march 2 0 1 0 - Natural Colored Wool Growers Association
Transcription
march 2 0 1 0 - Natural Colored Wool Growers Association
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SHEEP SUITS ™ TEAR RESISTANT SHEEP COVERS 2707 Courtney Drive www.sheepsuits.com Loveland, CO 80537 970-622-9965 [email protected] I GOTCHA COVERED! President DAVID KNIGHT 3000 Catholic Church Stockbridge, MI 49285 [email protected] Vice President LETTY KLEIN 6881 North Sprinkle Road Kalamazoo, MI 49004 [email protected] Secretary KATE LOWDER 19477 Indian Road Kellyville, OK 74039 [email protected] Treasurer JAN McMAHON P.O. BOX 748 Beavercreek, OR 97004 [email protected] 517-851-4597 12/12 ______________________________________ 269-381-0980 12/10 918-247-4082 12/12 503-632-3354 12/10 Executive Director VACANT POSITION Executive Director NEIL KENTNER 1718 W. Columbia Rd. Mason, MI 48854 [email protected] Promotional Coordinator Lisa Westervelt 413-634-5723 208 Trouble St. Cummington, MA 01026 [email protected] 517-676-3254 12/10 Director-At-Large SHERRY CARLSON 4589 Fruitland Road Loma Rica, CA 95901 [email protected] Region 1 Director ANN ROBINSON 530-459-5051 P.O. Box 517 12/11 9917 Swigart Rd. Montague, CA 96064-0517 [email protected] Region 2 Director NANCY IRLBECK 970-897-2260 5059 Weld County Rd. 15 12/11 Wellington, CO 80549 [email protected] Region 3 Director DAVE JULIUS 329 Line Road Box Elder, SD 57719 [email protected] Executive Director MARIA ROONEY 503-480-9455 6731 Torvend Rd. NE 12/12 Silverton, OR 97381 [email protected] ______________________________________ Region 4 Director DEBBIE DISON 1711 Edenside Drive Louisville, KY 40204 [email protected] Registrar Send forms to AccuRegister [email protected] 724-843-2084 Region 5 Director MARTHA POLKEY 14605 Chapel Lane Leesburg, VA 20176/ [email protected] Editor JOANN MAST 58221 Lee Valley Rd. Coquille, OR 97423 [email protected] 541-572-3094 530-743-LAMB Region 6 Director THOMAS COLYER 59 Brigham Street Hubbardston, MA 01450 [email protected] 319-923-4376 12/12 502-523-1956 12/12 703-777-7640 12/12 978-928-5175 12/11 NATURAL COLORED WOOL GROWERS ASSOCIATION March 2010 • Volume 31 Number 1 1-2 .......................... From the President 18 ................................ Out and About 2..................................From the Editor 20-22 .......................... Strictly Business Board Meeting Minutes Classified Ad Advertising Rates 3-5 .................................. Spring Board .............................. Registration Update .....................................Website Update .............Welcome New Board Members 5..................2010 NCWGA Scholarship 6...................................... Announcing! 2010 National Show Executive Director Needed Call for 2011 National Show Annual Dues Are Due 6...................Looking Back In NCWGA 8-9 ....................................Show Time! 10 .........................Preferred Judges List Inside Back Cover .............Membership Application On the Cover: Triplet ewe lambs enjoy the afternoon sun at Southern Oregon Romneys, Coquille, OR. Bond rams Nimbus and James, highlighted in the Featured Breed article in this edition. 11 ..................................Featured Breed 12-16 ..................Feeding the Ewe Flock 17 .................................. Regional Map ! " # $ % & ' ( ' The NCWGA is a non-prot organization whose purpose is to promote the interest of the natural colored wool grower and user. NCWGA represents members from the U.S. and Canada and accepts members from other countries. Membership runs from January 1 to December 31. Annual membership fees: Regular $20.00; Associate $15; Junior (18 and under) $5.00. All correspondence, except for the Marker, should be forwarded to the NCWGA Secretary. All members are considered as possible contributors and advertisers in the Marker and are asked to forward all articles, photos, news, advertisements, etc. to the editor by the published deadline date. Black and white or colored photos are accepted. Return postage must accompany all submitted material if it is to be returned. Address all correspondence to Marker, 58221 Lee Valley Rd., Coquille, OR 97423. For a change of address, please give 6 weeks advance notice and send to NCWGA Registrar, 429 West U.S. 30, Valparaiso, IN 46385. The Marker hereby expressly limits its liability resulting from any and all misprints, errors, and/or inaccuracies whatsoever in the advertisement and editorial content published by the Marker, and its said liability is hereby limited to the refund of the customer his or its payment for the said advertisement or the running of a corrected advertisement or editorial correction notice. No material or part thereof may be reproduced or used out of context, without prior, specic approval of and proper credit to the Marker. The opinions or views expressed in all editorials are those only of the writer or persons interviewed and not the Marker. The Marker does, however, reserve the right to edit or refuse material with might be objectionable in content. Visit our website at www.ncwga.org WOW! A new year with several changes, that bring new opportunities, that present new challenges! As you might have noticed, the NCWGA has a new President and a new Western Executive Director. As the new president, I would welcome member feedback on all of the changes that the board is pursuing. We have changed the sheep registration to AccuRegister, which is one of the leading animal registry data bases in the United States. This gives our members value in several ways. AccuRegister gives the most professional certification of sheep, which also includes the NCWGA seal. They give a guaranteed response depending on how soon you need your animal registered. And finally, we have kept the cost down for our members, while improving service! Another change we are starting is to update our association website. As we do this, we will need member support and ideas. Any request or ideas on the new website should be sent to your board members. Holly Shaltz,our new website master, will work to improve the site in order to meet our members’ needs. We would also like to welcome our new Promotions Coordinatoor, Lisa Westervelt. Please contact Lisa for all NCWGA items needed for your events. With change comes new opportunities, new officers with new ideas, and some value added opportunities. As I mentioned above, members have the chance to register sheep with Accu Register. We are working on a National Show for 2010. Ann Robison is working on the details for this show, which will be at Siskiyou Golden Fair in Yreka, CA. As we receive the information on this we will pass it on to our members. I hope members will visit their local woolen mills. My wife and I visited Zeilinger’s Woolen Mill and were shown the complete processing of the wool. We had a great time and learned a tremendous amount about the wool business from them. We also need members to make sure that they update their membership and help us grow by inviting new members. To do this, contact Kate Lowder, as she handles all member registrations. We need to set up a calendar of events that would help promote NCWGA and allow our members to show NCWGA registered sheep. In order to do this we need the input from our members to grow these opportunities. We have also extended the deadlines for the Scholarship Program to help young people to the sheep industry. Please check the Marker as most of the above items will be in this edition. Finally with changes, brings opportunities that bring challenges. I challenge our members to triple our membership by creating a membership drive to promote the NCWGA and its values. I challenge members to write articles for the Marker that would draw new ideas for the direction of the NCWGA . (continued on page 2) 1 As an organization, do we need to look at how we make wool growers profitable, so they can continue to grow there sheep operation? Another question I ask is do you want to be known to handspinners, or are there other venues you would like to see the Board pursue? In closing, I would appreciate member input, either send me an email at [email protected], or drop me a line at : David Knight, Oak Willow Farm, 3000 Catholic Church Road, Stockbridge,MI, 49285, as I would greatly appreciate your input and support! So, I close with a bible passage from my close friend Rose Nagel: Peter 5:2&3 ”Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, not as domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” (From the President... from page 1) Also, I would like to clarify that the selenium article that was in the Marker, is only applicable in Oregon. It is illegal to apply selenium with fertilizer in the other 49 states. If you have any questions about this article, Dr. Ehrhardt from Michigan State University has more information. I would also challenge members to become Regional Directors, Executive Directors, Treasurers, Secretaries, Vice president, and President as openings arise!! Besides I would challenge Members to be heard and to voice their opinions to any elected officer!! I would like to hear from ALL members, so we as a board pursue valued added items that the members will support! We need to create new ideas which will create opportunities for new blood in the organization that will help it grow and be the leader in promoting and growth of Natural Colored Wool!! ~ David Knight Dear NCWGA Members, It’s time to start planning the sheep year. Perhaps you are working on preparing fleeces to sell or you are wanting to expand your lamb sales. Regardless of your marketing strategy, NCWGA can help. Ads in the newsletter, listings on the website and inclusion in the membership directory are all ways to promote your sheep and products. Regional and National Sales are accepting entries and work is taking place to promote 2010 shows and festivals. These events showcase natural colored breeding stock, offering another outlet for sales and purchases. Good luck with all your sheep and wool activities and don’t hesitate to share your outcomes in the Marker. Send pictures and information anytime. ~JoAnn 2 Welcome to the Spring Board! This column is designed to connect the general membership with the Board of Directors and to focus on important association business. Since our last issue, we have reelected our secretary, Kate Lowder and elected a new president, David Knight, Jr. and a new Western Executive Director, Maria Rooney. We would like to welcome our new Board members and thank them for volunteering their time. Look for their biographies in this column. We still have a vacant Board position, Executive Director for the Central area. Any member in District 2/Region 3 may fill this seat. Please remember that our association is a non-profit, member driven organization, we need you! Registration Update: As of January 1, 2010 all sheep registration papers will be sent directly to AccuRegister and membership dues will be sent to our secretary, Kate Lowder. You should have recently received a letter with copies of sheep registration forms and a membership renewal form with updated addresses. If you have any questions, you can contact AccuRegister at 724-8432084 [email protected] or NCWGA Secretary at 918-247-4082 or [email protected]. Please note that these are the only telephone numbers and email addresses used for NCWGA membership and sheep registration. Website: We are still working on the site. Thank you for bearing with us. Our goal is to provide our members and guests with a great place to see what is going on in the colored sheep world, download membership/sheep registration forms, NCWGA scholarship forms or to find that perfect sheep/fleece judge for your show. Welcome New Board Members! President David L. Knight, Jr. Karen and I started in 2005, with ducks and chickens. Then in 2007 we branched out and purchased some Nigerian Dwarf goats from Sue Rodgers ! Karen, Bolt and David in Chelsea, MI. Then, that same year, we purchased an Angora goat at the Michigan Fiber Festival. Also, in that time period we purchased some (continued on page 4) 3 (The Spring Board... from page 3) llamas for guard animals for our goat herd. In 2008 we then entered the sheep market by working with Carol Bator, to develop a Shetland Sheep Flock. Then I purchased my first Shetland Sheep Ram from Linda, of Zodiac Farm. Aries was a beautiful white ram registered with NASSA. All our Shetlands that are left are registered with NASSA. Then, because of my wife’s addiction to fiber, we met Rose Nagel, and she talked us into purchasing Bolt II, our Merino cross ram. Rose helped me change from Shetland Sheep to Merino/Merino crosses and turned me into a Merino addict. She also introduced me to the NCWGA when I transferred Bolt and registered Mary through the NCWGA through Accu Register. The Merinos are much calmer and friendlier sheep than the Shetlands. Also this year, I added an Angora buck from Edie at Spinning Moon Farm, and white and red Angora does from Melanie Pitts, McGregor Hollow Farms, Ann Arbor, MI. We have then acquired two pot belly pigs, and this December we purchased two white male Alpacas. My wife is a spinner and we used some of the fiber and have sold some of our fiber on etsy.com. We understand the value of wool and other fibers. Today our flock of sheep consists of one purebred Merino ewe, one Merino/ Shetland ewe, a Merino/Corriedale ewe and wether, two purebred Romneys that we are shepherding for Linda Brown, a black Shetland ewe, two grey Katmoget Shetland ewes, one fawn Katmoget Shetland ewe, one black Shetland wether, and our Merino/Corriedale/Dorset ram. I am excited about the role of being the new president of the Natural Colored Wool Growers Association, and with the members’ support assure that NCWGA will flourish for another 30 years. So today, I owe my wife, Bolt II and Rose Nagel a Big Thank You for introducing me to this great organization. Region 1 Director Maria Rooney Silver Creek Lambscapes NCWGA welcomes new director, Maria Rooney. Maria has been the owner/operator of Silver Creek Lambscapes since 1986 and is NCWGA flock #1868. SCL is located in the lush Willamette Valley in Oregon, and is comprised of 350 ewes in a grass based commercial environment. Rooney runs NZ Coopworth, white and natural colour Romneys, and Horned Dorset. Her philosophy (continued on page 5) 4 (The Spring Board... from page 4) encompasses progressive management, highest quality genetics, and rigorous selection standards through recorded performance. Most of SCL genetics have evolved from NZ imports and artificial insemination. The white and natural colour Romney flock are Rooney’s special signature of years of A.I. and selection for wool quality, structure, and size. SCL Romneys have won many National Champions over the years. Rooney has served as Regional Director for the American Romney Breeders Association and the American Coopworth Association. Currently she is vice president of the North American Romney Association. She actively shows and promotes sheep and wool both at a local and national level. Rooney is also a NCWGA approved judge, which she finds very interesting and rewarding. Maria is looking forward to being an enthusiastic and positive influence on the NCWGA board. ■ Announcing the 2010 NCWGA Scholarship Application Deadline is July 15, 2010 The NCWGA is again sponsoring a $500.00 scholarship for 2010. Any graduating senior or a student currently enrolled in an accredited school is eligible to apply. You must be a Junior or Regular member in good standing with NCWGA to qualify. In addition, you must have proof of acceptance or enrollment in said school, have maintained a grade point average of 2.0 and have raised natural colored sheep. Along with a completed application, three letters of recommendation from qualified people such as teachers, counselors, employers or community leaders must be included. This scholarship is based on merit, not financial need. Remember to give a complete outline of yourself. In addition to academics, include community and other organization involvement. Pictures, newspaper articles, etc. are acceptable documents. Incomplete applications will be disqualified. Entries must be postmarked by July 15, 2010 or they will be disqualified. Funds will be distributed upon receipt of grades from the following semester. The winner will be announced in the September issue of the Marker. To download an application, see www.ncwga.org or contact Jan McMahon, 503-632-3354, [email protected] or Kate Lowder at 918247-4082, [email protected]. ■ 5 2010 National Show The 2010 NCWGA National Sheep and Wool Show will be held in Yreka, California during the Siskiyou Golden Fair. The dates to highlight are the fair date of August 11-15 and the entry due date of July 16. Entry information will be on-line April 20, 2010 and can be located at www.sisqfair.com. The Siskiyou Golden Fair will offer four open class divisions; Fine, Medium, Coarse and Long. If entries are adequate to fill all divisions, they will not be consolidated. The junior show will also include four class divisions, as will the wool show. Entries are accepted on a first come, first served basis. Take time now to get your registrations completed and fair entries ready to process. Questions specific to the National Show can be directed to Ann Robinson, Region 1 Director, [email protected] or 530-459-5051. Executive Director Needed ... We are looking for a new Central Region Executive Board Director. Anyone in District 2/Region 3 who wishes to fill this position, please contact our President, David Knight. Looking Back in NCWGA The July 1984 edition of the Marker showed the depth of the natural colored ram lamb class at the Washington State Shepherd’s Extravaganza. The cover photo, submitted by Joy Garitone, included ten very similar ram lambs. This edition also promoted the National meeting, show and sale to be held in Puyallup, Washington during the Western Washington Fair the weekend of September 7-9, 1984. To show the stability of the Shepherd’s Extravaganza, please note that it is to be held April 1518, 2010 in Puyallup. This will be the 31st annual gathering to promote sheep and wool in the Pacific Northwest. ■ Call For 2011 National Show... We are now accepting proposals for hosting the 2011 National Show. A plan of implementation with an identified chairperson shall be presented to the board of directors by the deadline date. If no proposals are submitted by the deadline date, offers from alternative Districts will be considered. 2011- District 2 (Region 3) Deadline date 12-31-10 Annual Dues Are Due... If your dues have not been sent, please do so now. Without payment, this will be your last issue of the NCWGA Marker. ■ 6 Ewe Lambs For Sale Born December 2009 from award winning breeding stock. Crosses of Merino (NZ genetics)/Columbia/Rambouillet/Romeldale/CVM with medium/fine to fine wool in colors of Moorit, Black, and White. If you are looking for a ewe with good confirmation, muscle, unique genetics and superior wool please check my website: www.spinningewe.com I will have sheep at Black Sheep Gathering June 18-20 in Eugene OR, NCWGA National Show Aug. 11-14 in Yreka CA, and Oregon Flock and Fiber Sept. 25-26 in Canby OR. Transportation is available to the Nugget Sale in Reno NV first weekend in June, Springfield Illinois Sale June 19-20 and N.A.I.L.E. 7 East Youth Sheep Show July 15-18, 2010 The 2010 North East Youth Show will be taking place July 15th -18th, and is held in the Livestock Complex at the Eastern States Exposition Fairgrounds in West Springfield, Massachusetts. It is open to all youth under the age of 21 years with all breeds of sheep being invited. The exhibitors must solely own or lease their sheep or co-own sheep in a youth partnership. The sheep and exhibitors should arrive by Thursday, July 15th; with animals being penned by 11:00 p.m. Activities begin on Thursday evening and continue right through the weekend with the finale being the selection of the Supreme Champions on Sunday afternoon. For more information please visit the NES&WG website (www.nesheep.org). We can now also be found on Facebook. We look forward to another great weekend this year. All-American Junior Show July 2-4, 2010 This year, the All-American Junior Show will be held in East Lansing, Michigan at the Michigan State University Livestock Pavilion. This is a great show for Natural Coloreds to be seen on a national stage, and another great opportunity for Natural Colored junior exhibitors to show their sheep and interact with other juniors from around the country. Michigan State is a great location and wonderful facility for the All-American and we look forward to seeing even more Natural Colored exhibitors in 2010. In addition to the sheep show, the All-American gives junior exhibitors the opportunity to enter promotional contests (such as t-shirt design, ad layout, essay and photo contests), showmanship classes, a judging contest, and a threeon-three basketball tournament. Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival May 1-2, 2010 The 37th Annual Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is set to take place the weekend of May 1 at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, Maryland. The festival is sponsored by the Maryland Sheep Breeders Association, Inc. The purpose of this event is to educate the public about sheep and wool, provide an avenue for vendors and sheep producers to promote products and animals, and to kick off the show season for many sheep breeders across the country. For more information regarding entries, activities and specific events, check the website at www.sheepandwool.org. (continued on page 9) 8 Great Lakes Sheep & Boer Goat Show & Sale May 29-30, 2010 Plan to be in Wooster, Ohio the last weekend in May to take part in an all breeds sheep show and sale. This year, the National Tunis and Border Leicester Sales will be featured during the weekend. Wool and craft exhibits also are included, as is a used equipment sale on Sunday morning. Nugget All-American Invitational Show & Sale June 3 - 5, 2010 Sponsored by the California Suffolk and Hampshire Sheep Breeders Association and held at John Ascuaga’s Nugget Hotel and Casino, this show and sale has something to offer that other events can not equal. Sheep are shown in the hotel parking lot and the sale takes place on the Celebrity Room Stage in the casino. This year, the National Suffolk Sale and Western Regional Hampshire Show and Sale will be part of the weekend event. Contact Banner Sale Management for details and the opportunity to view the sale on line. 2010 Arizona National Livestock Open Show Winners ! Supreme Champion Ewe (fine and medium wool) • Tor Sorenson, Tucson, AZ Champion Natural Colored Fine & Medium Ram • Tor Sorenson, Tucson, AZ Champion Natural Colored Long & Coarse Ewe • Southford Ranch, Coolidge, AZ Champion Natural Colored Long & Coarse Ram • Nicole Burch, Yucaipa, CA ■ 9 Ariaz, Pat L 20821 Oleander Rd Manteca, CA 95337 209-825-4053 Burrows-Renfroe, Barbara PO Box 194 Christobal, TX 76935 325-896-2186 Clement, Bruce 91 Mt Gilboa Rd Westmoreland, NH 03467 603-399-4923 Cook, David 721 Cook Rd Wakeman, OH 44889 419-929-4134 Craddock, Frank 7887 US Highway 87 N San Angelo, TX 76901 NCWGA Preferred Judges List Revised for 2009 Kerr, John, Jr. 8200 S Dean Rd Buckeye, AZ 85326 602-386-3354 Klein, Letty 6881 N Sprinkle Rd Kalamazoo, MI 49004 269-381-0980 Kniffen, Donald 606 Main St Asbury, NJ 08802 908-730-8409 *Prager, Larry 2125 Hillsview Dr Belle Fourche, SD 57717 605-892-3159 Reuter, Randy 49 Overshott Mill Rd Craryville, NY 12521 518-851-3226 Rooney, Maria M 6731 Torvend Rd NE Silverton, OR 97381 503-873-6447 Sachse, Dr. James 3125 Dona Ana Rd Las Cruces, NM 88007 505-523-0521 Salisbury, Mike ASU Station #10888 San Angelo, TX 76090 325-542-2029 Dally, Martin 34503 Meridan Lebanon, OR 97355 Mackey, Lisa 275 Brooks Cove Rd Chandler, NC 28715 828-667-0089 Eidman, Mark 605 Paynes Creek Rd Red Bluff, CA 96080 530-527-5920, Ex 13 McAtee, Correy 411 NE McKay Dr Prineville, OR 97754 541-416-2491 Eisenach, Marlin 14711 County Rd 15 Fort Morgan, CO 80701 970-867-2493 *McBride, Tom 9755 Henderson Rd Brighton, CO 80601 303-637-8100 Gardhouse, William RR#1 Schomberg, Ont. LOG 1T0 Canada 905-939-4659 McFarland, Sue N 250 County Rd A Columbus, WI 53925 920-623-4237 Smith, David B 3985 N 300 W Earl Park, IN 47942 219-474-3216 McNeal, Dr. Lyle PO Box 4454 Logan, UT 84323 435-797-2150 Snyder, Evan 5621 NW 50th Apt A Oklahoma City, OK 73122 405-314-1642 Moore, Judy 11989 Hinman Rd Eagle, MI 48822 517-626-6012 Sorenson, Tor PO Box 1089 Tucson, AZ 85702 520-991-5130 Mrozinski, John A 5577 E Winona Trl Rolling Prairie, IN 46371 219-778-4836 Stewart, Graeme 8 Mynderse St Saugerties, NY 12477 845-246-7685 Higgins, Ron 6291 S Interstate 25 Pueblo, CO 81004 719-676-7549 *Johnson, C. Leroy 526 Falcon Ridge Ct Sheridan, WY 82801 Johnson, Mary Ann 851 County Road 23 N Quincy, OH 43343 937-585-6193 Julian, Ed 3009 St Rt 44 Rootstown, OH 44272 330-325-9150 Kentner, Neil 1718 W Columbia Mason, MI 48854 517-676-3254 Padgett, Keith L 13690 W 7th Ave Lakewood, CO 80401 303-238-6812 Powell, Doris RR 2, Box 118 Rome, PA 18837 10 Shultz, Henry 6219 Audrian Rd 125 Centralia, MO 65240 573-682-5481 Slyter, Dr. Lowell 20833 475th Ave Aurora, SD 57002 605-693-4010 Wiford, Sam 19485 Santa Fe New Knoxville Rd Wapkoneta, OH 45895 937-596-5229 * Fleeces Only Revised 02/19/09 ••• Featured Breed ••• Joanna Gleason, Gleason’s Fine Woolies, has provided the following information regarding Australian Bonds, our featured breed. Gleason’s Fine Woolies has worked since 1986 to establish a small business selling their hand spinning Corriedale fleeces. The decision to introduce the Australian Bond bloodlines to the Corriedale flock was strickly based on the hand spinners market. In addition, even more of the medium to fine, beautiful, long stapled, crimpy wool would be added to what we have always tried to produce. The four original imported sheep are all moorit Bonds brought into the USA in 2000, from the flock of Mr. Cyril Lieschke of Cora Lynn, near Henty, New South Wales. Cyril’s farm has long been known for the quality breeding of coloured Merinos, Bonds and Corriedales. At one time, his coloured ewe flock was the largest known in the world. The Bond bred is close to the Corriedale breeding, in that it too was a Merino – Lincoln cross, but with more of an emphasis on a finer, longer staple. From the OSU Encyclopedia of Sheep Breeds: “Bonds evolved in Australia in 1909 as a dual-purpose breed, using Peppin Merinos and imported Lincoln rams. The Australian Bond Sheep Breeders’ Association has existed since 1984. It now has 30 registered studs that sell more than 3,000 rams annually. Wool selection for Bond sheep is for big, bulky, long stapled bright 22-28 micron fiber. Bonds are renowned for long, lean, fast growing lambs. Their robust constitution means they are capable of coping with extreme climatic conditions. Bond sheep are mainly found in the southeast portion of Australia. Being a new breed, numbers available for export are limited.” The conformation points are as follows: 1. Mature rams no more than 32 inches at the shoulder 2. Long body frame, short neck, short legs with an appearance of “stockiness” 3. Distinctive, bold face and nose 4. Mature ram weight of no more than 225 pounds, mature ewe weight of no more than 175 pounds 5. White Bonds have a white or “pink” nose with light coloured hooves. Coloured Bonds have darker face and leg colour than wool colour. Wool qualities: 1. Micron count of 22 to 28, spinning count of 56 to 62 or finer 2. Staple length of 4.5 inches or longer 3. Bold, even crimp 4. Minimal belly or britch wool 5. Excellent wool density with a heavy fleece For more information regarding this breed, refer to the Australian Bond Sheep Breeders’ Association or contact Joanna Gleason, http://www.gfwsheep.com. ■ 11 Feeding the Ewe Flock This article first appeared in The Working Border Collie, Inc. in Nov/Dec 1997. By Mike Neary, Extension Sheep Specialist, Purdue University Feed is normally the largest single expense of a sheep operation. Feed or nutrition for the sheep operation consists of purchased or harvested grains, hays, minerals, vitamins, water expenses and pasture or range costs. Whether that operation consists of 25 sheep or 2500 sheep, feed will usually account for 50 to 70% of the total cost. One could logically infer that if feed costs can be kept under control, producers have a better chance of making money or losing less money. This is a correct assumption to a point, however, if nutrition is inadequate then animal performance is less than optimum and economic returns can be low. What and how much should I feed my sheep? That is a question that is asked quite regularly. The correct answer is; it depends. Depends on the weight of the ewe, the body condition of the ewe, the production stage of the ewe, the weather, the fleece length of the ewe, the nutritional profile of available feeds and other important considerations. Taking these factors into account allows one to specifically feed sheep to their nutritional needs, thus optimizing the cost of feed and ewe production performance. Forage Quality and Sheep Nutrition Most sheep nutrition programs, especially for the ewe flock, are based upon the maximum use of forage. Thus, a few words on forage quality and its affect on sheep nutrition are in order. When considering forage, two criteria are of importance; quantity of forage (continued on page 13) Southern Oregon Romney Ewes & Rams Yearlings and Spring Lambs Available For Delivery See our consignments in Reno, NV and Springfield, IL JoAnn Mast & Kathleen Zappelli 541-572-3094 58221 Lee Valley Rd. Coquille, OR 97423 [email protected] East coast delivery available for our breeding stock. 12 (Feeding the Ewe Flock... from page 12) produced and nutritional quality. Both these criteria are influenced by the specie of forage and the stage of sexual maturity the plant is in when harvested (either harvested by the animal or mechanically). It is difficult to write specifically on this topic, since the many regions of the U.S. have different plant species that are adapted to the climate, soil and growing decisions unique to that location. However, generally legumes (alfalfa, clovers, lespedeza, etc.) are higher in protein, calcium and digestibility than grasses (fescue, bluegrass, etc.). Although, grasses will usually yield more total pounds of feed per acre than legumes. The stage of development or sexual maturity of plants has a tremendous influence on the nutritional profile of forages. Forage quality is often described by the specific stage of development. For instance, early bloom, midbloom, seeds formed, etc. all describe stages of development. In general, the more developed a plant the higher the fiber content and the lower the digestible energy content. For example, a hay (or pasture) that has been cut during early bloom vs. One that has been cut when seeds have been formed will have a higher percent digestibility, a higher percent protein, and ewes can eat more of it. However, there will be less pounds of forage produced per acre with the early bloom as compared to the over mature forage. One of the keys to feeding the ewe flock is to match the quality and quantity of forage to the specific production needs of the ewes. There are times when the ewes really need high quality forage and there are periods when low quality forages can be fed quite effectively. Ewe Production Phases The production phases of the ewe flock are usually divided as follows: • Maintenance or nonproductive phase. • Flushing or the breeding season. • Late gestation or the last 4 to 6 weeks before lambing. • Lactation. The National Research Council (NRC) has developed through sheep nutrition research, guidelines on what sheep need nutritionally specific to these phases. These NRC values have been developed as a good starting place to determine sheep nutrient needs, yet common sense still needs to be used when feeding sheep. Monitoring ewe body condition score during the respective production phases is important. Sheep should be fed to a proper body condition relative to production phase. Body condition scores in sheep range from a score of 1 to 5. A 5 score would indicate an extremely obese ewe, while a 1 would be a ewe so thin her life would be at risk. A working range for body condition scores throughout the production year for a ewe would be from 2 to 3.5, depending on productivity level. To best determine body condition scores, handle ewes over the ribs, loin, backbone and hips. The amount, or lack of, fat in these regions determine the body condition score. Maintenance. The maintenance period for ewes is the longest period in the production cycle for ewes. The maintenance period is when the ewe flock is not lactating and lasts up to about 30 days before breeding. Once the ewe flock has been bred, the first two-thirds of gestation is also considered a maintenance phase (continued on page 14) 13 (Feeding the Ewe Flock... from page 13) of nutrition. The term maintenance is used because the ewes only needs are to maintain themselves or if growth is expected, it is slow growth. The nutrient needs of a 150 pound ewe in maintenance as established by the NRC are: Intake (dry matter basis) 2.6 pounds (1.7% of body weight) TDN 1.5 pounds or 57% Crude protein 9.5 to 10% Phosphorus .2% These requirements are fairly easily met with a wide range of feedstuffs. If hay is being fed it would take three to four pounds of medium to low quality hay to meet these requirements. Maintenance is often the phase where ewes are on pasture or some type of crop residue. The lowest quality, cheapest sources of forage can be used successfully during the maintenance phase if the ewes are in adequate body condition. This is the production phase where sheep can be fed economically without lowering production levels. Provide them with adequate amounts of moderate to low quality forage, salt/mineral and water, and treat for internal parasites and they will do well. Breeding season nutrition. The goals of the breeding season are to get ewes settled in as few of cycles as possible, minimize the number of open ewes, have ewes ovulate multiple eggs and have a low incidence of embryonic mortality. These goals are achieved by having the ewes in optimum body condition just prior to ram introduction (assuming the ewes have the genetic capacity for multiple ovulations). The term flushing is used to describe increasing the energy content of a ration before the breeding season. Flushing can either be limit feeding high energy grains or the utilization of higher quality pasture. A common method of flushing is to feed ewes one-half to one pound of a grain (corn, milo, oats) per day for about 30 days before turning in the rams and continuing for about two weeks after ram introduction. The amount and length of feeding will depend on the body condition score of the ewes. A goal of a 3.0 to 3.5 body condition score at breeding will help increase the reproductive performance of the ewe flock. Flushing seems to be most effective early in the breeding season than later. Mineral supplementation to the ewe flock prior to ram turnout is very important. Particularly, phosphorus and selenium status should be given extra attention. Feeding a high quality sheep mineral, without copper, is a must at breeding time. Late gestation. Nutritionally, late gestation is an extremely critical production phase in the ewe flock. All nutrients are important to ensure as easy and productive a lambing season as possible. Late gestation is the last trimester of pregnancy and is 40 to 45 days in length. This is the period of the majority of fetal growth. This also is the time period when the majority of the ewes mammary system develops. Thus, lamb growth and development and ewe milking ability is strongly influenced by late gestation nutrition. Nutrition in late gestation is also influenced by weather conditions and the housing status of the ewes, fleece length, the number of lambs the ewes are (continued on page 15) 14 (Feeding the Ewe Flock... from page 14) gestating, and the body condition of the ewes. The ranges of daily nutrient needs outlined by the NRC (primarily dependent on expected lambing rate) for a 150 pound ewe are: Intake (dry matter basis) 4.0 lbs. to 4.2 lbs. (2.6 to 2.7% of body weight) TDN 2.3 to 2.8 lbs. (59 to 65%) CP 11 to 12% Calcium .35 to .4% Phosphorus .25% Again, these are only guidelines, and thin animals that have short fleece in cold conditions may need more energy. Common sense is important when feeding sheep, especially in late gestation. Energy is especially important during late gestation as it affects lamb size and vigor at birth. Lack of energy results in small, weak lambs that are more prone to create problems for the shepherd and many of these are at increased risk for mortality. A practical diet for ewes in late gestation would include 4 to 4.5 pounds of a medium quality hay (or pasture equivalent) and from .5 to 1.0 pounds per ewe per day of a grain concentrate such as corn. Fresh water and mineral are also crucial. Lactation. Lactation is a very demanding period for ewes. Consider the composition of ewe’s milk; 82% water, 25%+ milk protein (on a dry basis), 25 to 30% fat, high levels of calcium and milk sugars. Thus, if ewes are to milk (continued on page 16) California purebred Shetland Sheep Fleeces & Roving Placerville California Reneé Tully & Conrad Tracy email: [email protected] www.RenCon-Ranch.com Patches 15 Cocoa (Feeding the Ewe Flock... from page 15) well, they need a high quantity of feed, that is high in energy, protein, minerals and vitamins. Unlimited access to water is also important. Ewes that are suckling more than one lamb will produce more milk because of the lambs nursing stimuli. So, ewes with twins need more feed, and of a higher quality than ewes with singles. If at all possible, ewes should be separated based upon number of lambs suckled and fed accordingly. Again, body condition is very important when lactation feed needs are to be considered. Usually, during lactation (especially with twins) the ewe is in a negative energy balance. She simply cannot eat enough to satisfy her energy requirement with a forage based diet. It is normal that a ewe will lose weight during lactation. In fact, fat ewes at weaning time should be eyed very suspiciously, their milk production may be low. The key is not to let the ewes lose so much weight that they cannot regain it during the maintenance period. Again, guidelines from the NRC for 150 pound ewes in lactation by number nursing: Single Twin DMI (dry basis) 5.5 lbs 6.2 lbs 3.6% of bodyweight 4.0% of body weight TDN 3.6 lbs 4 lbs 65% 65% CP 13.5% 15% Calcium 0.32% 0.39% Phosphorous 0.26% 0.29% A practical method to meet the above requirements is to feed ewes 4.5 to 5.5 lbs of a good quality hay and a pound of a grain for each lamb the ewe is nursing. If the hay is low in protein then the diet may need supplementing with a protein supplement, soybean meal, cottonseed meal, etc. to get the protein content increased. Again, water and mineral are crucial. Many producers lamb in the spring and then run the ewes and lambs on good spring grass. This system works well, but remember the high nutrient requirements of the ewe during lactation and the often inconsistency of forage quality and quantity between years. Certainly, the weather in the spring will determine the amount of spring forage available. If ewes nursing twins need to eat about six pounds of dry matter daily and the spring flush of grass contains 75 to 80% water, the ewe will need to eat around 25 pounds per day of pasture forage. Thus, observe ewes closely and supplement them with energy if needed in years of late and (or) low forage production in the spring. ■ 16 REGION 4 MI, OH, KY, IN, TN, MS, AL, GA, SC, FL Debbie Dison 1711 Edenside Drive Louisville, KY 40204 502-523-1956 [email protected] REGION 1 WA, OR, MT, ID, NV, CA Ann Robinson P.O. Box 517, 9917 Swigart Rd. Montague, Ca 96064-0517 530-459-5051 [email protected] REGION 2 WY, UT, CO, AZ, NM, HI Nancy Irlbeck 5059 Weld County Rd. 15 Wellington, CO 80549 970-897-2260 [email protected] REGION 5 PA, WV, VA, MD, DE, NC Martha Polkey 14605 Chapel Lane Leesburg, VA 20176 703-777-7640 [email protected] District 1: Regions 1 & 2 District 2: Region 3 District 3: Regions 4, 5 & 6 REGION 3 ND, SD, MN, NE, WI, IA, IL, KS, MO, OK, AR, LA, TX, Canada David Julius 329 Line Road Box Elder, SD 57719 319-923-4376 [email protected] E Q UIPM EN T FO R REGION 6 NY, VT, ME, NH, MA, CT, RI, NJ Thomas Colyer 59 Brigham Street Hubbardston, MA 04150 978-928-5175 [email protected] Your Regional Directors have volunteered to serve you. You may contact them for information and assistance, and to get the current status of your State Representatives. YO UR LIVESTO CK SUTTER , CALIF . ~ 530-695-8185 [email protected] or www.shaulsmfg.com Come see us in 2010 at: Gold Country Sale, Roseville, CA ~ M ar. 20 3 rd Annual Katahdin Sheep Sem inar, Grass Valley, Apr. 10 Valley Classic Boer Goats, Stockton, CA ~ Apr. 17 Northern Calif. M eat Goat Assn. Pen Sale, Red Bluff. CA ~ Apr. 24 Goat Field Day, Olivehurst, CA ~ M ay 15 (tentative) California Coalition Production Sale, Stockton, CA ~ M ay 22 All American Show , Sparks, NV ~ Jun. 3 - Jun.5 Black Sheep, Eugene, OR ~ Jun. 18, 19, & 20 49er Jubilee, Angels Camp, CA ~ July 3 & 4 W est Coast Dorper & W hite Dorper Production Sale, Red Bluff, CA ~ Jul. 24 IBGA-ABGA California Summer Classic, Dixon, CA ~ Jul. 31 Aug. 1 W est Coast Alliance Boer Goat Production Sale, Stockton, CA~ Aug. 21 Oregon Flock & Fiber, Canby, OR ~ Sept. 25 & 26 Octoberfest Boer Goat Show , M erced, CA ~ Oct. 9 & 10 17 14-15 Kentucky Sheep & Fiber Festival Masterson Station Park, Lexington, KY www.kentuckysheepandfiber.com 15 4th Annual Rhode Island Wool & Fiber Festival. Bristol, RI. 401-258-7577. 20 MARCH 27 Sheep Conference & 4-H Camp George Washington Carver Farm Jefferson City, MO. Helen Swartz 573-681-5540 [email protected] University of Kentucky 41st Annual Sheeprofit Day, Versailles, KY. 859-257-2717 20 Jamaica Fiber Festival & Workshops Jamaica Village, Vermont www.JamaicaFiberFestival.org APRIL 2-3 Illini All-Breeds Spring Sale, Champaign, Il 309-785-5058 29-30 Massachusetts Sheep & Woolcraft Fair Cummington Fairgrounds, Cummington, MA www.masheepwool.org 6 JUNE 3-5 Nugget All American Invitational Show & Sale. Sparks, NV. 309-785-5058 University of Kentucky Eweprofit III School. Versailles, KY 859-257-2717 15-18 31st Annual Shepherd’s Extravaganza Puyallup, WA 425-432-3455 9 University of Kentucky Eweprofit I School Versailles, KY 859-257-2717 15-18 Fibers Through Time Conference 2010 Crowne Plaza Hotel, Phoenix, Arizona Hotel: 602-943-2341 or www.azfed.org.ftt 12 Northwest Sheep Show & Sale Coeur d’Alene, ID 208-699-5072 17 18-19 Purebred Show & Sale, Springfield, IL 309-785-5058. Wisconsin All-Breeds Invitational, Jefferson, WI. 309-785-5058 18-19 Black Sheep Gathering. Lane County Fairgrounds. Eugene, OR. www.blacksheepgathering.org 23-24 National Corn Belt All Breeds Sale, Des Moines, IA. 309-785-5058 24 ! Connecticut Sheep Breeders Assoc. Sheep, Wool & Fiber Festival. Vemon, CT. www.ctsheep.com Send information for the Out and About column to JoAnn Mast, [email protected] or 58221 Lee Valley Road, Coquille OR 97423. Leave message 541-572-3094. MAY 1-2 Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival New Friendship, MD 410-531-3647 www.SheepAndWool.org 8-9 Shepherd’s Harvest Sheep & Wool Festival Washington County Fairgrounds, Lake Elmo, MN. www.shepherdsharvestfestival.org 18 36th Annual Black Sheep Gathering JUNE 18, 19, 20, 2010 Lane County Fairgrounds, Eugene, Oregon SHEEP - GOATS - WOOL SHOW & SALE TRADE SHOW - WORKSHOPS - MUSIC and MORE! **FREE ADMISSION AND PARKING** The Black Sheep Gatering, Inc. PO Box 51092, Eugene, OR 97405 Email: [email protected] www.blacksheepgathering.org 19 as of February 3, 2010 will all bills paid. The motion was made and seconded to accept the Treasurers Report as read. Natural Colored Wool Growers Association Board Meeting Minutes February 3, 2010 Registrar’s Report – Kate Membership: as of December 31, 2009 Adult: 241 Junior: 162 Associate or Honorary: 12 Total 415 I. Call to order David Knight called the meeting to order, 8:20 p.m. Eastern Time II. Roll call The following board members were present: David Knight, Letty Klein, Jan McMahon, Kate Lowder, Ann Robinson, Neil Kentner Membership: as of October 28, 2008 Adult: 241 Junior: 89 Total 330 III. Approval of minutes from last meeting The minutes from the November 9 , 2009 meeting were approved. Membership: as of February 3, 2010 Adult: 57 Junior: 21 Associate or Honorary: 19 Total 97 IV. Reports of officers Treasurers Report Jan McMahon presented the treasurer’s report. Checking Account Total is $ 9,787.06 (continued on page 21) 20 the 2010 National Show in Yreka CA. Ann Robinson will be in charge of organization. (Strictly Business... from page 20) Membership: as of February 4, 2009 Adult: 62 Junior: 17 Associate or Honorary: 11 Total 90 Input from Members on December printing of Directory - At this time we have not had any feedback. Missouri State Fair Probation - Flyers will be sent out to members and posted in the Marker. Registrations as of December 31, 2009 Certified Registrations: 792 Pedigree Registrations: 430 Pedigree Listings: 48 Transfers: 291 Reissue (Charge): 23 Reissue (No Charge): 1 Total Activity: 1,585 Registrations: as of October 28, 2008 Registrations: 1,389 Transfers: 229 Total: 1,618 All American Show Update - Neil will contact Sara Kuykendall for fund raising info. Executive Director Position Central Region We will continue to post an opening in the Marker. VII. New Business Regional Director Results Region 3 – Dave Julius Region 4 – Debbie Dison Region 5 – Martha Polkey President’s Report – David L. Knight Jr. Kate and Jan will research the requirements to change the portion of the bylaws that are no longer applicable. Secretary Position Vote Approved District 1 Executive Director Maria Rooney is welcomed as District 1 Executive Director. V. Committee Reports Lamb Futurity Due to lack of interest and sponsor, the program will be discontinued until a volunteer steps up to run the program Special thank you to Ann Snyder and Robin Nistock for their years of dedication and support. Scholarship Update As of February 3, 2010 no applications have been received, the deadline was discussed and all agreed that the date should be moved to July 15, with the announcement in the September Marker. Kate will make the changes to the application and get it to the webmaster. New Breed Code Bond Sheep will now have the breed code of 87, Kate will ask Joanna Gleason to submit the story of importing of the Bonds and breed specs for publication in the Marker and on the website. Website Status New Membership and Registration Applications will be sent asap. The new Membership list will be sent at the same time as the mailing labels for the Marker. Promotions Update The question of how often do we need to have a report from the promotions volunteer was discussed with all agreeing on a biannual report. VI. Old Business 2010 National Show The motion was made and seconded to hold Date of next meeting is May 19, 2010. Meeting Adjourned 10:04 p.m. Eastern Time 21 ■ FOR SALE: 81% Wensleydale ram. Black, vasectomised, beautiful fleece. $250. 50% Teeswater ram. Champion at 2009 Estus Park Wool Market. $300. 81% Teeswater ram. Dow breeding. $350. Also, six 50% Wensleydale white yearling ewes. $300 each. Discount if purchased as a group. Martin and Joy Dally. 541-258-2692 or [email protected]. Marker Advertising Rates! DISPLAY ADS PER ISSUE/ CAMERA READY Return postage must accompany all submitted material if it is to be returned. Non-Members Double All Rates NCWGA MEMBERS: Front Inside Cover ................ $65.00 Back Inside Cover ................ $65.00 Full Page 75/8 x 43/4 ............ $60.00 Half Page (H) 33/4 x 43/4 ...... $30.00 Half Page (V) 75/8 x 21/4 ....... $30.00 Third Page (H) 21/2 x 43/4 ..... $20.00 Third Page (V) 43/4 x 21/2 ..... $20.00 Business Cards (H) 3 x 17/8 .....$10.00 Business Cards (V) 17/8 x 3 .....$10.00 Send to: JoAnn Mast 58221 Lee Valley Rd. Coquille, OR 97423 [email protected] 541-572-3094 Typesetting/ Graphic Services $45/hour, $15 minimum MARKETPLACE - 4 ISSUES $15.00 per listing up to 50 words $20.00 per listing up to 75 words $30.00 per listing up to 99 words Deadline for June Issue: May 15th CLASSIFIEDS - PER ISSUE $10.00 per ad up to 50 words $15.00 per ad up to 75 words $20.00 per ad up to 99 words 22 NCWGA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Benefits of NCWGA Membership: Registration of Natural Colored Sheep, Pedigree service on NCWGA registered animals, Annual subscription to the Marker, the quarterly publication of the NCWGA, 50% discount on advertising in the Marker, Listing in the annual Breeders Directory and the NCWGA web site, www.ncwga.org, Participation in the annual NCWGA National Show Membership runs from January 1 to December 31, membership must be paid by February 15, to be included in the Annual Membership Directory and to receive the March issue of the Marker. NAME New Renewal FLOCK # New members leave blank RANCH/FARM NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE TELEPHONE ZIP FAX e-mail Web site Names of additional members at the same location (list birthdates and flock numbers of Junior Members) NAME NAME NAME Jr. D.O.B. Jr. D.O.B. Jr. D.O.B. New New New Renewal Renewal Renewal FLOCK # FLOCK # FLOCK # New members leave blank ! ! ! This is a correction to the information appearing on my label! YES, include my information on the NCWGA web site! Select up to 7 sets of code numbers or letters from below for the annual membership directory NO, do not include my information on the NCWGA web site! Membership Fees: BREED CODES: Regular Junior Associate @ $ 20.00 @ $ 5.00 @ $ 15.00 Youth Activities: NCWGA National Show NCWGA Regional Show Activity NCWGA Scholarship Fund Other Total Enclosed Make checks payable to: NCWGA Mail to: NCWGA Secretary 19477 Indian Road Kellyville, OK 74039 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ PRODUCT CODES: 02 BARBADOS 19 MERINO A SHOW STOCK 04 CALIFORNIA RED 20 MONTADALE B BREEDING STOCK 38 CVM 22 NAVAJO CHURRO C PROJECT LAMBS 05 CHEVIOT 50 NORTH COUNTRY CHEVIOT D LOCKER LAMBS 49 CLUN FOREST 23 OXFORD DOWN E RAM SERVICE 06 COLUMBIA 24 PANAMA F FLEECES 55 COOPWORTH 75 PERENDALE G ROVING/BATTS 71 CORMO 25 POLYPAY H YARN 07 CORRIEDALE 26 POLWORTH I WOOL PROCESSING 08 CORSICAN 27 RAMBOUILLET J SPIN/WEAVING SUPPLY 09 COTSWOLD 28 ROMELDALE K TANNING/PELTS 10 DEBOUILLET 29 ROMNEY L LIVESTOCK SUPPLY 11 DELAINE MERINO 77 ROMANOV M SOAP 12 DORSET 30 SALISH N SEMEN 13 FINNISH LANDRACE 31 SCOTTISH BLACK FACED 86 GOTLAND 79 SHETLAND 14 HAMPSHIRE 33 SHROPSHIRE 81 ICELANDIC 34 SOUTHDOWN 15 JACOB 35 SUFFOLK 16 KARAKUL 36 TARGHEE 17 LEICESTER, BORDER 84 TEESWATER 21 LEICESTER, BLUE FACED 37 TUNIS 52 LEICESTER, ENGLISH 56 WELSH 18 LINCOLN 85 WENSLEYDALE 70 MANX LOGHTAN Revised November 12, 2009 23 24 Don’t let this be your last issue of the Marker. Renew your membership!