Nebraskan’s Attend ASI Convention

 

Eight Nebraskans attended the national ASI Convention in Denver, CO January 10-13.  This list included Ivan Rush, Randy Saner, Andrea Nicely, Issac Brunkow, Dan Stehlik, Dr. Ron Lewis, Hilal Yazar Gunes, and Artur Rocha.  These individuals attended or presented at various workshops during the convention attended by over 400 sheep producers and industry persons from around the United States.

                 Ivan Rush, Scottsbluff, and Dan Stehlik, Curtis, participated in a tour of the Superior Farms packing plant in Denver that harvests over 1400 lambs per day.  This plant has protocols in place to continue processing activities in the event of a Foot and Mouth disease outbreak in the US.  Besides the many retail lamb cuts being packaged for Wal-Mart, Kroeger’s, and other store brands, the tours showcased robots to remove bone dust from meat cuts after size cutting, vacuum packaging, and even labeling of various meat cuts for the plant’s intended distributors.  They also observed a photo-generated grading system that was being implemented.  About 160 employees work in the plant from one end of the process to the other.

While at the plant, Dr. Danelle Bickett-Wedde, DVM, of the Secure Sheep and Wool Supply Plan committee, shared the concerns about a potential Foot and Mouth outbreak and some of the restrictions to be imposed on the entire livestock industry in the event an outbreak should occur.  An outbreak would directly affect all split-hoof animals in an infected zone and indirectly all such animals throughout the US.  She also led discussion of the protocol means that sheep, swine, goat, and cattle producers and similar wildlife and related businesses should develop to maintain their operations.  The protocols put forth included bio-security plans before an infection as prevention and what would need to be enacted on a premises in the event of an outbreak.

As a follow-up to this interesting tour and presentation, the group traveled to Harpers Feeders near Eaton, CO that feeds about 76,000 lambs and 3,000 head of cattle.  This feedlot has implemented a bio-security plan whereby outside traffic and visitors do not ever cross into the grounds of the operation without disinfecting.  Once livestock and equipment are inside the specified barrier limits, there would be no cross-contact.  With over 34 pens containing 1500-1800 lambs in each pen, Mike Harper explained how various rations were used to space out finish dates to accommodate delivery of appropriate weight lambs for harvesting. 

One unique feature was a hydraulic tub that feed from inventory was dumped into and then was dumped into one of three feed trucks for mixing and disbursement to the pens.  Thus, preventing contamination by vehicles from outside the secure zone into the bio-secure premises and vice versa.  Also, high-lighted was the processing chute arrangement that allowed rapid handling and treating of lambs with reduced labor and reduced stress to the lambs.

During the balance of the Convention people attended various sessions.  Dan Stehlik participated in the State President’s Breakfast and national Lamb Council sessions according to his responsibilities.  Andrea Nisly, Nebraska Make It With Wool coordinator, was involved with the national MIWW competition.  Dr. Ron Lewis and two of his graduate students from UN-L shared genetic research project results they were involved with.  Dr. Lewis was also presented retirement recognition at the Awards Luncheon for his work with the National Sheep Improvement Program that the Nebraska participants also attended.  Issac Brunkow, Sheep Manager, and Dr. Brad Freking with Dr. Tom Murphy, sheep geneticists from the Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center presented to the Genetic committee.  Ivan Rush and Randy Saner, Lincoln County Extension Educator, participated as members of Nebraska Sheep and Goat Association in the ASI Production, Education and Research Council and attended various other workshops to their interest.

Daan’ Bleats

Is It That Time Already?

By Dan Stehlik

Is it that time already?  I’ve laid wrong, my shoulder is sore. Gee I’d like to stay under cover, even for just ten minutes more.

But it’s one o’clock in the morning and probably cold outside.  And there’s babies that need to be fed.  I mix the bottles,

gear up, and leave behind the warmth of my bed.  It’s clear and crisp when I step outdoors, but at least there’s no wind as I

crawl into my truck.  I drive the short distance to the lambing yard.  Let’s see what will be tonight’s luck.

The twins meet me at the gate and empty their bottles so fast.  No matter what time I arrive, they think that I’m late,

and always glad to see me at last.  I round the corner to the pen with the heavies.  I step between bodies, sleeping or

chewing their cud.  They’re all here, no wait, there’s one missing.  It’s sure nice not to be trudging through mud.  I peek

inside the lambing shed, yesterday’s mothers and babies under the light.  There’s soft mother sounds and movement in the

corner.  I step closer to see if everything’s all right.  A ewe stomps her foot as I come near, then turns back to the task at

hand.

She’s licking and licking, and giving attention to one, no, to two little lambs.  I grab a leg and iodine the navel and replace

them to a pen of their own.  Mother follows and resumes her duty, it looks like this will be a good morn.  Occasionally I

have to halter a ewe, sleeve up and reach inside for the feet.  It can be chilly without coveralls or coat, as I give Mother

Nature a ‘helping hand’ so to speak.  Sometimes, there’s multiple moms at work.  Now and then a lamb that got cold.  Some

need that first milk tubed direct.  As often as I do this, it never gets old.  After watching families for a while, I finally head

back to the house, marveling at the instincts as I walk in the door.  Is it that time already?  I was only out for a short while,

but it’s nearly a quarter past four!

extensionpic

The University of Nebraska sheep and goat extension program is demand driven, seeking to address the specific needs of producers as they arise. The goal of the program is to provide assistance to producers and interested youth to help them become efficient producers with a broad knowledge of the industry.

https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/lincolnmcpherson/nebraska-extension-sheep-and-goat/

 

Who We Are

The Nebraska Sheep and Goat Producers Association partners with the American Sheep Industry, one of the nation’s oldest and most respected livestock associations. NS&GP also strongly supports the American Sheep Industry’s reorganization of the American Goat Federation.

These representations help decide the direction and national support of the American sheep and goat industries – not to mention Nebraska’s sheep and goat industries. NS&GP gives a voice to all of Nebraska’s 1,600 sheep and goat producers.

The Nebraska Sheep & Goat Producers Association is the only statewide organization representing and supporting the interests of both sheep and goat producers for the entire state of Nebraska.

Our Mission

The Nebraska Sheep and Goat Producers is a domestic livestock association formed to foster, support, protect, and promote the best interests of the sheep and goat producers in the State of Nebraska and the United States of America.

Meet The Board

Nebraska Sheep & Goat Producers Association strives to represent all facets of the sheep and goat industries. We achieve this by holding elections by district once every three years. The Board of Directors is composed of current members in good standing with the association who are selected on their abilities to best represent their respective industry. To learn more about your board click here.