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Precision Sheep Farming

Precision Sheep Farming. Reid Redden NDSU Extension Sheep Specialist. Why?. Low Prices Cost of Production Low Return on Land, Labor, and Capital. Overview of US Sheep and Goat Industry USDA, NASS, 2011. Overview of US Sheep and Goat Industry USDA, NASS, 2011.

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Precision Sheep Farming

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  1. Precision Sheep Farming Reid Redden NDSU Extension Sheep Specialist

  2. Why? • Low Prices • Cost of Production • Low Return on Land, Labor, and Capital

  3. Overview of US Sheep and Goat IndustryUSDA, NASS, 2011

  4. Overview of US Sheep and Goat IndustryUSDA, NASS, 2011

  5. What is Your Normal Weaning Rate? • <100% • 100-125% • 125-150% • 150-175% • 175-200% • >200%

  6. 1.24 1.27 1.30 1.10 1.63 1.28 1.63 1.18 1.23 1.51 1.24 1.12 1.13 1.30 1.24 1.43 0.98 1.63 1.27 1.02 1.26 1.14 1.07 1.26 0.91 1.17 1.19 1.00 1.14 0.63 1.17 0.69 Other: 0.98 0.73 US Lamb Crop = 1.09 Lamb crop is defined as lambs born in the Eastern States and lambs docked or branded in the Western States.

  7. Overview of US Sheep and Goat IndustryUSDA, NASS, 2011

  8. Overview of US Sheep and Goat IndustryUSDA, NASS, 2011

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

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

  11. Precision Sheep Farming Set a Goal Collect and Interpret Data Plan Management Decisions For Example - Mature Ewe • Wean 2 lambs @ 60 lbs @ 60 days • Shear 10 lbs of 64s grade wool • $100 for feed, mineral, and other operating costs • $50 for land rent, labor, and capitol

  12. What is Your Cost of Production per Ewe? • <$50 • $50 – 100 • $100 - 150 • >$150 • Unknown

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

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

  15. Facilities and Equipment • Handling System • Draft • Conveyor • Pneumatic • Catch Pen “only for shearers”

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

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

  18. Genetics • How to Get More Productive Lambs? • Crossbreeding – The Only Free Lunch • High Performing Maternal Lines • Fertility and Prolificacy • Milk and Maternal Instinct • High Performing Terminal Lines • Rate of Gain and Mature Weight • Carcass Merit • EBVs via NSIP Webinars http://www.sheepandgoat.com/recordings.html http://www.optimalag.com/sheepblog/?cat=9

  19. 13 lbs

  20. 6lb

  21. Health • How to Keep Them Alive and Thrifty? • Genetics • Parasites (EBV), Scrapie, OPP, and others • Biosecurity • Parasites, Footrot, OPP, Johnes, CL • Vaccination • Overeating, Aborting Agents, CL • Antibiotics • Treatment and Strategic Times of Need Health Webinar Series http://www.sheepandgoat.com/recordings.html

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

  23. Get Help • Extension Service • Agents and Specialists • Mentorship Relationships • Peer Working Groups • Tours and Meetings

  24. Questions

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