Annual/Termination Reports:

[09/23/2021] [08/22/2022] [07/28/2023]

Report Information

Participants

Members: Joan Burke (joan.burke@usda.gov)- USDA, ARS, Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, Arkansas; Rosie Busch (rcbusch@ucdavis.edu)-University of California, Davis; Brenda Murdoch (bmurdoch@uidaho.edu)-University of Idaho; Don Ely (dely@uky.edu)-University of Kentucky; Debra Aaron (daaron@uky.edu)- University of Kentucky; Richard Ehrhardt (ehrhard5@msu.edu)-Michigan State University; Christian Posbergh (christian.posbergh@montana.edu)-Montana State University; Katherine Petersson (kpetersson@uri.edu)-University of Rhode Island; Kelly Froehlich (kelly.froehlich@sdstate.edu)-South Dakota State University, Tom Murphy (tom.murphy@usda.gov)- USDA, ARS, US Meat Animal Research Center, Nebraska; Stephan Wildeus (swildeus@vsu.edu)-Virginia State University.

Affiliates or invited guests: Barbara Makela (Michigan State University), Erin Recktenwald (Michigan State University), Jim Miller (retired, LSU), Elizabeth Kass (University of Rhode Island), Andrew Hess (University Nevada-Reno), Rusty Burgett (NSIP), Susan Shultz (ASI), Amy Hendrickson (ASI), Ernie Minton (Administrative Advisor), Christina Hamilton (NIMSS Administrator); additional attendees on second day: Jaelyn Quintana (South Dakota State University), Andrew Weaver (North Carolina State University).

Brief Summary of Minutes

Summary of minutes of annual meeting:  Monday August 2: Richard Ehrhardt chaired the meeting, Tom Murphy was co-chair and Joan Burke secretary.

Richard opened the meeting by going over the meeting agenda and objectives, describing the structure of the meeting which is to be flexible. Introductions were made. Station Reports for each objective were made by participants.

Ernie Minton, administrative advisor and Dean of College of Agriculture, Kansas State University, joined the meeting and  introduced himself. Ernie discussed the new project which began October 1, 2020 and explained the similarities and differences between the current project and the former project (NCERA 214) that this group had pursued. He described that an expectation is for  integrated collaboration among members. Ernie recognized that most members  are faculty members representing sheep and/or small ruminants at their home institution often as sole faculty in this discipline and that participation in this group could offer collegial interaction that they may not have otherwise. He explained further that this project  should seek to demonstrate multi-state collaboration and that this should be emphasized and/or highlighted in the annual and mid-term reports, and renewal if the group so decides.

Christina Hamilton introduced herself. She shared a helpful site to help with reports, etc.: https://www.ncra-saes.org/multistate-handbook. She explained that this project will have shorter reports (3-5 pp.) of multi-state collaborative efforts and  not full station reports with an emphasis on  what the group is doing together.

Questions for advisors. Richard asked about revising current objectives to be more specific. Ernie and Chris replied that since the project is approved, the project cannot be changed. Because each objective is quite broad a lot of people could fit within the objective. Chris included that there is much opportunity for flexibility and to communicate any issues or deviations from the project to her.

Ernie suggested to ask Experiment Station Directors of member locations if there are funds available for the project. Answers will vary by location. Richard asked how new people can enroll in the project. Chris answered that the Experiment Station Director needs to give permission, and for locations without ESD, just contact her. She suggested to contact her if members take more than five minutes on the NIMMS website finding something and she can easily answer questions. Ernie emphasized that our group has already been acting as an ERA, so this new project is not much different.  Ernie explained that if this project proves not to be a good fit as an NC, we can always go back to an ERA.

Participants described their sheep resources, including research, teaching and extension, through slides and discussion: (URI, K. Petersson; MSU, R. Ehrhardt; USDA ARS DBSFRC, J. Burke; UK, D. Aaron, D. Ely; UC-Davis, R. Busch; UI, B. Murdoch; USDA ARS MARC, T. Murphy; MSU, C. Posbergh; UN-Reno, A. Hess; NCSU, A. Weaver; VSU, S. Wildeus)

Business Meeting. Since the last meeting was unofficial and occurred in between NCERA-214 and NC-214, there was no formal approval of the minutes. Discussed “champions” or leaders of each objective who can lead meetings per objective after the annual meeting to ensure full collaboration among members for each objective. Leaders are Richard (Obj 1), Whit (Obj. 2), Tom (Obj. 3), and Joan (Obj. 4). New members should review the description of the objectives on the NIMMS site to decide which to sign up for. It should be noted that all the objectives are research objectives, but include an extension component within each, at least informally. Any extension activities can be reported as impact/outcomes. An email call will go out to all members and prospective members for each objectives meeting, but just attend those of interest. The structure and function within each objective will be discussed. Yearly report due within 60 days of meeting. Evidence of collaborations will need to be included in the next report.

Recruitment of new members. Members are encouraged to reach out to members and perspective members (those involved in last project) to be involved with the Objectives meetings and future meetings.

Invitation to industry groups to attend annual meeting. Meetings have historically included representatives from ASI and NSIP, and sometimes ALB. Members agreed that we do not wish to be exclusive and the discussion focused on other industry groups to invite, including Sheep Genetics USA, Superior, and feedlot groups. The pros and cons of inviting these groups were discussed. Pros were that industry groups could gain an understanding of what our group does and provide input to research objectives. Cons were that industry groups might use information or data from unpublished research reports. The Proceedings is not for publication as Deb Aaron pointed out. Rusty Burgett was happy to be included in the meeting as several members have been involved in upcoming changes to NSIP. Susan Shultz suggested that members reach out and become involved in Sheep Genetics USA, but otherwise that industry group may not otherwise benefit from attendance at NC-214. Richard made a motion to invite ALB, ASI and NSIP to the next meeting which was seconded by Tom. (There was also discussion to include Jim Miller in future meetings since he acts as a valuable consultant and is a former member/retired from LSU).

Memorial for Mike Thonney who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year. Pictures and memories were shared. Mike will be missed.

Nominations committee (Tom and Stephan). Tom nominated Chris Posbergh as Secretary for the 2021-2022 year. Joan Burke will move to Vice-Chair and Tom Murphy to Chair. Katherine seconded the motion.

Resolutions Committee (Joan and Chris P.). Resolutions were developed to gain support of the U.S. sheep industry by Land Grant Universities and USDA, ARS, acknowledge Richard in hosting the virtual meeting, and to thank participants from stakeholder groups (ASI, NSIP).

Future meeting time and location, 2022 decided upon: USDA ARS MARC, Clay Center hosted by Tom Murphy with possible one day at University of Nebraska-Lincoln to be hosted by Ron Lewis. Meeting to occur June 6-7.

Accomplishments

<p><strong>Accomplishments: </strong>The goal of the NC 214 multistate group is to increase the efficiency of sheep production through a plan specified by 4 major objectives focused on the general areas of: 1) reproductive efficiency, 2) meat yield and quality, 3) genetics, nutrition, production systems and 4) profitable and sustainable grazing systems.&nbsp;&nbsp; The group has defined a plan to do this through a cooperative multistate effort and began executing this plan in 2021. The outcomes, outputs and activities of this effort are outline below.</p><br /> <p><strong>Short term outcomes: </strong>None to report currently (year 1 of project).</p><br /> <p><strong>Outputs and Activities:</strong>&nbsp; The cooperative outputs of this project are described according to objective below.&nbsp; Given that this is the first year of this project, individual station efforts that related to the projects objectives but are not collaborative at this point, are also included.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Objective 1:</strong> Improving reproductive efficiency.&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Evaluation of Barbados Blackbelly and St. Croix hair sheep under accelerated lambing using purebred and terminal sire mating: Ewe fertility, prolificacy, and productivity (Stephan Wildeus, Dahlia O&rsquo;Brien, Virginia State University; Tom Murphy, USDA-ARS MARC). This project concluded that the use of terminal sire matings should be considered during optimal breeding periods in an accelerated, pasture lambing system.</li><br /> <li>Seasonal differences in fescue toxicosis in ewes grazing/fed endophyte-free (EF) or -infected (EI) tall fescue ( Acharya, J.M. Burke, E. Wood, Y. Huang, P.D. Morse, K. Coffey, C. Rosenkrans, J.L. Edwards; Department of Animal Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USDA-ARS, Booneville, AR, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN). This project discovered that cytochrome P450 activity is not a marker for fescue toxicosis in ewes and revealed that a link may exist between circulating prolactin and conception rate in ewes grazing tall fescue.&nbsp;</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Objective 2:&nbsp; </strong>Develop strategies to improve lean lamb growth and meat quality.</p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Evaluation of lamb growth and carcass quality in cover crop rearing systems.</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>(Cathryn Macaluso, Kimberly Cassida, Jeannine Schweihofer, Erin Recktenwald, Daniel Schaub, Barbara Makela and Richard Ehrhardt, Michigan State University).&nbsp;&nbsp; This project discovered that lambs reared on brassica dominant cover crops can produce high quality carcasses with superior meat quality.&nbsp;&nbsp; This project seeks to evaluate the impacts of this system on soil and further crop yields in future studies.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Harvest season, carcass weight, and fat measurement effects on lamb carcass characteristics and economic comparison of moderate and heavy weight lamb carcasses in the Western lamb processing industry. (R. Whaley, W.C. Stewart C.L. Gifford, T.W. Murphy, W.J. Means, J.P. Ritten, University of Wyoming; T.W. Murphy USDA-ARS U.S. Meat Animal Research Center). This project determined the season of lamb harvest did not impact carcass fatness in lambs harvested in the intermountain West USA.&nbsp; This study outlined strategies to reduce the proportion of overly fat lambs entering the western USA abattoirs through cooperative efforts between packers and producers.&nbsp;</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Growth performance of short scrotum and castrated hair sheep lambs on pasture during different seasons (Stephan Wildeus, Dahlia O&rsquo;Brien, Virginia State University; Gabriel Pent and Kathryn Payne, Virginia Tech). This project revealed that ram lambs subjected to short-scrotum treatment grew faster (20%) and reached market target weight faster than conventional castration methods.&nbsp;</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Carcass characteristics of Barbados Blackbelly and St. Croix hair sheep lambs rendered short scrotum or castrated at weaning. (D. O&lsquo;Brien, S. Wildeus; Virginia State University).&nbsp; This project revealed that ram lambs subjected to short-scrotum treatment were leaner than castrated males.&nbsp;</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Objective 3:&nbsp; </strong>Evaluate genetic resources, nutrient requirements, and production systems for lamb, wool, and milk production.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Effect of <em>TMEM154 </em>haplotypes &ldquo;1&rdquo; and &ldquo;3&rdquo; on ewe lentivirus infection and productivity through 5 years (Tom Murphy, Carol Chitko-McKown, Mike Heaton, and Brad Freking; USDA ARS-U.S. Meat Animal Research Center). This project demonstrated that variants within TMEM154 impact lifetime susceptibility to OPPV infection in naturally exposed ewes and quantified these impacts in terms of weight of lamb weaned and value under current market conditions.&nbsp;</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>The relationship between milk score near parturition and udder score near weaning and their effects on Polypay, Rambouillet, and Targhee ewe productivity (Tom Murphy, USDA ARS-U.S. Meat Animal Research Center and J. Bret Taylor, USDA-ARS U.S. Sheep Experiment Station). This study revealed that udder conformation and perceived milk production were related to lamb growth during the preweaning phase.&nbsp; This studied concluded that these short-term impacts may not be related to future productivity due to udder damage in certain conformations.&nbsp;</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Evaluation of Barbados Blackbelly and St. Croix sheep under accelerated lambing using purebred and terminal sire mating: Lamb survival and body weight (Stephan Wildeus, Dahlia O&rsquo;Brien, Virginia State University; Tom Murphy, USDA-ARS MARC). This study revealed that use of terminal sires on landrace hair sheep dams improved birth weight without negatively impacting lamb survival in a forage-based accelerated lambing system.</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Objective 4:&nbsp; </strong>Develop profitable and sustainable production systems that address grazing strategies for animal health and well-being and for ecosystem health, biological control of invasive plants and wildfire mitigation. &nbsp;</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Evaluating the environmental footprint of the U.S. sheep industry (Erin Recktenwald, Kim Cassida, Jason Rowntree and Richard Ehrhardt, Michigan State University). This project has developed a model to assess greenhouse gas emissions from a diversity of sheep production systems in the USA.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">&nbsp;</span></p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Influence of season of lambing on gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection of lambs (J.M. Burke, E.L. Wood, USDA ARS-DBSFRC; J.E. Miller, Louisiana State University). This studied concluded that gastrointestinal nematode control was more manageable in fall compared to winter born lambs.</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Strategies for using BioWorma to control GIN in sheep pastures (J.M. Burke, M. Acharya, USDA ARS-DBSFRC; J.E. Miller, Louisiana State University). This study was not able to evaluate its experimental objective due to lack of quantifiable infection in study lambs and concluded that individual feeding of the study product would be needed for effective evaluation and will collaborate with URI in future experiments.&nbsp;</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Efficacy of <em>Bacillus thuringiensis</em> crystal protein 5B &ldquo;IBaCC&rdquo; against an experimental infection of <em>Haemonchus contortus</em> in lambs (Elizabeth Kass, Carli Garceau, Jeff Chicca, Florentina Rus, Kelly Flanagan, Gary Ostroff, Raffi Aroian, University of Massachusetts Medical School; Delaney Smith, Hanchen Li, Katherine Petersson, University of Rhode Island). Cry5B IBaCC reduced worm burdens compared to controls however further study is needed to optimize this promising treatment option for gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep.&nbsp;</li><br /> </ul>

Publications

<p><strong>Publications</strong></p><br /> <p>Rosales, C., R. Ehrhardt, A. Mantey, B. Makela, T. Byrem, A. Veiga-Lopez. 2020. Preconceptional diet manipulation can influence placenta endocrine function in sheep.&nbsp; Domestic Animal Endocrinology 74: 1-13.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Posbergh, C.J. and Huson, H.J. (2021), All sheeps and sizes: a genetic investigation of mature body size across sheep breeds reveals a polygenic nature. Anim. Genet., 52: 99-107. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/age.13016">https://doi.org/10.1111/age.13016</a></p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Salavati M, Caulton A, Clark R, Gazova I, Smith TPL. Worley KC, Cockett NE, Archablad AL, Clarke SM, Murdoch BM, Clark EL. on behalf of the Ovine FAANG Project Consortium. Global analysis of transcription start sites in the new ovine reference genome (Oar rambouillet v1.0). <em>Frontiers in Genetics </em>(2020).</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Henslee D, Murdoch B, Yelich, Taylor BJ and Ellison M. Comparative genomics of sheep Tas2r repertoire in cattle, goat, human, dog and mice.&nbsp; <em>Animal Gene </em>(2020) Oct 22.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Davenport KM, Hiemke C, McKay SD, Thorne JW, Lewis RM, Taylor T, Murdoch BM. Genetic structure and admixture from terminal breeds in the United States. <em>Animal Genetics</em> (2020) Jan 23.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Becker GM, Job RJ, Davenport KM, Burke JM, Lewis RM, Miller JE, Morgan JL, Notter DR, and Murdoch BM. Genome-wide association study to identify loci associated with gastrointestinal nematode resistance in Katahdin. <em>Animal Genetics</em> (2020) Jan 3.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Stewart, W. C., J. D. Scasta, J. B. Taylor, T. W. Murphy, and A. A. M. Julian. 2021. Invited review: Sheep mineral nutrition considerations for extensive production systems. App. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Anim. Sci. 37:256-272. doi:10.15232/aas.2021-02143</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Knuth, R. M., W. C. Stewart, J. B. Taylor, B. Bisha, C. J. Yeoman, M. L. Van Emon, and T. W. Murphy. 2021. Relationships among intramammary health, udder and teat characteristics, and productivity of extensively managed ewes. J. Anim. Sci. (in press). doi:10.1093/jas/skab059</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Stewart, W. C., D. M. Scott, S. B. Howell, R. M. Kaplan, B. L. Roeder, and T. W. Murphy. 2021. Anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes and associated management factors in Intermountain West sheep flocks. Sheep &amp; Goat Res. J. (in press).</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Stewart, W. C., T. W. Murphy, C. M. Page, D. C. Rule, J. B. Taylor. K. Austin, and C. Pankey. 2020. Effect of increasing dietary zinc sulfate fed to primiparous ewes: I Effects on serum metabolites, mineral transfer efficiency, and animal performance. Appl. Anim. Sci. 36:839-850. doi:10.15232/aas.2020-02057.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ol start="2020"><br /> <li>McGregor, J. G. P. Bowman, C. M. Page, A. R. Hubbard, M. Manoukian, W. C. Stewart, and M. L. Van Emon. 2020. The effect of ensiling sugar beets on preservation characteristics, nutrient profile, and in situ disappearance. J. Agric. Studies. <a href="https://doi.org/10.5296/jas.v8i4.17165">https://doi.org/10.5296/jas.v8i4.17165</a></li><br /> </ol><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ol start="2020"><br /> <li>D. Scasta, T. Jorns, J. D. Derner, B. Stam, M. McClaren, Craig Calkins, W. C. Stewart. 2020. Technical Note: Toxic plants in sheep diets grazing extensive landscapes: Insights from Fecal DNA metabarcoding. Livestock Sci.</li><br /> </ol><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Acharya, M., Burke, J.M., Miller, J.E., Terrill, T.H., Wood, E.L., Muir, J.P., 2020.&nbsp; Quebracho tannins aid in the control of <em>Eimeria</em> spp. in lambs and goat kids. Vet. Parasitol. 288, 1-8 (accepted October 23, 2020, published Dec 2020).</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Chai, J., Alrashedi, S., Coffey, K., Burke, J., Feye, K., Ricke, S.C., Park, S.H., Edwards, J.L., Zhao, J., 2020. Endophyte-infected tall fescue affects rumen microbiome in grazing ewes at gestation and lactation. Front. Vet. Sci. 7, 1-13, Article 544707 (accepted 9/9/20, published 10/14/20).</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Acharya, M., Burke, J.M., Ashworth, A.J., Rorie, R.W., 2020. Relationship of anti-Mullerian hormone to reproductive traits in Katahdin ewes bred in late spring or fall. Adv. Repro. Sci. 8, 48-56.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Burke, J.M., Miller, J.E. 2020. Sustainable approaches to parasite control in ruminant livestock. Vet. Clin. Food Anim. 36, 89-107.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Acharya, M., Burke, J.M., Rorie, R., 2020. Semen extension in Katahdin rams. Adv. Reprod. Sci. 8, 14-30.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Becker, G.M., Davenport, K.M., Burke, J.M., Lewis, R.M., Miller, J.E., Morgan, J.L., Notter, D.L., Murdoch, B.M., 2020. Genome-wide association study to identify genetic loci associated with gastrointestinal nematode resistance in Katahdin sheep. Anim. Gen. 51, 330-335. doi: 10.1111/age.12895.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Freking, B. A. and T. W. Murphy. 2020. Comparison of performance of F1 Romanov crossbred ewes with wool and hair breeds during spring lambing under intensive and extensive production systems. J. Anim. Sci. doi:10.1093/jas/skaa397.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Li, H., X. Wu, R. G. Tait Jr., S. Bauck, D. L. Thomas, T. W. Murphy, and G. J. M. Rosa. 2020. Genome-wide association study of milk production traits in a crossbred dairy sheep population using three statistical models. Anim. Genet. 51:624-628. doi:10.1111/age.12956.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Murphy, T. W., and B. A. Freking. 2020. Comparison of performance of F1 Romanov crossbred ewes with wool and hair breeds during fall lambing and body weight and longevity &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; through 6 production years. J. Anim. Sci. doi:10.1093/jas/skaa400.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Murphy, T. W., J. W. Keele, and B. A. Freking. 2020. Genetic and non-genetic factors influencing ewe prolificacy and lamb body weight in a closed Romanov flock. J. Anim. Sci. doi:10.1093/jas/skaa283.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Lonngren, K., Barone, C., Zajac, A., Brown, R., Reed, J, Krueger, C., Petersson, K. (2020) Effect of birdsfoot trefoil cultivars on exsheathment of Haemonchus contortus in fistulated sheep. Veterinary Parasitology 287:109271</p><br /> <p>Sanders, J., Xie, Y., Gazzola, D., Li, H., Abraham, A., Flanagan, K., Rus, F., Miller, M., Huc, Y., Guynn, S., Draper, A., Vakalapudi, S., Petersson, K., Zarlenga, D., Li, R., Urban Jr., J., Ostroff, G., Zajac, A., Aroian, R. (2020). A New Paraprobiotic-based Treatment for Control of Haemonchus contortus in Sheep. International Journal of Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance 14:230-236.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Extension publications</strong></p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <p>Recktenwald, E.B and R. A. Ehrhardt.&nbsp; 2020. Methodology for evaluating the environmental footprint of four types of U.S. sheep operations.&nbsp;&nbsp; Presented to the American Lamb Board.&nbsp; November 2020.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Recktenwald, E.B and Ehrhardt, R.A. 2020.&nbsp; Benefits and considerations in using terminal sires. Michigan Shepherd News</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. and B. Makela. 2020. &ldquo;How to administer dewormer orally to sheep and goats.&rdquo; Instructional video for MSU ANS 262 introductory sheep management and MSU Small ruminant extension parasite management program.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. and B. Makela. 2020. &ldquo;How to perform a quantitative fecal egg count.&rdquo; Instructional video for MSU ANS 262 introductory sheep management and MSU Small ruminant extension parasite management program.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. and B. Makela. 2020. &ldquo;How to screen sheep and goats for parasite infection using the FAMACHA system.&rdquo; Instructional video for MSU ANS 262 introductory sheep management and MSU Small ruminant extension parasite management program.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ol start="2020"><br /> <li>O&rsquo;Brien and S. Wildeus. 2020. Enhancing Reproductive Performance in Small Ruminants: Part II. Puberty and Estrous Cycles. <a href="http://digitalpubs.ext.vt.edu/vcedigitalpubs/9333817745874164/MobilePagedReplica.action?pm=2&amp;folio=1#pg1">http://digitalpubs.ext.vt.edu/vcedigitalpubs/9333817745874164/MobilePagedReplica.action?pm=2&amp;folio=1#pg1</a></li><br /> </ol><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A.&nbsp; &ldquo;Application of ultrasound technology in the management of reproduction in small ruminants.&rdquo; Webinar prepared for American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners Webinar Series.&nbsp; June 16, 2021.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. &ldquo;Nutritional management of ewes in late pregnancy to prevent metabolic disease.&rdquo;&nbsp; Webinar prepared for Centre d&rsquo;expertise en production ovine du Qu&eacute;bec (CEPOQ).&nbsp; April 29, 2021.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. and Thorne, J &ldquo;Winter Ewe Nutrition Podcast&rdquo;.&nbsp; American Sheep Industry Podcast series.&nbsp; Feb. 16, 2021.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. &ldquo;Managing coccidiosis.&rdquo; Webinar prepared for the Ontario Master Shepherd course.&nbsp; Jan. 21, 2021.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ovine Progressive Pneumonia Eradication in 2020: What has worked and has it been worth it?&nbsp; Michigan Shepherds Weekend. January 10, 2021.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. and K. Cassida.&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;Cover crop grazing with sheep in Michigan: Results of a 2-year study.&nbsp; Part 1: Cover crop choices and management options.&rdquo; Michigan Shepherds Weekend. January 10, 2021.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ol start="2021"><br /> <li>Macaluso, K. Cassida and R. A. Ehrhardt, &ldquo;Cover crop grazing with sheep production in Michigan. Part 2: Lamb performance and carcass quality on cover crop grazing systems.&rdquo; Michigan Shepherds Weekend. January 10, 2021.</li><br /> </ol><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>E.B. Recktenwald and R.A. Ehrhardt &ldquo;Evaluating the environmental footprint of US lamb production: Why it matters and opportunities for improvement.&rdquo; Michigan Shepherds Weekend. January 10, 2021.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. &ldquo;Grazing cover crops.&rdquo;&nbsp; Cover Crop Strategies Magazine Podcast.&nbsp; December 2020.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A.&nbsp; &ldquo;Strategic nutritional management to optimize reproductive success in sheep.&nbsp;&nbsp; Sheep and Goat Webinar Series from the University of Idaho and the University of Wyoming.&nbsp; September 24, 2020.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. &ldquo;Grazing annuals as part of a crop/pasture rotation or as cover crops with sheep.&rdquo;&nbsp; Missouri sheep and goat conference.&nbsp;&nbsp; Sept. 18, 2020.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A.&nbsp; &ldquo;Optimizing forage and grazing management for small ruminant health and productivity.&nbsp; American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners (AASRP) Webinar series.&nbsp; Sept. 9, 2020.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Recktenwald, E. and R. Ehrhardt &ldquo;Evaluating the environmental footprint of the US sheep industry.&rdquo;&nbsp; Presentation to the American Lamb Board Summer Meeting.&nbsp; July 20, 2020.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A.&nbsp; &nbsp;&ldquo;Lamb production: providing a year-round supply of lamb with accelerated lambing.&rdquo;&nbsp; University of Georgia Extension Small Ruminant Webinar, June 9, 2020.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. &ldquo;Strategies to manage forage quality limitation when feeding sheep and goats.&rdquo; 2020 Purdue University and University of Kentucky sheep and goat education series. Jan 2020. <a href="https://ag.purdue.edu/ansc/sheep-site/Pages/SheepVidArchives.aspx">https://ag.purdue.edu/ansc/sheep-site/Pages/SheepVidArchives.aspx</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD4Mzn_q-Iw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD4Mzn_q-Iw</a></p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p>

Impact Statements

1. Impacts. The primary audience of this project are sheep producers, sheep educators/consultants and the scientific community involved in applied research to benefit sheep production. The outputs that generate impact are extension programs, educational curricula of various formats and scientific and lay publications. For objective 1, the impacts in 2021 are greater understanding to the scientific community of the potential of landrace hair sheep in intensive forage-based production systems and better understanding of how fescue toxicosis might impact seasonal reproduction. There were also 4 extension programs provided to regional (210 participants) and national audiences (205 participants) on improving reproductive management of sheep. In addition, there were 2 extension publications and 7 scientific publications produced by this group on the topic of understanding and improving reproductive management of sheep. The impacts of these research and educational efforts will be quantified as the project continues. For objective 2, there were several collaborative efforts within this group aimed at improving meat and carcass quality. These efforts yielded information on the potential of cover crop grazing systems to finish lambs, a better understanding of the impact and feasibility of methods of managing ram lambs to improve growth and carcass quality and an industry wide assessment of the impact of season of harvest on carcass fatness in western USA lamb production. The effort on lamb quality in the intermountain lamb packing industry provided greater transparency within the industry with immediate impacts on collaborating abattoirs who initiated efforts to better control fabrication as a component of their carcass fat mitigation strategy. These findings reached producer audiences through 2 regional extension programs (85 participants), a national podcast, one popular press publication and one industry report. For objective 3, there were two collaborative projects initiated with one seeking to evaluate the relationship between milk production and udder conformation and the other evaluating landrace hair breeds in intensive forage-based, accelerated production systems in terms of lamb survival and birth weight. Another project defined the impact of TMEM154 haplotypes on susceptibility of ewes to lentivirus infection and lifetime productivity; this genotype will now be provided by NSIP starting 2021 to aid in selection for flock resistance to ovine progressive pneumonia. Over the past year there has been considerable progress made in this objective in communications to the scientific community resulting in 12 publications. In addition, outreach efforts in the form of three extension programs included two regional programs (142 total participants), one national extension program (105 participants), and one national podcast. Group members have also disseminated findings in this objective via consultation with many producers individually (75) and via consultation with the feed industry. Finally, one article was published within this objective within the popular press targeting a producer audience. Efforts to quantify the impacts of the efforts initiated last year will remain an ongoing effort. Additional efforts within this objective that will create large impacts in the future of this project are the efforts to establish national genetic reference flocks to provide strong genetic connectedness with industry flocks which will allow establishment of indices of genetic merit for additional traits of economic importance. For objective 4, several efforts have been initiated including a project to evaluate the environmental footprint of US lamb production, two projects evaluating novel methods to control gastrointestinal nematodes and another to understand the influence of season of birth on gastrointestinal nematode infection in lambs. There was a strong effort by members of this group to communicate findings related to this objective to the scientific community resulting in 7 publications. There were also 3 formal extension programs provided to regional audiences (421 participants) to disseminate findings within the objective on parasite management and the environmental footprint of lamb production. Educational resources were also created including one industry article describing a model to quantify the environmental footprint of lamb production and 3 videos related to developing parasite management skills. Additional efforts of impact including efforts to increase the accuracy of fecal egg count breeding values within the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP) via genotyping of reference populations and assisting NSIP members with analyses needed to obtain measures of genetic merit for parasite resistance.

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Report Information

Participants

Members: Bowdridge, Scott (scott.bowdridge@mail.wvu.edu) - West Virginia University; Burke, Joan (joan.burke@usda.gov) - USDA, ARS, Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center; Campbell, Brady (campbell1279@osu.edu) - Ohio State University; Ely, Don (dely@uky.edu) -University of Kentucky; Ehrhardt, Richard (ehrhard5@msu.edu) - Michigan State University; Froehlich, Kelly (kelly.froehlich@sdstate.edu) - South Dakota State University; Murphy, Tom (tom.murphy@usda.gov) - USDA, ARS, US Meat Animal Research Center; Petersson, Katherine (kpetersson@uri.edu) - University of Rhode Island; Pfeiffer, Morgan (morgan.pfeiffer@okstate.edu) - Oklahoma State University; Posbergh, Chris (christian.posbergh@montana.edu) - Montana State University; Wildeus, Stephan (swildeus@vsu.edu) - Virginia State University.

Affiliates or invited guests: Arisman, Brian (University of Nebraska-Lincoln); Boyer, Tom (Sheep Genetics USA); Burgett, Rusty (National Sheep Improvement Program); Cushman, Bob (USDA, ARS, US Meat Animal Research Center); Freking, Brad (USDA, ARS, US Meat Animal Research Center); Heaton, Mike (USDA, ARS, US Meat Animal Research Center); Hall, LeAnn (South Dakota State University); Hess, Andrew (University Nevada-Reno); Kass, Elizabeth (University of Rhode Island); Lewis, Ron (University of Nebraska-Lincoln); Miller, Jim (retired, Louisiana State University); Redden, Reid (Texas AgriLife Research); Shultz, Susan (American Sheep Industry Association); Thorne, Jake (Texas AgriLife Research/University of Idaho).

Brief Summary of Minutes

Monday June 6^th: Tom Murphy chaired the meeting, Joan Burke was co-chair, and Chris Posbergh was secretary. Tom Murphy opened the meeting by welcoming in-person and virtual attendees to the US Meat Animal Research Center, going over the meeting agenda and objectives, and describing the structure of the meeting which was to be flexible. Introductions were made. Station Reports were made by participants.

Tuesday June 7^th: Remaining Station Reports were made by participants. Business meeting commenced. Nominations Committee nominated Brady Campbell as Secretary for 2022-2023. Joan Burke will move to Chair and Chris Posbergh will move to co-chair. Bret Taylor volunteered to host at USDA, ARS U.S. Sheep Experiment Station (Dubois, ID) in June 2023. Objective leaders have been identified and will hold virtual meetings early in FY23 with other objective participants to discuss collabortive experiments. Business meeting adjourned.

Accomplishments

<p>The goal of the NC 214 multistate group is to increase the efficiency of sheep production through a plan specified by 4 major objectives focused on the general areas of: 1) reproductive efficiency, 2) meat yield and quality, 3) genetics, nutrition, production systems and 4) profitable and sustainable grazing systems. The group has defined a plan to do this through a cooperative multistate effort and began executing this plan in 2021. The outcomes, outputs and activities of this effort are outline below.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Short term outcomes: </strong></p><br /> <p>None to report currently.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Outputs and Activities:</strong></p><br /> <p>The cooperative outputs of this project, results of which were presented at this annual meeting, are described according to objective below. Given that this project is still in its infancy, individual station efforts that related to the projects objectives but are not collaborative at this point, are also included.</p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <p><strong>Objective 1:</strong> Improving reproductive efficiency.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>-Estrous synchronization and induction in sheep (South Dakota State University)</p><br /> <p>-Breed and mating season effects on gestation length in landrace hair sheep ewes (Virginia State University and USDA, ARS, US Meat Animal Research Center)</p><br /> <p>-Effect of semen dose on pregnancy rate using liquid semen artificial insemination in an extensively managed hair sheep flock, Effect of cooling rate on sperm motion characteristics or ram semen during liquid storage at two temperatures, Retention of ram sperm motility during liquid storage in different types of shipping containers (Virginia State University).</p><br /> <p>-Impact of a suspected Cache Valley fever outbreak on lambing performance in a landrace hair sheep flock (Virginia State University and VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine).</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Objective 2:&nbsp; </strong>Develop strategies to improve lean lamb growth and meat quality.</p><br /> <p>-Effects of lamb cover crop grazing systems on meat quality and composition (Michigan State University).</p><br /> <p>-Determining the relationship between growth estimated breeding values, feed intake, and feed efficiency in range sheep (Montana State University).</p><br /> <p>-Effect of differing carbon dioxide levels on lamb color in modified atmosphere packaging (Oklahoma State University).</p><br /> <p>-Relationships between complete blood cell count parameters and post-weaning feedlot growth in Katahdin wether lambs (USDA, ARS, US Meat Animal Research Center).</p><br /> <p>-Growth and reproductive characteristics in hair sheep rams rendered short-scrotum at birth or weaning (Virginia State University).</p><br /> <p>-Evaluation of sire FEC EBV type and <em>Haemonchus contortus </em>infection on feed efficiency in Katahdin sheep (West Virginia University).</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Objective 3:&nbsp; </strong>Evaluate genetic resources, nutrient requirements, and production systems for lamb, wool, and milk production.</p><br /> <p>-Strategies for improving genetic resistance of Dorper and Rambouillet sheep gastrointestinal parasites (Texas AgriLife, University of Idaho, and West Virginia University).</p><br /> <p>-Relationships between complete blood cell count, udder health and conformation, and productivity in Katahdin ewes (USDA, ARS, US Meat Animal Research Center).</p><br /> <p>-Selection for post-weaning fecal egg count estimated breeding value is associated with greater antibody production after vaccination in Katahdin sheep, The effect of innate immune receptor activation on differential breed responses to LPS in sheep (West Virginia University).</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Objective 4:&nbsp; </strong>Develop profitable and sustainable production systems that address grazing strategies for animal health and well-being and for ecosystem health, biological control of invasive plants and wildfire mitigation.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>-Evaluating the environmental footprint of the U.S. sheep industry (Michigan State University). --<em>Duddingtonia flagrans </em>included in trace mineral mix or feed for control of gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep (USDA ARS Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, University of Rhode Island, and Louisiana State University).</p><br /> <p>-Efficacy of <em>Duddingtonia flagrans </em>included in a commercial trace mineral mix against an experimental infection of <em>Haemonchus contortus </em>in lambs (University of Rhode Island; USDA, ARS Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center).</p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <p><strong>Milestones: </strong></p><br /> <p>Project milestones are being developed in fall 2022 to execute and complete project objectives.</p>

Publications

<p><strong>Peer-reviewed publications &amp; meeting abstracts</strong></p><br /> <p>Acharya, R.S., Burke, J.M., Leslie, T., Loftin, K., Joshi, N., 2022. Wild bees respond differently to sampling traps with vanes of different colors and light reflectivity in a livestock pasture ecosystem. Sci. Rep. (Nature). (In Press)</p><br /> <p>Acharya, M., Burke, J.M., Wood, E., Huang, Y., Morse, P.D., Coffey, K., Edwards, J.L., Rosenkrans, C., 2021. Changes in cytochrome P450 in Katahdin ewes fed endophyte-infected tall fescue seed diets in spring and fall. J. Anim. Sci. 99 (Suppl. 2), 40-41 (Abstr.).</p><br /> <p>Acharya, R.S., Leslie, T., Fitting, E., Burke, J.M., Loftin, K., Joshi, N., 2021. Color of trap influences sampling of bees and other insects in livestock pasture ecosystem. Biology 10, 445. https://doi.org/10.3390/ biology10050445.</p><br /> <p>Acharya-Sharma, R., Burke, J., Leslie, T.W., Loftin, K., Joshi, N., 2021. Wild bees respond differently to passive sampling traps with vanes of different colors and light reflectivity in a livestock pasture ecosystem. Entomol. Soc. Amer.</p><br /> <p>Arisman, B.C., Burke, J.M., Morgan, J.L.M., Lewis, R.M., 2022. Quantification of environmental management systems for U.S. Katahdin sheep producers. World Cong. Genet. Appl. Livest. Prod., Rotterdam, The Netherlands, July 2022.</p><br /> <p>Becker, G.M., Burke, J.M., Lewis, R.M., Miller, J.E., Morgan, J.L.M., Notter, D.R., Murdoch, B.M., 2021. DEL-1 gene is associated with increased weaning fecal egg counts in Katahdin sheep. Int. Soc. Anim. Gen. (ISAG) Conf., July 2021.</p><br /> <p>Becker, G.M., Burke, J.M., Lewis, R.M., Miller, J.E., Morgan, J.L.M., Rosen, B.D., Van Tassell, C.P., Notter, D.R., Murdoch, B.M., 2022. Variants within genes EDIL3 and ADGRB3 are associated with divergent fecal egg counts in Katahdin sheep at weaning. Front. Genet. 13, Art. 817319; doi: 10.3389/fgene.2022.817319.</p><br /> <p>Becker, G.M., Burke, J.M., Lewis, R.M., Miller, J.E., Morgan, J.L.M., Rosen, B.D., Van Tassell, C.P., Notter, D.R., Murdoch, B.M., 2022. Genome-wide association study identifies genetic variants within gene edil3 associated with increased weaning fecal egg counts in Katahdin sheep. Plant and Animal Genome XXIX Conference (January 8-12, 2022), San Diego, CA.</p><br /> <p>Brown, K., S. Wildeus, D. O&rsquo;Brien. 2022. Effect of cooling rate on sperm motion characteristics of ram semen during liquid storage at two temperatures. Proc. ARD Research Symposium 2022, Atlanta, GA, April 2-5, p. 232</p><br /> <p>Burke, J.M., Wood, E.L., Miller, J.E., 2021. Season of lambing influences dynamics of gastrointestinal nematode infection of lambs in Arkansas, USA. WAAVP Conference, Dublin, Ireland, July 2021.</p><br /> <p>Burke, J.M., Wood, E.L., Miller, J.E., 2021. Influence of season of lambing on gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection of lambs. J. Anim. Sci. 99 (Suppl. 2), 39 (Abstr.).</p><br /> <p>Burke, J.M., Miller, J.E., 2021. Multi-species grazing for control of gastrointestinal nematodes &ndash; A review. J. Anim. Sci. 99 (Suppl. 2), 36-37 (Abstr.).</p><br /> <p>Callendar, M., S. Wildeus, D. O&rsquo;Brien. 2022. Growth, libido and ejaculate characteristics in post-pubertal hair sheep rams rendered short-scrotum at birth and weaning. Proc. ARD Research Symposium 2022, Atlanta, GA, April 2-5, p. 232</p><br /> <p>Freking, B. A. and T. W. Murphy. 2021. Comparison of performance of F1 Romanov crossbred ewes with wool and hair breeds during spring lambing under intensive and extensive production systems. J. Anim. Sci. doi:10.1093/jas/skaa397.</p><br /> <p>Griffin, C., S. Wildeus, D. O&rsquo;Brien. 2022. Retention of ram sperm motility during liquid storage in different types of shipping containers.&nbsp; Proc. ARD Research Symposium 2022, Atlanta, GA, April 2-5, p. 66</p><br /> <p>Knuth, R. M., W. C. Stewart, J. B. Taylor, B. Bisha, C. J. Yeoman, M. L. Van Emon, and T. W. Murphy. 2021. Relationships among intramammary health, udder and teat characteristics, and productivity of extensively ewes. J. Anim. Sci. doi:10.1093/jas/skab059</p><br /> <p>Kochendoerfer N.*, Shepherd. S.J., Posbergh C.J., Huson H.J., Barbano D.M., Thonney, M.L. 2022. Genetic make-up, milk production, and infrared predicted milk constituents in a commercial dairy sheep flock of variable breed composition. Sheep &amp; Goat Research Journal</p><br /> <p>Maierle, C.L., A.R. Weaver, E.E. Felton, S.P. Greiner, S.A. Bowdridge. 2021. Impact of H. contortus on feed intake in Katahdin sheep selected for parasite resistance.</p><br /> <p>McCoski, S., A. Bradbery, R. d. S. Marques, C. Posbergh, and C. Sanford. 2021. Maternal Nutrition and Developmental Programming of Male Progeny. Animals 11(8):2216.</p><br /> <p>McMillan, A.J., Brown, D.J., Burke, J.M., Morgan, J.L., Lewis, R.M., 2022. Cross-validation of single-step genetic evaluation in U.S. Katahdin sheep. World Cong. Genet. Appl. Livest. Prod., Rotterdam, The Netherlands, July 2022.</p><br /> <p>Miller, J.E., Burke, J.M., Terrill, T.H., 2021. BioWorma as an aid for controlling ruminant nematode parasites. J. Anim. Sci. 99 (Suppl. 2), 36 (Abstr.).</p><br /> <p>Murphy, T. W., C. G. Chitko-McKown, M. P. Heaton, and B. A. Freking. 2021. Effect of <em>TMEM154 </em>E35K variant (haplotypes 1 and 3) on the incidence of ovine lentivirus infection and ewe productivity during lifetime exposure. J. Anim. Sci. (in press). doi:10.1093/jas/skab304</p><br /> <p>Murphy, T. W. and B. A. Freking. 2021. Comparison of performance of F1 Romanov crossbred ewes with wool and hair breeds during fall lambing and body weight and longevity through 6 production years. J. Anim. Sci. doi:10.1093/jas/skaa400.</p><br /> <p>Murphy, T. W. 2022. Genetic approaches to improve reproductive performance in the U.S. sheep industry. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. Ann. Meeting.</p><br /> <p>Murphy, T. W. and S. Wildeus. 2021. Breed and mating season effects on gestation length in landrace hair sheep ewes. Southern Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. Ann. Meeting.</p><br /> <p>Murphy, T. W. and J. B. Taylor. 2021. The relationship between milk score near parturition and udder score near weaning and their effects on Polypay, Rambouillet, and Targhee ewe productivity. Trans. Anim. Sci. (in press).</p><br /> <p>Murphy, T. and S. Wildeus. 2022.&nbsp; Breed and mating season effects on gestation length in landrace hair sheep ewes. J. Anim. Sci Vol. 100:43, Suppl. S1</p><br /> <p>Notter, D.R., Heidaritabar, M., Burke, J.M., Shirali, M., Murdoch, B.M., Morgan, J.L.M., Morota, G., Sonstegard, T.S., Becker, G.M., Spangler, G.L., MacNeil, M.D., Miller, J.E., 2022. Single nucleotide polymorphism effects on lamb fecal egg count estimated breeding values in progeny-tested Katahdin sires. Front. Genet. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2022.866176.</p><br /> <p>O&rsquo;Brien, D. and S. Wildeus. 2021. Influence of Season of Birth, Breed and Reproductive Status on Carcass Traits of Male Hair Sheep Lambs. J. Anim. Sci Vol. 99:38, Suppl. S2</p><br /> <p>O&rsquo;Brien, D., S. Wildeus and W. Brousseau. 2022.Producer certification in mobile processing: Mitigating lack of access to sheep and goat processing in Virginia. J. Anim. Sci Vol. 100: 3, Suppl. S1</p><br /> <p>O&rsquo;Brien, D. and S. Wildeus. 2022. Growth and carcass traits of short scrotum and castrated hair sheep lambs on pasture during different seasons. Proc. ARD Research Symposium 2022, Atlanta, GA, April 2-5, p. 322</p><br /> <p>Page, C. M., R. M. Knuth, T. W. Murphy, D. C. Rule, B. Bisha, J. B. Taylor, and W. C. Stewart. Effect of &nbsp; increasing dietary zinc sulfate fed to gestating ewes: II Milk somatic cell count, microbial populations, and fatty acid composition. Submitted to Applied Animal Science (in press).</p><br /> <p>Patton, C., S. P. Greiner, S.A. Bowdridge. 2021. Determination of circulating interleukin-13 in sheep after infection with Haemonchus contortus.</p><br /> <p>Smith, D., Michael Thonney, Katherine Petersson, Maria L Hoffman., 2021. PSIV-11 Effects of feeding a 50% cranberry vine pellet on milk components during lactation in sheep. J. Anim. Sci. 99 (Suppl. 3), 300 (Abstr.)</p><br /> <p>Smith, D., K.L. Bentley, S.A. Bowdridge. 2021. Selection for low fecal egg count estimated breeding value correlates with greater circulating antibody in sheep</p><br /> <p>Robertson, M., S. Wildeus, D. O&rsquo;Brien. 2022.&nbsp; Effect of semen dose on pregnancy rate using liquid semen AI in hair sheep. Proc. ARD Research Symposium 2022, Atlanta, GA, April 2-5, p. 65</p><br /> <p>Rohrbaugh, R.T., S.P. Greiner, S.A. Bowdridge. 2021. Anthelmintic resistance in Angus bulls participating in regional performance tests.</p><br /> <p>Snider, A. P., B. A. Freking, J. R. Miles, L. A. Rempel, M. S. Crouse, R. A. Cushman, S. Wildeus, and T. W. Murphy. 2022. Sperm characteristics of maternal composite rams before and after the breeding&nbsp; season. Soc. St. Rep. Ann. Meeting.</p><br /> <p>Terrill, T.H., Whitley, N.C., Burke, J.M., Miller, J.E., 2021. Use of sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) as a nutraceutical forage for livestock. J. Anim. Sci. 99 (Suppl. 2), 34-35 (Abstr.).</p><br /> <p>Thorne, J.W., Bowdridge, B.A., Murdoch, B.M., R.R. Redden. Response of Rambouillet Lambs to an Artificial Gastrointestinal Nematode Infection. Animals 2022, 12(9). Doi:10.3390/ani12091199</p><br /> <p>Thorne, J.W. R.R. Redden, S.A. Bowdridge, G.M. Becker, M.R. Stegemiller, B.M. Murdoch. 2022. Genome-wide analysis of sheep artificially or naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes. Annual Meeting of American Society of Animal Science and Canadian Society of Animal Science. Oklahoma City, OK, June 26^th-29^th, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Weaver, A.R., J.J. Garza, S.P. Greiner, S.A. Bowdridge. 2021. Immune mechanisms of Texel sheep to adult and egg stages of Haemonchus contortus. Parasit. Immunol.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Whitley, N.C., Burke, J.M., Smith, E., Lyte, K., Terrill, T.H., 2022. Determining the efficacy of Red Cell&reg; in combination with anthelmintic drugs against indicators of gastrointestinal nematode parasitism in sheep and goats. Small Rum. Res. 209, Article 106656.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Whitley, N.C., Dykes, G., Vazquez, J., Burke, J.M., Terrill, T.H., 2021. Effect of copper oxide wire particles with and without anthelmintic treatment or anthelmintic treatment alone on gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) fecal egg counts in goats. J. Anim. Sci. 99 (Suppl. 2), 43 (Abstr.).</p><br /> <p>Wildeus, S., D. O&rsquo;Brien, G. J. Pent, and K. M. Payne. 2021. Growth performance of short scrotum and castrated hair sheep lambs on pasture during different seasons. J. Anim. Sci Vol. 99:40, Suppl. S2</p><br /> <p>Wildeus, S., T. Murphy, and D. O&rsquo;Brien. 2021. Evaluation of Barbados Blackbelly and St. Croix hair sheep under accelerated lambing using purebred and terminal sire mating: Ewe fertility, prolificacy, and productivity.&nbsp; J. Anim. Sci Vol. 99: 487&ndash;488, Suppl. S3</p><br /> <p>Wildeus, S, T. Murphy, and D. O&rsquo;Brien. 2021. Evaluation of Barbados Blackbelly and St. Croix hair sheep under accelerated lambing using purebred and terminal sire mating: Lamb survival and body weight.&nbsp; J. Anim. Sci Vol. 99: 488&ndash;489, Suppl. S3</p><br /> <p>Wildeus, S., T. Murphy, J. Lee, C. Teutsch, and D. O&rsquo;Brien. 2022. Pasture-based production of landrace hair sheep under accelerated mating: Use of a terminal sire. Proc. ARD Research Symposium 2022, Atlanta, GA, April 2-5, p. 320</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Extension publications</strong></p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A.&nbsp; 2022. Essential supplies for lambing season.&nbsp; Michigan Shepherds News.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A.&nbsp; 2021. A basic biosecurity quarantine protocol for new flock additions. Michigan Shepherd News</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. 2021. Preventing White Muscle Disease in Sheep with Selenium and Vitamin E Supplementation. Michigan Shepherd News.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A.&nbsp; 2021.&nbsp; Controlling coccidiosis in your flock. &nbsp;&nbsp;Michigan Shepherd News</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. 2021. Is pasture lambing a good option for your farm?&nbsp; Michigan Shepherd News.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A.&nbsp; 2021.&nbsp; Braising is a fantastic method to make delicious meals out of less expensive lamb cuts.&nbsp; Michigan Shepherd News.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. 2021. Processing lambs and newborn care.&nbsp; Video created for MSU small ruminant birth program.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. 2021. Birth signs and normal birth process.&nbsp; Video created for MSU small ruminant birth program.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. 2021. Colostrum management.&nbsp; Video created for MSU small ruminant birth program.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. 2021. Lamb mortality diagnosis.&nbsp; Video created for MSU small ruminant birth program.</p>

Impact Statements

1. For objective 4, several efforts have been initiated including a project to evaluate the environmental footprint of US lamb production, two projects evaluating novel methods to control gastrointestinal nematodes and another to understand the influence of season of birth on gastrointestinal nematode infection in lambs. There was a strong effort by members of this group to communicate findings related to this objective to the scientific community resulting in 17 publications and 2 popular press articles. Additional efforts of impact include increasing the accuracy of fecal egg count breeding values within the National Sheep Improvement Program via genotyping of reference populations and assisting members with analyses needed to obtain measures of genetic merit for parasite resistance.

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Report Information

Participants

Members: Bowdridge, Scott (scott.bowdridge@mail.wvu.edu, virtual) – West Virginia University; Burke, Joan (joan.burke@usda.gov) – USDA, ARS, Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center; Busch, Rosie (rcbusch@ucdavis.edu) – UC, Davis; Campbell, Brady (campbell1279@osu.edu) – The Ohio State University; Ely, Don (dely@uky.edu; virtual) – University of Kentucky; Ehrhardt, Richard (ehrhard5@msu.edu) – Michigan State University; Froehlich, Kelly (kelly.froehlich@sdstate.edu) – South Dakota State University; Gifford, Cody (cody.gifford@uwyo.edu) – University of Wyoming; Murdoch, Brenda (bmurdoch@uidaho.edu) – University of Idaho; Murphy, Tom (tom.murphy@usda.gov) – USDA, ARS, US Meat Animal Research Center; Petersson, Katherine (kpetersson@uri.edu) – University of Rhode Island; Stewart, Whit (whit.stewart@uwyo.edu) – University of Wyoming; Wildeus, Stephan (swildeus@vsu.edu) – Virginia State University; Scaglia, Guillermo (guillermo.scaglia@ndsu.edu); North Dakota State University; Administrative Advisor (virtual).

Affiliates or invited guests: Hess, Andrew (University Nevada-Reno); Taylor, Bret; Wilson, Carrie; Small, Laurie; Harris, Jasmine; Pierce, Natalie (USDA, ARS, RSPER); Moeller, Steve (USDA ARS NPL); Ben Lehfeldt and Amy Hendrickson (American Sheep Industry Association); Thorne, Jake (Texas AgriLife Research/University of Idaho); Ellison, Melinda (University of Idaho); Forbes, Bob (University of Nebraska-Lincoln); Oliveira Rocha, Artur; Graham, Jason (Purdue University); Burgett, Rusty (NSIP; virtual); Miller, James (Emeritus, Louisiana State University; virtual); Quadros, Dan (University of Arkansas; virtual); Fogle, Gregg (The Ohio State University); Visser, Carina and student (University of Pretoria, visiting Purdue University).

Brief Summary of Minutes

Tuesday June 6^th: Joan Burke chaired the meeting, (Chris Posbergh, co-chair was absent), and Brady Campbell was secretary. Bret Taylor (host) and Joan Burke opened the meeting by welcoming in-person and virtual attendees to the Visitors Community Center in Dubois, ID, hosted by USDA, ARS Sheep Experiment Station, going over the meeting agenda and objectives (presented from Objectives 4 to 1). Introductions were made. Station Reports were made by participants. A tour of the RSPER sheep facilities occurred in the afternoon.

Wednesday June 7^th: New Administrative Advisor, Dr. Guillermo Scaglia gave an overview for the project group. Remaining Station Reports were made by participants. Participants toured the Siddoway Sheep Company/Juniper Mountain Elk Ranch. The business meeting then called to order. Nominations Committee nominated Whit Stewart as Secretary for 2023-2024. Chris Posbergh will move to Chair and Brady Campbell will move to co-chair. Resolutions Committee discussed resolutions for filling Land Grant University sheep extension specialist and/or faculty positions and thanking invited guests for attendance at the meeting, and letters to be sent to Deans/Department Heads/Ag Experiment Station Directors to express continued support for each member’s respective sheep research program. For the 2024 Annual Meeting, Rosie Busch volunteered to host at UC Davis, Hopland Research Center in June 2024. Recruitment/Membership: Juan Villalba, Travis Whitney, and Leyla Rios are no longer members; Chris Schauer and Morgan Pfeiffer absent. Andrew Hess and Bret Taylor and Carrie Wilson were encouraged to become members. Business meeting adjourned.

Accomplishments

<p><strong>Accomplishments: </strong></p><br /> <p>The goal of the NC 214 multistate group is to increase the efficiency of sheep production through a plan specified by 4 major objectives focused on the general areas of: 1) reproductive efficiency, 2) meat yield and quality, 3) genetics, nutrition, production systems and 4) profitable and sustainable grazing systems. The group has defined a plan to do this through a cooperative multistate effort and began executing this plan in 2021. The outcomes, outputs and activities of this effort are outline below.</p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <p><strong>Short term outcomes: </strong>Establishment of genetic reference flocks at USDA, ARS (Booneville, Dubois, Clay Center) and collaborative research among member locations.</p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <p><strong>Outputs and Activities:</strong></p><br /> <p>The cooperative outputs of this project are described according to objective below. Briefly, abstracts presented at scientific meetings, extension activities and publications, podcasts, stakeholder communication.</p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <p><strong>Objective 1:</strong> Improving reproductive efficiency (Michigan State University; USDA, ARS, MARC; Virginia State University).&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Is scrotal ultrasound a useful tool in ram breeding soundness examination (BSE)?<br /> <ul><br /> <li>~25% of rams that have passed a BSE are NOT guaranteed breeders (e.g., asexual, homosexual, etc.).</li><br /> <li>= 3 rams/75 ewes. Parentage tests to determine which rams sired which lambs.</li><br /> <li>Accelerometer and video data to support ram behavior.</li><br /> <li>Measuring vessel area across the testis could be used as a tool to better understand overall fertility in rams (observing varicocele in pampiniform plexus).</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> <li>Pregnancy rates of landrace hair sheep replacement lambs of two ages mated during different seasons.<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Ewe lambs bred at 7 months of age bred successfully in Nov., but not in July or March. Ewe lambs bred at 11 months of age, bred similarly to mature ewes in July, March, and Nov.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> <li>Impact of pre-breeding nutrition and the male effect on reproductive outcomes in accelerated lamb production.<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Optimize nutritional management for accelerated lambing.</li><br /> <li>Dorset and Polypay ewes managed on an 8-month accelerated system.</li><br /> <li>Study #1 &ndash; nutritional treatments &ndash; 100% maintenance, 50% underfed, 200% of requirements.</li><br /> <li>Ewes sorted according to litter sizes to meet the needs of experimental treatments.</li><br /> <li>Study #2 &ndash; litter size across season &agrave; short season breeding resulted in greater litter size than long season breeding.</li><br /> <li>If you have a potent male effect, you can shorten the breeding window.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Objective 2:&nbsp; </strong>Develop strategies to improve lean lamb growth and meat quality (Ohio State University; University of Wyoming; Virginia State University).</p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Meat quality of BBB and St. Croix hair sheep lambs rendered short scrotum or castrated at weaning.<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Lambs harvested onsite using a mobile unit.</li><br /> <li>Meat quality parameters &ndash; castrated animals were fatter than short scrotum animals.</li><br /> <li>Castration increased fat and tenderness but had no effect on other meat quality parameters.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> <li>Assessing delaying feedlot diet via background in Rambouillet wethers<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Challenge in western sheep production = carcasses weighing 167 lbs.<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Backgrounding during the summer, fall, and winter months right at or slightly above maintenance requirements. Comparing groups of lambs that are 7 months of age vs. 12 months of age. Backgrounded lambs had lesser fat with similar REA when compared with feedlot lambs.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> <li>Characterizing Katahdin growth, carcass performance, and sensory characteristics<br /> <ul><br /> <li>All lambs fed the same diet and of similar size focusing on trans sensory metrics.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> <li>Evaluating the effect of hay or soybean hulls during gestation on the growth and DMI of ewes and BW of offspring at birth and weaning.<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Evaluated feeding hay ad-libitum (traditional and the control), limit fed hay, and soybean hulls.</li><br /> <li>Feed intake of ewes offered soyhulls had to be limited as the ewes continue increasing feed intake. Soyhull fed ewes consumed more feed with less weight gain.</li><br /> <li>Feeding soyhulls as an alternative forage source may be a viable solution in times of economic stress (i.e., when hay prices are high).</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> <li>Impact of Agrivoltaics in the US &agrave; DOE FARMS funding announcement, 4 areas of focused work<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Hay ready solar</li><br /> <li>Construction impacts on soil health</li><br /> <li>The use of precision ag technology</li><br /> <li>Complementary grazing strategies</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Objective 3:&nbsp; </strong>Evaluate genetic resources, nutrient requirements, and production systems for lamb, wool, and milk production (Purdue University; Texas A&amp;M; University of California-Davis; University of Idaho; USDA, ARS, MARC and DBSFRC; West Virginia University; collaborating with University of Nevada-Reno, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USDA-ARS-RSPER).</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Factors that influence ewe longevity<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Lamb production, health (udder, OPP, etc.), BCS (dental, legs, feet), Unknowns (Predation), management (market and feed prices).</li><br /> <li>32 sig SNIPs for influence of ewe longevity.</li><br /> <li>Rambouillet sheep exhibited the greatest longevity, and the Suffolk had the lowest longevity.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> <li>Genetic association of wool quality characteristics in Rambouillet sheep.<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Ram testing &ndash; 6 wool characteristics = grease fleece weight, clean fleece weight, staple length, micron, face wool, and skin folds/wrinkles.</li><br /> <li>Rams with 2 copies of the C allele had sig lower fiber diameter.</li><br /> <li>Rams with one or more copies of C allele had sig higher clean wool.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Targhee sire benchmarking at the US sheep experiment station; A need from sheep producers to evaluate wool type sires.<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Purchased rams based NSIP values whereas sheep station rams were selected based on rigorous phenotypic evaluation.</li><br /> <li>Differences between sires was nominal.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Birth season and production system effects on post-weaning growth and GIN infection in Katahdin lambs.<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Time x season-system interaction was significant for all traits.</li><br /> <li>Fall born lambs decreased in FEC whereas winter born lambs increased.</li><br /> <li>Slight advantages for organic lambs when compared with conventional.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Genetic parameter estimates of post-weaning growth and GIN infection traits of Katahdin lambs.<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Comparison of traits and sampling techniques. Conversation on the benefit of using PCV vs. FAMACHA</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Simulation of Katahdin flocks<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Validation of genotyping scenarios<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Genomic information is essential in correcting pedigree errors.</li><br /> <li>Testing the impact of having different genotyping errors.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Steps towards including parasite resistance in an economic selection index: Hair sheep.<br /> <ul><br /> <li>What is a selection index &agrave; choosing animals on their overall productivity.</li><br /> <li>US Hair Sheep Index &ndash; Productivity = Total weight of lamb weaned/ewe</li><br /> <li>All traits lose response as PWFEC increases in its weight.<br /> <ul><br /> <li>PWFEC must be incorporated into the metric to not negatively impact parasite data generated.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> <li>Spearman Rank Correlations</li><br /> <li>Next steps &agrave; bioeconomic model to estimate economic weights.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Biggest question received from clientele &ndash; how to raise orphan lambs?</li><br /> <li>Surveying needs of producers<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Surveying the prevalence of OPP in CA flocks; Interestingly, no results in small flocks, large commercial flocks &agrave; anywhere from 2 &ndash; 60%</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> <li>Evaluating <em>H contortus </em>resistance in hair sheep lambs with divergent fecal egg count estimated breeding values.<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Susceptible breeds vs. more tolerant breeds (Dorper vs. Barbados Blackbelly&times;Mouflon)</li><br /> <li>Dorper breed divided into a high and low EBV.</li><br /> <li>Treatment 10,000 L3 larva</li><br /> <li>Crossbred lamb PCV increased after infection and had a great lymph node weight (21 days after initial challenge).</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Measuring immune competence in animals<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Mastitis and culling rates in Katahdin flocks</li><br /> <li>Average IgG of Katahdin lambs in response to clostridium vaccine</li><br /> <li>Grimace scores of different breeds of sheep each hour after administering LSP IV. St. Croix sheep were able to handle this challenge quicker (~5 hrs.) than the Suffolk sheep.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> <li>Can resistant sheep &ldquo;taste&rdquo; infection?</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <p><strong>Objective 4:&nbsp; </strong>Develop profitable and sustainable production systems that address grazing strategies for animal health and well-being and for ecosystem health, biological control of invasive plants and wildfire mitigation (Michigan State University; Texas A&amp;M; University of Rhode Island; University of Wyoming; USDA, ARS, MARC and DBSFRC; West Virginia University; collaborating with University of Nevada-Reno, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USDA-ARS-RSPER, Purdue University, University of Idaho).&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li><em>Duddingtonia flagrans </em>(DF) included in trace mineral mix or feed for control of gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep.<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Effect of DF on feed or loose mineral on larval recovery. What is the effect of saliva in the mineral on the viability of the DF spores?</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> <li>Katahdin Reference Flocks &ndash; GEMS<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Focus on udder health, mouth confirmation and foot health, hair shedding, BW, BCS, early pregnancy rate, reason culled.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Anthelmintic efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein CryH18 against Haemonchus contortus in ovine.</li><br /> <li>In vitro screening of <em>Lotus corniculatus</em> (birdsfoot trefoil) strains against hatchability of Haemonchus contortus.<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Testing cranberry vine for the control of GIN.</li><br /> <li><em>Bacillus thuringiensis </em>(Bt) &agrave; gram + soil bacteria &ndash; sporulation results in crystals lysates</li><br /> <li>Birdsfoot Trefoil</li><br /> <li>In-vitro work looking at the use of stored forages as natural anthelmintics</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Where&rsquo;s Waldo? Describing resilience linked land use behaviors of sheep via GPS collars.<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Challenges facing extensively managed flocks.<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Distance traveled, missing data (location of tracking device), energy expenditure, nutritional density of feeds, daily individual distance.</li><br /> <li>Dispersion</li><br /> <li>Water usage</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Evaluating the environmental footprint of the US sheep industry<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Capturing the diversity of US lamb production<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Intensive production, intensive grazing, extensive grazing, range, feedlot</li><br /> <li>Investigation of GHG emissions based upon products produced and type of operation.</li><br /> <li>Factors that impact GHG/kg of lamb &agrave; weaned lambs/ewe, replacement rate, number of breeding ewes, time on pasture, kg feed/ewe, ewe first breeding age, fuel/ewe, ADG of market lambs.</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Sheep stocking density effects on <em>Delphinium geyeri</em>: implications for cattle grazing systems in the high plains.</li><br /> <li>Geyer&rsquo;s larkspur &ndash; toxic to cattle</li><br /> <li>Can we get sheep to graze the young stands of these forages?<br /> <ul><br /> <li>Grazing preference?</li><br /> <li>Targeting this forage at green up &agrave; helps acclimate the sheep to this forage in its vegetative stage.</li><br /> <li>Used bite counts and Fecal DNA &ndash; DNA is not useful on vegetative forages but works well with dormant forages.</li><br /> <li>Differences in breeds of sheep for targeted grazing?</li><br /> </ul><br /> </li><br /> </ul><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <p><strong>Milestones: </strong>Project milestones are on target to complete project objectives.<strong> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong></p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br /> <p><strong>Activities:</strong></p><br /> <p>For objective 1, the impacts in 2023 are greater understanding to the scientific community of the potential for novel compounds to regulate reproduction and factors impacting reproductive performance of hair sheep in intensive forage-based production systems. Additionally, several multi-institutional experiments have &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; been initiated focused on quantifying genetic and non-genetic factors associated with ewe and ram reproductive performance. There were also 4 extension programs provided to regional and national audiences on improving reproductive management of sheep. In addition, there were 4 extension publications and 11 scientific publications produced by this group on the topic of understanding and improving reproductive management of sheep.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>For objective 2, there were several collaborative efforts within this group aimed at improving lamb growth, meat, and carcass quality. These efforts yielded information &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; on the potential of cover crop grazing systems to finish lambs, relationships among lamb growth and feed efficiency metrics, maintaining lamb meat quality through packaging, the impact and feasibility of methods of managing ram lambs to improve growth and carcass quality, and the interface between lamb health and post-weaning growth. Additional collaborative efforts amongst participating institutions have focused on collecting in-depth lamb carcass characteristics to aid in the development of new genetic tools aimed at improving lamb quality. These findings reached producer audiences through 4 regional extension programs and 4 scientific publications produced by this group on the topic of understanding and improvement lamb growth and carcass characteristics.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>For objective 3, there are several collaborative projects underway which seek to understand genetic and non-genetic factors associated with flock productivity and health. One such project was the focus of a successful multi-institutional USDA NIFA grant (USDA ARS, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Purdue University, and the National Sheep Improvement Program; $650,000) that will incorporate genomic information into predictors of genetic merit and evaluate novel traits for their suitability in the National Sheep Improvement Program. Over the past year there has been considerable progress made in this objective in communications to the scientific community resulting in 15 publications. In addition, outreach efforts in the form of 9 extension/outreach programs, 1 national podcast, and 1 popular press article. Group members have also disseminated findings in this objective via consultation with many producers individually and via consultation with feed companies and involvement with the National Sheep Improvement Program. Additional efforts within this objective that will create large impacts in the future of this project are establishing national genetic reference flocks to provide strong genetic connectedness with industry flocks which will allow establishment of indices of genetic merit for additional traits of economic importance. Efforts to quantify these impacts will remain an ongoing effort.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>For objective 4, several efforts have been initiated including a project to evaluate the environmental footprint of US lamb production, two projects evaluating novel methods to control gastrointestinal nematodes and another to understand the influence of season of birth on gastrointestinal nematode infection in lambs. There was a strong effort by members of this group to communicate findings related to this objective to the scientific community resulting in 17 publications and 2 popular press articles. Additional efforts of impact include increasing the accuracy of fecal egg count breeding values within the National Sheep Improvement Program via genotyping of reference populations and assisting members with analyses needed to obtain measures of genetic merit for parasite resistance.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Milestones/Indicators: </strong></p><br /> <p>Project milestones and their indicators are on track to complete project objectives.</p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>

Publications

<p><strong>Publications</strong></p><br /> <p>Arisman, B.C., Burke, J.M., Morgan, J.L.M., Lewis, R.M., 2023. Clustering climate and management practices to define environmental challenges affecting gastrointestinal parasitism in Katahdin sheep. J. Anim. Sci. 101, 1-10.</p><br /> <p>Becker GM, Burke JM, Lewis RM, Miller JE, Morgan JLM, Rosen BD, Van Tassell CP, Notter DR and Murdoch BM. Variants within gene EDIL3 are associated with increased fecal egg counts in Katahdin sheep at weaning. <em>Frontiers in Genetics</em> (2022). DOI:&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.817319">10.3389/fgene.2022.817319</a></p><br /> <p>Becker GM, Burke JM, Lewis RM, Miller JE, Morgan JL, Rosen BD, Van Tassell CP, Notter DR, Murdoch BM. Inbreeding and effective population size of United Stated Katahdin sheep. The 12^th World Congress on Genetics applied to Livestock Production (2022). <a href="https://www.wageningenacademic.com/pb-assets/wagen/WCGALP2022/23_004.pdf">https://www.wageningenacademic.com/pb-assets/wagen/WCGALP2022/23_004.pdf</a></p><br /> <p>Burke, J.M., Miller, J.E., Orlik, S.T., Garza, J.J., Acharya, M., Wood, E., Terrill, T.H., 2023. Sericea lespedeza leaf meal fed to sheep and goats reduces serum concentrations of trace minerals. Sheep Goat Res. J.</p><br /> <p>Burke, J.M., Popp, M., Anderson, J., Miller, J.E., Notter, D.R., 2022. The impact of sire fecal egg count estimated breeding values on indicators of offspring gastrointestinal nematode infection, and relative impact of lamb estimated breeding values on sale value of ram lambs. Small Rum. Res. 216; 106830. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106830">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106830</a><span style="text-decoration: underline;">.</span></p><br /> <p>Davenport KM, Bickhart DM, Worley KC, Murali SC, Cockett NE, Heaton MP, Smith TPL, Murdoch BM, Rosen BD. An improved ovine reference genome assembly to facilitate in depth functional annotation of the sheep genome. <em>GigaScience </em>(2022) Feb 4;11. DOI:&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/gigascience/giab096">10.1093/gigascience/giab096</a>.</p><br /> <p>DelCurto T., Wyffels S., Vavra M., Wisdom M., Posbergh C. 2023. Western Rangeland Livestock Production Systems and Grazing Management. In: Rangeland Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; editor, Rangeland Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. 2022. Critical control points of lamb survival.&nbsp; Proceedings of the Michigan Veterinary Conference.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. 2022. Diagnosis and treatment of hoof disease in small ruminants. Proceedings of the Michigan Veterinary Conference.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. 2022. Prevention and treatment of common nutritional disorders in small ruminants. Proceedings of the Michigan Veterinary Conference.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Florez, J. M., K. Martins, S. Solin, J. Bostrom, P. Rodr&iacute;guez-Villamil, F. Ongaratto, S. A. Larson, U. Ganbaatar, A. W. Coutts, D. Kern, T. W. Murphy, E. Kim, D. F. Carlson, A. Huisman, T. S. Sonstegard, and C. A. Lents. CRISPR/Cas9-editing of KISS1 to generate &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; pigs with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism as a castration free trait and a mosaic parental line. Frontiers in Genetics 13. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.1078991">https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.1078991</a></p><br /> <p>Fraley, Hannah. &ldquo;Sheep Targeted Grazing of Plains Larkspur (<em>Delphinium geyeri</em>) as a Cattle Toxicity Mitigation Strategy&rdquo;. M.S. Thesis., University of Wyoming- Laramie, College &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources. April 2023</p><br /> <p>Freking, B. A., T. W. Murphy, C. G. Chitko-McKown, A. M. Workman, and M. P. Heaton. 2022. Impact of four ovine <em>TMEM154 </em>haplotypes on ewes during multiyear lentivirus exposure. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 23:14966. doi:10.3390/ijms232314966.</p><br /> <p>Green, C., Wilmer, H.N., Ferguson, D.B., Crimmins, M.B., Mcclaren, M.P. 2022. Using scale and human agency to frame ranchers&rsquo; discussions about socio-ecological change and &nbsp; resilience. Journal of Rural Studies. 96(2022):217-226. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.11.001">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.11.001</a>.</p><br /> <p>Maierle, C.L., A.R. Weaver, E.E. Felton, S.P. Greiner, and S.A. Bowdridge. 2022. Evaluation of terminal sire breeds for hair sheep production systems: Feedlot environment. Small Ruminant Research, 213: 106726. DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106726</p><br /> <p>Makela, Barbara, Erin Recktenwald, Filipe Couto Alves, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Richard Ehrhardt</span>, Almudena Veiga-Lopez. 2022. Effect of pre-conceptional nutrition and season on fetal growth during early pregnancy in sheep. Theriogenology 190:22-31.</p><br /> <p>Notter DR, Heidaritabar M, Burke JM, Shirali M, Murdoch BM, Morgan JLM, Morota G, Sonstegard TS, Becker GM, Spangler GL, MacNeil MD, Miller JE. Single nucleotide polymorphism effects on lamb fecal egg count estimated breeding values in progeny-tested Katahdin sires. <em>Frontiers in Genetics</em> (2022) DOI:&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffgene.2022.866176">10.3389/fgene.2022.866176</a>.</p><br /> <p>Oliveira RD, Mousel MR, Gonzalez MV, Durfee CJ, Davenport KM, Murdoch BM, Taylor JB, Neibergs HL, White SN. A high density genome-wide association with absolute blood monocyte count in domestic sheep identifies novel loci. <em>PloS One</em> (2022). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266748">DOI.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266748</a>.</p><br /> <p>Posbergh, C.; Roeder, B.; Murphy, T.; Stewart, W.; Kott, R.; Hatfield, P.; Thomas, V.; Drummond, J. 2023. Ewe and lamb body condition, breeding and production data from the Montana Agricultural Experiment station, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT from 1960 - 2012. Ag Data Commons. <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.15482%2FUSDA.ADC%2F1528462&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cchristian.posbergh%40montana.edu%7C36d67410019140af47e908db03a1adbe%7C324aa97a03a644fc91e43846fbced113%7C0%7C0%7C638107765172666912%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=hiPcCGwy8F2839g8ahGaxEPgtJDV8YKO%2FfJLTXl9RK0%3D&amp;reserved=0">doi:10.15482/USDA.ADC/1528462</a></p><br /> <p>Ritchie, Clara. &ldquo;Effects of maturity, diet, breed, and sex on fatty acid profiles from ovine carcasses and the effects of delayed high-energy concentrate diets on carcass and sensory characteristics compared to conventional finishing systems in Rambouillet wethers&rdquo;. M.S. Thesis., University of Wyoming- Laramie, College of Agriculture, Life Sciences &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; and Natural Resources. August 2022</p><br /> <p>Rosa-Velazquez, M., Y. Wang, A. Sanders, S. Pyle, L. G. Garcia, B. M. Bohrer, and A. E. Relling. 2022. Effects of maternal dietary fatty acids during mid-gestation on growth, glucose metabolism, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of lamb progeny that were fed differing levels of dry matter of intake. Meat Science 194. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0309174022002595">doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2022.108991</a>.</p><br /> <p>Shaub D., Maninger S., Roeder B.L., Posbergh C.J. 2023. Technical Note: The Impact of Temperature and Humidity on United States Fine-Wool Fiber Diameter Measurements. Sheep &amp; Goat Research Journal</p><br /> <p>Smith, Delaney, Petersson, Katherine, Peterson, Maria L.&nbsp; Determining the Effects of Cranberry Vine Supplementation on the Ewe and Her Offspring During Pregnancy and Lactation. Animals In Press.</p><br /> <p>Tajonar, K., M. Gonzalez-Ronquillo, A. E. Relling, R. E. Nordquist, C. Nawroth, and E. Vargas-Bello-P&eacute;rez Einar. 2023. Toward assessing the role of dietary fatty acids in lamb's neurological and cognitive development. Frontiers in Veterinary Science.&nbsp;10. <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1081141/full">doi: 0.3389/fvets.2023.1081141</a>.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Thorne JW, Bowdridge SA, Murdoch BM, Redden RR. Response of Rambouillet Lambs to an Artificial Gastrointestinal Nematode Infection. <em>Animals </em>(2022) <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12091199">DOI.org/10.3390/ani12091199</a></p><br /> <p>Southerland, C.N., Taylor, J.B., Yelich, J.V., Ellison, M.J. 2022. Refined methodology for identification of bitterness aversion in mature rams through quantification of fluid intake &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; and behavioral response to phenylthiocarbamide. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 254:105706. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105706">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105706</a>.</p><br /> <p>Stegemiller, M.R., Redden, R.R., Notter, D.R., Taylor, T., Taylor, J.B., Cockett, N.E., Heaton, M.P., Kalbfleisch, T.S., Murdoch, B.M. 2023. Using whole genome sequence to compare variant callers and breed differences of US sheep. Frontiers in Genetics. 13:1060882. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.1060882">https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.1060882</a>.</p><br /> <p>Vargas Jurado, N., Notter, D.R., Taylor, J.B., Brown, D.J., Mousel, M.R., Lewis, R.M. 2022. Model definition for genetic evaluation of purebred and crossbred lambs including heterosis. Journal of Animal Science. 100:1-14. DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac188">https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac188</a></p><br /> <p>Weaver, A.R., D.L. Wright, S.P. Greiner, and S.A. Bowdridge. 2023. Effect of sire fecal egg count estimated breeding value on parasite resistance traits in Haemonchus contortus infected Katahdin lambs. Sm. Rum. Res. 222: 106970. DOI:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2023.106970.</p><br /> <p>Weaver, A.R., D.L. Wright, S.P. Greiner, and S.A. Bowdridge. 2023. Effect of sire fecal egg count estimated breeding value on Katahdin lamb parasite resistance in pasture-based system. Sm. Rum. Res. 224:106984. DOI:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2023.106984.</p><br /> <p>Weaver, A.R., D.L. Wright, D.R. Notter, A.M. Zajac, S.A. Bowdridge, and S.P. Greiner. 2022. Evaluation of terminal sire breeds for hair sheep production systems: Forage environment. Small Ruminant Research, 213: 106739. DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106739</p><br /> <p>Whaley, J. R., T. W. Murphy, C. L. Gifford, W. J. Means, J. P. Ritten, H. N. McKibben, <em>C. M. Page</em>, and W. C. Stewart. 2022. Effects of harvest season on carcass characteristics of &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; lambs harvested in the Intermountain West. App. Anim. Sci. 38:393-401. &nbsp;&nbsp; doi:10.15232/aas.2022-02322.</p><br /> <p>Wilson, C.S., Petersen, J.L., Blackburn, H.D., Lewis, R.M. 2022. Assessing population structure and genetic diversity in U.S. Suffolk sheep to define a framework for genomic selection. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Journal of Heredity. 113(4):431-443. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esac026">https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esac026</a>.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Extension publications</strong></p><br /> <p>Barnes, T. Campbell, B.J. 2023. Small ruminant nutrition considerations. 2023 Small Farm Conference and Trade Show. <em>Mansfield, Ohio, USA</em>. March 11, 2023.</p><br /> <p>Burke, J.M., 2023. Use of Red Cell to hasten recovery from anemia associated with barber &nbsp; pole worm. For the Love of Goats (podcast).</p><br /> <p>Burke, J.M., Lewis, R.M., Notter, D.R., 2023. How does selection for parasite resistance in Katahdin sheep affect other important traits? Eastern Alliance for Production Katahdins Newsletter.</p><br /> <p>Burke, J.M., 2022. The value of using sires with high parasite resistance on offspring and the value of NSIP EBVs to sell breeding stock (Timely Topic series). <a href="http://www.wormx.info">www.wormx.info</a>.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2022. Fall lambs and annual forages. <em>2022 eBarns Report &ndash; Ohio State Digital Ag Program</em>. p. 54-55. <a href="https://issuu.com/efields/docs/ebarns_2022_final">2022 eBarns report link.</a></p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2022. Delayed lamb weaning. <em>2022 eBarns Report &ndash; Ohio State Digital Ag Program</em>. p. 52-53. <a href="https://issuu.com/efields/docs/ebarns_2022_final">2022 eBarns report link.</a></p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J., Zynda, H.M. 2022. Annual forages nutrient summary. <em>2022 eBarns Report &ndash; Ohio State Digital Ag Program</em>. p. 18-19. <a href="https://issuu.com/efields/docs/ebarns_2022_final">2022 eBarns report link.</a></p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J., Barnes, T., Garcia-Guerra, A. 2022. AS-1025 &ndash; Small Ruminant Production: Are CIDRs Reusable? <em>Ohioline: Ohio State University Extension Factsheet Publications.</em> <a href="https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/as-1025">Factsheet link.</a></p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2023. Interpreting forage analyses and understanding ruminant livestock needs. Small Farm Ruminant Field Day. <em>Jackson, Ohio, USA</em>. April 29, 2023.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2023. Assessing wool &ndash; Natures natural fiber. Richland County Soil and Water Conservation District: Sheep and Wool Workshop. <em>Mansfield, Ohio, USA</em>. April 11, 2023.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2023. Parasite control and prevention in small ruminants. 2023 Small Farm Solutions Annual Conference. <em>Kidron, Ohio, USA</em>. February 25, 2023.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2023. Nutrition: Gestation, Nursing, Early Growth, and Maintenance. Lambing and Kidding Basics Field Day. <em>LaRue, Ohio, USA</em>. February 18, 2023.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2023. Ohio small ruminant production: Common challenges and questions. 2023 Midwest Veterinary Conference. <em>Columbus, Ohio, USA</em>. February 17, 2023.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2023. All about sheep and goats &ndash; The Ohio State University Ohio 4-H February Zoom Webinar Series: Handling and Welfare. <em>Online</em>. February 23, 2023. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szA-7bqNFNE&amp;t=1405s">Video link.</a></p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2023. All about sheep and goats &ndash; The Ohio State University Ohio 4-H February Zoom Webinar Series: Health &ndash; Market lamb and breeding stock challenges. <em>Online</em>. February 8, 2023. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyXkKJlvbvs&amp;t=1993s">Video link.</a></p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2023. All about sheep and goats &ndash; The Ohio State University Ohio 4-H February Zoom Webinar Series: Nutrition &ndash; Animal management and selection. <em>Online</em>. February 2, 2023. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpgqXVgp5-g">Video link.</a></p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. Smith J. 2023. Lambing and it&rsquo;s challenges. Mid-Ohio Shepherd&rsquo;s Ohio Grazing Conference. <em>Mt. Hope, Ohio, USA</em>. January 27, 2023.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2023. Small ruminant production flock nutrition considerations. Ag Pro Expo. <em>Millersburg, Ohio, USA</em>. January 26, 2023.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J., Gelley, C.H. 2022. 2022 OSU Sheep Research Update. Buckeye Shepherd&rsquo;s Symposium.<em> Wooster, Ohio, USA</em>. December 3, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J., Gelley, C.H. 2022. Vegetation management of vineyards with sheep. 2022 Lamb and Wine Field Day. <em>Piketon, Ohio, USA</em>. November 5, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2022. Interpreting forage analyses and understanding ruminant livestock needs. Small Farm Ruminant Field Day. <em>Wooster, Ohio, USA</em>. October 8, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2022. Ruminant housing systems and principles. Small Farm Ruminant Field Day. <em>Wooster, Ohio, USA</em>. October 8, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2022. Condition your flock for winter. Mid-Ohio Shepherds group Mt. Hope Fall Meeting. <em>Mt. Hope, Ohio, USA</em>. September 27, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2022. Live lamb and carcass evaluation. Mid-Ohio Shepherds group Mt. Hope Fall Meeting. <em>Mt. Hope, Ohio, USA</em>. September 27, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2022. Health considerations for small sheep and goat operations. Farm Science Review: Small Farm Center. <em>London, Ohio, USA</em>. September 21, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2022. Meeting nutritional needs in solar grazing. Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office: Solar Grazing 101 Workshop. <em>Harrodsburg, Kentucky, USA</em>. September 17, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2022. Small ruminant marketing trends and opportunities. OSU Extension Muskingum County Monthly Breakfast Talk. <em>Zanesville, Ohio, USA</em>. September 6, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2022. Integrating sheep grazing into vineyard operations. 2022 Grape Field Day: Mulch and Mutton. <em>Geneva, Ohio, USA</em>. August 11, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2022. Sheep marketing options. An Evening with Lamb. <em>Urbana, Ohio, USA</em>. June 11, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2022. Quality comparisons of annual forages. <em>Mid-Ohio Shepherds and Ohio Grazing Conference Resource Guide</em>. November 2022. p. 67-68.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2022. Winter grazing: Annual forages improve lamb growth and health parameters. <em>Mid-Ohio Shepherds and Ohio Grazing Conference Resource Guide</em>. November 2022. p. 51-52.</p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2022. Challenges to Ohio sheep production. <em>Ohio&rsquo;s Country Journal</em>. November 16, 2022. <a href="https://ocj.com/2022/11/challenges-to-ohio-sheep-production/">Article link.</a></p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2023. Thinking outside of the box &ndash; The use of plant compounds as natural anthelmintics. May 16, 2023. <a href="https://u.osu.edu/sheep/2023/05/16/thinking-outside-the-box-the-use-of-plant-compounds-as-natural-anthelmintics/">Extension article link.</a></p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2023. Capturing premiums with small ruminant products through niche marketing. March 21, 2023. <a href="https://u.osu.edu/sheep/2023/03/21/capturing-premiums-with-small-ruminant-products-through-niche-marketing/">Extension article link.</a></p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2023. 3 Challenges in Ohio sheep production systems. November 15, 2022. <a href="https://u.osu.edu/sheep/2022/11/15/3-challenges-faced-by-ohio-shepherds/">Extension article link.</a></p><br /> <p>Campbell, B.J. 2022. Small ruminant production: Are CIDRs Reusable? July 5, 2022. <a href="https://u.osu.edu/sheep/2022/07/05/small-ruminant-production-are-cidrs-reusable/">Extension article link.</a></p><br /> <p>Collins M.J., Roeder B.L., Yeoman C.J<strong>., </strong>Posbergh C.J. Characterizing the Wool Microbiome and its influence on Lamb and Wool Production. 139^th Annual Montana Wool Growers Convention, Billings, MT. Dec 2022.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. 2022. Preventing common abortion disease outbreaks in sheep flocks on the upper Midwest USA.&nbsp;&nbsp; Michigan Shepherd News.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. 2022. Understanding sore mouth disease in small ruminants. Michigan Shepherd News.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. 2022.&nbsp; Braising and slow cooking techniques for lamb neck and shanks.&nbsp;&nbsp; Michigan Shepherd News.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. Michigan Sheep Production Opportunities.&nbsp; Sheep health and nutrition workshop.&nbsp; MSU Extension Sheep Producer Meeting and Workshop.&nbsp; Mio, MI. Sept 22-23, 2022.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. Prevention and treatment of common nutritional disorders in small ruminants.&nbsp; Michigan Veterinary Conference, Grand Rapids, MI, Oct 7, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. Critical control points for lamb survival.&nbsp; Michigan Veterinary Conference, Grand Rapids, MI, Oct 7, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R. A. The importance of the non-traditional US lamb market. (Moderator of panel discussion) American Lamb Summit, East Lansing, MI. August 8, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. (Presenter/interviewee) Accelerated lambing podcast. American Sheep Industry Podcast Series, August 25, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. Confinement Sheep Production.&nbsp; (Panel discussion member).&nbsp; Buckeye Shepherds Symposium, Wooster, OH. Dec. 3, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. (Presenter and author).&nbsp; &ldquo;Critical control points for lamb survival&rdquo;.&nbsp; Ontario Masters Course Lamb Survival.&nbsp; Nov. 15, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A. (Presenter and author).&nbsp; &ldquo;Managing coccidiosis in sheep production&rdquo;.&nbsp; Ontario Masters Course Lamb Survival.&nbsp; Dec. 1, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt. R.A. (Presenter and author).&nbsp; Considerations in facility design and on the economics of confinement sheep production. Buckeye Shepherds Symposium, Wooster, Ohio, Dec 2, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R. A. (Presenter and author).&nbsp; Optimizing accelerated lambing systems to produce a consistent, year-round supply of lamb. American Lamb Summit, East Lansing, Mi&nbsp;&nbsp; August 8, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A and K. Gould. (Presenter) &ldquo;Fencing and water systems for grazing.&rdquo;&nbsp; MSU Extension Beginning Grazing School. Sept 7, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A and K. Gould. (Presenter) &ldquo;Nutrition, health and welfare of grazing animals.&rdquo;&nbsp; MSU Extension Beginning Grazing School. Sept 14. 2022.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A., Metzger, M.M., and Recktenwald, E.R. Sustainable management of internal parasites in sheep and goats in the upper Midwest and Northeast USA.&nbsp; 4-part webinar series.&nbsp; Session 1: Parasites of impact in sheep and goats and basics of their lifecycles. Session 2: Factors that determine the risk of parasite infection and grazing management strategies to reduce risk. Session 3: Control and infection monitoring approaches and methods to maintain refugia. Session 4: Putting it all together: developing a successful sustainable integrated parasite control program for your farm.&nbsp; April 26, May 3, May 10, May 17 webinar sessions.&nbsp; June 11 afternoon workshop. East Lansing, MI.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A., Metzger, M.M., and Recktenwald, E.R. MSU Sheep and goats for small farms program. &ldquo;Application of effective vaccines in US sheep and goat farms in 2023&ldquo;, &ldquo;Quality assurance in sheep and goat production&rdquo;, &ldquo;What does a vet client patient relationship look like for sheep and goat farms in Michigan in 2023?&rdquo; March 11, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Ehrhardt, R.A., Recktenwald, E.B., and Metzger, M. MSU small ruminant birth management program. 4-part webinar series: Session 1:&nbsp; Nutritional management of sheep and goats in late pregnancy and lactation; Session 2: Health management of sheep and goats at birth: vaccination schedules, newborn and maternal health; Session 3: Birth assistance and newborn management; Session 4: Identifying challenges in birth management on your farm and developing improvement plans addressing health management, nutritional management and facility improvements. Jan, 3, Jan. 10, Jan. 17, Jan. 24 and Session 5: Birth management workshop Jan. 28, 2023.&nbsp; East Lansing, MI.</p><br /> <p>Gelley, C.H., Morris, J., Campbell, B.J., Romich, E., Moser, S. 2022. High quality forage and cool-season hay at solar sites with Ohio State. American Solar Grazing Association Monthly Webinar #58. <em>Online</em>. September 7, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Lewis, R., Boyer, T., Brito, L, Murphy, T., Freking, B., Burke, J., Taylor, B., 2022. Sheep GEMS. Sheep Industry News.</p><br /> <p>Murphy, T.W. Jr., Freking, B.A., Burke, J.M., Taylor, J.B., 2022. Updates from the USDA ARS Genetic reference flocks. Sheep Industry News.</p><br /> <p>Petersson, K.H., Kass, E.P.&nbsp; Potential tools for managing internal parasites in pastured small ruminants. Cornell Sheep and Goat Symposium, Ithaca, NY, September 17, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Petersson, K.H. Best Management Practices for Integrated Gastrointestinal Parasite Control in Small Ruminants.&nbsp; Dairy Sheep Association Virtual Symposium, November 9, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Petersson, K.H., Kass, E.P. Best Management Practices for Integrated Gastrointestinal Parasite Control in Small Ruminants.&nbsp; AASRP ADGA Veterinary Continuing Education Program. Liverpool/Syracuse, New York, October 1, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Petersson, K.H., Kass, E.P. Got Worms? Integrated Parasite Management for Pastured Small Ruminants NOFA VT Winter Conference Intensives, Burlington, VT, February 19, 2023.</p><br /> <p>Recktenwald, E.B and R.A. Ehrhardt.&nbsp; Major factors influencing the carbon footprint of US lamb production.&nbsp; American Lamb Summit, Lansing, MI August 9, 2022.</p><br /> <p>Relling, A.E., Campbell, B.J. 2022. Soy hulls and lambs. <em>2022 eBarns Report &ndash; Ohio State Digital Ag Program</em>. p. 56-57. <a href="https://issuu.com/efields/docs/ebarns_2022_final">2022 eBarns report link.</a></p><br /> <p>Schaub D., Posbergh C.J. Associations between Microbial Communities and Physiological States in Range Sheep. 139^th Annual Montana Wool Growers Convention, Billings, MT. Dec 2022.</p><br /> <p>Wilson, C.S., Lewis, R.M. 2022. Probing the genetic diversity of Suffolk sheep. Sheep Industry News. Volume 26, Issue 5: 14-15.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Genetic reference flocks established at ARS stations. August 2022. American Sheep Industry Association Sheep Industry News. <a href="https://digitaledition.pub/wc/asia/Sheep-Industry-News/August-2022/">Sheep Industry News August 2022 (digitaledition.pub)</a></p><br /> <p>Sheep Industry News Genetics issue discussing the weigh system and the use of GPS units. <a href="https://digitaledition.pub/wc/asia/Sheep-Industry-News/August-2022/">Sheep Industry News August 2022 (digitaledition.pub)</a></p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p>

Impact Statements

1. The primary audience of this project are sheep producers, sheep educators/consultants and the scientific community involved in applied research to benefit sheep production. The outputs that generate impact are extension programs, educational curricula of various formats, and scientific and lay publications.

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