CALIFORNIA SUFFOLK & HAMPSHIRE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION

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1 CALIFORNIA SUFFOLK & HAMPSHIRE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION Membership Newsletter WINTER 2017 Mark your calendars! CSHSBA looks forward to seeing all of the exhibitors and buyers at the 2018 Nugget All American Show and Sale. This is sure to be the best one yet!

2 A message from your President, Greg Ahart Merry Christmas everyone! As you re reading this there s a good chance you re either running yourself ragged to get ready for the holidays, or you re stuffed from the holiday meal. Either way, enjoy your time with loved ones. We re also a ways into lambing season, which for some is the best Christmas present of all. Did it work and did I get what I had hoped used to be the most common questions (besides, I wonder what kind of mother that goofy yearling ewe is going to be). Now there s quite a bit more going on. Between AI and ET work, frozen versus fresh semen, the synchronizing and programming, there can be quite a bit more work put into the lamb crop before it ever hits the ground. Which to me translates to the stakes are even higher than ever about keeping them alive once we get the pregnancy going. In my mind, one of the most important concepts we can share with one another is how each of us does that. What do we do, how do we do it, where did we learn it.the ability to help one another is the best part of sheep people camaraderie that I know of. If you have a vet in your area with sheep experience, you re lucky. For that matter, if you have a vet with large animal experience in your area you re lucky. When it comes to prevention and treatment of issues, don t be shy reaching out. Most everything you encounter, someone else will have seen at least once. Let someone else s experience prevent you from having to learn the hard way. The sales are starting for the fall lambs right now. There are lots of breeders and sales to choose from. For your own sake, as both as a selling breeder or a purchasing customer, do your due diligence. As a breeder, do what s right and stand behind your livestock. I m sure most of you have heard the adage it takes a lifetime to build a reputation and moment to destroy it. As a customer, you have responsibilities as well. The lambs are young, and undoubtedly will be stressed. Make sure your facilities and management are right for the animals health and well-being. Work with the breeders you purchase from on how the animals have been managed to date, and listen to them if they have recommendations for what should be done once you take possession of them. Breeders work hard to generate the animals you re buying, and they have a vested interest in your success with those animals. As my dear departed grandma used to say: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Good luck to all with both the lambing and sales seasons. Undoubtedly something unexpected will happen, hopefully for the good. Greg

3 Fred and Marion Coble Scholarship Application Due: May 1, 2018 Will be presented at the Reno Nugget Show and Sale. Applications are available on the CSHSBA website, or FRED AND MARION COBLE Fred Coble, native of Potter Valley, California, spent most of his life working with sheep. Together with his wife, the former Marion Moore, he owned and operated the Green Valley Ranch near Winters. The Coble Suffolks were known throughout the United States and Canada as winners in the show ring. They also sold at premium prices at the ram sales. Fred's animals were judged Grand Champions at county fairs all over California, state fairs in Oregon and Arizona as well as California, and many regional fairs such as Ogden, Utah and Canadian livestock expositions. One of the more prestigious winnings was of the English Cup at the Chicago International Exposition. Fred Coble's ability to judge sheep was recognized by his peers. He was invited to judge at the major North American livestock expositions including the Chicago International, British Columbia International, the Grand National in San Francisco, and the California State Fair. Fred also served the livestock industry. He was one of three founders of the California Suffolk Association and also served as president. He was president of the American Suffolk Sheep Society, a director of the National Suffolk Sheep Society, and a 42year member of the California Wool Growers Association. The Coble Suffolks are remembered for their size, bone, and characteristic heads. They made a lasting impression on the Suffolk breed. Improving Lamb Marketing, Quality, & Profitability: Options for California Producers Workshops January 15 18, 2018 ~ Four Locations California Wool Growers Association (CWGA) is hosting four interactive workshops focusing on improving lamb marketing and quality as well as producer profitability by applying innovative management practices and technologies. Topics to be discussed include: Genetic Selection to Improve Lamb Quality and Ewe Productivity Increasing Lamb Production Efficiency with Accelerated Lambing Effective Nutrition Management Practices Proper Forage Analysis & Mineral Supplementation Management Tools for Herd Optimization and Production Efficiency Best Management Practices for Sheep Operations Lamb Feeding and Management Practices Interactive demonstrations will focus on utilizing ultrasound technology to identify unproductive ewes, utilizing teaser rams, ewe culling practices, electronic animal identification, record-keeping, body condition scoring, pasture lambing, FAMACHA scoring, predator management, and much more. Locations: Monday, January 15 Etchamendy Sheep Company, Bakersfield (24394 Highway 46, Wasco, CA 93280) Tuesday, January 16 Emigh Livestock, Rio Vista (2838 Goose Haven Road, Suisun City, CA 94585) Wednesday, January 17 Chico State University Sheep Unit (311 Nicholas C Shouten Lane, Chico, CA 95528) Thursday, January 18 UC Hopland Research & Extension Center (4070 University Road, Hopland, CA 95449) Registration Information: Workshop Cost $25.00 for CWGA members, $35.00 non-members Registration Deadline January 8th. To register complete the registration form attached or contact the CWGA office at info@woolgrowers.org or (916)

4 2017 California Suffolk and Hampshire Sheep Breeders Association Board Members Get to know your Board Members: Mike Leventini How did you get involved in the club lamb industry? When I started teaching at Downey High School in 1969, I was responsible for the FFA chapters school flock. Its main purpose was to raise lambs for kids to show at local fairs. What college did you attend? I attended Modesto Junior College and Cal Poly, SLO, where I studied pomology and got my ag teaching credential. What Genetics are you using or what is the backbone of your operation? We first started with Hogg genetics from Oregon, then Cabaniss genetics from Oklahoma. After that we used genetics from Miller in Texas. Most recently we have been using Rule Sheep Company genetics. What is your favorite part of the raising sheep? Being with the others who enjoy showing our lambs and using our breeding stock. It is a great family venture. What is the biggest challenge to raising show lambs? The biggest challenge in raising club lambs is staying current with trends and preserving the integrity of how club lambs should be raised. In your opinion, what is your biggest accomplishment (Sheep Wise)? We have produced the champion Hampshire ram at Sedalia, Reno, and the Top of the Rockies. Our family has had supreme at California State Fair and Cow Palace. We have been able to stay competitive in the sheep business for 48 years. What do you feel are more important: Rams or Ewes? Why? I know a ram can change a lamb crop, but it takes many years to establish a ewe base that keeps you competitive and in business. What do you feel is the most important issue facing the sheep industry? The most important issue facing the sheep industry is probably the cost of producing competitive sheep, which is eventually passed on to the exhibitors. My fear is that many cannot participate in projects as the price keeps increasing. If you had one piece of advice to someone who is just starting to raise sheep, what would you tell them? The hardest part of raising sheep is to acquire good, workable, facilities. You can go out and buy an expensive ram and purchase nice ewes, but to do this for a long time, you have to have a setup that will allow you to raise and sell your product. Outside of raising sheep, what do you do? I am a retired ag teacher of 35 years. I coached both boys and girls basketball. I am currently the sheep superintendent for the Stanislaus county fair and I enjoy judging when time allows. I volunteer my time at local high schools, helping coach CDE teams. I also enjoy playing golf with friends. Who was the most influential person to your involvement in the sheep industry? Ed Leal got me started at Downey High School, but Leonard Bianchi was responsible for my love and appreciation of sheep. Presently, I am kept motivated by my son, Mike and my granddaughter, Bella.

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6 Thank you to those that attended the 2017 Winter Christmas Tour! Winter Christmas Sheep Tour On Saturday, Dec. 16th, there were more than 75 people that attended the Christmas sheep tour. The group met in Modesto and toured several local producers. Although the wind was mighty, people were interested in learning from their fellow sheep producer. If you have pictures of the event, or any comments to share, please send them to CSHSBA. Special thank you to Mike Leventini for organizing the event! UC Rangelands New Predator Hub Website Predators and grazing livestock rely upon rangeland habitats throughout California (and much of the world), and so livestock-predator conflicts are perhaps inevitable. The Livestock-Predator Information Hub is designed to provide research-based information for rangeland livestock producers and wildlife managers on mitigating and managing potential conflicts. Visit the Livestock-Predator Hub ALB Videos Offer Tips on Cooking With Lamb The American Lamb Board is working to make lamb more approachable and inspire consumers to eat lamb beyond the traditional holidays. ALB works with a group of lambassador bloggers to develop and share interesting but not intimidating lamb recipes and photography across their channels and help expand ALB's reach and educate consumers about American lamb. From burgers to tacos to pasta and pizzas, ALB has gathered an amazing variety of approachable recipes incorporating adventurous flavors. to try new recipes. This year, the lambassador bloggers are developing short instructional "how to" recipe videos to help us inspire consumers to get adventurous with American Lamb. One-minute recipe videos are all the rage right now on Facebook and YouTube. The videos are short, shareable and help capture consumer's attention sparking interest This month, two lambassador bloggers developed and shared new lamb recipe videos. Two Purple Figs created Pomegranate Roast Lamb Shanks, while the Adventure Bite created a Lamb Galette perfect for holiday brunches. Check out these new videos and other ALB video resources at

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9 NSIP Creates Searchable EBV Database Funded in part by an American Sheep Industry Association Let's Grow grant, the National Sheep Improvement Program is taking ram selection a step further, putting pedigree and performance data at your fingertips with an online searchable database. "This project focuses on disseminating the genetics for enhanced production and profitability into commercial flocks by making it easier to select rams based on EBVs tailored to the individual flock," says NSIP Program Director Rusty Burgett. "The database will allow producers to search by breed through all rams available that have the desired EBVs for productivity improvement." The database is accessible though the NSIP website and easy to use. Simply plug in the breed group, breed, gender and preferred birthdate of breeding stock. Then supply the desired range of specific EBVs to meet your flock's needs.

10 Ron Alves CSHSBA Board of Directors Greg Ahart (916) Andrew Beam (209) Alan Cover (209) Matt Hayes (530) Gino Farinelli (209) Richard Jacobsen (209) Lloyd McCabe (707) c. (707) Mike Leventini (209) C. (209) Executive Secretary Lesa Eidman (530) California Suffolk & Hampshire Sheep Breeders Association PO Box 144, Dixon, Ca Interested in being a member of the CSHSBA Board of Directors? The CSHSBA Board will be meeting this Winter to review the year end review for the association as well as set goals for the upcoming year. Part of the discussion will be the nomination proves of new CSHSBA directors. Please contact a current board member or CSHSBA directly and express your interest in running for one of the three spots for this years election. Ranch Name Membership Form Names (Adults) Children (include age or grade in school) Address Town State Zip Code Phone# Address Cell WebSite Breeds of sheep you raise: Select and Circle Membership Type Regular Membership (raise Suffolk or Hampshire) $25.00 Associate Membership (live out of state or raise other breeds) $25.00 Junior Membership (participation in junior events & receive newsletters, not eligible to sell or vote). $10.00 Payment Total enclosed