Publication #89—Fall 2019 - 1

6KHHS�,QGXVWU\ 3XEOLFDWLRQ�1R����

7KH�1RUWK�'DNRWD

1HZVOHWWHU $�SXEOLFDWLRQ�EURXJKW�WR�\RX�E\�WKH�1RUWK�'DNRWD�/DPE�DQG�:RRO�3URGXFHUV�

Fall 2019 Issue Virtual Carcass Contest—Curt Stanley 1-2

2019 Jamestown Ram Sale - David Brown 2

2019 Board of Directors 2

Sheep Adventures—Dr. Travis Hoffman 3

2019 Annual Convention—Bottineau 4

President’s Message - Curt Stanley 5

OFDA Testing & Volunteer Opportunities 6

NDLWPA Membership Form 7

How to Advertise with NDLWPA 5

1'/:3$�9LUWXDO�&DUFDVV�&RQWHVW�5HVXOWV

For the past number of years the NDLWPA has spon-sored a virtual carcass contest at the ND State Fair. Open to all 4-H exhibitors of market lambs the intent of the contest is to use ultrasound measurements to demonstrate the actual merit and value of the market lambs being shown on the hoof. The metrics were put together by NDSU animal and meat scientists and cor-relates ultrasound measurements to actual carcass values.

The ultimate value of lamb is determined by the yield and quality of the carcass. This system was developed to evaluate the carcass merit of 4-H club lambs using data from ultrasound scans. Lambs are weighed and assigned a leg score, and loin muscle area, fat thick-ness and body wall thickness ultrasound measure-ments are taken between the 12th and 13th rib.

Carcass traits used to evaluate lamb carcasses are based on industry standards for dressing percentage and ultrasound measurements of fat and muscling.

Hot carcass weight and dressing percentage: The weight of the carcass after slaughter is referred to as hot carcass weight. The relationship between live weight and hot carcass weight is called dressing per-centage.

Backfat thickness: This is the thickness of the fat from the ribeye muscle to the outer surface of the carcass measured at the midpoint of the ribeye muscle at the 12th rib.

Body wall thickness: This is a measurement across the loin, bone and fat of the lower rib 5 inches from the mid-line of the carcass.

Ribeye area (REA): This is an objective measure of mus-cling in lambs and is measured in square inches be-tween the 12th and 13th rib.

Leg scores: These are used to evaluate muscling sub-jectively. Variations in leg score do not affect yield grade but are used to evaluate the attractiveness and lean yield of the lamb carcass.

&XUW�6WDQOH\

&RQWLQXHG�RQ�SDJH��

1RUWK�'DNRWD�/DPE��:RRO�3URGXFHUV�

1HZ�6KHSKHUGV�&OLQLF—+HWWLQJHU—��DP-�SP��07�

6HS���

�����$QQXDO�&RQYHQWLRQ—%RWWLQHDX

2FW��-�

:RRO�&ODVVLQJ�6FKRRO—+HWWLQJHU 1RY���-��

6KHDULQJ�6FKRRO—+HWWLQJHU 1RY���-��

$6,�$QQXDO�&RQYHQWLRQ 7%'

�����$QQXDO�&RQYHQWLRQ 7%'

&$/(1'$5�2)�(9(176

2 North Dakota Sheep Industry Newsletter

Congratulations to the winners listed below. The lambs exhibited were definitely high quality lambs meet-

ing and exceeding industry standards. Thanks to all the 4-H exhibitors that participated and especially to

Dr. Chris Schauer, Dr. Travis Hoffman, Paige Anderson and Friederike Baumgaertner for doing the ultra-

sound work and evaluating the data.

First Last County Live

Wt (#) LMA (in.) BF (in.) BW (in.) Leg

Score Leo Lahlum Stutsman 145 4.511627907 0.254330709 0.294488189 12.5 Emma Bock Billings 129 4.170542636 0.227165354 0.523622047 13 Sean Nichols Foster 147 4.217054264 0.20984252 0.377952756 12.5 Alex Lahlum Stutsman 132 4.243410853 0.254330709 0.547244094 13.5 Grace Solemsaas Renville 136 4.062015504 0.214566929 0.279527559 13.75 Zachary Lahlum Stutsman 127 3.891472868 0.202362205 0.333070866 12 Sean Nichols Foster 120 3.658914729 0.206692913 0.250787402 12.5 Lilly Solemsaas Renville 136 3.829457364 0.22992126 0.433070866 13.75 Emma Bock Billings 138 3.813953488 0.225984252 0.496062992 13.25 Leo Lahlum Stutsman 116 3.488372093 0.189370079 0.337007874 12

1'/:3$�9LUWXDO�&DUFDVV�&RQWHVW�5HVXOWV—&XUW�6WDQOH\ ���&RQWLQXHG�IURP�SDJH��

�����%2$5'�2)�',5(&7256

&XUW�6WDQOH\��%LVPDUFN 3UHVLGHQW 'DYH�3HDUVRQ��+HWWLQJHU 6:�5HJLRQ�'LUHFWRU

-RDQD�)ULHV]��1HZ�6DOHP 9LFH�3UHVLGHQW /XNH�'XNDUW��0DQGDQ 6:�5HJLRQ�'LUHFWRU

5LFN�6FKPLGW��&HQWHU 6HFUHWDU\ %UHQW�6WURK��7DSSHQ 6(�5HJLRQ�'LUHFWRU

-DQQHOO�/DJHLQ��5RFN�/DNH 7UHDVXUHU $DURQ�*DOEUHDWK��6WHHOH 6(�5HJLRQ�'LUHFWRU

6FRWW�%UHGDKO��%HUWKROG 1:�5HJLRQ�'LUHFWRU .DUO�+RSSH��&DUULQJWRQ 1(�5HJLRQ�'LUHFWRU

%UDG�3R]DUQVN\��%RWWLQHDX 1:�5HJLRQ�'LUHFWRU 'RQ�2VERUQH��:LPEOHGRQ 1(�5HJLRQ�'LUHFWRU

�����-$0(672:1�5$0�6$/(�5(68/76

Record number of bidders turned out for the annual Jamestown Ram Sale on Saturday August 3rd.

'DYLG�%URZQ

42 ewes sold at an average of $257 (2018 was 88 at $287 average)

Highest selling ewes - Chance Porsborg - $310 on Rambouillet ewe lambs

40 rams sold at an average of $470 (2018 was 40 at $542 average)

Highest selling ram was exhibited by Codi & Brett Kuss. Sold to Chad Hoerner for $725

Publication #89—Fall 2019 - 3

’

6KHHS�$GYHQWXUHV

'U��7UDYLV�:��+RIIPDQ

It has been a wild and tumultuous summer with both extremes of moisture in differing parts of North Dakota. I have spent several weeks this summer in Denver, Colorado at the Superior Farms processing plant working on research to connect producers with carcass information. On a posi-tive note, we are substantially more current than we were at this time last year. As an industry I strongly believe that if we can provide lamb carcasses for 65 – 85 lbs. we provide flexibility of mar-keting to retail and foodservice entities. We are below the 5 year average of lambs in the Colora-do feedlots, and that assists Midwest producers so that we can market our lambs at appropriate times and weights. My father previously stated that if we can stay at $1.50/lb. liveweight, people within our industry can continue to make money in this sheep production life.

I am well aware that our North Dakota sheep producers, on average, prefer to sell feeder lambs from 80 – 100 lbs. of liveweight. I ask myself when is the time to consider the use of ND feedstuffs to moving those lambs farther in the supply chain to finish lambs on your operation. I understand facility limitations, and recognize the economics of the process, but each producer may consider this option as the price for feeder lambs as not held with the spring and early summer highs. We may not expect a fall price flop that has caught us in previous years. Identify what works best for you and your feed and labor resources.

I had a tremendous opportunity to serve as an international sheep liaison in June to visit the Unit-ed Kingdom and learn about their industry and provide input beneficial for their sheep producers. England has three times more sheep than the U.S. in a substantially smaller landmass and they are passionate about providing a uniform, consistent product. Australia and New Zealand have developed an increasing market share in the American marketplace. Our U.S. sheep industry is diverse, and while the challenges are not new, maybe our solutions can be to mitigate product seasonality and ensuring consumer demand for American Lamb.

The American Lamb Summit was hosted for the first time by Premier 1 Sheep Supplies and the American Lamb Board in August in Colorado. Dr. Phil Hadley from the UK and Dr. Dave Pethick from Australia provided an international perspective. Additionally, it is imperative that we under-stand the protein consumer that can be segmented into protein progressives, family-first food lovers, aging traditionalists, convenience chasers, and wellness divas. Presented topics ranged from innovative genetic selection technologies to a lamb consumer tasting panel. Additionally, we discussed having access to technology that we could not previously imagine. Animal tracea-bility, genomic selection decision making tools, vision instrument grading, and value-based mar-keting will lead us in the transition to a data-driven lamb industry. Jump on board, information is valuable, and inevitably will be required for future profitability and success as an industry. Eat American Lamb, Wear American Wool! Charge on!

4 North Dakota Sheep Industry Newsletter

&RQYHQWLRQ�LV�IDVW�DSSURDFKLQJ��(DUO\�UHJLVWUDWLRQ�HQGV�6HSWHPEHU���WK��$OO�SULFHV�LQFUHDVH�E\�����DIWHU�WKLV�GDWH��$XFWLRQ�LWHPV�DUH�QHHGHG��3URFHHGV�IURP�WKLV�HYHQW�RIIVHW�WKH�$VVRFLDWLRQV�GXHV�WR�WKH�$PHUL�FDQ�6KHHS�,QGXVWU\��$6,���3OHDVH�FRQWDFW�%UDG�3R]DUQVN\�ZLWK�DQ\�TXHVWLRQV�

BBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBBB

BBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBBB

BBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBBB

BBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBBB

BBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBBB

BBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBBB

�����$118$/�1'/:3$�&219(17,21—2&72%(5��-�������

3ULFHV�JR�XS�DIWHU�6HSW���WK��

5HJLVWHU�VRRQ�

Hotel rooms are filling up. Make

your lodging ar-rangements

soon!

Publication #89—Fall 2019 - 5

Greetings,

As summer is winding down at least on the calendar it is time to think about the annual convention. The committee has been hard at work organizing all summer in order to have a great program. Now we need members and po-tential members to attend and participate in the activities. More importantly we need your voice and input to move the organization in the direction that has value for you, the members. As the Board of Directors evaluate the good and not so good and plan what we can to im-prove it would help if you weighed in on what you would like in regard to programs or any thing else you feel the association should be doing.

The annual convention this year as you probably have noticed is in a totally new area. I think it will be interesting to go to a new place and maybe see some new faces. The program looks like there will be opportunities for fun and education but one of the things that I always

35(6,'(17µ6�0(66$*(

&XUW�6WDQOH\

like is the networking (visiting) with producers from around the state I typically learn something by ac-cident. The Friday evening program including the auction is always a good time. (We always can use new and interesting items)

In July I attended the Center of the Nation NSIP sale in Spencer, IA. Now going to a sheep sale isn’t breaking news however this year the Suf-folk Assoc teamed up with NSIP and others to pre-sent an educational program titled “A New Direc-tion In Sheep Breeding”. It was a great program with a lot of good information especially regarding following a large number of lambs from breeding to harvest. There are recordings of the sessions on the Suffolk Assoc. website. https://suffolks.org/wp/2019/educational-opportunity/ Sheep genet-ics are finally moving forward. Make sure you send in your convention reg-istration.

I would like to hear from any of the mem-bers or non-members that have ideas or sugges-tions for the Association in regard to anything sheep.

‘Til next time

6 North Dakota Sheep Industry Newsletter

7KH�1'/:3$�/HJLVODWLYH�&RPPLWWHH�LV�ORRNLQJ�IRU�LQWHUHVWHG�PHPEHUV�WR�MRLQ�LWV�UDQNV��&RQWDFW�&XUW�6WDQOH\��FXUWVVKHHS#JPDLO�FRP��IRU�PRUH�LQIRUPDWLRQ�

Volunteers Needed

7KH�1'/:3$�&RQYHQWLRQ�&RPPLWWHH�LV�VHHNLQJ�LQSXW�DQG�KRVWLQJ�IRU�WKH������$QQXDO�&RQYHQ�WLRQ��&RQWDFW�-DQQHOO�/DJHLQ��MGODJHLQ#XWPD�FRP��IRU�PRUH�LQIRUPDWLRQ�

Input Needed

OFDA Wool Fiber Diameter Testing

Bring wool samples to be tested while you attend the conference. Hettinger Research Extension Center NDSU

Tel: 701 567 4323

North Dakota Lamb & Wool Producers Association

�������������������Ǩ

7KH�1'/:3$�&RQYHQWLRQ�&RPPLWWHH�LV�ORRNLQJ�IRU�Ȉ&RRN-2IIȉ�SDUWLFLSDQWV��&RQWDFW�'DYLG�%URZQ��JHQHYDKLOOVIDUP#JPDLO�FRP��IRU�PRUH�LQIRU�PDWLRQ�

Publication #89—Fall 2019 - 7

7KDQN�\RX�IRU�SD\LQJ�\RXU�GXHV�

�����'XHV

1HZ�$GGUHVV���

NDLWPA

7255 94th STREET NE

ROCK LAKE, ND 58365

1'/:3$ �������WK�6WUHHW�1( 5RFN�/DNH��1'������ 3KRQH�����-���-���� :HEVLWH��ZZZ�QGVKHHS�RUJ (PDLO��QGOZSD#JPDLO�FRP )DFHERRN��1RUWK�'DNRWD�/DPE�DQG�:RRO�