Ohio Sheep Day

OHIO SHEEP DAY

Ohio Sheep Day is scheduled for Saturday, July 12.  It will be held on the Cline family farm, located just outside of Albany at 3933 Factory Road.  Curt Cline was the 2007 Ohio Sheep Improvement Association Environmental Stewardship Award winner and at the 2008 American Sheep Industry meeting was named the national Environmental Stewardship Award winner.  Curt is currently serving as a director on the board of the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association.

The Cline farm is a forage based sheep operation.  In the early part of 2008, the sheep flock was expanded from 120 ewes to 300 plus ewes.  The expansion is the result of some significant management changes that revolve around internal parasite control, more intensive use of traditional and alternative forages and the economic potential of the Ohio sheep industry.  Visitors to the Cline farm during Sheep Day can expect to hear about the importance of economic analysis as a base to decision making.  To download a flyer with information click here: Sheep Day Flyer

The 2008 Sheep Day at the Cline farm will focus on forage demonstrations, grazing management and stored forage use.  A partial list of what visitors will see includes:

·        Fall (2007) seeded grass plots

·        Fall (2007) seed grass plots frost seeded in late winter 2008 with red and white clover

·        A Tekapo orchardgrass field established in 2004, interseeded/frost seeded in late winter of 2008 with red and white clover, using grazing sheep to insure good seed/soil contact

·        Forage chicory field

·        Several fields of Brown Mid-Rib (BMR) sudangrass and sorghum x sudangrass hybrids

·        A field of Teff grass, a warm season annual grass that produces a high-tonnage, high quality feed suited for hay production

·        Paddock and water system for cool season grass pastures

In addition to talking about the agronomic characteristics of forages used on the farm, other topics that will be addressed include:

·        Soil fertility management using grid sampling and GIS fertilizer application on pasture paddocks

·        Internal parasite management within a rotational grazing system

·        Handling and caring for foot rot

·        Economic issues and considerations in a forage based sheep operation

·        Utilizing cost-share assistance programs like EQIP to protect the environment and improve grazing management

There will also be vendors/exhibitors dealing with all aspects of sheep production.

            Ohio Sheep Day will offer visitors the opportunity to visit a farm that has been in the Cline family since the late 1800’s where today 3 generations come together to live and work.  Curt and Wendy are excited about the future of agriculture and the opportunities for profit that a sheep operation can generate.

            Anyone interested in livestock production and forage management is invited to attend Sheep Day.  Although the emphasis is on sheep production, the principles of forage management and economic decision-making can be applied across livestock production systems.

            Registration for Sheep Day at the Cline farm begins at 8:00 am on Saturday, July 12.  The cost is $5 per person for Ohio Sheep Improvement Association Members and $10 per person for non-members.  Lunch is included in the registration fee.  The program begins at 9:00 am.  There are various morning and afternoon breakout sessions to choose from.  The final session of the day is entitled “Pulling It All Together: Making Management Decisions that Affect the Bottom Line”.  The day concludes at 4:00 pm.

            For more information, contact the Athens County Extension office at 593-8555.