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Sheep Update
Livestock Update, August 2008
Dr. Scott P. Greiner, Extension Animal Scientist, Sheep, VA Tech
33rd Annual Virginia Ram Lamb Performance Test and Sale August 23
The annual Virginia Performance Tested Ram Lamb Sale will be held at the Virginia Sheep Evaluation Station near Steeles Tavern, Virginia on Saturday, August 23 starting at 1:00 p.m. The rams recently completed a 63-day gain test. Forty two fall and winter-born Suffolk, Dorset, Hampshire, Katahdin, and White Dorper rams completed the evaluation. Rams were fed a pelleted ration containing approximately 70% TDN and 14% CP, and had unlimited access to grass paddocks surrounding the station while on test. The ram test program provides a rigorous health management and vaccination program for all participating rams. Approximately 35 rams will be offered for sale. All rams sold will be evaluated for structural and reproductive soundness, and will be sold as guaranteed breeders. All rams have been genotype tested to be free of the spider gene, and codon 171 scrapie resistance genotypes will be published. Complete performance information will be available, including ultrasound measurements for carcass traits. The Virginia Sheep Evaluation Station is located at the Shenandoah Valley Agriculture Research and Extension Center, 0.5 mile east of I-81 at Exit 205 (just south of Staunton, VA). For sale information and a catalog, contact Scott Greiner, Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, phone (540)231-9163 or email sgreiner@vt.edu.
Virginia Tech Sheep Center to Host 9th Annual Production Sale August 30
The 9th Annual Virginia Tech Sheep Center Production Sale will be held Saturday, August 30, at 10 AM at the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena on the campus of Virginia Tech. The sale offering will include Suffolk and Dorset ram lambs, Suffolk and Dorset ewe lambs, and mature Suffolk ewes exposed for January, 2009 lambing. Complete performance data including NSIP EPDs and carcass ultrasound records are available. Proceeds from the sale will be used to support the sheep teaching, extension, and research missions of the Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences. Sale details and catalog are available on the web at http://www.apsc.vt.edu/centers/sheepcenter/index_sheep.htm For additional information contact Dr. Scott Greiner, phone 540-231-9159 or email sgreiner@vt.edu .