Sheep Industry News September 2025

show individual ram activity. Pregnancy diagnosis, either through ultrasound exams or blood-based pregnancy tests, are the true mea sure of reproductive success. Unfortunately, reproductive failure isn’t always obvious until it’s too late. A flock ultrasounded for pregnancy 60 days post-breeding might reveal open ewes, but by then, time and opportunity may have been lost. Pre-breeding exams and disease testing offer a chance to identify problems and make changes before the season begins. In today’s environment—where feed is expensive, labor is limited, and market timing matters—no producer can afford suboptimal fertility. A sound, disease-free ram battery is one of the most valu able assets on your operation. Whether you manage a small flock or a large commercial outfit, investing in pre-breeding health pays dividends in conception rates, lamb crop uniformity, and long-term genetic gain. For help developing a ram evaluation protocol or interpreting B. ovis test results, reach out to your local veterinarian or contact us at UC Davis.

Optimizing Ram Fertility Continued from Page 18

O n July 14, the Colorado Lamb Council hosted the Lamb in the Rockies Tour for the American Master Chefs Or der (AMCO), giving top chefs a chance to see Colorado lamb production up close and meet the people who raise it. The goal was to highlight the care that goes into producing high-qual ity lamb and the important role sheep play in the environment, from controlling weeds to improving rangelands. Four chefs took part in the tour: Certified Master Chef Robert Mancuso from Chefs Warehouse in California, president of the AMCO Education Fund; Executive Chef Paul Liptak of Bellair Country Club in Florida; Sr. Executive Chef Paul Jensen of Big Sky Resort in Tennessee and a member of the ACF Culinary Team USA; and Certified Master Chef J. Kevin Walker, Direc tor of Food, Service & Clubhouse Operations and president of AMCO. Currently, there are only 81 Certified Master Chefs (CMC) in the United States. The day began in Montrose, Colorado, with a scenic hour-and a-half drive into the San Juan Mountains. The first stop was at the top of Lizard Head Pass, where the Coke Oven Summit allotment provided a view of lambs and ewes grazing in the high country. John Field, president of the Colorado Wool Growers Association, spoke about the role of the Forest Service in managing grazing lands. At the meeting, Garth Nelson, a range conservationist with the U.S. Forest Service, explained, “The Forest Service has a multiple use mandate, and part of that is providing grazing permits in can disrupt the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio and lead to urolithiasis, especially in winter when water intake tends to drop. Rams need free-choice access to clean water, loose salt and mineral, and enough energy to maintain good condition through the breeding season. Biosecurity is another pillar of reproductive success. Rams should be quarantined upon arrival, and routine testing and monitor ing for B. ovis, caseous lymphadenitis, Small Ruminant Lentivirus (also known as OPP), sore mouth, and abortion pathogens should be part of every flock’s protocol. Keeping detailed records—scrotal measurements, semen evaluations, disease testing, and breeding performance—allows producers to make informed decisions when selecting sires. A Season Too Valuable to Leave to Chance Monitoring throughout the breeding season can be aided by the use of breeding harnesses on rams, using different color markers to

Lamb In the Rockies Tour

areas where forest plans allow for grazing.” He added that his work focuses on coordinating with ranchers to ensure grazing is done in a sustainable way. Nelson also described efforts to manage conflicts between graz ing operations and increasing recreation use, such as hiking and biking. “We put up signs in areas where operators need to move sheep and trucks, making sure campers don’t set up in the wrong spots. We manage a lot of conflicts on bike and hiking trails to keep things running smoothly,” he said.

20 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org