Sheep Industry News March 2022

Peers Offer Research Updates to ASI's Young Entrepreneurs

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more purchases a month is key, she said, since this is the largest group of lamb eaters (51 percent), and they are only eating lamb about once a month. Wortman said that consumer trends indicate that people are increasingly interested in regenerative agriculture, so the industry needs to be talking about that more with consumers. While the average number of lambs weaned per ewe exposed hovers around 1.1 in the United States, increasing profits through increasing lamb crops is a high priority for these young pro ducers, and their convention talks centered around methods to change up their operations using a variety of methods, including optimal nutrition regimes and selection for prolific genetics. Young producers are encouraged to connect with the group’s Facebook page, and to work with ALB, ASI and other industry segments to help coordinate messaging, especially on social media. Group members were also encouraged to get involved in industry boards by sitting in on meetings and preparing to take on leadership roles, as well as attending consumer events to help educate people about the benefits offered by American lamb. The group also offered a variety of opportunities for these young producers to learn more about their industry, including the National Lamb Feeders Leadership School in Colorado this July, and the Lamb Summit to be held in Michigan in August.

embers of ASI’s Young Entrepreneurs heard the latest research from their own peer group at the recent San Diego convention. Grad students provided updates on the potential for use of blockchain technology for traceability and tracking transactions, development of a fine wool fleece index that will be incorporated into the National Sheep Improvement Program, research on the cost of excessive fat on lamb carcasses, nutritional management in aseasonal lambing systems, and progress on the national lamb quality audit. The group also discussed recent market trends that indicate lamb has steadily increased its market share in the last few years, with home-cooking driving much of the demand rather than chefs in restaurants. Megan Wortman of the American Lamb Board said that a review of 1,000 lamb consumers and grocery shoppers showed that heavy lamb users consumed lamb at least once a week, and that they routinely purchased lamb, so it’s a habitual behavior for them. These heavy lamb consumers account for the majority of lamb consumed in the United States, but are only 26 percent of lamb eaters. The opportunity to increase moderate users by one or two

forward to her final results, and quizzed her on her findings. The index should help producers under stand the impact improving their wool can have on their bottom line. Kott noted that even one micron change – such as moving

from 20 micron wool to 19 micron wool – can result in a gain of 10 cents per pound when the wool is sold. Kott is planning for the index to be transitioned into the Na tional Sheep Improvement Plan Program after validation.

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estimations, and designing and testing the index, she is now in the process of doing her final write-up. Producers are looking

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