Sheep Industry News January 2022

Congress Looks to Protect American Sheep Producers L ast month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture published a final rule on the importation of sheep, goats and Stewart, Jeff Fortenberry, Dusty Johnson, and Liz Cheney. Sen. Barrasso’s legisla tion was cosponsored by John Tester, Tina Smith, Kevin Cramer, John Hoeven, Mike Rounds, John Thune, Cynthia Lummis, Steve Daines and Roger Marshall.

appreciates the leadership of Rep. Pfluger and our affiliate the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association. We have continued to ask successive administrations to prioritize export opportunities for U.S. sheep pro ducers, before allowing additional imports. The legislation introduced by Rep. Pfluger in the House and Senator Barrasso in the Senate will provide the domestic sheep and lamb industry the information we need to assess the potential impacts of increasing exports and inform this conversation go ing forward.” TSGRA President Curry Campbell: “The Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers’ Association would like to thank Congressman Pfluger and his staff for their continued support of the sheep and goat industry. "This bill is an essential step in evaluat ing the full impact this regulation may possibly have on the U.S. sheep and goat industry in the future.”

certain other ruminants, which could have serious consequences for American sheep and goat producers. The rule removes critical protections against fatal diseases, such as scrapie, when the administration should be focusing on opening new export markets for American producers. In response on Dec. 10, Congress man August Pfluger (Texas) introduced a bipartisan bill to require the USDA to delay implementation of the rule until its impacts on American sheep producers can be fully studied. Companion legislation was filed in the Senate by Sen. John Bar rasso (S. 3354). Cosponsors of the House legislation included Reps. Henry Cuellar, Ronny Jack son, Nicole Malliotakis, Jodey Arrington, Tony Gonzales, Yvette Herrell, Chris

The measure is supported by ASI, the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Associa tion, the American Farm Bureau and Texas Farm Bureau. Rep. August Pfluger: “At a time where American sheep and goat producers are facing extreme predation, increased labor costs and loss of federal grazing land, this administration must remain laser focused on opening up new export markets for American lamb. This rule could have seri ous effects, and I am proud to lead this ef fort to halt implementation until its effects can be fully studied.” ASI President Susan Shultz: “The Amer ican Sheep Industry Association greatly

DSANA Online Symposium Planned for Jan. 19-20

R egister now to attend the second live, online Dairy Sheep Association of North American Symposium on Jan. 19-20. After last year’s successful virtual symposium, DSANA is again gathering a host of speakers to present on topics related to sheep dairying. Presentations will take place during the course of two-and-a-half days. Question-and-answer sessions will follow each presentation. Registration is free to all DSANA members. Non-members can register for $75. Topics planned for discussion include: • Using Estimated Breeding Values for Breeding and Selection; • Food Safety for Artisan Cheesemakers; • Raising Dairy Replacement Ewes; • Getting Started with a Distributor; • Light-Extension Protocols for Out-of-Season Breeding;

• Freezing and Thawing Sheep Milk for Processing; • Climate Change Mitigation on Your Farm.

Virtual tours of three dairy sheep operations (in Oregon, Quebec and Wisconsin) are also planned for the symposium. In Wiscon sin, symposium participants will hear from Mariana Marques de Almeida at Ms. J and Co., milking 300+ Assaf and Assaf-cross ewes in a 32-bail milking parlor. In Oregon, Woody Babcock and Cora Wahl of Woodrow Farms milk around 300 Friesian-cross ewes and sell their milk to processors on the West Coast of the United States. And in Quebec, Audrey Boulet and Olivier Beaurivage of Les Brebis due Beaurivage milk 50 sheep, use GenOvis to produce EBVs for their flock, and market yarn and ready-to-wear wool garments at their farm store. Participants will also hear about DSANA history and where the association is headed. Visit DSANA.org to learn more.

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