Sheep The North Dakota Industry Newsletter Publication No. 75 A joint publication brought to you by the NDSU Extension Service and the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association Reid s Remarks Reid Redden, Newsletter Editor Fall has arrived after a good summer for most North Dakota shepherds. Cool weather typically is good for grass growth and keeping away heat stress and parasite problems. Good thing in the summer newsletter that we had educational information about heat stress and parasites! In my defense, I also included information on managing pastures, which was likely helpful if you had ample rains to allow for the summer regrowth. Lamb and wool markets have remained strong. Feeder lamb prices are quite high, driven primarily by low feed costs. Most shepherds would agree that current market lamb prices are at a good level. Farmers can be profitable and we can produce a meat product that is not overly expensive. Currently, the only bad market news for the sheep industry is the low market for lamb pelts. Maybe a colder than normal winter in Russia can help drive up this market. As I recall from the Olympics, its last winter was extremely mild. This fall and winter are packed with sheep events. We hosted our fifth annual new shepherds clinic for the 2014 Starter Flock recipients and others who want a refresher in sheep production 101. You can meet these young shepherds at the upcoming annual convention on Oct. 10-11. Brad Gilbertson and the convention planning committee are working diligently to host a fun and informational Summer 2014 Issue Reid s Remarks...1 Timely Tips...1 Technology, Sheep and 5-pound Bass...2 Calendar...3 Membership Form...3 Recipe Red Wine-braised Lamb...3 Message from the Association... insert A Executive Secretary Report... insert A Association Provides 10 Flocks to N.D. Youth... insert B meeting. This year also marks the 150th year that the American Sheep Industry Association has been in existence. Its annual convention will be held in Reno, Nev., on Jan. 28-31. If you ve never been to one of these conventions, it is well worth your time. At this past convention, the American Lamb Board released the American Lamb Industry Roadmap. I have been fortunate to serve on the implementation and productivity improvement committees of this roadmap. A lot of effort has been put into improving the industry, and much of these efforts will be reported upon at this meeting. reid.redden@ndsu.edu 701.231.5597 Photo courtesy of the NDSU Extension Service The roadmap will take many years of work to fully implement, with ups and downs along the way. But I am confident that if we maintain full industry commitment to the plans of the roadmap, it will have a substantial impact on the future of the U.S. sheep industry. Happy shepherding! Timely Tips 1. Flush ewes two weeks prior to breeding. 2. One month after the breeding season, scan ewes to detect and age, and quantify pregnancy status. 3. Sort ewes into breeding groups based on lambing and weaning data. a. Cull nonproductive ewes. b. Terminal sire underperforming ewes. 4. Source feed and plan your winter feeding strategy. 5. Modify pens and feeding system to precision feed ewes according to pregnancy status. Publication #75 Fall 2014 1
Technology, Sheep and 5-pound Bass Reid Redden, NDSU Sheep Extension At the 2014 North Dakota Lamb and Wool Expo, I spoke on precision sheep farming. This presentation can be found, along with all other presentation, on the Sheep Program page on our NDSU Animal Sciences website. Photo courtesy of Reid Redden I discussed how we constantly need to be improving how we manage our sheep flocks. Often, shepherds associate additional management with additional labor. I firmly disagree, and we should be looking to new ideas to reduce labor instead of add to it. Many of us, including me, like to be in the sheep barn. So we fill our time carrying feed to sheep in 5-gallon buckets and tossing small square bales of hay. I propose that we reduce the need for these tasks and use more automated technology. We cannot expand on existing profits when labor is the limiting factor. In my presentation, I discussed physical technology such as ultrasounding, electronic IDs and better handling systems. But technology also includes making more informed decisions regarding reproduction, genetics and nutritional management. I discussed how EBVs (estimated breeding values) can improve how we select profitable genetics. Dan Morrical discussed how to reduce feed costs through precision feeding of hay, grain and minerals. Lisa Surber discussed how wool testing can improve fleece quality and quantity, plus supply a consistent product to a growing U.S. textile industry. Why Invest in Technology Here is an analogy that might highlight why we need to invest in technology. As many of you know, we bought a new home that is in Minnesota, near the lakes area. Sorry! Nothing was available in North Dakota that had any topography. My son and I often take a small boat onto the lake and use whatever breeze is available to bottom bounce live bait or cast plastic lures. Fishing has been good and we normally catch a couple of nice bass and the occasional pike. In recent weeks, my friend brought his boat equipped with a trolling motor and sonar fish finder. We drifted the same areas that I normally catch fish, but this time, my friend noticed a large number of big fish on his fish finder. So he marked it on the sonar and, with the trolling motor, we repeatedly and precisely drifted over the same area. We landed around a dozen largemouth bass that were all around 5 pounds I realize walleye is king in this region, but in Texas, we fished mostly for bass, so it suites me just fine. Regardless, without this technology, we d have just caught that one fish and moved on to less productive fishing and never would have known the difference. So my question to the sheep industry is: How many 5-pound bass are we missing in our sheep operation because we are not using the appropriate technology? Shepherds for Profit Program I will fully admit that I don t have all the answers. But I am confident that if we work together better, we can identify the appropriate technology that will make each of our sheep operations as efficient as possible. This is the reason that this fall/winter, we ll be launching the Shepherds for Profit program. In the program, we ll survey all members to evaluate their production efficiency. Then we will benchmark each operation and provide a report to each member on how he or she ranked among his or her peers. Meetings will be held to share innovation and ideas that each of our members uses in his or her operation. The program has not been finalized, but if you are interested in participating, contact me via email or phone and I ll put you on the contact list. 2 North Dakota Sheep Industry Newsletter
Calendar NDLWPA Annual Convention Oct. 10-11 in Bismarck NDLWPA Membership Form This form is a membership application for the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association (NDLWPA) and American Sheep Industry (ASI) Association. Please print clearly NDSU Sheep Shearing and Wool Classing Schools Nov. 22-24 in Hettinger ASI Annual Convention Jan. 28-31, 2015, in Reno, Nev. Name Street address City State ZIP Phone ( ) Fax ( ) Email Number of sheep/goats Please check all that apply: Commercial Purebred Club lamb Dairy Lamb feeder Shearer Allied industry Business Like Us on Facebook! Search for NDSU Sheep Specialist or North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association Please check membership type: NDLWPA annual membership $20 NDLWPA annual junior membership (under 18 years of age) $5 ASI annual membership $.04/head or $25 minimum (whichever is greater) Joint NDLWPA/ASI annual membership $40 Printed copy of the ASI Weekly Newsletter $10 Note: ASI annual membership will entitle you to an email copy of the ASI Weekly Newsletter. Total $ Please make checks payable to NDLWPA Send this application and your payment to: Julie Mangnall, NDLWPA Treasurer 11936 79th St. S.E. Stirum, ND 58069 For more information, call (701) 678-2168 or visit www.ndlwpa.com. Thank you for taking an active interest in your industry! Red Wine-braised Lamb With Rosemary and Roasted Garlic Serves eight to 12 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 pounds cubed lamb (shoulder, leg or sirloin) Salt and freshly ground pepper 5 garlic cloves, peeled 4 medium carrots, medium dice 4 medium celery ribs, medium dice ¼ cup all-purpose fl our 1 750-milliliter bottle dry red wine 1 cup chicken stock 3 sprigs fresh thyme 3 bay leaves 2 stalks fresh rosemary, fi nely chopped 6 x 4 clip-and-save recipe card. Recipe continues on following page. 1 large yellow onion, chopped 1 cup roasted garlic, roughly chopped Publication #75 Fall 2014 3
North Dakota State University Agriculture Communication NDSU Dept 7070 PO Box 6050 Fargo ND 58108-6050 The NDSU Extension Service does not endorse commercial products or companies even though reference may be made to trade names, trademarks or service names. NDSU encourages you to use and share this content, but please do so under the conditions of our Creative Commons license. You may copy, distribute, transmit and adapt this work as long as you give full attribution, don t use the work for commercial purposes and share your resulting work similarly. For more information, visit www.ag.ndsu.edu/agcomm/creative-commons. North Dakota State University does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, public assistance status, sex, sexual orientation, status as a U.S. veteran, race or religion. Direct inquiries to the Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Global Outreach, 205 Old Main, (701) 231-7708. County Commissions, NDSU and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating. This publication will be made available in alternative formats for people with disabilities upon request, (701) 231-7881. Braised Lamb Bring a medium-size stock pot to high heat. Season lamb with salt and pepper. Add oil to pan, followed by lamb, and cook on high heat until well caramelized. Be careful not to burn the bottom of pan. Add whole garlic cloves, carrots, celery and onion. Continue to cook on high heat until vegetables are lightly caramelized. Reduce heat to medium and quickly incorporate fl our, being careful not to burn. Deglaze hot pan with red wine, bring liquid to a simmer and reduce by half. Add chicken stock, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer and cover with a lid. Place pot in 325-degree oven for approximately two to three hours. Remove from oven and discard all three bay leaves. Gently fold in rosemary and roasted garlic, and serve over polenta or risotto. Roasted Garlic Wrap four small heads of garlic in aluminum foil. Place in a 325-degree oven for two to three hours. Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Using a sharp knife, cut garlic head in half crosswise and squeeze roasted garlic onto a plate. Refrigerate for later use. 4 North Dakota Sheep Industry Newsletter
Message From the Association By Nathan Robbins, President Greetings, I am composing this after just returning from the Hettinger Ram Sale. I must say it was a very gratifying trip. Not only were we able to market some rams, but more importantly, it was great to see the level of interest in the quality set of sheep consigned. There appears to be good optimism in the industry as the white-faced rams sold extremely well; to me, this was a sign many producers are looking ahead to a retention year of ewe lambs in 2015. This would be good for the industry as we try to keep local numbers up and reduce the national trend of diminishing sheep numbers. Photo courtesy of Nathan Robbins Speaking of opportunities, I had several other sheep-related ones that were very positive the past couple of months. The field day held prior to the Jamestown Ram Sale was a well-attended and, as in the year prior, very informative. The sale itself was also hugely successful, not only with new consignors and breeds, but with new and repeat buyers showing their confidence in the set of sheep consigned. Since its establishment early on in Fargo, I am encouraged by how well that sale has progressed in support from both buyers and sellers of high-quality breeding stock. The other event the association was able to participate in was the Fiber Arts Festival in Fargo the weekend after the Jamestown Sale. I was there helping hand out literature on Saturday during the shepherds cook-off and taste-testing, and it was a huge success. Lamb is a desired protein in the area, with almost all positive feedback. Overwhelmingly, the most common comment I received, though, was where to find lamb, quality lamb, locally. That is an ongoing constant I hear. It may be a niche for some who can supply locally either privately or through established CSAs or farmers markets. Unfortunately, newspaper articles in the Bismarck and Grand Forks papers recently implicated domestic sheep with a summer die-off of bighorns in western North Dakota. It was bad press not supported by science, but once it is in the hands of the general public, a retraction would never have the same impact. So in lieu of that, our association, along with Board of Animal Health and wildlife officials, will have met by the time this reaches publication to discuss how the matter was handled and issues that arose from the published comments. ASI will be assisting with this discussion, providing insight on the bighorn interaction and scientific facts from previous work in other western states. I only point this matter out to show some of the other things the association does for you as a member. It seems we have had to take a more active role in legislative issues in-state and nationally, a trend that is not going to go away. We participate actively in state meetings, and provide letters of support and comments on state and national issues, as well as sign onto ASI-led industry issues. We support our members and speak for all of you as a unified voice, so if there are concerns or comments at any time, please let one of the board members know. On a lighter note, this will arrive to you just prior to our 2014 convention. I always look forward to the event as it is a great gathering of people with common interests. I would encourage you to take time out of your busy schedules to attend. The convention committee has done an excellent job of developing a good program, social event, auction, food and business meeting. We do have a change of venue and dates this year to the Ramada of Bismarck on Oct. 10 and 11. Best of luck and safety with fall harvest, and I look forward to seeing you at the convention! Executive Secretary Report By Dan Brown I hope everyone is having a good start to the fall season! Some of you may have the rams out with the ewes, while others are admiring their newly purchased rams, eagerly waiting to start the breeding season with hopes of a great lamb crop next year. The ram sale in Jamestown was very successful as 36 ram/ram lambs sold with average of $609, while 57 ewe lambs sold with an average of $318. The increased demand for good sheep continued Photo courtesy of David Brown North Dakota Sheep Industry Newsletter Publication Publication #75 #75 Fall 2014 Fall 2014 Insert A5
as the Hettinger sale averaged $540 for ram with 293 ewe/ewe lambs bringing $240/head. Producers, we need more rams to support the Hettinger sale as there were buyers there looking for more rams. Jamestown is very popular place to bring ram lambs, as the early breeders were paying good money for young prospects. Thank you to the NDLWPA for its hard work at these events to make them a huge success. The North Dakota State Fair has always been a chance for sheep breeders to come together in fellowship and renew old friendships. A couple of our NDLWPA board members were honored this year. The Herdsman Award was bestowed on Dave Pearson and his family. Davie is very involved in the NDLWPA. He is our southwest director, the shepherd at the NDSU Research Extension Center at Hettinger and sits on the Animal Health Board. His family includes Katie, Alix and Ben, as well Lynette. She does not like the sheep shows or sales, though, so she is left at home to do chores and make the meals, and she is the driver, so she is a huge part of the success, too. This award is presented to the exhibitor who shows great cooperation, mentorship and courtesy, as well as neatness of the animals and appearance of their pens. Joana Friesz, northwest director, and her family, Duane, Taylor and Thomas, showed the supreme champion overall ram with their yearling Corriedale ram. Joana has had a lot of success this year as she won supreme champion ewe at Sedalia for her champion Corriedale ewe, which sold for a record $5,750. However, the record did not stand very long as her third-place Corriedale ewe fetched $6,000. Furthermore, Joanna was instrumental in bringing the 2015 National Corriedale Sale to Minot next year during the 50th anniversary of the North Dakota State Fair. One other note to mention: Nine starter flock recipients exhibited 15 animals. A final note: The 2015 Dakota Ram Test is starting Oct. 1. This is a great opportunity to gather some valuable data on your flock. We are grateful for the NDSU Research Extension Center at Hettinger for holding this test. We, as producers, need to participate and utilize test results as a method to provide breeders with performance data that will be useful in breeding programs and for potential buyers. Association Provides 10 Flocks to N.D. Youth On Sept. 20, 10 youth members received flocks donated by the North Dakota Lamb and Producers Association. The starter flock program is sponsored and supported by the NDLWPA to give youth in our state an opportunity to get into the sheep industry. Recipients had to fill out applications with brief questions on why they wanted to get involved in the sheep industry and what current resources they had to manage a potential flock. In addition, two references and paternal approval letters were needed. This year we had 15 applicants, which made for a very difficult time for the board to decide who would be awarded flocks. Once awarded flocks, the association sought out mentors who are established ranchers who can help mentor and guide the new shepherds with their flocks. The board is very appreciative of those NDLWPA members who have volunteered their time and expertise because without them, this project would not work. On Sept. 20, a new shepherd workshop was held where the starter flock recipients, along with other interested youth and beginning shepherds, came together to learn about flock management, lambing and nutrition. We hosted more than 50 participants, so we should be encouraged by the great turnout and the good number of young members interested in sheep. This year s starter flock recipients and their mentors (mentors are in parentheses) are: Lane Bell Fordville (Bob Amundson) Gracie Bohl Buchanan (Brent Kuss) Kayla Brew Manning (Dave Pearson) Sabrina Dunlop Rock Lake (Jannell Lagein) Kaylee Eisenbarth New England (Doug and Lindi Peterson) Richard Harnisch Hebron (Steve Kitzan) Casey Koenig Walcott (Dean Swenson) Emily Laaveg Rolla (Paul Klose) Chance Manhart Sentinel Butte (Bob Hewson) Garret Pozarnsky Benedict (Duane Deckert) I look forwarding to seeing everyone at the annual convention Oct. 10 and 11 at the Bismarck Ramada. North 6 Dakota North Dakota Sheep Industry Sheep Industry Newsletter Newsletter Publication #75 Fall 2014 Insert B