Sheep Industry News January 2025

sheep industry by using genomics to analyze the sheep’s DNA and improve their meat and wool traits. The program will also employ precision phenotyping to meticulously record measurements of the sheep’s physical characteristics to enhance the selection of sheep with superior qualities and resilience. Hess, who will oversee the program, said that locating it at the Main Station Field Lab – which is closer to campus – will also give students the opportunity to gain practical experi ence with sheep breeding practices and help them to foster an appreciation for and greater understanding of the indus try. TOUCHING & CHANGING LIVES Five herders tend to the daily needs of the Rafter 7 flock: four from Junín, Peru, and one from Zacatecas, Mexico. Despite the extreme weather and desolation, they experi ence while grazing the flock in the mountainous ranges, the herders have been able to improve their families’ standards of living and provide higher education for their own children through the wages they earn working with Rafter 7. “I’ve gotten to know the guys a bit, and each one of them will tell you that the reason they’ve decided to move away from their countries and stay away for long periods of time in rural Nevada is to improve the livelihoods of their fami

lies,” Huber said. “Some of them have told me that they’ve put their kids through college doing this job as well, which I find pretty noble.” Cartagena – a veterinarian from Peru with more than two decades of experience – arrived in the United States with his wife and young daughter two years ago. He was intro duced to McCuin and Filbin through family connections. Cartagena’s expertise in caring for alpacas and sheep, and his knowledge of wool production quickly made him a valuable addition to the team. “When my referrers learned that the center was look ing for a new sheep manager, they approached McCuin and Filbin, and told them that I was the right person for the job given my experiences,” Cartagena said. “They gave them my email address and the next thing I knew, I received an email inviting me to a Zoom interview.” The process of hiring Cartagena was a university affair. The university’s legal counsel successfully petitioned the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for Cartagena’s work permit, with references from McCuin and Filbin. “I’m happy for this opportunity to work with the Rafter 7 sheep,” he said. “It has changed my professional and personal life because I have the opportunity to work with such high quality animals alongside some of the most knowledgeable sheep experts in the U.S., or even the world.”

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