Sheep Industry News January 2024

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President’s Notes

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Market Report

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ASI Member Listing

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Breeders' Directory

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Industry Calendar

ON THE COVER: Winter Stockpile by Katrina Steele of Ohio

Ms. J and Company Looks to Expand Access

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No American sheep producer is surprised to learn that the country is overrun with lamb meat imports. But did you realize the same could be said for sheep’s milk?

Greenhouse gas mitigation strategies for the US sheep industry - Summary

ERIN RECKTENWALD AND RICHARD EHRHARDT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

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8 Groenewold To Be Honored Posthumously Wool Excellence Award Winner Greg Groenewold passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 6, 2023, and will be honored posthumously at the 2024 ASI Annual Convention in Denver • Approximately half of the variation in emissions is related to the number of weaned lambs/ewe/year • Increasing from 1 to 1.5 weaned lamb/ewe/year may reduce total GHG by 15-30% • Improve prebreeding nutrition (flushing) and breeding management (ram fertility and appropriate ram coverage) • Adopt strategic nutritional inputs during late pregnancy and lactation Breed ewe lambs when feasible: greater time to breeding = greater emissions • Reducing age at first lambing from 24 to 12 months may lower total GHG by 2-4% Improve ewe flock productivity, >60% of GHG is enteric CH 4 emissions from the ewe flock, representing a large overhead Increase the number of lambs weaned per ewe exposed

Improve animal health Lower lamb mortality = more product per ewe • Improve management of birth climate • Improve bonding management • Improve ewe nutrition for greater colostrum and milk production • Reduce disease incidence: pneumonia, mastitis, clostridial diseases Improve ewe flock health - Reducing ewe replacement rate from 25 to 20% may lower total GHG by 2-4% • Eradicate or control chronic disease (i.e., ovine progressive pneumonia, contagious lymphadenitis, foot rot).

18 GHG Mitigation Strategies A new resource outlines best practices for the American sheep industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The resource summarizes findings in a landmark Environmental Footprint Study by Michi gan State University.

ASI Announces 2024 Award Winners

Sheep operations and industry professionals from a large swath of the United States are included in this year’s list of award winners.

• Improved parasite management - integration of methods (genetics/selection, proper drug use, improved grazing management) for sustainable control

December 2023 • Sheep Industry Ne