Polypay. The American. Sheep Assn. News. View from the Great Lakes State. APSA Board of Directors

Transcription

1 The American Polypay Sheep Assn. News Spring 2015 Tomorrow s Sheep Today View from the Great Lakes State Brett Pharo, APSA President As I m writing this, Spring is trying to slide it s way in, but Winter is fighting back with what I hope is its last hurrah. Shearing is done, the lambing barn is set up, and in a few days we ll be enjoying the arrival of another crop of Polypay lambs. We expect to have a quick startup this year with over twenty ewes due in the first couple days. We ll be all but done by the time you see this. Spring lambing always provides some time in the lambing barn for reflecting on what we re doing and why. It s a time, as most any time of year is, for reviewing goals for our flock, our breed, and the industry. As sheep producers we re a part of the larger industry known as agriculture. What is the purpose of agriculture? The best description of the purpose of agriculture I ve heard, and one I always put forward when talking to a group of students, producers, or anyone else, is that agriculture is the business of converting solar energy into useful products such as food and fiber. As sheep producers we re part of that process. How well are the American sheep industry, the Polypay breed, and my operation doing in contributing to this overriding purpose? That s a question I think each of us should ask ourselves on a regular basis. Is what I m doing contributing to this purpose of the agriculture industry, or is it more a keeping of pets for entertainment purposes. Either way, we certainly should be enjoying what we do; life is too short to have it otherwise. There s not necessarily anything wrong with individuals raising sheep for the entertainment/pet value, but we should be honest with ourselves as to our purpose. As a seedstock organization within the sheep industry, though, the APSA needs to maintain our focus to best realize the purpose of agriculture converting (Continued on page 2) 1 APSA Board of Directors Brett Pharo, President Cherry Ave Rapid City, MI Mark Meurer, Vice President 1869 Midway Rd - Ashton, IL meurer66@gmail.com Christopher Schauer, Secretary PO Box Hettinger, ND chris_schauer@yahoo.com Lowell Bence, Treasurer 706 SE Pond Edge Ln. Ankeny, IA bence1@aol.com Glen Jones 4750N 450E Rochester, IN glenjones1948@gmail.com Rhonda Cox th Ave - Long Grove, IA cox8597@aol.com Mike Berven th St NW - Milan, MN riverdale@mvtvwireless.com Jim Hanssen th St - Emery, SD rjhanssen@triotel.net Diane Hermann 1850 S South Park Rd - Eldridge, IA shadylawn1@gmail.com Registrar: Associated Sheep Registries PO Box 231 Wamego, KS asregistry@gmail.com

2 solar energy into food and fiber in an efficient, profitable manner. EBV s give us a tool to more quickly and efficiently make genetic improvement in areas of importance for productivity. Like any tool, though, they need to be used wisely. A hammer is an important tool in construction, but it isn t used alone. You ll have a mess if you try to do the whole job with just a hammer, but when it comes to pounding nails, nothing else can do the job as well. We can t let our use of EBV s substitute for all the other aspects of good shepherding, but it s a tool we should have in our toolbox if we re serious about producing genetics that will enhance the American sheep industry. In using EBV s, we have to remember that maximum and optimum are not always the same. Arguably, there are some instances when they might be the same, such as longevity or parasite resistance, but in other cases, optimum values might well depend upon the type of operation. What s optimum for me might be different than what s optimum for you. It s also important to be aware of both positive and negative correlations between the different EBV s, and between EBV s and other desirable traits like efficiency. Used properly, EBV s give us the flexibility to adapt to the needs of our particular flock and particular customer base. EBV s are great tools. Use them wisely. Director Election Time Glen Jones Pharo Polypays are raised on a forage only program Our Bylaws call for an election of three members to our board of directors each year. The terms of Rhonda Cox, Mike Berven, and Mark Meurer expire in June with Cox and Berven ineligible to run for another term. Nominations were requested at the time our winter newsletter was sent. Those nominations were due to the president by March 31. Spring time and grass are on the way Three nominations were received and the resumes of those nominated follow. It is great to see that we have some younger breeders stepping forward to help lead the association in the future. Voting may be done by mail and a ballot is enclosed in this newsletter or you may cast a ballot in person by attending the annual meeting in Sedalia MO. Mark Meurer My name is Mark Meurer and our family operates Big Prairie Polypays, near Ashton, Illinois. I currently serve as Vice President of the APSA. We ve been in the Polypay business for 15 years. We maintain about 50 registered ewes on the farm. Our philosophy has always been to produce breeding stock that combines structural correctness and performance. Like all Polypay breeders, I think our breed is positioned to be the most influential breed in the commercial sheep industry. Our maternal capabilities combined with excellent growth potential, should make us the most desired commercial breeding stock in the nation. As a breed, we must improve our marketing initiatives and find ways to better educate the commercial sheep industry on the benefits of Polypay genetics. We also need to foster ideas to bring more young producers into our breed. I m a firm believer that the Polypay breed is big enough to support those who participate in NSIP and those who choose not to participate. Individually, we must decide which tools work the best for our individual operations and strive to make the Polypay breed better. Faith and family are the cornerstones of Big Prairie Polypays. My wife, Lynnette, and I have four children who have all learned the values of hard work and commitment raising Polypays. I look forward to continuing my work on the APSA board and would appreciate your support. Thank you. 2

3 Chris Kaeb CAK Polypays Buckley, IL I live with my wife and children on a grain farm in east central Illinois. We have been raising sheep since 2005 and Polypays in particular since We breed about 35 ewes every year. Our flock is enrolled in NSIP/Lambplan and our main goal is to produce Polypay sheep with strong maternal traits that will thrive in a variety of environments. I have sold rams and ewes to both purebred and commercial breeders in various states. I have a passion for raising sheep and would like to do my part to help keep the Polypay breed moving in the right direction, and making sure that all of us as breeders band together for a common goal. I would appreciate your consideration of me for the APSA board of directors. Jeremy Refshaw I, Jeremy Refshaw, my wife Renita and children John and Josie own and operate Refshaw Ranch. We raise Registered Polypay Sheep, Lowline Angus Cattle and hay near Waubun Minnesota. I grew up on a dairy farm in Northwest Minnesota. At age twelve I bought five Hampshire Suffolk cross ewes and started in 4H. At age fourteen I started a sheep shearing business and continue shearing today. I competed on the FFA general livestock judging team, earned the Region Star Agribusiness Award and the American FFA Degree. Studying animal science and Ag Business at the University of Minnesota Crookston I earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Agricultural Business and won overall showmanship at Ag-Arama in At UMC I worked in the sheep barns. I observed Polypays at the Crookston Experiment Station and learned of their potential ability to move farm and ranch families to greater levels of production and profitability. We purchased Polypay ewes in 2006 from Jerry Sorensen, Mike Park and Vic VanWell. We enrolled in NSIP in 2008 and use EBV's as one of our selection tools. I would be honored to serve with fellow Polypay breeders to promote and improve Polypays. These breeders have consigned sheep to the Summer Kickoff Sale & Symposium Allen Farms Registered Polypays Robert Allen W11456 McDonald Dr Merrimac, WI Big Prairie Polypays Mark Meurer 1869 Midway Rd Ashton, IL CAK Polypays Chris Kaeb 639N 1000E Rd Buckley, IL Elm Creek Polypays Larry Bremer 1948 State Hwy 15 Truman, MN Grandview Polypays Dale & Lila Schmidt 2834 County Rd 5 Marshall, MN Hausser Polypays Don & Mary Hausser S67 W38381 HWY ZZ Eagle, WI Henke Family Polypays Anthony Henke Hwy Y Princeton, MO Hidden Valley Polypays Glen & Chris Jones 4750N 450E Rochester, IN J&S Polypays Steve & Janice Spessard Roberts Rd Worthington, MN JCC Polypays John & Colleen Carlson N1050 Rd Macomb, IL Lambshire Polypays John Anderson Munson Shreve, OH Notkwtya Ranch Polypays Kathy Ewert nd St McLouth, KS Continued on page 4 3

4 Pharo Polypays Brett Pharo Cherry Ave Rapid City, MI Plucinski Polypays Alex Plucinski N640 Hwy 12 Fort Atkinson, WI Refshaw Ranch Jeremy & Colleen Refshaw th St Waubun, MN This ewe lamb Russell Smith Polypays Russell Smith Perkins Valley Dr Houston, MN Schauer Sheep Co Chris Schauer PO Box 205 Hettinger, ND UW Madison Animal Science Todd Taylor W 4857 Meek Rd Arlington, WI Sale Schedules for Arlington and Sedalia The scheduled events for the upcoming June sales include the following: (pictured at two weeks) is headed to Arlington. She is looking for a new home and will sell as lot #4 Summer Kickoff Sale & Symposium Thursday, June 11, early sheep arrival from 6:00 to 9:00pm Friday, June 12 6:00am to noon late sheep arrival health and registration paper collection 1:00 2:00pm Consignments are sifted and numbered Symposium Collecting and Entry of Performance Data for the best NSIP Experience 2:00 2:45pm Symposium UW Madison s Efforts to Manage and Eradicate OPP 3:00 4:30pm Sheep are exhibited, ballots completed, and sale order established. 5:00 6:30pm Tour the Arlington Ag Research Station & UW Sheep Facility. 6:30 7:00pm Leg of lamb cutting demonstration by Cody Hiemke 7:00pm??? Social hour on the lawn and a lamb dinner sponsored by Buchen-Bremmer Crop Ins. BYOB Wine tasting from Lapaceks Orchard, Poynnette, WI Saturday, June 13 7:00am Barn opens 8 9:30am Coffee & donuts Midwest Stud Ram National Polypay Sale Monday, June 22 10:00am National Polypay Junior Show 11:00am to 4:00pm Sale animal check-in Tuesday, June 23 National Polypay Show following the Montedale show at approximately noon 6:00pm Annual banquet and meeting at the First United Methodist Church Wednesday, June 24 8:00am Midwest preview pancake breakfast fund raiser 6:00pm Supreme Champion Ram and Ewe show Supreme event lamb feed performance recognition All American junior show benefit auction Thursday, June 25 National Polypay Sale - following the Montedale sale at approximately 10:00am Learning seminars Structural soundness by Bert Moore & Selection of breeding stock by Al Culham At this time a sale bill for the national sale is not yet available. Please check the Midwest Stud Ram Sale web site in the near future to view that information. 9:30 11:30am Symposium Filling your toolbox A group discussion on DNA testing, NSIP, OPP testing, & visual evaluation 1:00pm Auction Begins 4

5 Research Grant Proposal The American Polypay Sheep Association has teamed up with other breed associations in supporting a grant application made by the Katahdin association to ASI s Let s Grow grant program. The grant request is for funds to assist with the cost of supplying DNA samples that can be stored for use by researchers in genomic research. Such research might include such things as correlating DNA markers with phenotypic data for various traits, diseases, etc. The APSA, and several individual Polypay breeders, have offered to help with matching funds to make the grant request more appealing to ASI. Thanks for Supper Let s all give a big Thank You to the sponsor of our Friday night meal at Arlington. Costs for the meal are being covered by Buchan and Bremer Crop Insurance Agency - Your Crop Revenue Experts - Larry Bremer, Agent. Tell Larry thanks when you see him at Arlington or elsewhere. Could this ram improve the profit potential of your flock? He will be on the auction block at the Arlington Sale. New NSIP Program Director I am glad to have the opportunity to introduce myself; I am Rusty Burgett and I will be serving as the new Program Director for the National Sheep Improvement Program. This position has been created in order to meet the demands of a growing program focused on advancing the sheep industry through quantitative genetic selection. Interest in the program and flock enrollment is growing rapidly as the industry is realizing the value of this technology. I come to NSIP with a diverse background. I am originally from Ohio and my passion for the sheep industry really blossomed while I was an undergraduate student at The Ohio State University when I had the opportunity to work with some great shepherds and academics such as Gregg Fogle and Dr. Henry Zerby. These mentors taught me not only production practices and the science behind it all but also instilled the passion for the animals and education. They encouraged me to pursue my Masters degree in ruminant nutrition from the University of Wisonson- Madison where I focused on ewe gestational nutrition and lamb growth and development. In Madison, I had the opportunity to learn from more great stockmen including Todd Taylor and Dr. Dave Thomas and was first taught the benefits of quantitative genetic selection through NSIP. With more knowledge and experience gained, I still wanted more so I took on the role of managing the sheep teaching flock at Iowa State University and learned from Dr. Dan Morrical for a year and half while I was in Ames before I returned to Wisconsin to broaden my horizons by managing the dairy sheep research flock at the UW- Spooner Ag Research Station. I am excited to be in my new position with NSIP and focusing once again on advancing the lamb and wool industries. Serving as treasurer for NSIP for the last year and a half, I have witnessed the growth of the program and I am honored to be a part of it. My responsibilities include educating the sheep industry on the advantage of using the technology of genetic selection and helping producers transition to using the program. We have a strong, dedicated set of leaders on the board of NSIP and we all have the same goal of helping producers to function as efficiently and profitably as possible while providing the best possible lamb and wool to our consumers. I look forward to meeting and working with all of you! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to me at info@nsip.org or call

6 Ballot for the Board of Directors of the American Polypay Sheep Association 2015 Mark Meurer ( ) Chris Kaeb ( ) Jeremy Refshaw ( ) You may vote for three. This ballot may be returned in person at the annual meeting in Sedalia, MO. You may vote by mail by sending it to Brett Pharo at Cherry Ave Rapid City, MI Mailed ballots will be opened at the annual meeting. To assure that all votes are cast by active members (2015 dues paid), that only one vote is cast per membership, and that your vote is secret, we asked that all who vote by mail follow these instructions: Mark your ballot and place it in an envelope with the word ballot on the outside. Place that envelope inside another envelope addressed to Brett and including your name in the return address section. 6

7 APSA Summer Kickoff Sale and Symposium 01 Polypay Yearling Ram HV 3418 R /2/2014 Triplet Consigner: Hidden Valley Polypays (574) R Dam ID E We used this ram last fall! K 2046 HV Polypay Yearling Ram HV 3411 R /2/2014 Twin Consigner: Hidden Valley Polypays (574) R K 2046 Dam ID E HV 3135 His dam had twins at 1 year of age and triplets in her second, third and forth lambings. This is a big, very correct ram! Polypay Yearling Ewe HV3464 E /23/2014 Twin Consigner: Hidden Valley Polypays (574) R20953 UW Dam ID E HV 3307 This ewe lambed at 11 months of age Polypay Ewe Lamb HV 3516 E /16/2015 Twin Consigner: Hidden Valley Polypays (574) R HV 3432 Dam ID E HV 3329 Spring Ewe lamb just 3 weeks old as I write this. Additonal information will be available at the sale. Pending 05 Polypay Yearling Ram Pharo R /12/2014 Twin Consigner: Pharo Polypays (231) R Lambshire L2090X Dam ID E Pharo Raised on grass. No grain for lamb or ewe. No vaccinations, no deworming during summer grazing season

8 06 Polypay Ram Lamb Grandview GVC552 Pending 1/5/2015 Triplet Consigner: Grandview Polypays (507) R Grandview GVW255 Dam ID E Grandview GV Day Adjusted weight is 69 lbs. Sire and Dam are both triplets Polypay Ram Lamb Hausser R /12/2015 Twin Consigner: Hausser Polypays (262) R Uncompagre 5130 Dam ID E Hausser Our 1st offering from the Colorado genetics produce by Billy and Helen Hardman. Umcompagre Polypays on top side of pedigree. Hausser and UW genetics on the bottom side. Good NSIP numbers and a possible show animal Polypay Ram Lamb Hausser R /15/2015 Twin Consigner: Hausser Polypays (262) Dam ID R E Kaeb 3047A Hausser Polypay Ewe Lamb Hausser E /25/2015 Twin Consigner: Hausser Polypays (262) R Hausser Dam ID E U of WI Polypay Ewe Lamb Hausser E /1/2015 Triplet Consigner: Hausser Polypays (262) R Kaeb 3047A Dam ID E Hausser

9 11 Polypay Yearling Ram Schauer Sheep 1405 R /5/2015 Twin Consigner: Schauer Sheep Co (701) R U of WI Dam ID E Schauer Sheep 1201 Yearling Ram. Sire ranks 15th on Elite Sire list! Polypay Yearling Ram Schauer Sheep 1452 R /13/2014 Twin Consigner: Schauer Sheep Co (701) R U of WI Dam ID E Schauer Sheep 1147 Yearling Ram. Sire ranks 15th on Elite Sire list! Polypay Ewe Lamb Schauer Sheep 1512 Pending 2/13/2015 Triplet Consigner: Schauer Sheep Co (701) R U of WI Dam ID E Schauer Sheep 1129 Ewe Lamb. Sire ranks 15th on the Elite Sire list!! Polypay Ewe Lamb Schauer Sheep 1519 Pending 2/15/2015 Triplet Consigner: Schauer Sheep Co (701) R U of WI Dam ID E Schauer Sheep 1002 Ewe Lamb. Sire ranks 15th on the Elite Sire list!! Polypay Ram Lamb JCC 513 Pending 1/3/2015 Triplet Consigner: JCC Polypays (309) R U of WI Dam ID E JCC Born and raised a triplet from a prominent ewe in our flock. Todd had planned to use this ram's sire at U of WI but we were able to get him away!

10 16 Polypay Ewe Lamb JCC 513 Pending 1/3/2015 Twin Consigner: JCC Polypays (309) R U of WI Dam ID E JCC A good looking ewe lamb, backed by strong data. Should make a foundation for some flock. Sire is a U of WI grad-top of his class Polypay Yearling Ram 4141 R /12/2014 Twin Consigner: Refshaw Ranch (218) Dam ID R E K2024R RPB Polypay Ram Lamb Ramb Lamb Consigner: Elm Creek Polypays (507) Dam ID Febuary Ram lamb born and raised a multiple - Just not sure which one yet. NSIP data will be available sale day!! 19 Polypay Ram Lamb Ramb Lamb Consigner: Henke Family Polypays (660) Dam ID Entry to be determined by sale time, will be born Feb-March 2015 and will be out of high indexing, high growth ram!! 20 Polypay Yearling Ram K4041T R /20/2014 Twin Consigner: CAK Polypays (815) R E3082T Dam ID E K1008B

11 21 Polypay Ram Lamb K5004W Pending 2/3/2015 Triplet Consigner: CAK Polypays (815) R L3023W Dam ID E K2033R EBV's are Pedigree Estimated! Actuals will be available by sale day Polypay Ewe Lamb K5007H Pending 2/4/2015 Twin Consigner: CAK Polypays (815) R L3108H Dam ID E K4018D EBV's will be available by sale day. 23 Polypay Ewe Lamb K5006H Pending 2/4/2015 Twin Consigner: CAK Polypays (815) R L3108H Dam ID E K4018D EBV's will be available by sale day. 24 Polypay Fall Ramb Lamb BPP 322 R /15/2014 Twin Consigner: Big Prairie Polypays (815) R Shady Lane 0459 Dam ID E BPP 164 Pre-wean average daily gain Adjusted 120 day wt pounds!! 25 Polypay Fall Ramb Lamb BPP 326 R /19/2014 Twin Consigner: Big Prairie Polypays (815) R Shady Lane 0459 Dam ID E BPP 075 Pre-wean average daily gain lbs. per day. Adjusted 120 day wt pounds.

12 26 Polypay Fall Ewe Lamb BPP 332 E /23/2014 Twin Consigner: Big Prairie Polypays (815) R BPP 208 Dam ID E Big Prairie 158 Pre-weaning average daily gain -.82 lbs. per day. Adjusted 120 day wt lbs. 27 Polypay Fall Ewe Lamb Bpp 341 E /24/2014 Twin Consigner: Big Prairie Polypays (815) R BPP 208 Dam ID E U of WI Pre-weaning average daily gain -.84 pounds per day. Adjusted 120 day wt pounds. 28 Polypay Yearling Ewe Allen 24 E /12/2014 Twin Consigner: Allen Farms Registered Polypays (608) R U of WI Dam ID E U of WI Raising twins this spring. Sire and Dam are both in UW Madison NSIP program. 29 Polypay Ewe Lamb Allen 41 Pending 3/20/2015 Twin Consigner: Allen Farms Registered Polypays (608) R Allen 16 Dam ID E Allen 10 Young ewe lambs, growing very well. With connections to the UW Madison Flock, these ewes can be connected very easily into NSIP. 30 Polypay Ewe Lamb Allen 44 Pending 3/21/2015 Triplet Consigner: Allen Farms Registered Polypays (608) R Allen 16 Dam ID E U of WI Young ewe lambs, growing very well. With connections to the UW Madison Flock, these ewes can be connected very easily into NSIP.

13 31 Polypay Ram Lamb Plucinski P15004 R /17/2015 Twin Consigner: Plucinski Polypays (920) R Dam ID E Stout, thick rugged ram lamb! U of WI Hausser Polypay Fall Ramb Lamb NRI Pending 10/30/2014 Twin Consigner: Notkwtya Polypays (913) R Uncompagre Dam ID E NRI Growthy fall born lamb out of an accelerated, high-health status flock. EBV's Available by sale day!! 33 Polypay Yearling Ram L4136R Pending 5/6/2014 Twin Consigner: Lambshire Polypays (330) R Pharo 13439R Dam ID Pending L3124W Weaning fec = 53.6, Postweaning fec = Polypay Ram Lamb J&S 498 Pending 2/7/2015 Twin Consigner: J&S Polypays (507) R Neaton 1160 Dam ID E J&S Green 73 Ewes Production Record Green 73 has weaned twins ever year and they have avg. right at 42 lbs. per lamb at 42 days old. We kept her only daughter!! 35 Polypay Ewe Lamb J&S 218 Pending 2/13/2015 Twin Consigner: J&S Polypays (507) R Lambshire L3125W Dam ID E J&S Green 70 Ewes Production Record This ewe should make a good ewe with some size. Her sire is fairly tall and mother is a wide, big body ewe with good mother instinct!

14 36 Polypay Ram Lamb U of WI Pending 1/6/2015 Twin Consigner: UW Madison Animal Science Dept (608) R U of WI Dam ID E U of WI A top indexing ram from our flock. Twin brother consigned to CNS in Spencer ranked 4th on USA Maternal index!! Polypay Ram Lamb U of WI Pending 2/9/2015 Triplet Consigner: UW Madison Animal Science Dept (608) R U of WI Dam ID E U of WI Triplet raised as a triplet. Dam is a natural Fall born ewe Polypay Yearling Ewe U of WI Pending 10/23/2013 Triplet Consigner: UW Madison Animal Science Dept (608) R U of WI Dam ID E U of WI Here is a natural fall born ewe, born and raised a triplet. Raising Twins this spring!! Polypay Ewe Lamb Uof WI Ewe lamb Consigner: UW Madison Animal Science Dept (608) Dam ID Have close to 80 ewe lambs to pick through. Will pick to out of the heart of our program. Just too early to pinpoint _R 40 Polypay Ewe Lamb Uof WI Ewe lamb Consigner: UW Madison Animal Science Dept (608) Dam ID Have close to 80 ewe lambs to pick through. Will pick to out of the heart of our program. Just too early to pinpoint

15 41 Polypay Ram Lamb RS Pending 3/26/2015 Twin Consigner: Russell Smith Polypays (507) R U of WI Dam ID E U of WI Young ram lamb! Dam purchased from UW Madison 2014 Fall production sale. Sire leased. EBV's are pedigree estimates based sire and dam info current EBV's _R

16 APSA President Cherry Ave Rapid City, MI