SONORA, Texas — Two Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service sheep-focused field days are set to take place on Sept. 9 and Sept. 16, respectively.
There is no cost to attend either field day with preregistration at https://tx.ag/SheepFieldDays until Sept. 1. Cost is $25 after Sept. 1.
The first event will be the Genetic Advancement of Wool Sheep Field Day on Sept. 9 at HF4 Ranch, 9240 Rural Route 864, Sonora.
The second event, the Genetic Advancement of Hair Sheep Field Day, will be on Sept. 16. It will start at 30 County Road 226 in Priddy before continuing to the Hamilton Sheep Station at 2475 County Road 513, Hamilton.
“Emerging genetic technologies have redefined what is possible when breeding and selecting sheep,” said Jake Thorne, AgriLife Extension sheep and goat program specialist, San Angelo. “We no longer need to use our best guess when it comes to identifying productive livestock that are well suited for their environment.”
Field day topics will include increasing lambing rates, curtailing internal parasite issues, and making more efficient use of labor resources by incorporating technology at the ground level. These are all areas of focus for a more profitable industry.
Estimated breeding values
Attendees at the field days will be able to see livestock with estimated breeding values, EBVs, firsthand.
“Seeing firsthand how EBVs are generated will help build trust in this technology and ultimately help create a culture where genetic technology is well understood and desired by the majority of all producers — similar to widespread use of expected progeny differences, EPDs, in the cattle industry,” Thorne said.
Both field days will include demonstrations on data collection and give participants the opportunity to ask fellow ranchers about what has and hasn’t worked for them. The format of the field days will basically be a discussion between ranchers, Thorne said.
“Realistically, we do not expect every attendee to go home and immediately start implementing all of this technology at their own place,” he said. “But it is very important that all sectors of the industry — commercial, feeders, seedstock, casual farm flock owner with a few head — understand what the seedstock producers can do to generate breeding sheep that are the most efficient and adaptable to the environment as possible.”
Industry at a crossroads
“The Texas sheep industry is somewhat at a crossroads,” Thorne said. “We have been blessed with incredible market opportunities, and prices for the commodities that come from the small ruminant industry. We also have a strong outlook into the future. However, to capitalize on this opportunity even further, we need to make some collective changes to increase our production efficiency to meet this demand.”
Producers who have used genetic technologies will be the main presenters and attendees will hear directly from those who have made management changes to improve the health and productivity of their flocks.
–Texas A&M AgriLife Today
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