Precision Sheep Farming Reid Redden NDSU Extension Sheep Specialist

Why? A.Low Prices B.Cost of Production C.Low Return on Land, Labor, and Capital

Overview of US Sheep and Goat Industry USDA, NASS, 2011

What is Your Normal Weaning Rate? A.<100% B % C % D % E % F.>200%

Lamb crop is defined as lambs born in the Eastern States and lambs docked or branded in the Western States. US Lamb Crop = Other: 0.98

Overview of US Sheep and Goat Industry USDA, NASS, 2011

Do we need to change? A.Yes B.No C.I’m confused by so many graphs and thinking about the cash bar already!

Precision farming is a farming management concept based on observing, measuring and responding to inter and intra-field variability in crops. (wikipedia) Precision Livestock Farming is the use of advanced technologies to optimize the contribution of each animal. (wikipedia)

Precision Sheep Farming Set a Goal Collect and Interpret Data Plan Management Decisions For Example - Mature Ewe –Wean days –Shear 10 lbs of 64s grade wool –$100 for feed, mineral, and other operating costs –$50 for land rent, labor, and capitol

What is Your Cost of Production per Ewe? A.<$50 B.$50 – 100 C.$ D.>$150 E.Unknown

Precision Sheep Farming How to Meet or Exceed the Goal –Maximize Land and Labor Use –Improve Facilities and Equipment –Implement Good Husbandry Practices Nutrition Reproduction Genetics Health –Improve Marketing –Get Help

Land and Labor Use “Reducing Labor at Lambing Time” –Housing –Barn Layout –Water Tubes –Feeding Systems “Managing Your Pastures Better” Optimal Ag Webinars

Facilities and Equipment Handling System –Draft –Conveyor –Pneumatic –Catch Pen “only for shearers”

Facilities and Equipment Electronic IDs –Rapid Lamb Weighing –Pedigree Matchmaker –Strategic Supplementation (Future) Ultrasound –Pregnancy Detection Fall Lambing, Cull Opens, Sort by Date and Litter # –Carcass Data

Reproduction How to Get More Lambs? –Nutrition/Body Condition –Genetics Lambing Rate and Survival –Seasonality – Light –Male Effect –Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)

Genetics How to Get More Productive Lambs? –Crossbreeding – The Only Free Lunch –High Performing Maternal Lines Fertility and Prolificacy Milk and Maternal Instinct –High Performing Terminal Lines Rate of Gain and Mature Weight Carcass Merit –EBVs via NSIP Webinars

13 lbs

6 lb

Health How to Keep Them Alive and Thrifty? –Genetics Parasites (EBV), Scrapie, OPP, and others –Biosecurity Parasites, Footrot, OPP, Johnes, CL –Vaccination Overeating, Aborting Agents, CL –Antibiotics Treatment and Strategic Times of Need Health Webinar Series

Marketing Direct-to-Consumer Marketing –Time Intensive Lamb Pools Producer Cooperatives Grid Based Pricing –Weight, Yield Grade, Quality Grade and Pelt Electronic Grading (Future)

Get Help Extension Service –Agents and Specialists Mentorship Relationships Peer Working Groups Tours and Meetings

Questions