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Virginia Cooperative Extension - Knowledge for the CommonWealth

Sheep Update

Livestock Update, June 2001

Scott Greiner, Extension Animal Scientist, Sheep, VA Tech

Virginia Ram Lamb Performance Test Begins

A total of 74 rams from 18 Virginia consignors were delivered May 1 to the Virginia Sheep Evaluation Station located at the Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Steeles Tavern, VA. Breeds of rams consigned include: 35 Suffolk, 22 Dorset (both fall and winter born), 14 Hampshire, 2 Columbia, and 1 crossbred. After a two-week adjustment period, performance will be measured over a 63-day gain test. At the completion of the test, rams will be evaluated for muscle, structural soundness, and type as well as evaluated for reproductive soundness. The top 60 eligible rams will sell at the station on Saturday, August 25. For information please contact Scott Greiner, phone 540-231-9159.

Draft of Scrapie Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules Released

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking comments on a new scrapie eradication uniform methods and rules draft document. The draft document can be viewed on the internet at www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/scrapie. The proposed plan has been drafted in response to the industry's efforts to eliminate scrapie from the United States. Scrapie is a slowly progressive infectious disease of sheep and goats, which causes degeneration of the central nervous system. Scrapie is one of several diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). The draft calls for all sheep over 18 months of age that change hands for any purpose, and all sheep and goats of any age that change hands for any purpose other than movement through slaughter channels, must be identified as to their flock of origin and if born after 1/1/02 to their flock of birth. Unless moving direct to slaughter, the form of identification must be an official eartag, tattoo, or electronic implant. These identification requirements are a component of the proposed program procedures set up to prevent, monitor, control and eradicate scrapie from the United States sheep and goat population. Comments on the draft will be received by USDA until June 19.

2001 Virginia State Fair
Youth Market Lamb & Commercial Ewe Lamb
Nomination Schedule

Locations for identification and weighing of market lambs and commercial ewe lambs for the 2001 Virginia State Fair Youth Sheep Show have been set. Nominations will take place at 13 locations around the state between July 21 and July 30. All youth who plan to exhibit market lambs and/or commercial ewe lambs at the 2001 Virginia State Fair are required to weigh and identify their lambs at one of the following sites:

Date & Time Location Contact Person
Shenandoah Valley/Northern Virginia
Saturday, July 21
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.		Rockingham Livestock Market
Harrisonburg, VA		 Corey Childs
(540) 635-4549
Wednesday, July 25
6:00 - 8:30 p.m.		 Shenandoah County Fairgrounds
Woodstock, VA		 Corey Childs
(540) 635-4549
Thursday, July 26
6:00 - 8:30 p.m.		 Clarke County Fairgrounds
Berryville, VA		 Corey Childs
(540) 635-4549
Monday, July 30
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.		 Shenandoah Valley Ag Research & Extension Center
Steeles Tavern, VA		 Corey Childs
(540) 635-4549
Central Virginia
Monday, July 30
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.		 Young Farmers Grounds
Madison, VA		 Brad Jarvis
(540) 948-6881
Southwest Virginia
Saturday, July 21
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.		 New River Valley Fairgrounds
Dublin, VA		 Matthew Miller
(540) 728-7611
Wednesday, July 25
9:00 - 10:30 a.m.		 Carroll Co. High School Vocational Ag Shop
Hillsville, VA		 Matthew Miller
(540) 728-7611
Wednesday, July 25
12:00 - 2:00 p.m.		 Grayson County Vocational Education Shop
Independence, VA		 Matthew Miller
(540) 728-7611
Wednesday, July 25
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.		 Graystone Farm
Wytheville, VA		 Matthew Miller
(540) 728-7611
Friday, July 27
9:00 - 11:30 a.m.		 Washington County Fairgrounds
Abingdon, VA		 Matthew Miller
(540) 728-7611
Friday, July 27
2:00 - 5:00 p.m.		 Peggy Taylor Scales
Lebanon, VA		 Matthew Miller
(540) 728-7611
Eastern Virginia & Tidewater Region
Saturday, July 21
9:00 - 10:30 a.m.		 Richmond County Extension Office
Warsaw, VA		 Kelly Liddington
(804) 333-3420
Wednesday, July 25
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.		 Virginia Tech Tidewater Center Research Farm
near Holland, VA		 Cynthia Gregg
(804) 848-2151

For directions to a nomination site, please call the contact person listed.

Nomination procedures:

  1. Lambs will be weighed, tagged, and tattooed. Nomination forms will be completed by exhibitors.
  2. Exhibitors may take lambs to any nomination location. However, exhibitors must take all of their lambs to the same location.
  3. A total of 12 lambs may be nominated per exhibitor. These lambs may be wethers or ewes, to be shown as either market lambs or commercial ewe lambs (designation not required at time of nomination).
  4. It is recommended that lambs be recently sheared at the time of nomination.
  5. It is suggested that lambs weigh between 70 and 100 pounds at the time of nomination (there is not a minimum or maximum weight limit at nomination).
  6. Note: Market lambs and commercial ewe lambs must also be entered to be shown at the State Fair. Entries are due August 15. Weighing and identification at these locations does not constitute final entry for State Fair.



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