CUMBERLAND, Ohio -- Producers and farmers of sheep and other small livestock can learn how to increase their farm’s productivity and profitability through the latest pasture, renovation methods and sheep management processes during a Sheep Day workshop July 12 at a commercial sheep, goat and cattle farm.
The program is designed to help sheep and goat producers learn new techniques to benefit their farm operations, said Roger A. High, OSIA executive director and OSU Extension state sheep program specialist.
Sheep Day is sponsored by Ohio State University Extension, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), Ohio State’s Department of Animal Sciences, the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association (OSIA) and the Ohio Sheep and Wool Program, as well as other industry partners.
The day-long event will be led by experts from industry and from Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. OSU Extension and OARDC are the outreach and research arms, respectively, of the college.
“Sheep experts and speakers will provide information about EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) practices, agricultural lime application and pasture renewal, and the latest sheep equipment,” High said.
“A large benefit of attending Ohio Sheep Day is not only the information gained from the speakers, but the invaluable experience of speaking and sharing ideas with other sheep producers and farmers.”
The event is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ray Family Farm, 50725 Ray Lane in Cumberland. Located in southeastern Ohio, the farm is an ideal location for ruminant livestock production because of its rough, rolling terrain, High said.
This year, Ohio Sheep Day also features the ASI Eastern Region Predator Control Workshop, he said.
“The predator workshop can provide farmers and producers with effective use of guard animals, nonlethal control methods, and the utilization of trapping, snaring and protection collars and M-44s,” High said.
The event is open to the public, although preregistration is required. Registration, which includes a lamb luncheon, is $10 for OSIA members and $20 for nonmembers, but memberships are available for purchase at the time of registration. For information about registration or about the event, contact High at 614-246-8299 or rhigh@ofbf.org, or see sheep.osu.edu/.
Roger A. High
614-246-8299
rhigh@ofbf.org