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Buckeye sheep symposium set for Dec. 11-12

 

 

By SUSAN MYKRANTZ

Ohio Correspondent

 

WOOSTER, Ohio — Keeping sheep on the farm – and keeping the farm in the family for the next generation of shepherds – will highlight the list of topics at the 2015 Buckeye Shepherds Symposium.

This year the event is scheduled for Dec. 11-12 at Fisher Auditorium and Shisler Conference Center on the Wooster campus of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center on Madison Avenue. The symposium will kick off that Friday at 2 p.m. with a choice of two presentations.

Dr. Bob Leder, a sheep producer and veterinarian with United Veterinary Service, will present a session titled "Managing Prolific Ewes on a Grass Based System-Genetics, Breed Selection and Crossbreeding to Optimize Production." Dr. Richard Ehrhardt, small ruminant specialist at Michigan State University, will present a session on "Practical Tips to Improve Production Efficiency: Grazing, Water, Animal Movement and Feed Systems."

The Saturday session begins at 8 a.m. with the annual meeting of the Ohio Sheep Improvement Assoc. (OSIA), followed by a keynote address by Burton Pfliger, president of the American Sheep Industry Assoc., on the status and issues facing the sheep industry. After that will be an update on sheep research at The Ohio State University by Dr. Francis Fluharty and Dr. Monique Pairis-Garcia.

The morning will conclude with three breakout sessions. Track 1, "Productivity and Profitability in Commercial Operations," will feature Leder with a presentation on "Designing a Sheep Enterprise Based on Available Resources" and Ehrhardt with "Key Concepts in Improving Lambs Marketed per Ewe."

Track 2, titled "Ewe and Lamb Nutrition," will feature Dr. Kevin Burgoon with two presentations, "Increasing Productivity of the Ewe Flock to Produce Top Quality Lambs for Every Market" and "Improving Lamb Growth with a High Quality Nutrition and Creep Feeding System."

Track 3, "Planning for the Future of Your Sheep Operation," will feature Peggy Kirk Hall and Robert Moore with "Sheep Farm Estate Planning."

The afternoon session will open with an update on the USDA Scrapie Program by Dr. Susan Skorupski, followed by the OSIA awards program. The afternoon will conclude with breakout sessions. Track 1 and Track 2 will repeat the morning sessions, while Track 3 will feature David Marrison with a presentation on "Sheep Farm Transition Planning."

"We are not offering a separate youth program this year," said Roger High, OSIA executive director. "We welcome youth to be involved in the symposium’s (regular) programming."

He said the wide variety of topics and speakers will give young shepherds an insight on sheep production and management that will benefit them in the future. A block of rooms are available for overnight registrants for the symposium, at the Hilton Garden Inn at 959 Dover Road. Call 330-202-7701 to make your reservation and use "Buckeye Shepherds Symposium" as the reservation code. Rooms will be held until Nov. 20.

The deadline for registration is Nov. 16. For participants planning to attend the Friday afternoon session only, the cost is $10 before the deadline and $20 after. For participants planning to attend both days, the cost for members is $30 for individuals and $50 for families before the deadline, and $40 and $60, respectively, after.

The registration for non-members is $50 for individuals before the deadline and $60 after, and $70 for families before the deadline and $80 after. Dues to the OSIA are $35 for a family, farm or individual and $15 for a youth member. Dues for an association are $35 and corporate or allied industries may join for $100.

The 2015 Buckeye Shepherds Sympo-sium is a joint project of the OSIA, the Ohio Sheep and Wool Program and OSU. Call 614-246-8299, email rhigh@ofbf.org or visit www.ohiosheep.org for details.

11/11/2015