy to reduce shepherding without sacrificing lamb survival. With colleagues at Oklahoma State University, quantitative trait loci that could help farmers identify sheep for aseasonal lambing and milk production have been mapped to the ovine genome.
    2. Scientists at USDA, ARS in Booneville, Arkansas, Louisiana State University, Auburn University, and Fort Valley State University realized the use of dried sericea lespedeza for GIN control. A patent and a USDA, NIFA Small Business grant was awarded for this technology to further develop a marketable product. A USDA, NIFA, Organic Agriculture Research Extension Initiative grant was awarded to examine the use of nonchemical control methods in farming systems. A Southern Region SARE grant was awarded to examine the effect of integrating poultry and sheep production on GIN infection.
    3. Results indicated that the benefit of grazing SL was not achieved until about 4 weeks, so it appears that a 4 week time period is necessary for ewes and lambs to acclimate to consuming SL. Thus, grazing SL appears to be a viable alternative for nematode control for ewes and lambs which should help to conserve and extend the useful life of available anthelmintics.
    4. South Dakota State University sheep research strives to create low input feeding management strategies based on co-product feed ingredient inclusions. Over the past decade application of our research effort with soyhulls and DDGS diets have resulted in cost effective feeding practices for large ewe flocks and economically feasible lamb finishing diet formulations. Using our recommendations thousands of commercial ewes in our region are offered soyhulls or soyhulls/DDGS mixtures ad libitum during late-gestation and lactation resulting in minimal daily labor requirements and greater production efficiency. Our co-product based lamb diet formulations using soyhulls and DDGS have provided sheep producers an economically viable alternative to conventional starch based diets.
    5. Through outreach activities, our work with these co-product feeds in feedlot receiving programs, finishing diets and the ewe flock has been shared with producers, animal nutritional consultants and extension educators. Feeding strategies resulting from the soyhulls and DDGS research has gained application nationally and appeals to international audiences. End-user testimonials on feeding strategies with these co-product ingredients include lower labor cost, reduced unit cost of production, improved animal performance and practical feeding management options.
    6. Texas AgriLife Research conducts range sheep production research to provide information to sheep producers. Knowldege of performance differences between Dorper and Rambouillet ewes will provide producers with information needed to make an informed choice about expected performance of these breeds. The Dorper breed is relatively new to the US and little comparative research with US breeds has been documented.
    7. Seasonal production of sheep has long been recognized as a major obstacle for the U.S. sheep industry. Producers have traditionally used crossbred ewes of Dorset, Finnsheep and Rambouillet breeding to achieve fertility rates averaging from 60 to 70% following breeding in the most challenging months of May and June. We recently documented that Romanov crossbred ewes realized fertility rates of 87 to 89% when exposed during May, regardless of the remaining breed composition (Dorper, Dorset, Katahdin, White Dorper, and Rambouillet). Commercial producers can manage the seasonal constraint of fertility rate and prolificacy by use of Romanov crossbred ewes.
    8. The University of Wisconsin-Madison operates the only dairy sheep production research unit in North America. The research and outreach activities from this unit provide valuable information to the developing dairy sheep industry in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. An example of the growth of the industry is evident in the increased marketings of sheep milk by the Wisconsin Sheep Dairy Cooperative. In 2009, the cooperative marketed approximately 390,000 kg of sheep milk. This is almost 20 times the amount of milk they marketed in their initial year of 1996 and more than double the amount of milk they marketed in 2003.
    9. Based on current feed costs, which includes shipping to the island, weaning lambs at 90 d of age would have a positive impact on the economics of producing hair sheep in the tropics by saving the producer ~ $8/hd. There does not appear to be any impact on ewe weight, but milk production decreases drastically after day 76 and lambs are most likely obtaining a majority of their nutrition from forage at that time.
    10. The genome scan has identified genetic regions that may impact production in two U.S. sheep breeds. The SNP points to a genomic region that may control parasite resistance in sheep.
    Last Modified: 26-Jul-2010

    Date of Annual Report: 07/08/2011

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 06/05/11 to 06/08/11
  • Period the Report Covers: 10/2010 to 09/2011

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:

    URL: Copy of minutes
    Accomplishments:
    Cornell University, New York - Data were collected to quantify at maintenance, and at higher intakes, the effect of level of intake on digestibility of organic matter and NDF in diets with a range of expected digestible NDF. This information will be used to better estimate suggested levels of fermentable NDF for sheep.

    The effect on lamb mortality and growth rates of pasture lambing ewes from a flock that had only been barn-lambed for generations were quantified.

    Blood samples were collected twice weekly from mid-February to mid-May 2011 to document estrous cycles and pregnancy of ¼ East Friesian x ¾ Dorset yearling ewes scheduled to lamb in August 2011. These phenotypes will be used to identify DNA markers for ability to lamb aseasonally.

    The Cornell STAR accelerated lambing system has been shown to be a feasible way of making better use of buildings and equipment and year-round labor. It also increases opportunities to take advantage of optimal times to market lambs. Methods continue to be tested to improve reproductive rates and lamb survival under the system.

    Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, USDA  Arkansas Several long term research projects have been initiated to examine the long term effect of alternatives to chemical dewormers on GIN population, lamb production, and economics of using these technologies. Studies on the integration of FAMACHA, copper oxide wire particles and sericea lespedeza have been published.

    Louisiana State University This research group continues to demonstrate viable alternative methods for sustainable parasitic nematode control which will benefit sheep production in low input systems. Michigan State University Outreach accomplishments involved initiation and development of several educational programs in 2010 on various topics that limit small ruminant production in the upper Midwest including: Indoor birth management, Pasture birth management, Grazing management and integration of small ruminants into cropping systems, Integrated parasite management, Accelerated production, and Time management issues in small ruminant production. Applied research efforts are on-going in the areas of integrated parasite management, accelerated production, and integration of grazing with cropping systems. A new course was offered for DVM students as a clinical clerkship entitled Small Ruminant Production Medicine.

    South Dakota State University Our work with co-products, soyhulls and DDGS, has demonstrated these feed ingredients can lower unit cost of production, improve production efficiency and reduce labor requirements in sheep operations. Studies with another co-product, pelleted corn stover, could lead to even greater labor and cost efficiencies for intensively managed sheep. Lamb performance trials with diets formulated with corn stover were conducted in 2010 and ewe gestation feeding trials are planned for 2011.

    The EAZI-BREED CIDR was equally effective for estrus synchronization using a 6 or 12 d insertion period in seasonally anestrous Polypay sired commercial ewes. Data from this study has been presented at local and regional extension sheep programs, with an invitation to address a national audience at the 2011 Sheep Leadership School. The sheep CIDR has many possible applications to improve labor efficiency, enhance flock reproductive efficiency and add profit margin to the sheep industry.

    Texas Agrilife Research  Texas A & M System A study has been implemented to estimate performance differences between Dorper and Rambouillet ewes. Estimates of breed differences for fertility, number of lambs born, lamb birth weight, lamb weaning weight, and lamb carcass traits were documented from records on ewes from 2 to 7 years of age. The main objective of this study is to evaluate lifetime lamb production from Dorper and Rambouillet ewes.

    U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, USDA  Nebraska Plans are being implemented to increase the number of easy-care sheep for evaluation in a low-input, pasture-lambing production system to about 2,000 head.

    Flocks of Katahdin and Polypay sheep are being genetically managed to represent contemporary industry germplasm and to serve as industry controls for future research on easy-care breeds at USMARC.

    An experiment was started to estimate gene action of marker genotypes on ovine progressive pneumonia (OPP) incidence under conditions of natural challenge.

    University of Maryland The University of Maryland Small Ruminant Extension Program is a leader in teaching integrated parasite management (IPM) techniques, including the FAMACHA© system to sheep and goat producers in Maryland and other states. Since 2004, more than 1,200 producers in twelve states and three provinces have been certified in the use of the FAMACHA© system. Follow-up surveys indicate that more than 90 percent of producers who participate in the training use the FAMACHA© system to help them make deworming decisions.

    University of the Virgin Islands During the past year the Animal Science Program has given tours of the Sheep Research Facility to over 300 students from the public schools. The Animal Science Program mentored three undergraduate students supported by funds from the USDA-NIFA grant for resident instruction in agriculture in the insular areas (No. 2006-38416-17727).

    Virginia State University - Work was completed on various components for a liquid semen AI system for use in hair sheep to readily transfer germplasm between small holder farms.

    Impact Statements:
    1. Cornell University, New York - The effects of indigestible (INDF) and fermentable (FNDF) portions of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) on digestibility by weaned lambs and mature ewes were quantified so that farmers can balance the animal health advantages of added FNDF against the reduction in growth rate and feed efficiency. Pasture lambing was shown to have the same lamb mortality as barn lambing for ewes from a flock that had not pasture-lambed for generations.
    2. South Dakota State University - Over 50 sheep producers attended the 10th annual SDSU Regional Sheep Forum at the SDSU Sheep Unit Brookings, SD. Survey results indicated many new producers, and 50 % of the producers were attending their first forum. Producers were from SD, MN and IA with more than 6,800 commercial stock ewes represented in the audience. The theme was Keys to Success at Lambing Time. Presentations focused on improving animal reproductive efficiency and reducing labor requirements during the lambing season. A key topic discussed was ewe synchronization using the sheep EAZI-BREED CIDR. Utilizing the recently approved sheep EAZI-BREED CIDR to synchronize the breeding period for seasonally anestrous ewes in fall and traditional winter-spring lambing systems would reduce lambing period labor requirements by 50% or 2 hrs per ewe annually.
    3. Louisiana State University - Results indicated that under the conditions of this study, there may not be much of a benefit of supplementing grazing lambs with a 75% SL pellet at 25-40% total intake.
    4. Michigan State University Michigan State University outreach efforts have focused on providing producers with educational programs and demonstrations on how to improve production efficiency. These efforts included programs on: reducing feed costs through improved grazing management and extending the grazing season; reducing labor with streamlined approaches to both indoor and pasture birth management; improving animal health and productivity with an integrated approach to parasite management; and improving seasonal supply, production per ewe and reducing maintenance cost with accelerated production. Enrollment in accelerated production went from 0 to 4820 ewes (10 farms) in Michigan in one year as a result of these programs.
    5. North Dakota State University - Following the 5 day label recommendation of recently approved sheep CIDRs does not adequately synchronize estrus without additional exogenous hormones. Sheep producers should not use feed efficiency traits determined on self-feeders to predict gain efficiency of ewes when fed at maintenance.
    6. Texas Agrilife Research, Texas A&M System - Texas AgriLife Research conducts range sheep production research to provide information to sheep producers. Knowldege of performance differences between Dorper and Rambouillet ewes will provide producers with information needed to make an informed choice about expected performance of these breeds. The Dorper breed is relatively new to the US and little comparative research with US breeds has been documented.
    7. U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, USDA, Nebraska - Highly productive crossbred ewes can be produced by using either rams or ewes of prolific breeds. If prolific ewes are used, then lambs are often born in litters of three or four, which generally require more care. If rams of prolific breeds are mated to ewes of common breeds, then lambs are typically born as singles and twins, requiring little intervention. The first approach requires fewer prolific ewes to produce a given number of crossbred daughters than the second approach. Experimental results documented that crossbred ewes produced by both methods were similar in productivity and, therefore, producers should use the system that is most convenient for their situation.
    8. University of Maryland - The University of Maryland Small Ruminant Extension Program strives to be a leader in using internet technologies to disseminate researched-based knowledge to sheep and goat producers. The Maryland web sites have excellent recognition and use, as demonstrated by their high Google" presence.
    9. University of the Virgin Islands - OBJ 1 Impact Statement - Based on current feed costs, which includes shipping to the island, weaning lambs at 120 d of age would have a positive impact on the economics of producing hair sheep in the tropics by saving the producer ~ $11/hd. OBJ 4 Impact Statement - Producers in the USVI will be able to take advantage of the increased size and growth traits found in the Dorper crossbreds without impairing the overall productivity of their flocks.
    10. South Dakota State University - Over 50 sheep producers attended the 10th annual SDSU Regional Sheep Forum at the SDSU Sheep Unit Brookings, SD. Survey results indicated many new producers, and 50 % of the producers were attending their first forum. Producers were from SD, MN and IA with more than 6,800 commercial stock ewes represented in the audience. The theme was Keys to Success at Lambing Time. Presentations focused on improving animal reproductive efficiency and reducing labor requirements during the lambing season. A key topic discussed was ewe synchronization using the sheep EAZI-BREED CIDR. Utilizing the recently approved sheep EAZI-BREED CIDR to synchronize the breeding period for seasonally anestrous ewes in fall and traditional winter-spring lambing systems would reduce lambing period labor requirements by 50% or 2 hrs per ewe annually.
    11. Virginia State University - Gastrointestinal parasites are a major constraint to sheep production in the southeastern U.S. Incorporated juniper meal leaf to be into diets may have potential towards controlling nematode parasites in lambs
    12. University of Wisconsin, Madison - The University of Wisconsin-Madison operates the only dairy sheep production research unit in North America. The research and outreach activities from this unit provide valuable information to the developing dairy sheep industry in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. An example of the growth of the industry is evident in the increased marketing of sheep milk by the Wisconsin Sheep Dairy Cooperative. In 2010, the cooperative marketed approximately 495,000 kg of sheep milk. This is 24 times the amount of milk they marketed in their initial year of 1996 and more than 2.5 times the amount of milk they marketed in 2003. In March 2011, the second 4.5-day intensive Dairy Sheep School was held at the Spooner Agricultural Research Station of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
    Last Modified: 22-Jul-2011

    Date of Annual Report: 10/12/2012

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 07/26/12 to 07/27/12
  • Period the Report Covers: 10/2011 to 09/2012

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:

    URL: Copy of minutes
    Accomplishments:
    Cornell University  New York The effect on lamb mortality and growth rates of pasture lambing ewes from a flock that had only been barn-lambed for generations continue to be quantified. Reproduction records continue to be recorded from ¼ East Friesian x ¾ Dorset yearling ewes that first lambed in August 2011. These phenotypes will be used to identify DNA markers for ability to lamb aseasonally. The Cornell STAR accelerated lambing system has been shown to be a feasible way of making better use of buildings and equipment and year-round labor. It also increases opportunities to take advantage of optimal times to market lambs. Methods continue to be tested to improve reproductive rates and lamb survival under the system.

    Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, USDA, Arkansas Several long-term research projects have been initiated to examine the long term effect of alternatives to chemical dewormers on GIN population, lamb production, and economics of using these technologies. Studies on the integration of FAMACHA, copper oxide wire particles and sericea lespedeza have been published.

    Louisiana State University This research group continues to demonstrate viable alternative methods for sustainable parasitic nematode control which will benefit sheep production in low input systems.

    Michigan State University Outreach accomplishments involved the presentation of programs with proceedings/manuals on birth management, parasite management and grazing management. Applied research efforts included projects to document anthelmintic efficacy and infection dynamics in large commercial sheep flocks and to determine the feasibility and benefits of cover crop grazing. Current applied research efforts include complimentary forage crop research, out of season breeding field studies, biological control of gastrointestinal nematode infection in grazing lambs, and the development and assessment of integrated parasite management plans. Courses were offered as a clinical clerkship to DVM students on small ruminant production medicine and to undergraduate students on sheep production. International outreach activities included mentorship of visiting Fullbright scholars from Iraq and presentation of small ruminant management and health program via distance learning to Iraqi producers and DVMs.

    University of Rhode Island This research and outreach program continues to educate small ruminant producers in best management practices for parasite control and investigate more sustainable alternatives to chemical dewormers.

    South Dakota State University Our work with co-products, soyhulls and DDGS, has demonstrated these feed ingredients can lower unit cost of production, improve production efficiency and reduce labor requirements in sheep operations. Studies with another co-product, pelleted corn stover, could lead to even greater labor and cost efficiencies for intensively managed sheep. Studies with pelleted corn stover inclusion into lamb and ewe diet formulations at SDSU have shown excellent palatability and performance. This ingredient has the potential to reduce traditional forage needs by 20% in intensive farm flock systems. The EAZI-BREED CIDR was equally effective for estrus synchronization using a 6 or 12 d insertion period in seasonally anestrous Polypay sired commercial ewes. Data from this study has been presented at local and regional extension sheep programs, and presented to a national audience at the 2011 Sheep Leadership School. The sheep CIDR has many possible applications to improve labor efficiency, enhance flock reproductive efficiency and add profit margin to the sheep industry. Launching the sheepSD program will provide a learning community environment between extension personnel and producers across the state of South Dakota. Dave Ollila, Sheep Extension Field Specialist is coordinating the program from his location in western South Dakota.

    Texas Agrilife Research, Texas A&M System A study has been implemented to estimate performance differences between Dorper and Rambouillet ewes. Estimates of breed differences for fertility, number of lambs born, lamb birth weight, lamb weaning weight, and lamb carcass traits were documented from records on ewes from 2 to 9 years of age. The main objective of this study is to evaluate lifetime lamb production from Dorper and Rambouillet ewes.

    U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, USDA-ARS, Nebraska Easycare ram lambs are genotyped for TMEM154 and genotypes are used to supplement selection of rams to decrease the prevalence of OPP. Flocks of Katahdin and Polypay sheep are being genetically managed to represent contemporary industry germplasm and to serve as industry controls for future research on easy-care breeds at USMARC. Three experiments were started to estimate gene action of TMEM154 haplotypes on ovine progressive pneumonia (OPP) incidence under conditions of natural challenge.

    U.S. Sheep Experiment Station, USDA-ARS, Idaho Two additional years of data for puberty and 1 additional year of data for 2-year-old ewe lambing performance have been collected. Analyses of 5 consecutive years of puberty data (i.e., records for H 900 Targhee ewe lambs) are underway. Data from 2000 through 2012 are being compiled and edited to calculate EBV needed to begin quantifying relationships among age at puberty of Targhee ewe lambs, ability of Targhee ewes to lamb at 1 year of age, and scrotal circumference of Targhee ram lambs from weaning until H 8 month of age, and to quantify the response to EBV-based selection strategies on the ability of ewes to lamb at 1 year of age. Presentations: American Sheep Industry Association Convention; Idaho Wool Growers Association Convention; Utah Wool Growers Association Summer Meeting; Northeast Wyoming Sheep Symposium; Utah State University sheep production class; Four groups of veterinary students from 5 universities during lambing-season externships; 1 elementary school group; Interviews for at least 4 news or magazine articles.

    Virginia State University A rotational grazing system with both warm and cool season pastures was established to evaluate the growth performance and fitness (parasite resistance) in land race hair sheep breeds fed pasture year round.

    Impact Statements:
    1. Cornell University, New York - Based upon data from the Cornell Sheep Farm over the past decade, an autologous vaccine against pinkeye administered by skin scratching appears to be effective. Pasture lambing was shown to have the same lamb mortality as barn lambing for ewes from a flock that had not pasture-lambed for generations.
    2. Louisiana State University - Copper treatment in the form of COWP appears to be preferable to CS for controlling infection over a summer grazing season in lambs. Both Cu formulations appeared to be safe as used under the conditions of this study. Neither treatment benefited production (weight gain). Over 200 producers were in attendance at professional and producer meetings.
    3. Michigan State University - Michigan State University has offered outreach programs for small ruminant producers that have generated new interest in small ruminant production, raised awareness of chronic disease and assisted in implementation of eradication programs, improved nutritional management practices to increase production efficiency and improved parasite management control to reduce animal morbidity and mortality. Michigan sheep and meat goat producer organizations have had record increases in membership in 2011 with the sheep organization recognized as the fastest growing by ASI, with growth in both organizations directly linked to MSU educational efforts according to survey results.
    4. North Dakota State University - With the recent approval of the sheep CIDR to induce estrus in ewes during the anestrous season, there has been a lot of interest by sheep producers in this region. Our research has provided data that producers in our region can use to make important management decisions that will affect their overall flock profitability. Residual feed intake has been recently promoted as a new method to select for efficiency within many livestock species. However, very little research has been conducted in sheep to validate that is it a viable option. Our research has highlighted a very important concept that this measure of feed efficiency is not highly correlated to different diets. This ultimately helps sheep producers make informed decisions whether or not to collect this information on their flock or to purchase animals that have been tested for this measure of efficiency.
    5. University of Rhode Island - Results indicate that oral vitamin E supplementation at 10 IU/kg BW/day tended to reduce the fecal egg counts and significantly reduced the abomasal worm burden in lambs experimentall infected with Haemonchus contortus. There was overwhelmingly positive feedback from the parasite control workshops. Three parasite control workshops for veterinarians were conducted in Massachusetts and Vermont. All forty-three producers participated in farm visits during the summer of 2011. The producers felt that the farm visitation program helped them to identify parasite susceptible animals in their flock, evaluate anthelmintic resistance on their farms and helped reinforce the FAMACHA training they received at the parasite control workshops.
    6. South Dakota State University - Over 80 sheep producers attended the 11th annual SDSU Regional Sheep Forum at the SDSU Sheep Unit Brookings, South Dakota. Survey results indicated many new producers, and 40% of the producers were attending their first forum. Producers were from South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Iowa with more than 10,000 commercial stock ewes represented in the audience. The theme was Opportunities to Enhance Sheep Production. Presentations focused on key theme topics covered in the national industries 2  Plus Initiative. The sheepSD program, a mentorship program for beginning farmers and ranchers was introduced to the industry and producers were encouraged to sign-up this summer and fall. Our sheep extension personnel were successful in securing a grant award of $20,000 grant from ASI to facilitate the sheepSD program in South Dakota. Enrollment for this program will be limited to 50 producers across the state.
    7. Texas Agrilife Research, Texas A&M System - Texas AgriLife Research conducts range sheep production research to provide information to sheep producers. Knowledge of performance differences between Dorper and Rambouillet ewes will provide producers with information needed to make an informed choice about expected performance of these breeds. The Dorper breed is relatively new to the US and little comparative research with US breeds has been documented.
    8. U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, USDA, Nebraska - A common justification for genomic research is the need to discover genetic markers associated with susceptibility to diseases in livestock. Ovine progressive pneumonia (OPP) is an incurable, slow-acting, wasting disease that affects sheep in most countries. It is one of the most costly sheep diseases in the United States due to a decrease in litter weaning weights of about 20% and premature culling or death of breeding stock. We investigated 50,000 genetic markers in infected and uninfected sheep to discover a gene (TMEM154) that affects susceptibility to OPP virus infection. The risk of infection was 2.8 times greater for sheep with a single risk allele than sheep without, a finding confirmed in multiple breeds and states. A genotyping test has been developed for commercial use and is being provided through collaborations with GeneSeek.
    9. U.S. Sheep Experiment Station, USDA, Idaho - Data describing the reproductive traits of peripubertal ewes and the effects of supplemental nutrients on age at puberty provide the basis for initiating research to determine whether estimated-breeding-value-based selection can be used to produce timely and significant improvements in the ability of ewes to lamb as yearlings. This research should ultimately result in management guidelines, including genetic selection, for improving ewe lamb fertility and for determining whether improving ewe lamb fertility through selection is a realistic objective for large-scale sheep producers in the United States.
    10. Utah State University - Isolation of genetic markers associated with health-related traits will be of great importance to the sheep industry. Markers for parasite resistance can be applied across flocks to enhance resistance and/or eliminate susceptible animals. A detailed high-resolution RH map and associated comparative maps are being developed. The availability of high-resolution comprehensive maps for all ovine chromosomes will enhance the identification of chromosomal locations of genes responsible for traits of interest in sheep. In addition, high-resolution maps have enabled identification of multi-species conserved chromosome segments and evolutionary breakpoints in related species. Potential uses of a whole genome reference sequence for sheep will significantly accelerate searches for genetic regions and genes influencing phenotypes in sheep, and provide the next generation of tools for animal genomics research.
    11. Virginia State University - The cost of grains and high quality hay is rapidly increasing in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Research at Virginia State University has been evaluating the inclusion of source if digestible fiber in hair sheep rations. Initial research suggests that soyhull pellets incorporated at an intake level of 2% of body weight in hay-based diets increased dry matter intake, feed efficiency and growth rate in 8-month old lambs.
    12. West Virginia University - The increased adoption of out-of-season breeding by producers combined with higher levels of fertility of ewes bred out of-season have led to more lambs being sold during months with the highest lamb prices with the net result of increased revenue (~15-20%). Additionally, losses due to predation and parasitism are reduced in flocks engaged in out-of-season breeding. Further, producers are increasingly incorporating accelerated lambing in some proportion of their flock which has had the impact of increasing flock productivity. Lambs reared with their dams up until market weight has final weights that are 2.5-5 kgs greater per animal than weaned flock mates. There is also the potential for improved feed conversion efficiency and reduce health associated losses in ewe-reared lambs. Producers, in particular hair-sheep producers, adopting this practice can potentially benefit from significantly higher revenue.
    Last Modified: 12-Oct-2012
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