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U.S. SHEEP INDUSTRY RESEACH, DEVELOPMENT, AND EDUCATION PRIORITIES
AmericanSheepIndustryAssociation,Inc.
June 2016
Larry R. Miller LRM Consulting Services
Julie Stepanek Shiflett
Juniper Economic Consulting
Deborah J. Marsh Knob Economics
Paul Rodgers
American Sheep Industry Association
i
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ObjectiveThesheepindustryintheU.S.isacomplexindustryfacingmanycomplexissuesandchallenges.Thesheepindustryisadiverseindustryproducingqualitymeat,milk,andwoolproductsunderavarietyofmanagementandenvironmentalconditions.Identifyingandunderstandingthekeyissuesandchallengesfacingthesheepindustrytodayisimportanttohelpestablishtheindustry’sresearch,development,andeducationprioritiesandtohelpguideresourceallocation-bothpublicandprivate.Theoverarchingobjectiveofthisreportistoidentifyresearch,development,andeducationprioritiesfortheU.S.sheepindustrythat:1)resultinproductsfromsheepthatareofthehighestpossiblequality,2)aresafeandwholesome,3)areproducedinasustainableandenvironmentallyresponsiblemanner,4)contributetothenation’sfoodandfibersecurity,5)recognizetheethicalresponsibilitytoprovideforthehumanecareandwelfareofsheep,and6)createopportunitiesforincreasedprofitability,competivenessintheworldmarket,andindustrygrowth.Ina2015NationalResearchCouncilreporttitled,CriticalRoleofAnimalScienceResearchinFoodSecurityandSustainability,thecommitteestatedthatsustainablymeetingthenutritionalneedsofagrowingpopulationanditsdemandforanimalproductswillrequiresignificantinvestmentinresearchanddevelopment.1However,publicfundingforanimalagricultureingeneral,andforsheepresearch,development,andeducationinparticular,isonthedecline.Itiswithinthiscontextofcomplexissuesandchallenges,industrydiversity,andreducedfundingthatacomprehensiveneedsassessmentfortheU.S.sheepindustrywasundertaken.MethodologyOverviewAmulti-facetedapproachwasusedtoidentifyresearch,development,andeducationprioritiesforthesheepindustry.Theapproachincluded:
1)Areviewofpublishedsheepresearchacrossarangeoftopicsanddisciplines,withparticularemphasisplacedontheNationalResearchCouncilreport,ChangesintheSheepIndustryintheUnitedStates,MakingtheTransitionfromTradition(2008),theAmericanSheepIndustryAssociationProducerSurvey,CompendiumofResearchResults&AnalysisbyProducerRegionandFlockSize(2010),theUSDA,APHIS,VeterinaryServices,NationalAnimalHealthMonitoringSystemSheep2011Study(2012),theASISheepProductionHandbook,andtheSheepandGoatResearchJournal.2)On-linesurveysweredevelopedforeachofthemajorindustrysectors/stakeholders-includingproducers,feeders,lambpackers/processors,andwoolbuyers/processors.Resultsofthestakeholdersurveysprovidedasummarylistingofcurrentindustryneedsandchallenges.Demographicdifferencesand/orsimilaritiesofkeyproducerchallengeswereanalyzedbytypeofoperation(commerciallamb,wool,dairy,seedstock,etc.),locationofoperation,typeof
1NationalResearchCouncil.CriticalRoleofAnimalScienceResearchinFoodSecurityandSustainability.Washington,DC:TheNationalAcademiesPress,2015.Web.
ii
management(herded/openrange,fencedrange,pasture,etc.),sizeofoperation,breed(s)ofsheep,yearsofexperienceraisingsheep,expansion/contractionoverthepastfiveyears,expansion/contractionplansoverthenextfiveyears,aswellastheuseandeffectivenessofvariousmanagementpracticesandtechnologies.3)Focusgroupsrepresentingresearchandeducationacrossarangeofdisciplines,includinggenetics,reproduction,nutrition,rangescience,veterinarymedicine,marketing,andmeat,wool,anddairysciences,wereaskedtocategorizeeachofthetopindustryissuesandchallengesidentifiedasprimarilyaresearch,development,and/oreducationneed.Thatis,toweigh-inonthemosteffectivewaytoaddressaparticularissueorchallenge-throughbasicand/orappliedresearch,throughthedevelopmentofspecificmanagementtools,products,etc.,orviapoliticaladvocacyandregulatorydevelopment,andthrougheducationaloutreachandtechnologytransfer.Thefocusgroupsprovidedbothcontextandspecific/targetedrecommendations.
Theresearch,development,andeducationprioritiessummarizedinthisreportreflectsignificantindustryinputandareacompositeofthoseidentifiedthroughtheliteraturereviewandindustry-widesurveys.Producerchallengesweregenerallysummarizedbybothpercentbreedingewesandpercentoperations.Percentbreedingeweshighlightsthosechallengesaffectingthegreatestnumberofsheepandarecriticaltomaintainingthecommercialinfrastructureoftheindustry.PercentoperationshighlightsthosechallengesimpactingthegreatestnumberofsheepproducersandareimportanttomeetingthediverseneedsofU.S.lamb,wool,anddairyconsumers–particularlythoseofthenontraditionalandnichemarkets.Thereis,ofcourse,significantoverlap.Rankingsandemphasisdifferprimarilyreflectingoperationsizeandmanagementsystem(range-basedversuspasture-based).Thetopproducersectorchallengesrankedbypercentbreedingewes:
1) Labor/labormanagement2) Predatormanagement3) Governmentregulationsandcompliance4) Marketing5) Flockhealth6) Grazingandforagemanagement7) FacilitiesandFencing8) Estateplanningandgenerationaltransfer
Thetopproducersectorchallengesrankedbypercentoperations:
1) Grazingandforagemanagement2) Marketing3) Flockhealth4) Labor/labormanagement5) Facilitiesandfencing6) Predatormanagement7) Genetics8) Reproduction
Thetopfeedersectorchallenges:
1) Feederlambavailability2) Laborcosts/availability
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3) Processingcontracts/killslotavailability4) Pricerisk
Thetoplambpacker/processorchallenges:
1) Laboravailability/cost2) Consumerdemand3) Governmentregulationsandcompliance4) Seasonalsupplyandsupplysecurity5) Qualityanduniformityofslaughterlambs
Thetopwoolbuyer/processorchallenges:
1) Contamination2) Availability/supplyofU.S.wool3) Quality
Clearly,thechallengesidentifiedpointtomanycommonstakeholderconcerns.Laborchallenges,forexample,werecommonacrosssectors.However,otherchallenges,includinggeneticsandanimalhealthandwelfare,identifiedbytheproducersector,anddemand,identifiedbythepacker/processorsector,arealsofundamentallyindustry-wideconcernsandchallenges-impactingtheentireU.S.sheepindustry.Theresearch,development,andeducationprioritiessummarizedherearepresentedtopicallybydiscipline,innoparticularorderofimportance.Greaterdetailandspecificrecommendationsareprovidedinthemainbodyofthisreport.Theprioritiesarebroadlyclassifiedasresearch,development,oreducationalneedsbasedonfocusgroupassessment.Although,innearlyallcases,someelementofeach-research,development,andeducation–isrequiredtoadequatelyaddressspecificchallengeareas.RESEARCH,DEVELOPMENT,ANDEDUCATIONPRIORITIESFORTHEU.S.SHEEPINDUSTRYInstitutionalframeworkrecommendationsforbasicandappliedresearch
§ Continuedsupportforcentersforsheepresearch§ Targetedcollaborativeeffortsbetweentheindustry,universities,andtheU.S.Departmentof
Agriculture’sAgriculturalResearchService§ Publicandprivatepartneringtoleverageresourcesforincreasedefficiencyandeffectiveness§ Continuedsupportandutilizationofexistingprivateandpublicresearchandeducation
infrastructure§ Increasedcheckoffassessmentstowardexpandingthescopeofthecheckoffprogramtoinclude
productionresearchandeducationGeneticsandBreeding
§ ValueofEBVsgeneratedbyNSIP§ Geneticparametersandselectioncriteriafornewand/orcomplextraits§ Genomicinformation
iv
§ Economicselectionindices§ Genomicbreedingvalues§ Strategiccrossbreedingsystems§ Simplegoal-basedproductionrecordsforcommercialflocks
FlockHealth
§ Parasitecontrolandvaccinedevelopment§ Lambstarvation§ Lambrespiratorydisease§ Mastitiscontrol§ Footrotandscaldcontrol§ Coccidiacontrol§ Alternativestoantimicrobials§ Scrapietransmissionandliveanimaltests§ Q-fevermitigationandcontrol§ Increasedadoptionofexistinghealthtechnologies§ Accurateflockhealthinformation
ReproductivePerformanceandEfficiency
§ Out-of-seasonbreedingprogramsandtechnologyuptake§ Geneticpotentialscoring§ Ultrasound-assistedselectionforlittersize§ Ewe/lambbondingbehavior§ Commercialavailabilityofreproductiveinterventionproducts§ Increasedadoptionofexistingreproductivetechnologies§ Onlineresources
GrazingandForageManagement&Nutrition
§ Ecosystemmanagementandenhancement§ Multi-speciesgrazing§ Sustainabilityindicators§ Matchingbreedtype,productiongoals,andforageresources§ Alternativefeedsandforages§ Strategicparasitecontrol§ Onlineresources§ Train-the-Trainerprograms§ Web-andworkshop-basedprograms§ RiskManagementInsuranceeducation
PublicInterestandSocialIssues
§ Properlytrainedandaffordablelabor§ H-2Asheepherders/guestworkerprogram§ Sociallyacceptablemethodsofwastehandlingandremoval,andcarcassdisposal§ EnhancementofCleanWaterActprovisions§ Animalwelfareandhumanehandlingeducationaltoolsforallsectors§ Foodandfibersecurity,continuityofbusiness,andsupplychainmanagementunderadverse
conditionsandcircumstances
v
§ Bighornsheepandspeciesseparationpolicies§ Enhancementofsagegrousehabitat
PredatorManagement
§ Lethalpredatorcontroltechnologies§ Non-lethalpreventativeandcorrectivetechnologies§ Discriminantpredatormanagement§ Increasedproducerawarenessofanimaldamagecontrolresourcesandofstateandfederal
regulations§ Educationandtrainingontheeffectivenessanduseofexistingpredatormanagementtools§ Increasedpublicawarenessanddevelopmentofpublic/privatepartnershipsaimedatreducing
depredationbywildlifeanddomesticdogsLambProcessingandMarketing
§ Newandinnovativemethodsofmanagingsupplies§ Marketinformationandpricesignals§ Pricevolatilityandriskmanagement§ Demandindexanddemanddrivers§ Processingopportunities§ Localmarketdevelopment§ Value-basedpricing§ Objectivemeasuresandpredictorsofmeatqualityandeatingsatisfaction§ Packagingtechnologies
WoolProductionandMarketing
§ Pricesignalsandvalue-basedpricing§ Woolqualityandpreparation§ Woolgrowereducationaimedatimprovingwoolqualityandreducingcontaminants§ Demonstrate/estimatereturnoninvestmentinwoolpreparation§ Marketingcampaigntoexpanddemandfordomesticwool§ Newproduct/marketdevelopmentandimprovedpackaging§ Militaryapparel§ Dye-resistantfibers§ Rapid,reliable,objectivemeasurementequipmentandtechnologies§ Developmentofarapidmechanicalmethodtodetectdefectsinrawpelts
vi
Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................1
ObjectiveandBackground.......................................................................................................................1
Method....................................................................................................................................................1
OrganizationandPresentationofFindings..............................................................................................3
Chapter1SurveyResults:BackgroundandGreatestProducerChallenges................................................4
Introduction.............................................................................................................................................4
ExpansionPlans.......................................................................................................................................4
GreatestChallengesIdentifiedbyProducers...........................................................................................5
Chapter2SheepGeneticsandBreeding...................................................................................................11
EstimatedBreedingValuesAssessment................................................................................................11
GeneticsandBreedingResearchandDevelopmentPriorities..............................................................12
EducationPrioritiesforGeneticsandBreeding.....................................................................................14
Chapter3FlockHealth...............................................................................................................................15
ProducerSurveyResults........................................................................................................................15
GreatestChallenge:InternalParasites..............................................................................................17
ResearchPrioritiesforFlockHealth.......................................................................................................19
DevelopmentPrioritiesforFlockHealth................................................................................................20
EducationPrioritiesforFlockHealth.....................................................................................................21
Chapter4ReproductivePerformance.......................................................................................................23
AssessmentofOut-of-SeasonBreedingUse..........................................................................................23
ResearchPrioritiesforReproductivePerformance...............................................................................24
DevelopmentPrioritiesforReproductivePerformance........................................................................25
EducationPrioritiesforReproductivePerformance..............................................................................25
Chapter5GrazingandForageManagement&Nutrition..........................................................................26
GrazingandForageManagement.........................................................................................................26
NutritionalManagement.......................................................................................................................28
ResearchPrioritiesforGrazing&ForageManagementandNutrition..................................................29
DevelopmentPrioritiesforGrazing&ForageManagementandNutrition...........................................30
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EducationPrioritiesforGrazing&ForageManagementandNutrition................................................30
Chapter6PublicInterestandSocialIssues...............................................................................................32
ResearchPrioritiesforPublicInterestandSocialIssues........................................................................35
DevelopmentandEducationPrioritiesforPublicInterestandSocialIssues.........................................35
PredatorManagement..........................................................................................................................36
ProducerSurveyResults....................................................................................................................36
ResearchPrioritiesforPredatorManagement..................................................................................37
DevelopmentPrioritiesforPredatorManagement...........................................................................37
EducationPrioritiesforPredatorManagement.................................................................................37
Chapter7LambMarketing........................................................................................................................38
ProducerSurveyResults........................................................................................................................38
LambFeederSurveyResults..................................................................................................................41
LambPacker/ProcessorSurveyResults.................................................................................................41
ResearchPrioritiesforLambMarketing................................................................................................42
DevelopmentPrioritiesforLambMarketing.........................................................................................43
EducationPrioritiesforLambMarketing...............................................................................................44
Chapter8WoolMarketing........................................................................................................................45
ProducerSurveyResults........................................................................................................................45
WoolBuyer/ProcessorSurvey...............................................................................................................46
ResearchPrioritiesforWool..................................................................................................................49
DevelopmentPrioritiesforWool...........................................................................................................49
EducationPrioritiesforWool.................................................................................................................50
Chapter9ResourceAllocationforResearchandEducationandTrendsinPublicFunding......................51
InstitutionalFrameworkPrioritiesforResearch,Education,andDevelopment...................................52
Bibliography...............................................................................................................................................55
APPENDIXA—DemographicProfilesandSurveyResults..........................................................................64
APPENDIXB--Research,Development,andEducationPrioritiesbySizeofOperation...........................103
GreatestChallengesofCommercialOperatorsbyTypeandSizeofOperation..................................103
GreatestChallengesofSeedstockOperatorsbySizeofOperation.....................................................103
APPENDIXC--DairySurveyResults.........................................................................................................105
APPENDIXD--AllocationofPublicFundingforSheepResearch.............................................................106
Acknowledgements................................................................................................................................108
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Table of Figures
Figure1ResearchMethod………………………………………...….………………………………………………………………2
Figure1-1PercentofOperationsbyRegionthatPlanonIncreasingBreedingEwe...................................5Figure1-2PercentOperationsbyFlockSize...............................................................................................6Figure1-3PercentBreedingEwesbyFlockSize..........................................................................................6Figure1-4GreatestProducerChallengesbyPercentBreedingEwesandPercentOperations..................7Figure1-5GreatestProducerChallengesbyPercentBreedingEwesandbyRegion..................................8Figure1-6GreatestProducerChallengesforCommercialandSeedstockOperations...............................9Figure1-7GreatestProducerChallengesbySizeofSeedstockOperation..................................................9Figure1-8GreatestProducerChallengesbySizeofCommercialOperation.............................................10Figure3-1Disease/DiseaseConditioninLambswithGreatestEconomicImpact(AllFlocks)..................15Figure3-2Disease/DiseaseConditioninBreedingEwes/RamswithGreatestEconomicImpact(AllFlocks)...................................................................................................................................................................16Figure3-3PercentofOperationswithinaRegionIdentifyingInternalParasitesasaDifficultDiseaseConditionamongLambsand/orBreedingStock.......................................................................................17Figure3-4UseofParasiteManagementTechnologies.............................................................................18Figure4-1LeastSatisfiedAreasofReproductiveFlockPerformance.......................................................23Figure4-2FactorsLimitingtheSuccessofOut-of-SeasonBreedingPrograms.........................................24Figure5-1GrazingandPastureManagementChallenges.........................................................................27Figure5-2GreatestGrazing/PastureManagementwithPotentialtoIncreaseProfitability.....................27Figure5-3NutritionalManagementChallenges........................................................................................29Figure6-1ModeratetoSignificantCurrentorPotentialImpactonOperationbyPercentBreedingEwesandPercentOperations.............................................................................................................................33Figure6-2ModeratetoSignificantCurrentorPotentialImpactonOperationbyPercentRange-basedandPercentPasture-based........................................................................................................................33Figure7-1PercentofCommercialLambOperatorsIdentifyingMarketingasaMajorChallengebyFlockSize.............................................................................................................................................................38Figure7-2CommercialLambOperationsbyMarketOutletandFlockSize..............................................39Figure8-1WoolSalesbyMarketingOutlet...............................................................................................45Figure8-2RecommendedFactorstoHelpImprovetheWoolClip...........................................................46Figure8-3Quality/ValueAttributesofU.S.Wool......................................................................................47Figure8-4Quality/ValueWeaknessesofU.S.Wool..................................................................................48Figure8-5ResearchandDevelopmentPrioritiesthatAddValuetoU.S.Wool........................................49Figure9-1Funding/ExpenditureTrends....................................................................................................52
1
Introduction ObjectiveandBackgroundTheobjectiveofthisstudyistoidentifyresearch,development,andeducationneedsfortheU.S.sheepindustry.Thestudywasdesignedtoprovideinformationthatcanbeusedbydecision-makerstohelpguideresourceallocationforsheepresearch,development,andeducation.Thestudyprovidesindustry-wideinputforUSDAintramuralandextramuralresearchplanningaswellasforalliedindustriesandbusinessesthatdevelopandprovidemanyoftheproductsandservicesusedbythesheepindustry.Thestudywasprompted,inpart,byadecliningtrendinpublicfundingandresourceallocationforsheepresearchandeducationandbytheneedformoreprecisedirectionfromstakeholderstohelpaffectbothpublicandprivateinvestments.TheU.S.sheepindustryhasexperienceddeclinesintotalinventoryof30to40percentsincetheearly1990s-similartothoseofmajorsheepproducingcountriesaroundtheworld.Steepcontractionsininventoryappeartohavehalted,andevenreversed,withthenationalinventoryexperiencinggainsoverthepasttwoyears.Tappingintothosegainsandaddressingindustryneedsthroughabetterunderstandingofthechallengesfacedbyproducers,feeders,packers,andwoolbusinesses,canhelppromoteandsustainindustrygrowth.Developinganeffective,demand-drivensetofpriorityresearch,development,andeducationgoalswillhelpkeeptheindustrymovingforward.MethodAmulti-facetedapproachwasusedtoidentifytheindustry’sresearch,development,andeducationpriorities.First,areviewofpublishedsheepresearchacrossarangeoftopicsanddisciplineswasconducted.Indevelopingaresearchplan,surveyinstruments,andrecommendations,thestudydrewfromprevioussheepindustryanalyses,surveys,andresources,including:
§ The2008NationalResearchCouncil’s(NRC),ChangesintheSheepIndustryintheUnitedStates:MakingtheTransitionfromTradition;
§ TheAmericanSheepIndustryAssociation’s(ASI),ProducerSurvey-2010:Compendiumof
ResearchResults&AnalysisbyProducerRegionandFlockSize;
§ TheUSDA,APHIS,VeterinaryServices,NationalAnimalHealthMonitoringSystem(NAHMS),Sheep2011NeedsAssessmentandSheep2011finalreports,includingSheep2011:PartI:ReferenceofSheepManagementPractices,PartII:ReferenceofMarketingandDeathLoss,PartIII:HealthandManagementPractices,andPartIV:ChangesinHealthandProductionPractices,aswellasvarious“InfoSheets”developedfromtheSheep2011study;
§ ASIpublicationsincludingsymposiums,conferenceandconventionproceedings,SheepSafetyandQualityAssuranceProgram(SSQA),SheepCareGuide,andNontraditionalMarkets,TargetedGrazing,LivestockGuardianDogs,andPredationpublications;
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§ TheASISheepProductionHandbook--areferenceguidecoveringawidevarietyoftopicspertainingtosheepproduction--andvariousissuesandspecialeditionsoftheSheep&GoatResearchJournal;
§ TheAmericanLambBoardRoadmapandvalue-basedpricingreports;and
§ Otherinformationsources,includingnumerousonlineresourcesanddeliveryformats.
Thebibliographyprovidesamorecompletelistingofthesupportingliteraturereviewedandinformationresourcesconsulted.Followingtheliteraturereview,onlinesurveysofproducers,feeders,lambpackers/processors,andwoolbusinessesweredevelopedandimplemented.Thesurveysweredevelopedtoensurethattheprioritiesidentifiedweredemand-driven,reflectingthepriorityneedsandchallengesofeachofthemajorindustrysectorsandoftheindustryatlarge.Finally,afocusgrouprepresentingresearchandeducationacrossarangeofacademicdisciplineswasalsosurveyed.Thiswasfollowedbytworoundsoffocusgroupconferencecalls,andafinalsetofquestionsdirectedtoadvisoryteamswithexpertiseinspecificpriorityareas.
Figure1ResearchMethod
FocusGroupmemberswithprofessionalknowledgeofthesheepindustrywereselectedtorepresentresearchandeducationacrossseveraldisciplinesandlevelsofexperience,aswellasgeographicareas.Expertiseandexperiencerelatedtonutrition,grazing,genetics/breeding,reproductivephysiology,veterinaryscience,rangescience,meat,wool,anddairyscience,marketing,andsheepmanagementwererepresented.Inaddition,somememberswereadministratorsresponsibleforresearchand/oreducationalresourcestraversingseveraldisciplines,multiplespecies,andanarrayofprogramssupportedbystate,federaland/orprivatesourcesoffunding.
3
Theobjectiveofthefocusgroupwastoanalyzeandinterprettheprioritychallengestohelpguidetheallocationofscarceresourcestoareasofgreatestneed.Thefocusgroupwasaskedtoclassifythemajorchallengesidentifiedbyproducersasresearch,development,and/oreducationalneeds.Thefocusgroupprovidedcontextandspecific,targetedrecommendations(e.g.,researchabletopics,developmentrecommendations,educationalapproaches/deficiencies,etc.).Thefocusgrouprespondedtothreetypesofsurveyquestions:1)research,development,andeducationalneeds,2)educationalresourcesforinformationdeliveryortechnologyadoption,and3)changesandrecommendationsrelatedtotheresearchandextension/educationinfrastructure.Specifically,thefocusgroupwasaskedto:
1. Evaluatetheimportantproducerchallenges,needsorconstraintsacrosstheresearch,developmentandeducationcontinuum.Thecontinuumincluded:a)newresearchinformation,b)interpretationofexistingresearchresults,c)acceptance/adoptionattheproducerlevel,d)technologydevelopment(e.g.,products,informationsystems,pharmaceuticals),ande)educationalresources.
2. Describethecurrentstatusofeducationalprogramsforeachofthetopproducerpriorities/challenges:a)currentlyavailable,b)easilyaccessible,c)readilyused,d)containsuptodateinformation,ande)neworrevisedprogramsneeded.
3. Identifychangesthathaveimpactedtheresearchandextension/educationinfrastructureandenhancementsforthecreationanddeliveryoftechnologyfortheU.S.sheepindustry.
OrganizationandPresentationofFindingsThebodyofthisreportdealsprimarilywiththeindustrystakeholdersurveyresults,analysesandfindings.Theresearch,development,andeducationprioritiessummarizedattheendofeachchapterareacompositeofthoseidentifiedthroughtheliteraturereview,stakeholdersurveys,andincludespecificfocusgrouprecommendations.Prioritiesarepresentedtopicallybydiscipline,innoparticularorderofimportance,andarebroadlyclassifiedasresearch,development,oreducationprioritiesbasedonfocusgroupinput.Clearly,thereisoverlapandsynergybetweenanumberofthetopindustrychallenges,aswellasbetweensomeoftheresearch,development,andeducationprioritiesaimedataddressingthosechallenges.Innearlyallcases,morethanoneelementorapproach-research,development,andeducation-isneededtoeffectivelyaddresstheindustry’sprioritychallenges.Thereportandsupportingmaterialsareorganizedasfollows:
I. Chapteroneprovidesbackgroundinformationandintroducesthegreatestchallengesidentifiedbyproducers.
II. Chapterstwothrougheightfocusonthemajorchallengesbytopic-innoparticularorderofimportance.Theresearch,development,andeducationprioritiesforeachtopicareaaredetailedattheendofeachchapter.
III. Chapterninediscussesresourceallocationforresearchandeducationtrendsinpublicfunding.IV. TheAppendicesoffermoredetailedinformationandsummariesofselectedsurveyresultsand
demographics,andpublicfundinginformation.
4
Chapter 1 Survey Results: Background and Greatest Producer Challenges IntroductionResearch,development,andeducationalneedsdefinedinthisstudyaredemanddriven.Thegreatestproducerchallengeswerefirstidentifiedbasedonresultsfromanation-widesurveyofsheepproducersthatincludedcommerciallamb,seedstock,4-H/club-lamb,wool,dairy,andsustainablelandmanagement/grazingservices.Sheepproducersin46statesandalleightofASI’srepresentativeregionsparticipatedinthesurvey,providingabroadcross-sectionalsamplingoftheindustry.Separatesurveysofothermarketingchainparticipants,includingfeeders,packers/processors,andwoolbuyers/processors,werealsoconducted.Thefocusgroupsandpriorityteamswerethenengagedtoprovideinsight,input,andrecommendations.Theresearchprioritiesidentifiedinthisreportaretakentoincludebasicthroughappliedresearch,andcanalsoincludetechnologytransfer.Developmentprioritiesincludelocal,state,andnationalstatutoryandregulatoryenhancements,andadvocacy,aswellasinvestmentsinproductandprocessdevelopment,manufacturing,anddelivery.Educationprioritiesarebroadlydefinedasinformationdissemination-educationandoutreachthatutilizebothtraditionalandinnovativenewmethodsandsystemsofdelivery.ExpansionPlansIdentifyingresearch,development,andeducationalneedsisparticularlyimportanttosupportthoseoperationsthatareexpanding(orplantoexpand)andtounderstandtheconstraintsfacedbythoseoperationsthatdonotplantoexpand,orplantoreduceflocksizeinthenearfuture.Amongproducersrespondingtoasurveyquestionaboutexpansionplans,47percentplantoincreasethenumberofbreedingewesontheiroperationsoverthenextfiveyears.ASI’s“Let’sGrow”campaignsupportsthisgrowthbypromotingthedevelopmentofinnovativeandsustainableinitiatives.OverhalfofsurveyrespondentsinASI’sRegions2(Mid-Atlantic/South),4(Mid&UpperMidwest),and5(Texas)plantoincreasebreedingewenumbersoverthenextfiveyears.Region7(NorthernRockies)hasthelargestbreedingewepopulationamongsurveyrespondents,butthesmallestpercentageofoperationsplanningtoincreasebreedingewenumbers.Acrossallflocks,landavailability(44percent),satisfiedwithcurrentsizeofoperation(41percent),workingpart-time/offfarm(32percent),andretirement(24percent)werethetopfourreasonscitedfornotexpanding.Feedresources/availabilityrankedfifthat21percentwithotherreasonsrankingmuchlower.Fifty-fivepercentofoperationsinRegion4(Mid&UpperMidwest)planonexpandinginthenextfiveyears.Regions2(Mid-Atlantic/South)and5(Texas)alsoreportedover50percentofoperationsplanningtoexpand.Region7(NorthernRockies)reportedthelowestrateat29percent.Region6(Mountain&Desert)wasat37percent,Region1(Northeast)wasat35percent,andRegion8(Pacific)wasat39percent.
5
Figure1-1PercentofOperationsbyRegionthatPlanonIncreasingBreedingEweNumbersovertheNextFiveYears
GreatestChallengesIdentifiedbyProducersThesurveyaskedproducerstoidentifytheirthreegreatestchallenges,thenaskedproducerstoidentifythechallengewiththegreatestimpactonprofitability.Challengesrangedfromflockhealth,grazingandforagemanagement,andnutrition,topredation,labor/labormanagement,marketing,andcurrentpolicyandotherissues.Thegreatestchallengesweredefinedbypercentoperationsandbypercentbreedingewes.TheU.S.sheepindustryischaracterizedbymanyrelativelysmalloperations,andafewverylargeoperationsthatmanagealargepercentageoftheewesintheU.S.flock.Nationally,approximately20percentofoperationsrepresentapproximately80percentofthetotalbreedingewepopulation.Ofalloperationsreportingcurrentnumberofbreedingewes,73percenthad100ewesandfewer.Overhalf,55percent,reportedfiftyheadorfewerandnearlyathird,32percent,reported25headorfewer.Incontrast,operationswithover5,000ewescomprised21percentofallewesandoperationswith1001-5000ewescomprise43percentofallewes.Thus,73percentofoperationsrepresentedonly10percentofthetotalnumberofbreedingewescapturedbythesurvey.Bycontrast,only9percentofoperationsrepresented74percentoftotalbreedingewes.
6
Figure1-2PercentOperationsbyFlockSize
Figure1-3PercentBreedingEwesbyFlockSize
Calculatingproducerchallengesbythepercentofoperationsidentifieschallengesaffectingthegreatestnumberofsheepproducers,whereasweightingthegreatestproducerchallengesbythenumberofbreedingewesidentifieschallengesaffectingthegreatestnumberofsheep.Thegreatestproducerchallengeidentifiedbypercentofoperationswasgrazingandforagemanagement.Thiswasnotunexpected,asthegreatestnumberofoperationsaresmallandmid-sizedoperationsinpastureandpasture/drylotflockmanagementsystems.Thesecond-highestrankingchallengebypercentoperationsismarketing,followedbyflockhealth.Labor/labormanagementandpredatormanagementsurfacedasmoreimportantprioritieswhensurveyresultsweresummarizedbypercentofbreedingewes--influencedbylargerflocksespeciallyinthewesternregions.Governmentregulationsandcompliancerankedthirdbypercentbreedingewes.
73.3%
17.6%
3.6% 4.8% 0.7%
1-100ewes 101-500ewes 501-1000ewes
1001-5000ewes 5000+ewes
10.2%
15.4%
10.7%42.7%
21.0%
1-100ewes 101-500ewes 501-1000ewes
1001-5000ewes 5000+ewes
7
Figure1-4GreatestProducerChallengesbyPercentBreedingEwesandPercentOperations
IntheASI2010survey,grazingandpasturemanagementrankedthirdinsevenareasofpossibletechnologyimprovements.Technologyinvestmentsreflectareasofproducerconcern.Inthe2010survey,breedingandselectionwasrankedhighestfollowedbynutritionmanagement.Regionaldifferencesemergedinrankingproducerchallengepriorities.Basedonpercentbreedingewes,intheNortheastandMid-Atlantic/Southflockhealthwasthetop-rankingchallenge.IntheGreatLakes,reproductiveperformanceandfacilitiesandfencingrankedfirstandsecond.IntheMid&UpperMidwest,TexasandMountain&Desertregions,labor/labormanagementwasthenumberonechallenge.IntheNorthernRockiesandPacific,governmentregulation/compliancewashighranking.
Common:--Labor/labormanagement--MarkeTng--Flockhealth
ByOperamon:1.Grazingandforage
management2.Markemng3.Flockhealth4.Labor/labormanagement
5.Facilimesandfencing
ByBreedingEwes:1.Labor/labormanagement
2.Predatormanagement3.Government
regulamon/compliance4.Markemng5.Flockhealth
8
Figure1-5GreatestProducerChallengesbyPercentBreedingEwesandbyRegion
Theproducersurveyhelpeddefinegreatestchallengesforcommercialandseedstockoperations.Commercialflocksincludedcommerciallamb,wool,dairy,andsustainablelandmanagementflocks.Seedstockflocksincludedseedstockflocksandshowand4-H/clublambflocks.
Therearecross-cuttingproducerchallengesacrosscommercialandseedstockoperations.Grazingandforagemanagementisthusafarreaching,broadresearchpriorityaffectingmanyacrossthesheepindustry.Asmeasuredbypercentoperations,grazingandforagemanagementwasthetop-rankingpriorityforbothcommercialandseedstockoperations.Marketing,flockhealth,andlabor/labormanagementwerealsocommonconcerns.Notsurprisingly,geneticsreceivedahigherrankingamongseedstockflocksthanamongcommercialflocks.Geneticsrankedsecondaftergrazingandforagemanagementforseedstockoperators.Thepercentofseedstockproducersidentifyinggeneticsasoneoftheirtopthreechallengesisdoublethatofothercommercialoperations.
9
Figure1-6GreatestProducerChallengesforCommercialandSeedstockOperations
Grazingandforagemanagementistheonecommonproducerchallengethatemergeswhenseedstockproducersaredefinedbysizeofbreedingflocks.Geneticsisthesecond-highestrankingchallengeamongthesmallandmid-sizedflocks,butisovershadowedbypredatormanagementandestateplanning/generationaltransferbylargeseedstockoperations.
Figure1-7GreatestProducerChallengesbySizeofSeedstockOperation
Flockhealth,marketing,andlabor/labormanagementarethreechallengesthatarecommonwhencommercialflocksaredefinedbysizeofbreedingflocks.Governmentregulations/compliance,labor/labormanagementandpredatormanagementarethetopthreeproducerchallengesfacingthelargestcommercialoperations.
10
Asidefromgenetics,sizeofoperationtendstohaveagreaterinfluencethantypeofoperationwhencomparingthegreatestproducerchallengesamongcommercialandseedstockoperations.
Figure1-8GreatestProducerChallengesbySizeofCommercialOperation
The2010ASIsurveyproducedsimilarfindings.Inthe2010ASIsurvey,producerswereaskedtorankinorderofimportanceallthenewtechnologiestheyhadadoptedtoimproveproductionefficiency.Thelargestoperationsplacedhighestpriorityonpredatorcontrol,followedbynutritionmanagement,andbreedingandselection.
11
Chapter 2 Sheep Genetics and Breeding Geneticswasidentifiedasahighpriorityproducerchallengebyseedstockflocksandwasrankedsecondtothechallengeofforageandgrazingmanagement.However,12percentand15percentofmedium-andsmall-sizedcommercialflocks,respectively,alsorankedgeneticsasahighprioritychallengeindicatingareasonableamountofinterestamongmanycommercialflocksforgeneticissues.EstimatedBreedingValues(EBVs)arescience-basedmeasurementsofheritabletraitsthatprovideanestimateofthegeneticpotentialofanindividualanimalrelativetothebreedaverage.OneoftheprioritytechnologyconstraintsidentifiedthroughthesurveywasthelimiteduseofEBVsbythesheepindustryduetoalackoffamiliaritywithEBVs.TheproducerrespondentsviewededucationalmaterialforEBVsasnotbeingreadilyusedoreasilyaccessible.Focusgrouprespondentsreinforcedthateducationalmaterialforgeneticimprovementisoftennotreadilyusedand/ornoteasilyaccessible.However,theuseofEBVsisactuallyincreasing,reflectingarenewedemphasisbytheNationalSheepImprovementProgram(NSIP)oneducationaloutreach.Thevolumeofnewgenomicandgeneticinformationoverthepastseveralyearshascreatedachallengetoharness,interpret,andutilizetheinformation.Genomicinformationisparticularlyvaluableformanagingtheexpressionofsimplyinheritedgenes;however,applicationtotraitssuchasdiseaseresistanceandmeatqualityismorecomplex.Theinterpretationanduseofgenomicinformationdrawsuponmanydisciplinesincludinggenetics,computerscience/datamanagement,statistics,animalbreeding,economics,andbiology.EstimatedBreedingValuesAssessmentAnimalscientistshavedevelopedamethodthatprovidestheestimatedbreedingvalueofananimalforaparticulartraitbasedontheanimal’sperformancedata,itsgenetichistory,andtheenvironmentinwhichitwasreared.Thisisthebestmethodtopredictprogenyperformance,anditsefficacyhasbeenclearlydemonstratedinotherlivestockspecies.2AmongthoseseedstockproducersthatrespondedtoaquestionaboutuseofEBVs,41percentreportedusingEBVsintheirselectionandbreedingdecisions.Ofthoseseedstock/showproducersthatidentifiedgeneticsamongtheirtopthreechallenges,38percentreportedusingEBVsintheirselectionandbreedingdecisions–notsubstantiallydifferentfromthatofallseedstockproducers.Ofthoseseedstock/showproducersreportingthattheydonotuseEBVsintheirselectionandbreedingdecisions,“NeedmoreinformationonhowtouseEBVs”wasthemostcommonreasongiven,followedby“Nointerestorother”and“DifficultyfindingramsoreweswithEBVs”,respectively.
2Redden,Reid.UnderstandSheepEstimatedBreedingValues.NDSUExtensionService.October2012.
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GeneticsandBreedingResearchandDevelopmentPriorities
Ø VerifythevalueofEBVsgeneratedbyNSIP-Appliedstudiesofperformance-recordedflocksareneededtodemonstratetheusefulnessofEBVswithaconcomitantemphasisonproducereducationtoencouragegreateruptakeofgenetictechnologies.
Thefocusgrouprespondentsrecommendedthattheprioritiesforfuturegenomicsstudiesfocusedongeneticmarkersforapplicationbythesheepindustryshouldbeparasiteresistance,specificdiseases,milkproduction,productiontraitsandcarcasstraits-inthatorder.Thefocusgroupaffirmedthateachofthesepriorityareasrequirenotonlynewinformationfromresearchbutalsotheinterpretationofresearchresultsforapplicationbytheindustry.Appliedresearchstudiesneedtobeconductedinperformance-recordedflockstodemonstratetheusefulnessofEBVs.ThisappliedresearchcanaddcredencetoeducationalprogramsforproducersonthevalueofEBVsgeneratedbytheNSIP.Someexamplesofsuchstudiesinclude:Specificresearchstudiescouldbefocusedonlargeresearchorcommercialflocks,whereprogenytestingwouldbedoneonalargenumberoframswithhighandlowEBVsor,alternatively,highandlowindexscores,inordertodemonstratetheresponsetosuchselection.Inaddition,researchflocksatuniversityorUSDAAgriculturalResearchServicestationsenrolledinNSIPcoulduseretrospectiveselectiontocompareperformanceofadultsifdifferentselectioncriteriahadbeenapplied.Forexample,adultewescouldbedividedintotwoormoregroupsbasedontheirbirthtype,thelifetimeaveragelittersizesproducedbytheirdams,thelifetimeaveragelittersizesproducedbytheirdamsbutadjustedforageofdam,theEBVofthedamforprolificacy,theEBVofthesireforprolificacy,theEBVoftheeweasalamb,ortheEBVoftheeweafterherfirstparityandprolificacyoftheadultewesineachgroupcompared.TheadultewesinthegroupwiththehighestEBVsaslambsorasyoungewesshouldhavethehighestlifetimeprolificacy.The2008NationalResearchCouncilreportincludedrecommendationstocontinueimprovementsinproductivitythroughfurtheradvancesingenetics(includinggenebiotechnology),nutrition,health,andmanagementprograms.3Thereportstatedthatthesheepindustrycontinuestolagbehindotherlivestockindustriesintheadoptionofgeneticimprovementtechnologyresultinginacompetitivedisadvantageofsheepwithrespecttootherlivestockspecies.TheAmericanLambBoardRoadmapProjectalsostressedtheimportanceofexpandeduseofEBVs.4TheRoadmapprojectrecommendedthatNSIPshouldlaunchanassessmentofhowtoreintroducegeneticselectiontotheU.S.industry.Italsorecommendedre-introductionofNSIPtocommercialandpurebredproducers.
Ø Identifygeneticparametersandselectioncriteriafornewand/orcomplextraits-Identifymajorgenesandmutationsassociatedwitheconomicallyimportantproductiontraitsanddiseaseconditionsanddevelopselectioncriteriafordifficulttomeasurenewand/orcomplextraits.
3NationalResearchCouncil.ChangesintheSheepIndustryintheUnitedStates,MakingtheTransitionfromTradition,2008.4HaleGroup.TheAmericanLambIndustryRoadmapProject--FinalPresentation,December10,2013.
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Effectivegeneticimprovementprogramsarebaseduponknowledgeoftheheritabilityoftraitsandthegeneticcorrelationsamongtraits.Thesegeneticparametersarewellknownformanycommonproductiontraitssuchaslittersize,weaningandpost-weaningweights,fleeceweight,fiberdiameter,andcommercialmilkproductiontraits.However,thegeneticparametersfortraitssuchasparasiteanddiseaseresistance,feedefficiencyandresidualfeedintakeofgrowinglambs,andmeatqualityandeatingsatisfactionarenotaswellknown.ThefewlargesheepresearchflocksstillpresentatuniversitiesandUSDAAgriculturalResearchServicestationsshouldbeutilizedtoestimatethegeneticparametersfordifficulttomeasureeconomicallyimportanttraitsandtoidentifygeneticallycorrelatedtraitsthataremoreeasilymeasured.
Ø Developeconomicselectionindices-Developimprovedselectionindexestoincreasetherateofgeneticimprovementofnetprofitunderdifferentproductionenvironments.
Knowledgeofgeneticandphenotypicparametersforeconomicallyimportanttraits,andtheireconomicvalues,canleadtothedevelopmentofsite-specific“netprofit”or“netmerit”economicselectionindicesthatcanincreasetherateofgeneticimprovementandresultinincreasedprofitability.
Ø Genomicinformation-Identifymajorgenesandmutationsassociatedwitheconomicallyimportantproductiontraitsanddiseaseconditions.
Singlenucleotidepolymorphism(SNP)“chips”areavailablethatcanidentifytheparticularcomponentofanindividualanimal’sDNAat50,000ormorelocationsthroughoutasheep’sgenome.Genomewideassociationstudies(GWAS)canbeusedtoassociateSNPdifferencesamonganimalswithcertaingeneticdefectsorproductiontraits.DNAtestscanthenbedevelopedtoidentifyanimalsthatarecarriersofgeneticdefectsorgenesthatareexpectedtoresultinincreasedperformanceforproductiontraits.Somecurrentlyidentifiedgenesaretherecessivespidersyndrome,scrapiesusceptibility/resistance,thepartiallydominantBooroolageneforincreasedovulationrate,theCallipygegeneformuscling,andtherecessive1haplotypefordecreasedsusceptibilitytoovineprogressivepneumonia.Therearelikelymanymoresinglegenesandgeneticmutationstobeidentifiedthathaveamajoreffectonaperformancetrait.
Ø Genomicbreedingvalues-Developgenomicbreedingvalues.AnotherfutureuseofSNP“chips”willbetoidentifymanylocationsinthesheepgenomethathavebothsmallandlargeeffectsonperformancetraits,withopportunitytousethisinformationtoselectsheepatveryyoungagesand,inparticular,selectfortraitsthataredifficult-to-measure(e.g.,diseaseresistance/tolerance;reproductivefitness;longevity).Ideally,thegenomicinformationiscombinedwithperformancerecordsoftheindividualand/orrelativestoproduceagenomicestimatedbreedingvalue(GEBV).SuchGEBVsareroutinelybeingusedtoacceleratetherateofgeneticimprovementintheU.S.dairycattleindustry.InordertodeterminetherelationshipbetweentheSNPdataandperformancetraits,bothgenomicandperformancedataonaverylargenumberofindividualsarerequired.WhilethegenomicdatacanbeobtainedatacostbysubmittingDNAsamplesofindividualstoacommerciallaboratory,theweaklinkinresearchingthistechnologyintheU.S.sheepindustryisthelackofphenotypicperformanceinformationonalargenumberofanimals.ThereisacurrentresearchinitiativetocollectbothgenomicandperformancedataonKatahdin,Suffolk,andRambouilletsheep.
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Whilesheepproducersareanxioustoharnessthepossibilitiesofgenomics,thereisacrucialneedfortherecordingofphenotypicperformancerecordsonmanysheepbeforegenomicscanbeutilizedforimprovementinmosttraits.EducationPrioritiesforGeneticsandBreeding
Ø Strategiccrossbreedingsystems-Educatorsshouldcontinuetoemphasizeorganizedcrossbreedingsystemsthataresuitedtolocalclimaticandmarketenvironmentsandthatoptimizebothbreedcomplementarityandhybridvigor.
The60+breedsofsheepintheU.S.representageneticreservoirthatallowsaproducertotargettheirdesiredlevelofproductionforanyeconomicproductiontraitbyusingasinglebreedorcombiningtwoormorebreeds.Iftwoormorebreedscanbeusedtomeettargetproductionlevels,advantagesresultingfromhybridvigoralsocanberealized.Educatorsshouldcontinueeffortstoinformproducersaboutorganizedcrossbreedingsystemsthataresuitedtolocalclimaticandmarketenvironmentsandthatoptimizebothbreedcomplementarityandhybridvigor.
Ø EBVstoimproveflockperformance–EducatorsshouldcontinuetopromotethepositivebenefitsofNSIPinordertorecruitandretainseedstockflocksintotheprogramandtoincreasethenumberofcommercialflockspurchasingramswithEBVsfromseedstockflocksenrolledinNSIP.
TheNationalSheepImprovementProgramisthecoreentityforthegeneticimprovementofthenationalflock.However,thenumberofseedstockflocksenrolledinNSIPisstilltoosmall.ContinuededucationalactivitiesarerequiredtopromotethepositivebenefitsofNSIPinordertorecruitandretainseedstockflocksintotheprogramandtoincreasethenumberofcommercialflockspurchasingramswithEBVsfromseedstockflocksenrolledinNSIP.
Ø Goal-basedproductionrecordsforcommercialflocks–Forcommercialflocks,productionrecordsusedtomakeselectionandcullingdecisionsshouldbesimpleandbasedonselectioncriteriathathaveahighprobabilityofresultingintruegeneticimprovement.
WhilethevastmajorityofgeneticimprovementincommercialflockswillcomethroughthepurchaseoframswithdesiredEBVsfromseedstockflocksenrolledinNSIP,someadditionalgeneticprogresscancomefromwithin-flockselectionofreplacementewelambsandcullingofewes.Productionrecordstomaketheseselectionandcullingdecisionsshouldbesimpleandbasedonselectioncriteriathathaveahighprobabilityofresultingintruegeneticimprovement.TheNationalResearchCouncilreportedthatkeyopportunitiesforenhancedindustryefficiencyandcompetitivenessiscontinuedimprovementsinproductivitythroughfurtheradvancesingenetics(includinggenebiotechnology),nutrition,health,andmanagementprograms.5NRCalsoreportedthatthegeneticpotentialexiststofurtherincreaseproductivitywithinthevariousproductionsystems.6
5NationalResearchCouncil2008.ChangesintheSheepIndustryintheUnitedStates,MakingtheTransitionfromTradition.2008:5.6Ibid.
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Chapter 3 Flock Health Flockhealthrankedamongthetopfiveproducerchallengeswhenanalyzedbybothpercentbreedingewesandpercentoperations.Producerswereaskedtofurtherdefinetheirflockhealthconcernsthroughquestionsaboutlambandbreedingstockdiseasesanddiseaseconditions.ProducerSurveyResultsWhenproducerswereaskedwhichdiseasesordiseaseconditionsinlambsaremostdifficulttomanage,themostcommonconcernsacrossallflocks,regardlessoftypeofoperation,sizeofoperation,managementsystem,oryearsofexperienceraisingsheep,wereinternalparasites,starvation,pneumoniaandotherrespiratorydiseases,andcoccidiosis.Theonlyexceptionbeingthatinternalparasitesdroppedoutofthetopfourdiseases/diseaseconditionsforoperationswith1500ormorebreedingewes.Theselargeroperationstendtobelocatedinthewesternandintermountainstates(areaswithlimitedrainfall)andmanagedonopenrangewheregroundcontaminationisminimized.Mountain&Desert(Region6)andNorthernRockies(Region7)weretheonlytworegionswhereinternalparasiteswerenotrankedamongthetopthreemostdifficultdiseases/diseaseconditionstomanageinlambs.Again,managementsystemandannualrainfallcontributetotheseregionaldifferences.StarvationandpneumoniaandotherrespiratorydiseaseconditionsrankedfirstandsecondintheMountain&DesertandNorthernRockiesregions.Thesetworegions-accountedfor37percentofthetotalnumberofbreedingewescapturedbythesurveyand10percentofoperations.Onceproducersidentifiedthediseasesinlambsthatweremostdifficulttomanage,theywereaskedtoidentifythediseasesanddiseaseconditionsinlambswiththegreatesteconomicimpact.Forallflocks,internalparasiteswasthehighest-rankingconcernaffectinglambs,withstarvationaclosesecond.
Figure3-1Disease/DiseaseConditioninLambswithGreatestEconomicImpact(AllFlocks)
0.0%0.0%0.4%0.4%1.2%2.0%2.4%3.2%3.6%
10.7%13.8%
28.5%34.0%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%
NavelorjointillPolyarthrimsSoreMouth
Ringworm(clublambfungus)Otherdigesmveproblems
OtherdiseaseWhitemuscledisease
Diarrhea(scours)Enterotoxemia
CoccidiosisPneumonia/respiratory
StarvamonInternalparasites
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Producerswerealsoaskedtoidentifythediseases/diseaseconditionsinbreedingstockthatarethemostdifficulttomanage.Acrossflocks,internalparasites,mastitis,andhoofconditions(footrot/scald)rankedasthemostdifficultdiseases/diseaseconditionstomanageinbreedingewesand/orrams.Abortion,pregnancytoxemia,otherrespiratorydiseases,ovineprogressivepneumonia(OPP),andcaseouslymphadenitiswerethenexthighestrankingdiseasemanagementchallenges.Verysmall(1-99breedingewes)andsmall(100-499breedingewes)operationsrankedinternalparasitesasthemostdifficultdisease/diseaseconditiontomanageinbreedingstockfor55percentand56percentofoperations,respectively.Mid-sized(500-1499breedingewes)andlarge(1500ormorebreedingewes)operationsrankedmastitisasthetoppriority,at57percentand45percentofoperations,respectively.Onceproducersidentifiedthediseasesinbreedingewes/ramsthatweremostdifficulttomanage,theywereaskedtoidentifythediseasesanddiseaseconditionsinbreedingstockwiththegreatesteconomicimpact.Acrossallflocks,internalparasiteswasthehighest-rankeddisease/diseaseconditionbyawidemargin.Mastitisandfootrot/scaldwereadistantsecondandthirdinranking.
Figure3-2Disease/DiseaseConditioninBreedingEwes/RamswithGreatestEconomicImpact(AllFlocks)
Insummary,acrossallflocks,internalparasiteshavethegreatesteconomicimpactinbothlambsandbreedingewes/ramsat34percentand44percent,respectively.Acrossallflocks,starvationinlambsandmastitisinbreedingewesrankedsecondintermsofeconomicimpact.MastitisandlambstarvationareamongtheclinicalsignsofOPPinfectioninewes.Ofcommercialoperationsidentifying“starvation”asoneofthethreemostdifficultdiseases/diseaseconditionstomanageintheirlambs,40percentalsoidentified“mastitis”asoneoftheirthreemostdifficultdiseases/diseaseconditionstomanageintheirbreedingewesand20percentidentifiedOPP.OPPrankedfourthintermsofeconomicimpactforbreedingewes.
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Amongflockhealthissues,theUSDA/APHIS/VSNAHMSSheep2011studyreportedewehealth/management-relatedissueswerethemostimportantmanagementissueforrespondents,withrespondentsrankingthisastheirfirst,second,orthirdmostimportantissue.Infectiousdiseasewasthesecondmostimportantmanagementissue(30percent),followedcloselybydiseaseprevention(29.5percent),predatorcontrol(22percent),lambhealth/management(21percent),anddeathloss(20percent).7
GreatestChallenge:InternalParasitesRegions2and5(Mid-Atlantic/SouthandTexas,respectively)hadthehighestpercentageofproducerswithinthoseregionsidentifyinginternalparasitesasoneoftheirthreemostdifficultdiseases/diseaseconditionstomanageinlambsand/orbreedingsheep,followedbyRegions1and3(NortheastandGreatLakes,respectively).NotsurprisinglyRegions6and7(Mountain&DesertandNorthernRockies,respectively)hadthelowestpercentagesofproducerswithinthoseregionsidentifyinginternalparasitesasoneoftheirmostdifficultdiseaseconditionstomanage.Climate(annualrainfall)andmanagementsystemimpactpotentialparasitechallenges.
Figure3-3PercentofOperationswithinaRegionIdentifyingInternalParasitesasaDifficultDiseaseConditionamongLambsand/orBreedingStock
Producerswereaskedtocharacterizetheeffectivenessofspecificparasitetreatmentpractices/technologies.Overall,93percentofproducersrespondingtoaquestionabouttheuseof
7USDA/APHIS,NAHMS,NAHMSSheepNeedsAssessmentFindings.2015.
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parasitemanagementtechnologies,haveusedcommercialde-wormersontheiroperations.8ThiswasfollowedbygrazingmanagementpracticesaimedspecificallyatparasitecontrolandtheFAMACHA©eyelidcolortestasanindicatorofanemiainindividualanimals,at77percentand61percentofoperations,respectively.Ofoperationsidentifyingparasitemanagementasamajorchallenge,73percenthaveusedtheFAMACHA©test,comparedto43percentofoperationsthatdidnotidentifyparasitemanagementasamajorchallenge.Ofproducersreportingtheuseofgeneticselectionasaparasitemanagementstrategy,33percentreportraisinga“HairSheep”breed.NotethatNSIPcalculatesEBVsforparasiteresistanceintheKatahdinbreedofhairsheep.Acrossalloperationsthathaveusedgeneticselectionasaparasitemanagementstrategy,thepercentagesofthosethatconsideredgeneticselectionsomewhattoveryeffectiverelativetothosethatconsideredgeneticselectionsomewhatineffectivetoineffectivewasnotsubstantiallydifferentacrossallbreedscomparedtohairsheepbreeds,at43percentand57percent,respectively.Notethatnotallhairsheepbreeds(orindividualswithinabreed)areconsideredparasiteresistant/tolerant.
Figure3-4UseofParasiteManagementTechnologies
Onceproducerswereaskedwhethertheyusedcertainparasitemanagementtechnologies,theywereaskedtoratetheeffectivenessofdifferenttechnologies.Acrossalloperations,onlytheDrenchRite®resistanceassayandnatural/alternativemethodsofparasitemanagementwereratedbyproducersassomewhattoveryeffective.Only13percentofproducersreportedusingtheDrenchRite®assay,and28percentreportedusingnatural/alternativeparasitemanagementtechnologies.
8ThisisconsistentwithfindingsfromtheUSDA/APHIS/VSNAHMSSheep2011studywhichalsoreportedthatinternalparasiteswereamajorconcernamongoperators.Thestudyreportedde-wormeruseasapreventativemeasurefor87percentand79percentofewesandlambs,respectively,(USDA/APHIS,NAHMS,Sheep2011PartIII:HealthandManagementPracticesonU.S.SheepOperations,2011.September2013).
19
Natural/alternativeparasitemanagementtechnologieswerenotenumeratedinthesurvey,butcouldincludesuchthingsastheuseofcopperoxidewireparticles,diatomaceousearth,botanicals,herbs,etc.Theuseofhightanninconcentrateforages(e.g.Sericealespedeza)couldbeincludedundereithernatural/alternativeorgrazingmanagementtechnologies.Flocksizesforthosereportingtheuseofnatural/alternativeparasitemanagementtechnologiesrangedfromtwoto6,000breedingewes--with76percentofthosereporting100orfewerbreedingewes.Responsestothequestionregardinguseofparasitemanagementtechnologiesweresubdividedintothoseproducersidentifyinginternalparasitesasoneofthethreemostdifficultdiseaseconditionstomanageontheiroperationsversusthosethatdidnotidentifyinternalparasitesasatopdiseasemanagementconcern.Alargerpercentageofthoseproducersthatconsideredparasitemanagementamajordiseasechallenge,reportedusingeachoftheparasitemanagementinterventionslisted.Again,withtheexceptionoftheDrenchRite®resistanceassayandnatural/alternativemethods,producersconsideringparasitemanagementamajordiseasechallengeratedallothermanagementinterventionstrategiesrelativelymoreineffectivethaneffective.Conversely,producersthatdidnotidentifyinternalparasitesasamajordiseaseconditionchallenge,ratedallinterventionstrategiesasrelativelymoreeffectivethanineffective.ResearchPrioritiesforFlockHealthSomediseaseresearch,development,andeducationneedscanbesiteandregionspecific.Flockhealthrankedrelativelyhigherinpasture-basedandpasture/drylotmanagementsystemsthaninherdedopen-andfenced-rangesystems.Ingeneral,internalparasitesranksasoneofthemostimportantdiseasechallengesinbothlambsandbreedingstock.Internalparasites,starvation,pneumonia/respiratoryconditions,mastitisandfootrot/scaldareallconditionsidentifiedforfurtherresearch.
Ø Parasitecontrol–Bothbasicandappliedresearchaddressingparasitisminsheep,includinggeneticmarkersforparasiteresistance,developmentofvaccines,moreeffectiveanthelmintics,andimprovedmanagementpracticesarecriticallyneededbytheindustry.
Ø Lambstarvation-Examinetheriskofstarvationfromagenomicapproachofeweinfluencetogainabetterunderstandingofthegeneticinfluencesassociatedwithlambsurvival.
StarvationrankedfirstinRegions6(Mountain&Desert)and7(NorthernRockies)accountingfor37percentofbreedingewesand10percentofoperations.SomedatasuggestthatOPPmaybeacontributingfactor.
Ø Lambrespiratorydisease–Conductregion-specificresearchthattargetspneumoniaandother
respiratoryconditionsinlambs.
Pneumonia/respiratoryconditionsrankedsecondinRegions6(Mountain&Desert)and7(NorthernRockies).Regions6and7accountedfor37percentofthetotalnumberofbreedingewescapturedbythesurveyand10percentofoperations.
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Ø Mastitiscontrol–Mastitisinsheepisnotwellcharacterized.Etiologicalstudiesand
information,genomics,andbiologicalsareneededbytheindustrytoassistwithmastitiscontrol.
Mastitisrankedhighestamongdiseasemanagementchallengesinmid-sizetolargeflocks.Thisconditionoftenaffectstheheaviestmilkingewesandthereisaneedtobetterunderstandthedevelopmentofmastitisanditscontrol.MastitiscanbelinkedtoOPPaswellastobacterialinfectionsandtrauma.Theindustryneedsabetterunderstandingofmastitisinewesandgenomicsandbiologicalstoassistwithpreventionandcontrol.
Ø Footrotandscaldcontrol-Asignificanttoolforthecontroloffootrotisnolongeravailablein
theU.S.Moreeffectivecontroltoolsareneededtoassistflockownerswiththeprevention,treatmentandeliminationoffootrotandscald,includinggenomicsandbiologicals.
Footrot/scaldreceivedahighrankingamongdiseasemanagementchallengesinbreedingstock.Lamesheepperformatsubparlevelsandareawelfareconcern.Prolongedperiodsofwet,moistconditionsandcrowdingcanincreasetheincidenceofbothfootrotandscald.
Ø Alternativestoantimicrobials-Asthesub-therapeuticuseofantibioticsinanimalagricultureis
phasedout,researchisneededtoexplorealternativesthatprovidethesameorgreaterbenefitsintermsofimprovedfeedefficiency,diseaseprevention,andoverallanimalhealth.
Ø Scrapietransmissionandliveanimaltests–Betterknowledgeofenvironmentalcontaminationandreservoirsoftheinfectiveagentinthetransmissionofscrapieisneeded,aswellasthedevelopmentofimprovedliveanimaltests.
ScrapieeradicationisatoppriorityfortheU.S.sheepindustry.Since2002,theprevalenceofscrapiehasdecreasedsignificantlythroughexistingeradicationefforts,largelyaresultofeffectiveslaughtersurveillance.SinceslaughtersurveillancestartedinFY2003,thepercentofcullsheepfoundpositiveatslaughter(onceadjustedforfacecolor)hasdecreased90percent.9Theindustry’sgoalistoeradicatescrapiefromtheU.S.by2017andtoachieve“ScrapieFree”statusinaccordancewithWorldOrganizationforAnimalHealth(OIE)standards.
DevelopmentPrioritiesforFlockHealth
Ø Anti-parasiticpharmaceuticals-Developnewvaccinesandmoreeffectiveanthelminticsfortreatmentandcontrolofparasites.
TheNationalResearchCouncilreportedachallengetosheephealthisthelackofavailabilityofmanycriticallyneededdrugs.10
Ø Coccidiacontroltools-Theindustryneedsamorecompletesetofcoccidia-controltools.
9USDAAnimalandPlantHealthInspectionService,NationalScrapieEradicationProgram.Web.May2016.10NationalResearchCouncil.ChangesintheSheepIndustryintheUnitedStates,MakingtheTransitionfromTraditional,2008.
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Coccidiosiscontinuestobeachallengeprimarilyingrassrearedlambswherecoccidiostatsaredifficulttoprovideinadequatedosesoraren’tpermissibleduetomarketspecifications.Inconfinementrearedlambs,thesesamemarketchallengesexist.Technologytransferandeducationwithrespecttoexistingcontrolmeasuresalsoneedtobesupported.
Ø Lambrespiratorydisease-TherehavebeennonewadoptabletoolstoassisttheU.S.sheep
industrywithlambrespiratorydisease.Suchtoolsareneededbytheindustry.
Ø Footrotvaccine-DevelopandlicenseaneffectivefootrotvaccineforU.S.sheepindustryuse.
Ø Qfevermitigationandcontrol-Coxiellaburnetiiresearchisneededtofurtherelucidatetransmissionbetweensheep,otheranimals,andhumansandmitigationandcontrolstrategiesareneededthatincludemanagementsystemsandvaccinedevelopment.
Qfeverisazoonoticdiseasethathaslongbeenconsideredanoccupationaldiseaseassociatedwithexposuretolivestockbyfarmers,veterinarians,slaughterfacilityworkers,andanimalresearchers.Qfeverisanacute/chroniczoonoticillnesscausedbythebacteriumCoxiellaburnetii.Thediseaseisamajorcauseofabortioninsheepandgoats,whichcanresultinsignificanteconomiclossestoproducers,andinsignificantriskoftransmissiontohumans.EvidencefromothercountriessuggeststhatuseofaCoxiellavaccineinlivestockisaneffectivemeansofminimizingdiseasetransmission.Atpresent,thereareatleasttwocommerciallyavailableC.burnetiivaccinesinotherpartsoftheworld,butnonecommerciallyavailableintheU.S.11
EducationPrioritiesforFlockHealth
Ø Adoptionofexistingtechnologies–Educatorsshouldpromotetheadoptionofexistingparasitecontroltechnologies,includingselectionandculling,untilmoreeffectiveresearchsolutionscanbeidentified.
Thesurveyindicatedthatthemostcommonlyusedparasitecontroltechnologywasdeworming.GrazingmanagementandtheuseoftheFAMACHA©testwerethesecondandthirdmostcommonlyusedtools.Akeypartofwormcontrolinvolvesdeterminingwhichdewormerworksinapopulationofanimals(flock)eitherbyperformingaFecalEggCountReductionstest(FECRT)or,alternatively,aDrenchRiteassay.Only13percentoftherespondentsindicatedthattheyusedtheDrenchRiteassayasaparasitemanagementtool.Thereisaneedtounderstandwhyavailabletools(suchasFECRT)arenotseeinghigheradoptionratesbysheepoperations.
Anthelmintic-resistantnematodeinfectionssignificantlyhamperthesurvivabilityofU.S.lambsinpartsofthecountrywhereclimatesustainsnematodelarvaldevelopmentongrass.EvenintheWest,therehavebeenrecentrainfalleventsthathavepromotednematodeinfectionsinlambswheretypicallynotexperienced.
Forlambsandbreedingewes,Regions2and5(Mid-Atlantic/SouthandTexas,respectively)hadthehighestpercentageofproducerswithinthoseregionsidentifyinginternalparasitesasoneoftheirthree11ProceedingsoftheOneHundredandSeventeenthAnnualMeetingUnitedStatesAnimalHealthAssociation.SanDiego,CA.17-23October2013.
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mostdifficultdiseases/diseaseconditionstomanage,followedbyRegions1and3(NortheastandGreatLakes,respectively).Regions6and7(Mountain&DesertandNorthernRockies,respectively)hadthelowestpercentagesofproducerswithinthoseregionsidentifyinginternalparasitesasoneoftheirmostdifficultdiseaseconditionstomanage.Internalparasiteshadthegreatesteconomicimpactacrossalloperations.
Ø Accurateinformation–Educatorsshoulddirectproducerstoaccurateparasitemanagementmaterials,includinginternetsourcesandtheSheepProductionHandbook.
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Chapter 4 Reproductive Performance Reproductiveperformanceisdirectlytiedtoprofitability.Commercialandseedstockoperatorswereaskedtoassesshowsatisfiedtheyarewiththereproductiveperformanceoftheirflock.Thecommonconcernsamongbothcommercialandseedstockoperatorswerenumberoflambsweanedperewelambingandnumberoflambsbornperewe.Thenumberoflambsweanedperewehasbeencitedasthetraitwiththegreatestfinancialimpactonsheepproduction.12Numberofeweslambingasyearlingsandlengthoflambingseasoncompletedthetopthreereproductiveperformanceconcernsforcommercialandseedstockoperations,respectively.
Figure4-1LeastSatisfiedAreasofReproductiveFlockPerformance
AssessmentofOut-of-SeasonBreedingUseIntheU.S.,thelambfeedingindustrydeveloped,inpart,tohelpaddressasymmetriesofseasonallambproductionandseasonallambconsumption.Out-of-seasonbreedingprotocolsandproductshavealsobeendevelopedtohelpsmoothseasonalproductionpatternsandaddressseasonalsupply.Whenasked:Inthepastthreeyears,wereanyofyourewesexposedforout-of-seasonbreeding?45percentofrespondentsreportedthattheyhadexposedewesforout-of-seasonbreedingduringthepastthreeyears.Ofthoserespondentsthatreportedewesexposedforout-of-seasonbreeding,97percentansweredHowsatisfiedareyouwiththeresultsofyourout-of-seasonbreedingprogram?Ofthosethatresponded,38percentreportedthattheywereverysatisfiedwiththeresultsoftheirout-of-seasonbreedingprogram,49percentreportedthattheyweresomewhatsatisfied,andonly13percentreportedthattheywerenotsatisfiedwiththeirresults.
12BradfordG.E.,Selectionforreproductiveefficiency,SheepGoatRes.J.17(2002)6–10.
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Thoseproducersrespondingthattheywereeither“Somewhatsatisfied”or“Notsatisfied”withtheresultsoftheirout-of-seasonbreedingprograms,wereasked:Whatfactorshavelimitedthesuccessofyourout-of-seasonbreedingprogram?Ofthose,44percentrespondedbreed/geneticswasalimitingfactor,followedbymanagementandlaborrequirements,andaneedformoreinformationonmanagementpractices,protocolsand/orproductavailability,at24percentand20percentofrespondents,respectively.
Figure4-2FactorsLimitingtheSuccessofOut-of-SeasonBreedingPrograms
ResearchPrioritiesforReproductivePerformance
Ø Reproductiveefficiency-Studiesexaminingfecundity,survivabilityandout-of-seasonlambproductionareimportanttoincreasinglifetimeproductivityperewe.
Reproductiveefficiencyisimportanttotheoverallproductivityandprofitabilityofindividualsheepoperations,andofthesheepindustryasawhole.WithdomesticproductioncurrentlysupplyinglessthanhalfofthetotalannualdisappearanceoflambmeatintheU.S.,improvementsinreproductiveefficiencyareessentialtothesustainabilityandcompetivenessofthesheepindustry.Ø Mastitisandinternalparasites-Mastitisandparasitescanhinderoptimalreproductive
performance.Recentdataindicatethatresistancetoparasitesinvolvesgeneticdifferencesintheimmunesystem.Studiesthatexaminemethodstostimulatetheimmunesystemandtheroleofgeneticsindiseaseresistanceandimmuneresponsecanimprovethehealthandwelfareofewesandwhilealsocontributingtoimprovedreproductiveperformance.
Ø Out-of-seasonbreeding–Out-of-seasonbreedingasameansforincreasingflockincomeand
managingtheseasonalsupplyoflambsremainsunderutilizedbytheindustry.Selection,hormonetreatment,andramintroductionareprovenpractices.However,studiesoffactorsthatinfluencethecomponenttraitsinrelationtoseasonalsuccessareneeded.Forexample,theneuralfactorkisspeptin,whichvariesseasonally,affectssecretionofgonadotropinreleasinghormone.A
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betterunderstandingoftheseinfluencesmayleadtoincreasedovulationrateorviabilityofoocytesshedinresponsetotreatmentswithlight,nutrition,melatonin,progestogen,orramintroduction.
Ø Geneticpotentialscoring-Researchisneededtodevelopamoreprecisemethodtoassessthe
reproductivestatusofanindividualanimalorflockrelativetoitsgeneticpotential.AGeneticPotentialscore,similarinprincipletoaFAMACHA©scoreusedtoassessparasitechallengeoraBodyConditionscoreusedtoassessnutritionalstatus,wouldservetogaugetheamountofgainthatcouldbeanticipatedinresponsetoreproductiveinterventionsinout-of-seasonbreedingprograms.Ifwellbelowgeneticpotential,treatmentsareeffective.Ifatpotential,treatmentshavenofurthereffect.Reproductivetechnologiescouldthenbebetterdirectedtohelpanimals/flocksachievetheirgeneticpotential,notmisdirectedtowheresuchtechnologieshavealowprobabilityofsuccess,andyielddisappointingoutcomesforflockowners.
Ø Ultra-soundassistedselectionforlittersize-Studieshaveshownthatembryonicandfetalmortalityinewesoccursthroughoutpregnancyandthattheselossescanbesubstantial.Countsofcorporaluteaandearlyembryosorfetuseswithultrasonographyandoflambsbornprovidetheopportunitytodeterminewhetherproducersapplyingthistechnologycanselectforembryonicorfetalsurvivalasatoolforincreasingnumberoflambsbornperewelambing.
Ultrasoundpregnancydiagnosis,stagingpregnancyandfetalcountscanalsoaidwiththenutritionalmanagementofpregnantewesandwithlambingmanagement.
Ø Ewe/lambbondingbehavior-Bondingbehavioriscriticaltoearlyneonatallambsurvival.
Investigationsoffactorsaffectingewe/lambbondingasameanstoimprovemanagementforearlylambsurvivalareneeded.
DevelopmentPrioritiesforReproductivePerformance
Ø Commercialavailabilityofreproductiveinterventionproducts-Thecommercializationofresearchoutcomesthatinvolveproductsusedtoenhancereproductiveperformance(e.g.,commercialavailabilityofhormonaltreatmentsusedinout-of-seasonbreedingprotocols)areessentialforthesetechnologiestobeadoptedandutilizedbytheindustry.
EducationPrioritiesforReproductivePerformance
Ø Onlineresources-Onlineresourcesspecifictoreproductiveperformanceandreproductiveefficiencyshouldbeexpandedwithemphasisonincreasingthenumberoflambsweanedperewelambing,out-of-seasonbreedingmanagement,andmastitispreventionandtreatment.
Reproductiveperformanceranked7thinimportanceamongconcernsofbothseedstockandcommercialflockoperators.Numberoflambsweanedperewelambing,acompositetraitofreproductiveperformance,wasthemostimportanttraitofconcern.Numberoflambsbornperewelambing,lengthoflambingseasonandlifetimeperformanceorlongevitywereidentifiedaslimitingfactorsinbothseedstockandcommercialflocks,withpercentageofewelambslambingasyearlingsbeingsomewhatmoreimportanttocommercialproducersthantoseedstockoperators.
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Chapter 5 Grazing and Forage Management & Nutrition Oneofthemorenotableandadvantageouscharacteristicsofsheepistheirversatilityandabilitytoadaptandthriveunderawidevarietyofenvironmentalconditionsandmanagementsystems.Sheepareefficientconvertersofrenewableforagetohigh-qualityfoodandfiber.Inmanypartsofthecountry,sheepprovideresidualeconomicbenefitfromcropproductionthroughthegrazingofcropaftermath.Sheepareusedtohelpcontrolweedsonstreambanks,croplands,andpastures,reducingtheneedforchemicalherbicides.Inrangelandareas,strategicsheepgrazingcanbeaneffectivetoolforcontrollinginvasiveplantspeciesthatcandamagecriticalwildlifehabitatandforsuppressingbrushforwildfirecontrol.Forty-twopercentofproducersidentifiedgrazingandforagemanagementasoneofthetopchallengesfacingtheiroperations.Amongsurveyrespondents,85percentreportedmanagingflocksonpastureoracombinationofpastureandsomeothertypeofsystem,with11percentmanagingflocksoneitherfencedoropenrange.Lessthanonepercentofsurveyrespondentsreporteddrylot-onlymanagementsystems.Nutritionalmanagement,on-the-other-hand,didnotrankhighamongthetopchallenges,withonly14percentofproducersidentifyingnutritionalmanagementasoneoftheirtopthreechallenges.Fromaproductionstandpoint,however,onmostoperationsgrazingandforagemanagementandnutritionalmanagementareinextricablyintertwined.Nutritionalmanagementisfundamentaltoreproductiveperformanceandexpressionofgeneticpotential,animalhealthandwelfare,lambgrowthandefficiency,andoverallflockproductivity.GrazingandForageManagementRangelandsintheU.S.areprimarilylocatedintheRegions4,5,6,and7–theUpperMidwest,Texas,Mountain&Desert,andNorthernRockies,respectively.Sixtypercentofthebreedingewescapturedbythesurveyweremanagedunderrangeconditions.Theaverageflocksizeofrangeoperationssurveyedwasjustover1500breedingewes.Pasture-basedsystemsarelocatedinallregions.Theaverageflocksizeofpasture-basedoperationssurveyedwasaround100breedingewes.Thesurveyaskedproducerstoidentifytheirtopthreegrazingandpasturemanagementchallengesandtoindicatewhichofthethreehasthegreatestpotentialforincreasingtheprofitabilityoftheiroperation.Thetopgrazingandpasturemanagementchallengesidentifiedbypasture-basedoperationswereintensiverotationalgrazingandpasturerenovation,at64percentand62percentofoperations,respectively,followedbymulti-speciesgrazingatadistant26percent.Thetopchallengeidentifiedbyrange-basedmanagementsystemswasmulti-speciesgrazingfollowedbypasturerenovation(presumablyrangelandecology),grazingcropaftermath/cropresidues,controllinginvasivespecies,andintensiverotationalgrazing(presumablytheability,orlackthereof,tobettermanageandcontrolgrazingrotationsonrangeland).
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Pasturerenovationandintensiverotationalgrazingwereidentifiedbybothpasture-basedandrange-basedsystemsashavingthegreatestpotentialforincreasingtheprofitabilityofthoseoperations.Forrange-basedoperations,thesewerefollowedequallybymulti-speciesgrazing,grazingcropaftermath/residues,andcontrollinginvasivespecies.
Figure5-1GrazingandPastureManagementChallenges
Figure5-2GreatestGrazing/PastureManagementwithPotentialtoIncreaseProfitability
Pasturerenovation,rotationalgrazing,andmulti-speciesgrazingeachentailaslightlydifferentfocusdependingonwhetheranoperationispasture-basedorrange-based.Pasturerenovationgenerallyfocusesonimprovingthemixandbalanceofintroducedorimprovedplantspecies,whereasthefocusof
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rangelandrenovationistypicallyonimprovingtheproductionofnativevegetation,controllinginvasivespeciesandmayalsoincluderiparianareaprotection,erosioncontrol,andfirecontrol(suppressionandrecovery).Manyrangeoperationsgrazesheeponpubliclandsforallorpartoftheyear.Rotationalgrazingpracticesandopportunitiesontheseoperationsaregenerallylimitedbytheconditionssetforthinfederalorstategrazingpermits.Onpubliclands,governmentagencies,toalargeextent,controlmanyofthebasiclivestockgrazingmanagementpractices,leavingtherancherwithlittleflexibility.Grazingpermitsdictatewhenlivestockareallowedtograzecertainareas,stockingrates,mixoflivestock,etc.Grazingperiods,stockingratesandlivestockmixesarebasedontheaveragetimeofrangereadinessandforageproduction,andmaynotmatchwellwiththeactualconditionandreadinessoftherangeatanygiventimewhichcanresultinlowerefficiencyandpoorutilizationofforageresources.Thereisabodyofresearchtosupportthebenefitsofmulti-speciesgrazing–showingincreasesinbothproductionandprofitability,underbothpastureandrangeconditions.Theadvantagesofmulti-speciesgrazingarebasedoncomplementarityinforageselectionandgrazinghabits.NutritionalManagementSheepproducersareconstantlylookingforfeedandforagealternativesthatsupplytheappropriatelevelsandbalanceofnutrientstooptimizehealth,improveproductionefficiency,andreducefeedcosts.Ingrazingsystems,nutritionalmanagementisbuiltaroundboththeforagebaseandtheproductiongoalsoftheoperation.TheNationalResearchCouncil(2015)notesthatnutritionaladvancementsinfoodanimalsarebeingmadetoenhanceanimalreproduction(e.g.,long-chainpolyunsaturatedfattyacids,selenium,andvitaminE),improvethequalityandnutritionalvalueofanimalproductsfortheconsumer(e.g.,dietaryvitaminEtoextendmeatshelf-life),andimproveanimalhealth(e.g.,copperandguthealth,seleniumandvitaminEforimprovedoxidativestability).13Overwhelmingly,themostsignificantnutritionalchallengeforrange-basedoperationswasdroughtmanagement,identifiedby60percentofrangeoperations.Thiswasfollowedequallybynutritionalmanagementofewesbyproductionperiodandleast-costrations.Pasture-basedoperationsidentifiedthesesametopthreechallenges,althoughwithdifferentorderingandweights.Forrangeoperations,droughtmanagementalsoshowedthegreatestpotentialtoincreaseprofitabilityamongthenutritionalchallengesidentified.Forpastureoperations,thetopthreenutritionalchallengesaffectingprofitabilityfollowedthesameorderingasthetopthreenutritionalmanagementchallenges,least-costrations,nutritionalmanagementofewesbyproductionperiod,anddroughtmanagement.
133AnimalAgricultureResearchNeeds:U.S.Perspective."NationalResearchCouncil.CriticalRoleofAnimalScienceResearchinFoodSecurityandSustainability.Washington,DC:TheNationalAcademiesPress,2015.doi:10.17226/19000.
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Figure5-3NutritionalManagementChallenges
ResearchPrioritiesforGrazing&ForageManagementandNutrition
Ø Productionefficiency-Developintegratedmethodsforincreasingtheefficiencyofsheepproductionunderbothextensiverangelandconditionsandintensivepasture-basedsystemsasaresponsiblemeansofutilizingrenewableforageresourceswhilesimultaneouslyimprovingthequalityandvalueoftheproductsproduced.
Ø Multi-purpose,multi-usepubliclands-Science-based,economicallyviablesolutionstothecomplexchallengesthatarisefrommulti-purpose,multi-use,publiclandsandcompetinginterestsarecriticaltothesheepindustry.Managementstrategiesandpracticesareneededthatenhanceandconserverangelandecosystemswhileprovidingmultipleecosystemservicesincludingforagesforwildlife,sheepandotherlivestock,controlofnoxiousweedsandinvasiveplantspecies,conservationofwildlifehabitat,soilandwaterconservation,firecontrol,andrecreationalopportunities,underchangingenvironmentalconditions.
Ø Multi-speciesgrazing-Thereisaneedforbothscience-basedinformationand“bestpractice”
examplesoftheenvironmentalandeconomicbenefitsofmulti-speciesgrazing.Thisincludesco-grazingofrangelandsbydomesticandwildlifespeciesandco-grazingbymultipledomesticspecies(sheep,cattle,goats)ofpasturelands.
Ø Sustainabilityindicators-Afundamentalchallengetotheissueofsustainabilityismeasurement
anddeterminingkeyindicatorsormetricsofsustainabilityinrangelandmanagement.The
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developmentandapplicationofnewtechnologiesformonitoringandpredictivemodelingthataddressclimatechange,livestockgrazing,andwildlifemanagementpracticesarecriticallyneededtodemonstratesustainabilityandbenefitstorangelandecosystemsundermulti-useandmulti-speciesgrazingsystems.
Ø Matchingstageofproduction,breedtype,andforageresources-New/updatedinformationis
neededtoincreaseproducerknowledgeandskillinmeetingthenutritionalneedsofewesatcriticalproductionstages,aswellasselectingthemostappropriatematernalandterminalsirebreed(s)tocomplementavailableforageresources,whileimprovingthequalityoflambsproduced,andincreasingprofitability.
Ø Alternativefeedsandforages–Researchisneededtoidentifyandincorporatetheuseofalternativefeedsandforagestohelpmeetnutritionalrequirementsduringdifferentstagesofproductionwhilereducingproductioncosts.
Ø StrategicParasitecontrol–Continuedresearchanddevelopmentofstrategicgrazingsystemsaimedatparasitecontrolandreducingparasiteloadsonpasturesthatarebotheffectiveandpracticaltoimplementareneeded,includingpasturerotationandrestprotocols,multispeciesgrazing,andintroductionofplantspecieswithanti-parasiticproperties.
DevelopmentPrioritiesforGrazing&ForageManagementandNutrition
Ø Onlineinformation–Improvetheonlineavailabilityofgrazingandforagemanagement,andnutritionalmanagementtools,products,andsolutions.
EducationPrioritiesforGrazing&ForageManagementandNutrition
Ø Programtopics–Focusededucationaleffortsonlong-termcooperativestrategies,cover-cropoptions,residue/aftermathnutritionalvalue,feedsupplements,andfencingandwatersourcemanagementareneeded.
Ø Updatedliterature–Updatedliteratureisneededtoincreaseproducerknowledgeandskillofmeetingnutritionalneedsofewesduringcriticalproductionstagesandselectingthemostappropriatematernalbreedtomatchavailablenutritionalresourcesinanareaorregion.Improvingthenutritionofpregnantandlactatingewescanresultinbetterlambgrowthratesandsurvivaltoweaning.
Ø Train-the-Trainer–ProvideTrain-the-Traineropportunitiestoeducateextensionpersonnelingrazingandforagemanagementandnutritionalmanagementtools,products,andsolutions.
Ø Web-andworkshop-basedprograms--Web-andworkshop-basededucationalcampaigns
focusedonselectingbreedsthataremostsuitedforthegrazingenvironment,withparticularattentiontobreedsappropriatefordrought-proneenvironments.
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Ø Riskmanagementinsuranceeducation–ProvideeducationalopportunitiesintheuseofUSDA-RMAPastureRangeandForagerainfallinsuranceprogramasariskmanagementtool,particularlyindrought-proneregions.
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Chapter 6 Public Interest and Social Issues
Manysheepoperationsfaceincreasedregulatoryburdenfromfederalagencies.Publicpolicyconcernsinvolveanumberofcomplexissues,including:
• Wildlifehabitatandlivestockgrazing• Ecologicalstabilityandsustainability• Watersheds,wetlandsandriparianareas• Potentialfordiseasetransmissionbetweendomesticandwildlifespecies• Preservationofendangeredspecies• Predatorcontrol• Immigrationreform
Commercialoperationswith1500ormorebreedingewesidentifiedgovernmentregulationsandcompliance,laborandlabormanagement,andpredatormanagementasthetopchallengescurrentlyfacingtheiroperations.Thesetopchallengeswereidentifiedby65percent,61percent,and48percent,oflargecommercialoperations,respectively.Producerswereaskedtoratetheimpactorpotentialimpactontheiroperationsofanumberofcurrentpublicpolicyissuesassignificant,moderateorminor.Theseissuesincluded:
1) Environmentalregulations(e.g.,CleanWaterAct)2) TheEndangeredSpeciesAct3) Publiclanduse(i.e.,multiple-use:livestockgrazing,recreation,timber,wildlifehabitat,etc.)4) Animalwelfarescrutiny(e.g.,docking,castrating,shearing,handling,humaneslaughter)5) Domestic/wildlifeinterfacesorconflicts(e.g.,Bighornsheep,sagegrouse,wolves)6) Immigrationreform/H-2Aworkers
Amongallsurveyrespondents,animalwelfarescrutinyandenvironmentalregulations/compliancerankedfirst(48percent)andsecond(41percent),respectively,foroperationsindicatingamoderatetosignificantimpact.Environmentalregulationsandcomplianceandanimalwelfarescrutinyareincreasinglyimportanttoconsumersandthereforehavebecomepartoftheoveralldemandequation,compellingsheepproducerstobecomemoreproactiveandtodemonstratesustainableandhumaneon-farmpractices.
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Figure6-1ModeratetoSignificantCurrentorPotentialImpactonOperationbyPercentBreedingEwesandPercentOperations
Eightypercentofoperationsreporting1500ormorebreedingeweswereeitheropenrangeorfencedrangeoperations.Foreachofthepublicpolicyissueslisted,overhalfofrangeoperationsreportedthattheseissueshaveamoderatetosignificantcurrentorpotentialimpactontheiroperations.TheEndangeredSpeciesActandenvironmentalregulationsrankedatthetop,identifiedby71percentand69percentoflargecommercialoperations,respectively,followedbydomestic/wildlifeinterfaceorconflictsandimmigrationreformat56percenteach,andanimalwelfarescrutinyandpubliclanduseat53percentand52percentofrange-basedoperations,respectively.
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Largeexpansesofthecountry’srangelandarelocatedonpubliclands-withmanyoftheseareasdesignatedformultiple-use.TheBureauofLandManagement’s(BLM)multiple-usemissionissetforthintheFederalLandPolicyandManagementActof1976,whichmandatesthatpubliclandresourcesbemanagedforavarietyofuses,includinglivestockgrazing,recreation,timberharvesting,andenergydevelopment,whileatthesametimeprotectingawidearrayofnatural,cultural,andhistoricalresources14.Publicpolicyissuesareincreasinglybroughttotheforefrontbyspecialinterestgroupsthattargetmultiple-usepubliclandsinparticular.Nearlyone-thirdofthenation'sentiresheepproductionissuppliedbyranchesthatutilizesheepherders.15Theherders'understandingandfamiliaritywithlargerangelands,locationofwater,andidentificationofnoxiousplantsarekeenlyimportant,asistheknowledgeofsheepcareatshearing,lambingandshipping,andtheuseoflivestockguardiandogs.Atthetimetheproducersurveywasadministered,immigrationreformandthestatusofH-2Aherderswasinquestion.Theweekfollowingthesurvey,theU.S.DepartmentofLaborannouncedtheH-2AHerderFinalRuleontheemploymentofforeignworkersinjobsrelatedtotheherdingoflivestockontherange,includingsheepandgoats.Assuch,thetimingofthesurveymayhavecontributedtothelevelofresponsetoquestionsconcerninglaborandlabormanagementissuesandmoreparticularly,immigrationreform.Although,undoubtedly,laborandlabormanagementissueswouldstillhavebeenidentifiedasatopindustryconcernhadthesurveytimingbeenotherwise.Amongsurveyrespondents,immigrationreform/H-2Aworkershasthegreatestimpact/potentialimpactinRegions6(Mountain&Desert),7(NorthernRockies),and8(Pacific),affecting15percent,27percentand32percentofoperationsinthoseregions,respectively.Theaverageflocksizeforoperationsratingtheimpact/potentialimpactofimmigrationreform/H-2Aworkersasmoderatetosignificantwasaround1500breedingewes.Withrespecttoproductivityandproductionefficiency,theNationalResearchCouncil’s2015reportaddressinganimalagricultureresearchneeds,statedthatincreasingproductionefficiencywhilereducingtheenvironmentalfootprintandcostperunitofanimalproteinproductisessentialtoachievingasustainable,affordable,andsecureanimalproteinsupply.16Sustainability,asdefinedbythecommittee,encompasseseconomic,environmental,andsocialconsiderations.However,thecommitteealsonotedthatsustainabilityisoftenassumedtoaddressonlyenvironmentalissues.Assummarizedinthereport:
Productivityisakeyelementinachievingfoodsecurity,andproductionefficiencyrelatestosustainabilitythroughitseffectsoneconomicsandenvironmentalimpacts.Increasingtheproductivityperanimalunitandlandunitwhileconcomitantlydecreasingnegativeimpactsontheenvironment(sustainableintensification)canultimatelyproducesafe,affordable,andnutritiousfoodtohelpmeetoverallglobalfoodandproteinneeds.Technologicaladvancements,geneticimprovement,betternutrition,husbandry,andadvancesinanimal
14U.S.DepartmentoftheInterior,BureauofLandManagement:MissionStatement.Web.http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/About_BLM.html.15AmericanSheepIndustryAssociation,Issues&Programs:Sheepherders.Web.May2016.16"3AnimalAgricultureResearchNeeds:U.S.Perspective."NationalResearchCouncil.CriticalRoleofAnimalScienceResearchinFoodSecurityandSustainability.Washington,DC:TheNationalAcademiesPress,2015.doi:10.17226/19000.
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healthandwelfareinanimalproductionhavecontributedtomajorproductivityandefficiencygainsinfoodanimals.17
ResearchPrioritiesforPublicInterestandSocialIssues
Ø Bighornsheep:speciesseparation–Itisimperativethatappropriatescientificstudiesdeterminetheinfluenceofdomesticsheeponthehealthofbighornsheepandthattheconceptofspeciesseparationisvalidatedbyresearch.
Apolicyofspatialand/ortemporalseparationbetweendomesticsheepandbighornisbeingadvancedasameanstoprotectandmaintainbighornsheeppopulations.Spatialseparationthreatenstodisplacelargenumbersofdomesticsheepfromhistoricalgrazingpermitsonpubliclands.Theconceptofspeciesseparationmustbevalidatedbyappropriatescientificresearch.
Ø Sagegrousehabitat–Researchisneededtofillinthegapsinrangemanagementandusepracticesaimedatensuringresilientsagebrushsteppethatisresistanttoinvasiveannualplants,facilitatessustainablelivestockgrazing,andprovideslong-termqualityhabitatforsagegrouse.
Thesagebrushsteppesimultaneouslyprovidesavitalnationalfood-securityresourcefromlivestockproductionaswellasanimportanthabitatforwildlife,suchassagegrouse.Land-managementagenciesaremodifyingrangeandforestmanagementplanswithaprimarygoalofsustainingandincreasingsagegrousepopulationstoavoidfutureconsiderationstolistsagegrouseundertheEndangeredSpeciesAct.Theseactionsborderonsingle-focusmanagement,whichplaceslong-standingrangeusepracticesandecosystemservicesatrisk,includingtheuseofrangelandsasafoodsecurityresource.
DevelopmentandEducationPrioritiesforPublicInterestandSocialIssues
Ø H-2Asheepherders/guestworkerprogram–DevelopmentofappropriatetrainingmaterialsforsheepherdersenteringtheU.S.undertheH-2Aguestworkerprogramareneeded,andshouldincluderelevantwildlifeandenvironmentalregulatoryinformation.Anobjective,uniform,andfeasibleauditsystemtodocumentefficacyandneedswouldalsobenefitandhelpmaintaintheintegrityoftheprogram.
Despiteindustryrecruitingefforts,areliabledomesticlaborsupplyofsheepherders,sheepshearersandlivestockworkersdoesnotexistinsomeareasofthecountry.TheH-2AguestworkerprogramandaccompanyingSpecialProceduresregulationsprovidethesheepindustrywithtrainedemployees,whichresultsinproperanimalcare,moreefficientlivestockproduction,andstewardshipofnaturalresources.
Ø Waste,manureandcarcassdisposal-Sociallyacceptablemethodsofwastehandlingandremovalandcarcassdisposalshouldbedevelopedthatareenvironmentallysoundandrespectthesensitivitiesofneighboringcommunities.
17Ibid.
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Ø CleanWaterAct–EnhancementofCleanWaterActprovisionstoreducetheassociatedcostsandregulatoryburdenwhilemaintainingresponsibleenvironmentalstewardship.
Ø Animalwelfareandhumanehandling-Animalwelfareandhumanehandlingeducationaltools
areneededforallindustrysectors.
Ø Foodandfibersecurity,continuityofbusiness,andsupplychainmanagementunderadverseconditionsandcircumstances–Thereisacriticalneedtodevelopandhaveinplaceplansthatprovideguidanceanddirectionforsupplychainmanagement,includingthemovementofliveanimalsandmeat,milk,andfiberproducts.Theseplansareneededtoensurecontinuityofbusinessandtomaintaindomesticfoodandfibersecurityunderadverseconditionsorcircumstancesthatmayariseincludingnaturaldisaster,thethreatoroutbreakofaforeignanimaldisease,oranunanticipatedeventorthreattonationalsecurity.
PredatorManagementUSDA/APHIS/VS/NAHMSreportedthatin2014,585,000sheepandlambsdiedofallcauses,costingtheindustryabout$102million.18NAHMSalsoreportedthatnearlythree-fourthsofadultsheeplosses(72percent)wereattributedtononpredatorcauses,whilejustoverone-fourthoflosses(28percent)wereattributedtopredators.Bycomparison,nonpredatorcausesaccountedfor64percentofalllambdeathlossesin2014.Predationandpredatormanagementissueshavestrongpublicpolicyunderpinnings. ProducerSurveyResultsAmongoperationsthatreportedthetopthreechallengesfacingtheiroperation,23percentidentifiedpredatormanagementasoneofthosetopthreechallenges.Ofthetotalnumberofbreedingewesonoperationsidentifyingpredatormanagementasoneoftheirtopthreechallenges,75percentwereonoperationswithgreaterthan1,000breedingewes.Combined,thisrepresentsone-halfofthetotalnumberofbreedingewescapturedbythesurvey.Ofoperationsthatidentifiedpredatormanagementasamajorchallenge,22percentwerelocatedinRegion8(Pacific)and18percentinRegion2(Mid-Atlantic/South),followedequallybyRegions5and7(TexasandNorthernRockies)at13percent.Region7(NorthernRockies)hadthehighestpercentageofbreedingewesaffectedbypredatormanagementchallenges(44percent).Ofthoseproducersthatidentifiedpredatormanagementasoneoftheirtopthreechallenges,58percentreportedusinglivestockguardiandogsontheiroperations.Ofthose,94percentindicatedthatlivestockguardiandogsareveryimportanttotheirsheepoperation.Amongalloperations,48percentreportedusinglivestockguardiandogsontheiroperation.Among15predatorcontroloptions,guardiandogswerethesecondmostcommonpredatorcontrolmeasureusedbysurveyparticipants.Wovenwireornetfenceswerethemostcommon.Whenaskedtoratetheeffectivenessofthosepredatorcontrolmeasuresusedontheiroperation,livestockguardiandogswereratedasthemosteffective.18USDA/APHIS,VeterinaryServices,NationalAnimalHealthMonitoringSystem(NAHMS),“SheepandLambPredatorandNonpredatorDeathLossintheUnitedStates,2015,”September,2015.
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Ofthoseoperationsthatidentifiedpredatormanagementasoneoftheirtopthreechallengesandalsoratedtheeffectivenessoflivestockguardiandogsinpredatorcontrol,57percentratedlivestockguardiandogsasextremelyeffective,and92percentratedguardiandogsaseitherextremelyeffectiveorsomewhateffective.Only8percentratedguardiandogsaseithernotveryeffectiveorineffective.Themostdifficultpredatorstomanagewerecoyotes(reportedby89percentofoperations),followedbydogs(51percent)andfoxasadistantthird(15percent).Forproducersreportingpredatormanagementasoneoftheirtopthreechallenges,themostdifficultpredatortomanageacrossallregionswascoyotes.
ResearchPrioritiesforPredatorManagement
Ø Predatorcontroltechnologies–Continuedresearchanddevelopmentoftechnologiesaimedatreducingdepredationareessentialtoeffectivepredatormanagement.Thesetechnologiesincludealternative/newlethaltoxicants,aswellascorrectiveandpreventativenon-lethalcontrolmeasures.
Ø Discriminantpredatormanagement-Researchisneededtoexploretheavenuesformoreeffectiveanddiscriminant(species-specific)predatormanagement.
DevelopmentPrioritiesforPredatorManagement
Ø Public-privatepartnerships-Developpublic-privatepartnershipsthatwillengagethepublicsectortohelpreducedepredationbywildlifeanddomesticdogs.
TheNationalResearchCouncilreportedthatincreasingpredationproblemsinwildlifepopulationsinmanystatesindicatetheneedforsheepindustryalliancestoworkcloselywithwildlifeagenciesandotherinterestgroupsandwiththoseinvolvedwiththreatenedandendangeredspeciesmanagementprograms.19EducationPrioritiesforPredatorManagement
Ø Educationandoutreach–Improvededucationandoutreachregardingtheuseandeffectiveness
ofcurrentlyavailablepredationmanagementtools,includingspecies-specificriskassessmentandthresholduseoflethalandnon-lethalpredatorcontroltools.
Ø Increasedawareness-IncreasedproducerawarenessofUSDA,AnimalandPlantHealthInspectionServiceWildlifeServicesinformationandservicesandofstateandfederalregulationsastheyapplytoanimaldamagecontrol.
19NationalResearchCouncil.ChangesintheSheepIndustryintheUnitedStates,MakingtheTransitionfromTradition.2008.
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Chapter 7 Lamb Marketing
Lambmarketingwasidentifiedasanimportantchallengefacingmanysheepproducers.Apanelofindustryexpertshelpedidentifythemarketingconstraintsfacingproducersandmaderecommendationsofhowbesttoeasemarketingconstraintsbaseduponsurveyresults.
Figure7-1PercentofCommercialLambOperatorsIdentifyingMarketingasaMajorChallengebyFlockSize
ProducerSurveyResultsThirty-fourpercentofcommercialflockoperationsand32percentofseedstockoperationsreportedmarketingasatopproducerchallenge.Amongcommercialoperationscitingmarketingasachallenge,37percent,27percent,and14percentweresmall,medium-size,andlargeoperations,respectively.Ofcommerciallambproducersidentifyingmarketingasamajorchallenge,22percentofoperationsarelocatedinRegion2(Mid-Atlantic/South)and22percentinRegion3(GreatLakes).One-thirdofseedstockproducersidentifyingmarketingasamajorchallengearelocatedinRegion4(Mid&UpperMidwest).Marketweightsoflambssoldduring2014(feederandslaughter)didnotdiffersubstantiallyforthoseoperationsidentifyingmarketingasamajorchallengeandthoseoperationsthatdidnotidentifymarketingasamajorchallenge.Asmallerpercentageofsmallcommerciallamboperationssoldlambsintheheaviestweightclassification(120+lbs.)–generallydescribingtraditionalcommercialslaughterlambmarkets.Conversely,noneofthelargecommerciallamboperationsreportedsellinglambsinthelightestweightclassification(<50lbs.)–generallyassociatedwithnontraditionalorethnicmarkets.Mostlambssoldweighedbetween50-120lbs.withlargeoperationssellinganequalpercentageoflambsweighing50-120lbs.andlambsweighingover120lbs.
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Thereisawiderangeofmarketingchannelsavailabletocommercialoperators.Thelargestpercentageoflargecommerciallamboperationsmarketlambstofeedlots,nationalpackers,andthroughlambpoolsandothercooperatives,respectively.Thelargestpercentageofmedium-sizecommerciallamboperationsmarketlambsthroughlocalauctionmarkets/salebarns,on-farmtoindividuals/families,andthroughorderbuyers/dealers,respectively.Thelargestpercentageofsmallcommerciallamboperationsmarketlambson-farmtoindividuals/familiesandthroughlocalauctionmarkets/salebarns,respectively.
Figure7-2CommercialLambOperationsbyMarketOutletandFlockSize
TheUSDA/AHPISNAHMSsheepstudyhadconsistentfindings.Amuchhigherpercentageoflambsweremovedfromherded/openrangeoperationstofeedlots(66percent)thanfromsmalleroperations--fencedrange(32percent),pasture(19percent),anddrylot/feedlotoperations(14percent).20TheNAHMSsheepstudyalsofoundthat55percentofsmall(20-99head)and52percentofmedium(100-499head)operationssoldtolocalauctions/salebarns,comparedtoalowerpercent(30percent)oflargeoperations(500+head).21Thenontraditionalandethnicmarketsaregrowingwithinthecommerciallambindustry.ThereareagrowingnumberofflockswithhairsheepandhairsheepcrossesacrosstheU.S.thatareparticularlywell-matchedtotheethnicmarket.Texas,thelargestsheepstate,hasseenagrowthinDorperlambflocksinrecentyears.TheSouthandSoutheastarealsoseeingincreasedhairsheepproduction—areasthattraditionallyhavenotseensheepflocks.TheNAHMSSheep2011studyreportedthatthepercentageofoperationsthathadhairbreedsincreasedoverfourfoldfrom2001to2011(5percentto22percent,respectively).22
20USDA/APHIS,VeterinaryServices,NationalAnimalHealthMonitoringSystem(NAHMS),“Sheep2011,PartII:ReferenceofMarketingandDeathLossonU.S.SheepOperations,”December2012.21Ibid.22USDA/APHIS,VeterinaryServices,NationalAnimalHealthMonitoringSystem,“Sheep2011,Part1:ReferenceofSheepManagementPracticesintheUnitedStates,2011,”May2012.
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AccordingtotheNationalResearchCouncil,“Theemergenceofnewmarketsforlambproductspresentsarguablythebestopportunityforgrowthofthelambindustry.ThegrowthinthenumberofMuslimswhoresideintheUnitedStatesisoneexample.”23TheNRCcontinued:“Hairsheeplambsarewellsuitedtotheethnicmarketsbecauseoftheirsmallercarcasssize,presenceoftail,andlowerlikelihoodoffeedlotfinishing.”Value-basedpricingcanrewardinvestmentsinlambproductionandbettertargetqualityattributestomeetconsumerneeds.Eighty-fivepercentofthosethatexplainedwhytheysoldonagridresponded:“Receivehigherprices/rewardedinhigherpricesforproductionefforts”.Value-basedpricingofteniscoupledwithmarketingagreementstoselllambsatalaterdate.Ofcommercialoperationsthatsellontherail,36percenthaveacontractinplace(writtenororal)tosellallorpartoftheir2016lambcrop.Thiscomparesto9percentofcommercialproducersthatdonotsellontherail,and14percentofallproducers.The2008NationalResearchCouncilrecommendedadoptionofelectronicgradingtoimprovetheaccuracyofvalue-basedpricing.24However,theshareofslaughterlambsharvestedunderformula/gridpricinghascontractedoverthepast13years-decliningfromnearlyhalfofallfederally-inspected(FI)slaughterlambsin2002,to24percentofFIslaughterlambsin2015.25Packer-ownedlambs,lambsprocuredatauctionandlive,andnegotiatedtradesalltrendedupwardduringthissameperiod.Useofvalue-basedpricingintheproducersurveyappearedtoberelatedtosizeofflock,locationandexperience.Nearlythree-quartersofflocksthatusedvalue-basedpricingwereinthemedium-sizerange(100-1,499head),28percentwerelargeflocks(1,500head+).Formulausewasnegligibleamongsmallproducers(lessthan99head).Theaveragenumberofewesbythesubsetofoperationsthatuseformula/gridpricingis1,200headcomparedto300headforthosethatdonot.Proximitytoalargenationalpackerand/orlambpoolalsoappearstoberelatedtovalue-basedpricingadoption.One-quarterto1/3ofthosesellingonagridsoldthroughalambpoolorcooperativeortoanationalpacker.Locationisimportantforgriduse.Experiencewasalsoimportantforgriduse.Seventypercentofthosereportingformula/gridusehadover30yearsofexperienceraisingsheepand55percentofthosereportingformula/gridusewerefrommulti-generationaloperations.Thirty-eightpercentofthosecommercialoperationsnotcurrentlyparticipatinginformula/gridpricingwouldliketoparticipate.LivestockRiskProtection-Lamb(LRP-Lamb)priceinsuranceisariskmanagementtoolavailabletolambproducersandfeeders.LambfeedersaremajorparticipantsintheLRP-Lambprogram.Inaddition,63percentoflargecommercialoperationscapturedbythesurveyhavealsopurchasedLRP-Lambpriceinsurance.
23NationalResearchCouncil.ChangesintheSheepIndustryintheUnitedStates,MakingtheTransitionfromTradition.2008.24Ibid.25EstimatederivedfromUSDA,AgriculturalMarketingServiceandASI.
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LambFeederSurveyResultsAfeedersurveywasconductedtoassesstheconstraintsfacingfeedlotoperatorsandtohelpdefineresearch,development,andeducationalneedsintheproducer/feedercomplex.Theconcernsfacingfeedingoperationsincludefeederlambavailably,laborcosts/availability,marketpricesforfeederandslaughterlambs,processingcontracts/killslotavailability,andtheriskassociatedwithmarketinglambs.Thirty-threepercentoffeederssurveyedreportedthattheywereeithersomewhatsatisfiedornotsatisfiedwiththefeedefficiencyoffeederlambsongrowingrations.Athirdwerealsosomewhatsatisfiedornotsatisfiedwiththefeedefficiencyofthelambsonfinishingrations.Thetopthreecausesofdeathinfeedlotsincludeshippingfever/pneumonia,otherrespiratorydisorders,andrectalprolapse.Overall,feedersarelookingtodevelopoptionsforreducingoreliminatinguseofantibioticsinfeedand/orinwater.Feederlambsaremostoftenpurchasedonaliveweightbasis.Ingeneral,feedersdonotofferpremiumpricingforpreconditionedlambs.Theyalsogenerallydonotoffersupplierspremium/discountedpricingforknowngeneticsorreputationoflambs.Manyfeederssellslaughterlambsonagrid,withformulapricingbaseduponcarcasscharacteristics.Amongrespondents,43percentreportedthatgettingpaidfortheactualquality/valueoflambswasthemostimportantbenefitofformula/gridpricing.Feedersroutinelyreceiveakillsheetforlambssoldonaformula/grid.Akillsheetwilloftenincludethedressingpercentage,numberofrespectiveyieldgrades,peltcredit,offalcredit,anddiscounts.Feedersroutinelyreceivefeedbackfrompackersonpeltquality,bruising,abscesses,andparasites.Inturn,feederswillsometimesreporttoproducersabouthowtheirlambsperformedonfeedandcarcassquality.Riskmanagementpracticesinfeedlotsincludeforwardpricingandraisingsomeoftheirownfeed.FeedersuseDriedDistillersGrains(DDGs)ingrowingrations.Oftenupto75percentoflambsarecommittedtoapackeruponarrivalatthefeedlotwhichreducesmarketingrisk.Feedershave—onaverage—purchasedatleastone13-weekLivestockRiskProtectionpriceinsurancecontractforslaughterlambs(LRP-Lamb).Feedersaresomewhatfamiliarwith,butmanyhavenottakentrainingintheSheepSafetyandQualityAssuranceProgramtrainingcourse.Environmentalregulationsspecifictocarcassdisposalandwaterregulationsandrestrictions(CleanWaterAct)wererankedassignificantconcernsamongfeeders.LambPacker/ProcessorSurveyResultsLambpackersandprocessorswerealsosurveyedtogainabetterunderstandofthechallengestheyface.Thesurveyaskedforinputandhelpedidentifyresearch,development,andeducationprioritiesforthepacker/processingsector.
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Twenty-threepercentofpacker/processorrespondentsreportedthatlaboravailability/costistheirtopchallenge,followedbyconsumerdemand(15percent)andgovernmentregulations/compliance(15percent).Themostsignificantqualitydefects/deficienciesorattributesofdomesticlambsneedingthemostimprovementweresizeconsistencyandayear-roundsupplyofgrass-fedlambs.Themostfavorablequalityattributeswerefreshness,theabilitytosourceregionally,andgrass-fedlamb.Halal,grass-fedandlocalwerecitedasthemarketsfordomesticlambthathavethegreatestgrowthpotentialoverthenext5years.Packers/processorswereaskedtoidentifyonechangethathasbeenmadeinanyareaoftheiroperationthathasproducedthegreatestbenefit.Commonresponsesweretheincreaseincustomprocessingandimprovementinsizeandbreedconsistencyoffedlambs.Packerswereaskedtoidentifyarea(s)ofindustryand/orpublicinvestmentinresearch,development,andeducationthatwouldprovidethegreatestbenefittotheirbusiness.Commonlyidentifiedresearchneeds/prioritiesweremeasuresandpredictorsofeatingsatisfaction,packagingandshelflife.Thedevelopmentpriorityidentifiedwassupplysecurityandtheeducationprioritywasconsumereducation.ResearchPrioritiesforLambMarketing
Ø Demandsignals-Sustainableandprofitableproductionsystemsmustrespondtomarket-drivenconsumerdemandsignals.Itiscriticalthatpriceanddemandinformationbecaptured,reported,analyzedandcommunicatedsothatproducers,feeders,packersandprocessorscanmaketimelydecisionsandeffectivelyrespondtothosemarketsignals.
Ø Pricevolatilityandriskmanagement–Strategiesandtoolsareneededformanagingprice
volatilityandmarketrisk.Marketaccessismultifaceted,comprisingphysicalaccess,accesstovalue-basedcontractsandinformationalaccess.Theextremevolatilityinlambpricesduringthelastfewyearscanhelpexplainwhymarketingwasahigh-rankingchallenge.Pricevolatilityincreasesthecostofdoingbusiness,erodingprofitsandconstraininginvestment.Relatedtothatisthelimitednumberofpriceriskmanagementtoolsavailabletothesheepindustry.Thedecliningnumberofmarketsincludingauctionmarketsandpackerplantsalsocreatesamarketingchallengeformanysmallerproducers.
Ø Demandindexanddemanddrivers-Updatethelambdemandindexandmaintainacurrentunderstandingofdemanddrivers.
Thelambindustryiscomplexanddynamic,withanequallydiverselambconsumerbase.Understandingconsumerdemandwillallowtheindustrytoimproveitsmarketingefforts.TheAmericanLambBoard(ALB)maintainsalambdemandindexwhichtrackschangesinlambdemand.Theindexshouldbeupdatedquarterlyorannuallytoreflectthecurrentdynamicsofthelambindustry.
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DevelopmentPrioritiesforLambMarketing
Ø Marketinformation-WorkwithUSDA/AMStoimprovetheavailabilityoflambmarketinformation.
Thesheepindustrycontinuestostrugglewithadecliningamountofpublicmarketinformation.Fromaresearchanddevelopmentperspective,theindustryneedstoaddresstheproblemofhowtodealwithlessandinconsistentmarketinformation.Limitedavailabilityofmarketinformationisonereasonwhymarketingisahigh-rankingindustrychallenge.
§ ItisrecommendedthattheindustryidentifythecostsoflimitedandinconsistentmarketdataandworkwithUSDA/AMStoimprovemarketdataaccess.CurrentpriceinformationisintegraltotheLRP-Lambinsuranceprogram,neededtoestablishbaselineformulaandgridpricingandservesasabenchmarkforcountlessotherfeederandslaughterlambtrades.Theinjurytotheindustryresultingfromalackoftransparencyinmarketpricesisunknown.However,giventhatpricesareoftenonlyavailableforheavier,lower-valuedlambs,thislimitedpriceinformationcouldpotentiallyresultinaseriousundervaluingofthenationalflock.
§ Separatemarketingchannelsarethoughttoexistforhairbreedlambsversuslambsfromwoolbreeds.TheU.S.DepartmentofAgricultureshouldbeurgedtorecordandpublishwoolandhairbreedinventoriesseparatelyinitsannualproducersurvey-bothnationallyandbystate.Whenpossible,USDAAgriculturalMarketingServicemarketreportsshouldprovideaseparatebreakoutofhairsheep/lambprices.Exploringthefeasibilityofcapturingbetterethnicmarketdemandandsupplyinformationcanimprovetheindustry’sunderstandingofethnicmarkettrends,challenges,andopportunities.
FromtheNationalAcademiesReportinBrief:“Thecurrentfoundationoftheindustry,lambmeat,isprimarilymarketedthroughatraditionalchannel,inwhichlambsmovefrompasturestohigher-qualityfeedingsystemstogrowtoharvestweightandthenarecommerciallyharvested.However,increasingnumbersoflambsarebeingsoldasearlyharvestlambtomeetthedemandforbetterquality,lighter-weightlambsand/orarebeingsolddirectlyfromthefarmgatetoindividualconsumers.Officialgovernmentdatacapturesinformationaboutthetraditionalchannel,butprovidesincompleteinformationabouttheotherchannels,(2008).26
Ø Objectivemeasuresandpredictorsofmeatqualityandeatingsatisfaction–Developobjective,consistentmeasuresandpredictorsofmeatqualityandeatingsatisfaction.
Ø Supplymanagement–Newandinnovativemethodsofmanagingslaughterlambsuppliesare
needed,includingseasonalsupplymanagementandprocessingthroughputscheduling.
Ø PackagingTechnologies–Developimprovedpackagingtechnologiesthatwillmaintainproductquality,freshness,appearance,andincreaseshelf-life
Ø Processingopportunities-Identifynewand/orexpandedprocessingandinvestment
opportunitiesanddevelopverticallyintegratedproducer-drivenprocessingopportunitiestoaddresstheneedsofsmalleroperationswithlimitedaccesstoslaughterandprocessingplants.
26NationalResearchCouncil.“TheNationalAcademies:ChangesintheSheepIndustryintheUnitedStates,”2008.
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Thereducednumberofsheepauctionhousesandtheconsolidationoflambprocessingplantsreducesmarketaccessformanyproducers.Acrossmanyruralareasthereisadearthoflivestockpackingplants,particularlyforsheep,andparticularlyofUSDA-inspectedfacilitiesthatarerequiredofretailsales.Incentivesforpackingplantinvestmentsareneeded,especiallyinunderservedareasoftheU.S.
Ø Localmarkets-Developdirect,locallambmarketingandnichemarketingopportunities.Somedomesticconsumers,largelyinurbanareas,wanttoknowwheretheirfoodcomesfrom.Theywanttoknowiftheanimalswerehumanelyraised,whattheywerefed,andwheretheywereraised.Direct,localmarketopportunitiesshouldbeexploredandtheseopportunitiessharedwithproducers.Grass-fedproductionsystemsalsoplaywellintothesetypesofnichemarketingopportunities.EducationPrioritiesforLambMarketing
Ø Value-basedpricing–Expandtheuseofvalue-basedpricing.Improvementsinlambqualityandconsistencycanbesupportedbyensuringthatlambproducersreceivepricesbaseduponmeasuredqualityattributes.Feedbackonfeedlotperformanceandcarcassmeritareintegraltovalue-basedpricingandqualityimprovement.
Surveyevidencerevealedarelativelylowlevelofparticipationinvalue-basedpricing.Accessandproximitytopackersplaysaroleinproducerparticipationanduseofvalue-basedpricing.Thelarger,nationalpackersprimarilyoffervalue-basedpricingandattractlargerproducersintheirareas.Increasedutilizationofvalue-basedpricingcanhelpraisetheoverallqualityandconsistencyofU.S.lambs.Pricingbasedonquality,ratherthanliveweight,rewardsqualityandthereforeenablestheindustrytobetterserveconsumers.Apricingstructurethatrewardsqualityattributescanimproveconsumerofferingsandstimulatedemand.Theindustryshouldencouragepackerstoutilizeelectronicgradingequipment,offervalue-basedpricingforalllambs,andprovidecarcassqualityfeedbacktoproducersandfeeders.TheNationalResearchCouncilrecommendedtheadoptionofavalue-basedgradingsystemthataccuratelysortscarcassesbasedonqualityandyield.27TheAmericanLambBoardRoadmapProjectalsorankedtheadoptionofvalue-basedpricingandelectronicgradingasatoppriorityrequiringimmediateaction.28
Ø RiskManagement:LRP-Lambpriceinsuranceeducation–ProvideeducationalopportunitiesintheuseofUSDA-RMALivestockRiskProtection-Lamb(LRP-Lamb)priceinsuranceprogramasariskmanagementtool.
27NationalResearchCouncil.ChangesintheSheepIndustryintheUnitedStates,MakingtheTransitionfromTradition.2008.28HaleGroup.TheAmericanLambIndustryRoadmapProject--FinalPresentation,December10,2013.
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Chapter 8 Wool Marketing Woolisasignificantjoint-productofsheepandlambproduction.Investmentsinwoolproductioncanserveasanimportantrevenuestreamforsheepflocksthatcanhelpanoperationdiversifyandmanagerisk.ProducerSurveyResultsTwenty-fivepercentofsurveyrespondentsidentifiedwoolproductionaseithertheirprimaryorsecondarytypeofoperation-8percentastheirprincipaltypeofoperationand17percentastheirsecondarytypeofoperation.Woolgrowersuseavarietyofmarketingchannelstomarkettheirwoolasshownbelow.Woolwassolddirecttoawoolbuyer(34percent),awoolpool(19percent),andawoolwarehouse(13percent).Otheroutletsincludeddirectsalestoconsumers(9percent),tosmalllocalprocessors(7percent),toalargenationalprocessor(3percent)andfurtherprocessed(3percent).
Figure8-1WoolSalesbyMarketingOutlet
Amongthoseoperatorsthatrespondedtohowsatisfiedtheyarewiththeirwoolclip,28percentwere“verysatisfied”,40percent“somewhatsatisfied”,7percent“notsatisfied”and12percentresponded“notimportant”.
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Figure8-2RecommendedFactorstoHelpImprovetheWoolClip
Thosegrowersthatreceivefeedbackregardingwoolqualityappeartobemoresatisfiedwiththeirwoolquality.Alargerpercentageofproducersthatare“verysatisfied”withthequalityoftheirwoolclipreceivefeedbackfromtheirwoolbuyer(73percent),comparedtothosethatare“notsatisfied”withthequalityoftheirwoolclip(32percent).Similarly,alargerpercentageofthoseproducersthatare“verysatisfied”withthequalityoftheirwoolclipcoretest(37percent),comparedtothosethatare“notsatisfied”withthequalityoftheirwoolclip(9percent).Ofthoseproducersthatreceivefeedbackfromtheirwoolbuyeraboutthequalityoftheirwool,54percentreceiveinformationaboutaveragefiberdiameter,followedby48percentreceivinginformationaboutcontamination.Amonggrowerssellingwool,56percentreportedthathigherwoolpriceswouldhelpimprovethequalityoftheirwoolclip--presumablythroughincreasedinvestmentinwoolqualityattributes.One-halfofproducersindicatedthatreducedcontaminationwouldimprovethequalityoftheirwoolclip.WoolBuyer/ProcessorSurveyThetotalsumofgreasywoolhandledbysurveyrespondentsis20.185millionlbs.,76percentofgreasywoolproductionin2014.One-thirdofallwoolsurveyrespondentsexpecttheirbusinesstoexpandoverthenext5years,27percentexpecttheirbusinesstocontractand40percentreportedlittletonoexpectedchange.Oftherespondentsexpectingtoreducethesizeoftheirbusiness,50percentreportedthatreducedavailablyofwoolwasthereasonforbusinesscontraction.Respondentsalsoidentifiedlowmargins(25percent)andcompetitionfromothernaturaland/orsyntheticfibers(25percent).One-halfofallsurveyrespondentsreportedthatthereasonforbusinessexpansionwasstrongerdomesticdemand,25percentduetomoremilitarycontracts,and25percentduetootherincreasesintheircustomerbase.
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Sixty-threepercentofrespondentsreportedtheirbusinesshandlesgreasywool,44percenthandlecleanwool,and31percenthandlefurtherprocessedwool.Sixty-sevenpercentofrespondentsprocessedwool,50percentproducedyarn,17percentproducedfabric,and33percentproducedfinishedproducts.Forty-sevenpercentofsurveyrespondentsidentifiedtheirprincipaltypeofbusinessaswoolprocessor,24percentaswoolbuyer/broker,and19percentaswoolwarehouse.WoolprocessorsalsoincludedacarpetmanufacturingandknittedproductsNearlyhalfofsurveyrespondentspurchasedwoolfromwarehouseswith18percentbuyingwooldirectlyfromgrowers.Halfofwoolbuyers/processorsreportedthatthefactthatU.S.woolislocalisthetop-rankedquality/valueofU.S.wool.RespondentsreportedthattheoriginofU.S.woolisitsgreatestattribute.Otherpositiveattributesthatalsoreceivedhighrankingincludedtraceability,style,andmicron.WoolprocessorsalsomentionedspecificallythattheBerryAmendmentisoneofthesingle-highestquality/valueattributesofU.S.wool.AccordingtotheDepartmentofCommerce,theBerryAmendmentisastatutoryrequirementthatrestrictstheDepartmentofDefense(DoD)fromusingfundsappropriatedorotherwiseavailabletoDoDforprocurementoffood,clothing,fabrics,fibers,yarns,othermade-uptextiles,andhandormeasuringtoolsthatarenotgrown,reprocessed,reusedorproducedintheUnitedStates.
Figure8-3Quality/ValueAttributesofU.S.Wool
Woolbuyers/processorsalsoidentifiedweaknessesinU.S.wool.Justoverhalf(54percent)ofrespondentsreportedthatcontaminationwasthesingle-greatestquality/valueweaknessofU.S.wool.Contaminatesincludedpaint,staining,vegetablematter,andpolypropylene.One-quarterofrespondentsreportedvegetablemattercontaminationisthemostcostlyqualitydefect/deficiencyinU.S.woolthatimpactstheirbusiness.Another25percentreportedpaint
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contamination.Othermentionswerefiberdiameter,staplelength,coloredfibercontamination,packaging,lotsize,and“preparationatshearingtime”.Aboutone-fifth(23percent)ofrespondentsreportedthatthetopweaknesswasavailabilityofU.S.wool,orlackofsupply.Fifteenpercentofrespondentsreportedthatfiberlengthwasthegreatestquality/valueweakness.Highmicronwasalsomentionedasaqualitydefect.Woolgrowereducationwasidentifiedasanimportantsteptowardgrowth,buttherewerealsoareasforimprovementinwoolresearchanddevelopment.Expandeddomesticmarketingresearchrankedhighest(38percent)amongareasforresearchanddevelopmentamongallsurveyrespondents.Domesticmarketdevelopment(33percent)alsorankedhighestasaninvestmentpriorityforallsurveyrespondents.
Figure8-4Quality/ValueWeaknessesofU.S.Wool
Woolbuyers/processorswereaskedtoidentifyareasofneworcontinuedresearchemphasisimportanttotheirbusiness.Forty-fourpercentofrespondentsmadecommentsrelatedtoresearchneededfornewproductdevelopment.Commentsrelatingtonewproductdevelopmentrangedfromnew,improvedpackagingto“Newnaturaluseproductandproductlines,”and“DevelopandpromoteviablecertifiedOrganicwool.”Thirty-eightpercentmadeacommentregardingtheneedforimprovedwoolquality.Onerespondentcommented:“Woolquality,especiallypaint,wecouldwashalotmorevolumeiftherewasmorepaintfreewool.”Mentionsweremaderegarding“objectivemeasurementofspecificqualityattributes”and“Quickandreliableobjectivemeasurement.”Woolbuyers/processorswereasked:WhatthreeareasofresearchanddevelopmentcouldhelpaddvaluetoU.S.wool?Twenty-sevenpercentofrespondentsreported“newproductdevelopment”followedby24percentwith“expandeddomesticmarketingresearch”.“Expandedmilitarycontracts”wasalsoimportantat20percentofmentions.
Supply23%
Conmminamon54%
Length15%
HighMicron8%
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Figure8-5ResearchandDevelopmentPrioritiesthatAddValuetoU.S.Wool
ResearchPrioritiesforWool
Ø Value-basedpricing–Researchisneededtodetermineifwoolpricesaccuratelyreflectwool
quality.Doesthemarketprovideincentivesthroughpricesignalingtoencouragebetterwoolqualityandwoolpreparation?Pricesshouldrewardhigh-quality,contaminate-free,well-preparedwool.Inturn,pricepremiumsshouldencouragereinvestmentinwoolproductionandpreparationbygrowers.TheNationalResearchCouncilconcludedthatpricepremiumsfromimprovedwoolclippreparationprovideamarketingopportunityforwoolgrowers.29Thesurveyresultsrevealedthatgrowersareawareofqualitydefectsintheirwool,andwoolbuyers/processorsstressedthatwoolcontaminationisthenumberoneshortcomingofU.S.wool.
DevelopmentPrioritiesforWool
Ø Marketingcampaign-DevelopadomesticwoolmarketingcampaigntoexpanddemandfordomesticwoolamongU.S.consumers.TheU.S.currentlyexportsabout60percentofitsgreasywoolclip.ExpandeddomesticdemandforU.S.woolcouldraiseU.S.woolprices,increasereturnstoindustrystakeholders,andpromoteU.S.woolsectorgrowth.
29NationalResearchCouncil.ChangesintheSheepIndustryintheUnitedStates,MakingtheTransitionfromTradition.2008.
Expandeddomesmcmarkemngresearch24%
Newproductdevelopment
27%
Expandedmilitarycontracts
20%
Other17%
Expandedinternamonalmarkemngresearch12%
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Ø Newproduct/marketdevelopment–Developnewproductsthataremarketdrivenwithprivate-sectorcollaboration,thatmayincludesocialinterestattributessuchas“natural”,“organic”,“knownorigin”,etc.withappropriatewoolmarketingstrategiesandsystems.
Ø Militaryapparel–Thedevelopmentofnewandbettermilitaryapparelwillultimatelyleadto
greaterusageofdomesticwoolinmilitaryapparelapplications.
Ø Dye-resistantfibers-Solutionsareneededtoaddresstheproblemofdye-resistantfibers,includingcoordinatedeffortsbetweenwoolgrowersandwoolindustries.
Ø Developmentandexplorationofwoolmeasurementequipmentandtechnologies-Objectivemeasurementistheonlywaythatwoolcanbeaccuratelydescribedandspecified.Woolprocessesmoreefficiently,economicallyandproducessuperiorproductswhenitisuniform,cleanandmeetsfirst-stageprocessorandmillstandards.
Ø Peltdefects-Peltdefectscanbedifficulttodetectinrawunprocessedpeltsandcanleadto
significanteconomiclosses.Arapidmechanicalmethodtodetectcockle,scarringandotherimperfectionsinrawpeltsisneededsothatpeltscanbesortedpriortoprocessingbasedonqualityandanticipatedmarket.
Peltsareanimportantby-productoflambproduction.Cockle,ablemishcausedbysheepkeds,andscarringcausedbyseedburrows,flystrike,etc.seriouslydowngradepeltqualityandlimitmarketopportunities.Cockleisrecognizedassmalldensenodulesthatdisfiguretheleatherandareimpenetrabletodyes,leadingtosignificanteconomiclossesofseveralmilliondollarsfortheleatherindustryintheU.S.peryear.30Othertypesofscartissuecanleavesmallholesafterprocessingandaffectedareasdonotdyeuniformly.Arapidmechanicalmethodtodetectcockle,scarringandotherimperfectionsinrawpeltsisneededsothatpeltscanbesortedpriortoprocessingbasedonqualityandanticipatedmarket.EducationPrioritiesforWool
Ø Continuededucation-Developcontinuededucationforwoolgrowersaimedatimprovingwool
qualityandreducingcontaminantsandencouragetheuseofCodeofPracticestandards.
Ø Returnoninvestment-Developestimatesforproducersofthemonetaryreturnthatcanberealizedwithsmallinvestmentsinwoolpreparation.
30TexasA&MAGriLifeExtension.LivestockVeterinaryEntomology:SheepKeds.Web.May2016.
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Chapter 9 Resource Allocation for Research and Education and Trends in Public Funding Prioritiesforresearchandeducationareestablishedatmanylevels(local,state,national,industry-wide,etc.)andthereiscompetitionforresourcesateverylevel.Thecomplexprioritysettingprocessofteninvolvespeoplewithvaryingdegreesofknowledgeaboutthespecificdisciplines,commodities,orprogramsforwhichtheyaremakingprioritydecisions.Thisbecomesmoreevidentasprioritiesaremergedandpackagedforjustificationatthenextlevelofprioritization.Settingprioritiesforsheepresearchandeducationfundingandresourceallocationisnoexception.Theprocessfortheallocationofresourcestoresearchandextension/educationhasundergonesignificantchangesoverthepastfewdecadesmanyofwhichhavenotbeenfavorabletosheepresearchandeducation.Examplesofchangesanddifferencesinclude:
§ adecreaseintargetedfundingforresearchbyCongress§ moreemphasisoncompetitiveresearchgrantsespeciallyfocusedonbasicresearch§ moreemphasisontheallocationofresourcestofewercommoditiesattheStatelevel§ theallocationprocessdiffersgreatlyamonguniversities,Stateagencies,andfederalagencies
(thesedifferencesmakecoordinationofresearchandeducationactivitiesmoredifficult)§ sharingofresourcesacrossuniversitiesislimitedduetoStatefundingaccountability
requirementsandadministration/politicalinfluences§ increasedrequirementsforuniversityfacultytoobtaincompetitivegrantfundingwherebythe
grantprioritiesdirectthetypeoffunding§ lessdirectinteractionwithsheepproducers(severalfactorsaffectthisincludingtravel
restrictions)§ prioritydecisionsaremadeatmultiplelevelsinuniversitiesandinfederalagencies§ manyprioritiesareimpactedbyregulations,legislation,andspecialinterestgroupsoutsidethe
traditionalagriculturalarenaThefollowingcomparisonsprovideanoverviewofthecurrentresourceallocationtrendsforsheepresearchandextensionandacontextforallocatingandmanagingfutureresourcesforthesheepresearchandextension/educationinfrastructure.Totalpublicfundingforallagricultureresearchdecreasedfrom$4.04Bto$3.88Bbetween2002and2014,a4percentdecrease.Publicfundingforanimalagricultureresearch(poultry,beef,dairy,swine,sheep,horses,animalsingeneral–excludingaquaculture)decreasedfrom$792.9Mto$737.3Mbetween2002and2014,a7percentdecrease.Publicfundingforsheepresearchdecreasedfrom$48.3Mto$33.7Mbetween2002and2014),a30percentdecrease.LargestdecreaseswereStateAppropriations(sourcesoutsidefederalgovernment)andOtherNon-Federal(e.g.,productsales,industrygrants,misc.non-federal).Publicextensionexpendituresfortheanimal300KnowledgeAreas(i.e.,animalproductionandhealth)decreasedfrom$110.2Mto$97.1Mfrom2007to2014,a12percentdecrease.Note,publicextensionexpendituresforSubjectofInvestigation(e.g.,sheep,beef,corn,etc.)arenotreportedtoUSDA-NIFA.
52
Figure9-1Funding/ExpenditureTrends
Thenationaltotalnumberofscientistyearequivalents(SYs)decreasedfrom111infiscalyear2001to61infiscalyear2014.However,thenumberofSYsatuniversitiesdeceasedfrom85to42,agreaterrateofdecline.Duringthisperiod,totalnationalpublicfundingdecreasedfrom$42.7millioninfiscalyear2001to$32.5millioninfiscalyear2014.DataforeachyeararesummarizedinAppendixD.InstitutionalFrameworkPrioritiesforResearch,Education,andDevelopmentThesheepandlambindustryischallengedtodomorewithlessandtodosomethingsdifferently.Thepublicresearchandeducationinfrastructurehasbecomesmallermakingitessentialtofocusontheprioritiesandchallengesmostimportanttotheindustry.Astheindustryseesitssecondyearofinventoryincreasesitisimperativetomaintainthemomentumandensurerecentgrowthissustainableandthus,long-term.Theindustryischallengedtohelpthegrowingnumberofsheepoperationswiththeirsheepchallengestomitigateriskandpromotegrowth.Movingforward,thechallengetotheindustryishowbesttoallocatelimitedresearchandeducationresourcestowardthemostimpactfulgain.Focusgroupparticipantshelpeddevelopaplanforafuturethatwillrequireheightenedcollaborationamongsheepstakeholderstoimprovetheefficiencyofresearchanddevelopmentprogramsandeducationdelivery.
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Ø Improveinformationresources
Apanelofindustryexpertsagreedthatthenumberonechallengeinprovidingsupporttosheepproducersisgettingtheinformationtotheminatimely,efficient,accurateandeffectivemanner.Therearefewersheepextensionspecialistsavailableforsheepproducersgivenshrinkingbudgets,andatthesametimethereisanexplosionofsheepadviceontheInternetthatmay--ormaynotbe--accurate.Inaddition,thereisanexpansionintheindustryincertaingeographicareasespeciallybyproducerswithsmallerflockswhichcreatesmoreofachallengeforinformationdelivery.Howtopromotesheepeducationisthechallengemovingforward.Surveyedproducerswereaskedhowoftenvarioussourcesofinformationareused.Amongrespondentsansweringhowofteneachinformationsourcewasused,the“Internet”wasusedthemostroutinely(67percent),followedby“Otherproducers(informal)”(43percent)and“Veterinarians”(37percent).Twenty-fourpercentofoperationsreportedusingExtensionspecialists/countyagentsroutinely.
Ø Developcollaborative,regionalsheepcentersforresearch
Overall,focusgroupparticipantsagreedfortheneedforincreasedpartneringbetweenuniversities,sheepinstitutions,theprivatesectorandfederalsheepresearchefforts.Surveyrespondentsrecommendedimprovedcommunicationandsharingofresourcesamongstatesheeporganizations,theAmericanSheepIndustryAssociation,universitiesandtheextensionsystem.Thefocusgroupparticipantsrecommend:
§ Continuedsupportforcentersforsheepresearchandtodevelopacollaborativeeffortbetweentheindustry,universitiesandtheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,AgriculturalResearchService.
§ Encouragepublicandprivatepartneringtoleverageresourcesforefficiencyandeffectiveness.§ Continuetotakeadvantageoftheexistingprivateandpublicresearchandeducation
infrastructure.TheALBRoadmaphadaconsistentfinding.Itaskedwhetheraconsortiaoflandgrantuniversitiescouldexecutecoordinated,collaborativeappliedresearchfortheirlargerregion.Coordinatedactivitiescouldaddressspecificissuesuniquetodifferentregionsandsheepproductionmodels.StatesheepassociationsandstateExtensionServicepersonnelshouldcollaboratetodevelopalong-termplanforproducereducationthatisbestfortheirstate.Instateswithlowsheepinventories,severalstatesshouldconsiderdevelopingaplanforamulti-stateregion.
Ø Developexpandedsheepcheckofffunds
Arecurringquestionamongfocusgroupparticipantsishowtofundsheepresearch,developmentandeducationaleffortsinaperiodofdecliningsheepbudgets.Onerecommendationistopromoteprivatesectorfundingoptions.Anexpandedsheepcheckoffcouldprovidefundsforsheepresearchincludingbroaderlambmarketingresearchandwoolresearch.TheAmericanLambBoardiscurrentlyfundedwithlambcheckoffdollars.Anotheroptionistoallocateaportionofthecurrentcheckofffundstoresearchandoutreach.
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Ø DevelopanInternetonlinehubofsheepresourcesandsupport(TheexistingwebsiteeXtensionispositionedtodothisifresourcesaredevotedtoit).
TherecurrentlyexistsanonlinesheepeXtensionsystem--aknowledge-to-actionservicewithresearch-basedinformationthatisanintegralpartoftheU.S.CooperativeExtensionSystem31--thatcouldbefurtherpopulatedwithinformationandreorganizedtobetterservesheepproducers.CreationofanonlineInternethubwasalsorecommendedbyindustryexpertsacrossallprioritytopicstohelpeducateproducers.Keygoalsofthisonlinehubwouldbefirst,itiseasytouse.Thesitewouldnotcontainanoverloadofinformation,butrelevantinformationthatcoverstherangeoftopicsprioritizedinthesurvey.Achatroomwithinthesitecouldgenerateconversation.Theonlinehubcouldbesupportedbyanetworkoforganizationsandspecialiststodirectspecificquestionsto,mostlypublicinstitutions.
31Extension.https://extension.org/accessed4/17/16.
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APPENDIXA—DemographicProfilesandSurveyResultsChapter1:DemographicsandGeneralInformationA.1.1ProducerSurveyResponsebyFlockSizeA.1.2PercentOperationsbyFlockSizeA.1.3PercentBreedingEwesbyFlockSizeA.1.4PrincipalTypeOperationbyPercentOperationsA.1.5PrimaryTypeofFlockManagementbyPercentOperationsA.1.6IdentificationofASIRegionsA.1.7PercentOperationsbyASIRegionA.1.8PercentBreedingEwesbyASIRegionA.1.9PercentRespondentsbyYearsofExperienceRaisingSheepA.1.10PercentRespondentsbyAgeofPrincipalOperatorA.1.11CurrentSizeofOperationComparedto2010byPercentOperationsA.1.12CurrentSizeofOperationRelativeto2010byASIRegionA.1.13CurrentSizeofOperationRelativeto2010byFlockSizeA.1.14PercentOperationsthatCurrentlyHaveMoreEwesthanin2010byFlockSizeA.1.15PercentOperationsthathaveIncreasedFlockSizeoverthePastFiveYearsbyRegionA.1.16PercentOperationsthathaveDecreasedFlockSizeoverthePastFiveYearsbyRegionA.1.17ExpansionPlansovertheNextFiveYearsbyPercentOperationsA.1.18ExpansionPlansovertheNextFiveYearsbyRegionA.1.19ExpansionPlansovertheNextFiveYearsbyFlockSizeA.1.20PercentOperationsPlanningtoIncreaseFlockSizebyRegionA.1.21PercentOperationsPlanningtoIncreaseFlockSizebySizeofFlockA.1.22PrimaryReason(s)forDecreasingFlockSizeRelativeto2010byPercentOperationsA.1.23PrimaryReason(s)forNOTIncreasingFlockSizeovertheNextFiveyearsbyPercentOperations
DemographicsofGreatestChallengesA.1.24GreatestChallengesbyPercentBreedingEwesandPercentOperationsA.1.25GreatestChallengesbyPotentialtoIncreaseProfitabilityA.1.26GreatestChallengesbyPercentBreedingEwesandRegionA.1.27GreatestChallengesbyPercentOperationsandRegionA.1.28GreatestChallengesbyTypeandSizeofFlockA.1.29GreatestChallengesbyPrimaryTypeofFlockManagementA.1.30GreatestChallengesbyYearsofExperienceRaisingSheepChapter2:GeneticsandBreedingA.2.1PercentOperationswithEwesExposedforOut-of-SeasonBreedingDuringthePastThreeYearsbyTypeandSizeofFlockA.2.2FactorsLimitingtheSuccessofOut-of-SeasonBreedingProgramsbyPercentOperationsthatExposedEwesforOut-of-SeasonBreedingA.2.3ReasonsGivenbySeedstockProducersforNOTUsingEBVsChapter3:FlockHealthA.3.1Lambs:DiseasesDifficulttoManagebyFlockSizeA.3.2Lambs:DiseasesDifficulttoManagebyRegionA.3.3BreedingEwes/Rams:DiseasesDifficulttoManagebyFlockSize
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A.3.4BreedingEwes/Rams:DiseasesDifficulttoManagebyRegionA.3.5Disease/DiseaseConditioninLambswithGreatestEconomicImpactA.3.6Disease/DiseaseConditioninBreedingEwes/RamswithGreatestEconomicImpact
ParasiteManagementA.3.7PercentOperationswithinaRegionIdentifyingInternalParasitesasaDifficultDiseaseConditioninLambs&/orBreedingSheepA.3.8UseofParasiteManagementTechnologiesA.3.9UseofParasiteManagementTechnologiesbyParasiteManagementChallengeA.3.10EffectivenessofParasiteManagementTechnologiesbyOperationsReportingParasitesareaDifficultDiseaseConditiontoManageA.3.11EffectivenessofParasiteManagementTechnologiesbyOperationsReportingParasitesareNOTaDifficultDiseaseConditiontoManageChapter4:ReproductivePerformanceA.4.1SatisfactionwithReproductivePerformanceofFlockbyPercentOperationsA.4.2ReproductivePerformance:LeastSatisfiedwithOutcomesbyPercentOperationsChapter5:GrazingandPastureManagementandNutritionA.5.1GrazingandPastureManagementChallengesbyPercentRange-basedandPercentPasture-basedOperationsA.5.2GrazingandPastureManagementChallengeswithGreatestPotentialtoIncreaseProfitabilityA.5.3NutritionalManagementChallengesbyPercentRange-basedOperations,PercentPasture-basedOperations,PercentBreedingEwesandPercentOperationsA.5.4NutritionalManagementChallengeswithGreatestPotentialtoIncreaseProfitabilityChapter6:PublicInterestandSocialIssuesA.6.1ModeratetoSignificantCurrentorPotentialImpactonOperationbyPercentBreedingEwesandPercentOperationsA.6.2ModeratetoSignificantCurrentorPotentialImpactonOperationbyPercentRange-basedandPercentPasture-basedOperationsA.6.3SignificantCurrentorPotentialImpactonOperationbyPercentBreedingEwesandPercentOperationsA.6.4SignificantCurrentorPotentialImpactonOperationbyFlockSize
PredatorManagementA.6.5RespondentsIdentifyingPredatorManagementasaMajorChallengebyRegionA.6.6RespondentsIdentifyingPredatorManagementasaMajorChallengebyFlockSizeA.6.7MostDifficultPredatorstoManagebyPercentOperationsandPercentBreedingEwesA.6.8MostDifficultPredatorstoManagebyTypeofManagementA.6.9MostDifficultPredatorstoManagebyRegionA.6.10EffectivenessofPredatorManagementTechnologiesChapter7:LambMarketingA.7.1OperationsIdentifyingMarketingasaMajorChallengebyTypeofOperationandRegionA.7.2CommercialLambOperationsIdentifyingMarketingasaMajorChallengebyFlockSizeA.7.3CommercialLambOperationsbyFlockSizeandWeightofMarketLambsSold
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A.7.4CommercialLambOperationsbyMarketingasaMajorChallengeandWeightofMarketLambsSoldA.7.5CommercialLambOperationsbyMarketOutletandFlockSizeA.7.6CommercialLambOperationsIdentifyingMarketingasaMajorChallengebyMarketOutletandFlockSizeChapter8:WoolMarketingA.8.1WoolSalesbyMarketingOutletA.8.2Producer-IdentifiedNeedsforImprovingWoolA.8.3WoolBusiness-IdentifiedQuality/ValueAttributesofU.S.WoolA.8.4WoolBusiness-IdentifiedQuality/ValueWeaknessesofU.S.Wool
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Chapter1:DemographicsandGreatestProducerChallengesDemographicsA.1.1ProducerSurveyResponsebyFlockSize
A.1.2PercentOperationsbyFlockSize
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A.1.3PercentBreedingEwesbyFlockSize
A.1.4PrincipalTypeofOperationbyPercentOperations
45.8%
8.3%
33.5%
1.2%
7.1% 1.5% 2.7%
Commerciallamb WoolSeedstock DairyShow,4-H/clublamb SustainablelandmanagementOther
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A.1.5PrimaryTypeofFlockManagementbyPercentOperations
A.1.6IdentificationofASIRegions
Region1 Region2 Region3 Region4 Region5 Region6 Region7 Region8
NortheastMid-Atlantic
SouthGreatLakes
Mid&Upper
MidwestTexas
Mountain&Desert
NorthernRockies
Pacific
CT AL IL IA TX CO MT AKME AR IN KS NM ID CAMA DE MI MO UT WY HINH GA MN NE AZ ORNJ FL OH ND NV WANY KY WI OKPA LA SDRI MDVT MS
NCSCTNVAWV
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A.1.7PercentOperationsbyASIRegion
A.1.8PercentBreedingEwesbyASIRegion
71
A.1.9PercentRespondentsbyYearsofExperienceRaisingSheep
A.1.10PercentRespondentsbyAgeofPrincipalOperator
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A.1.11CurrentSizeofOperationComparedto2010byPercentOperations
A.1.12CurrentSizeofOperationRelativeto2010byASIRegion
ASIRegion MoreEwes Same#Ewes FewerEwes
1=Northeast 54.7% 29.3% 16.0%2=Mid-Atlantic/South 58.9% 27.4% 13.7%3=GreatLakes 59.2% 27.6% 13.3%4=Mid&UpperMidwest 58.3% 32.1% 9.5%5=Texas 42.6% 29.6% 27.8%6=Mountain&Desert 40.0% 35.0% 25.0%7=NorthernRockies 26.5% 44.1% 29.4%8=Pacific 48.7% 25.0% 26.3%UnknownRegion 46.7% 26.7% 26.7%All 52.1% 29.5% 18.4%Acrossrowtotal(withinregion)equals100%.
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A.1.13CurrentSizeofOperationRelativeto2010byFlockSize
A.1.14PercentOperationsthatCurrentlyHaveMoreEwesthanin2010byFlockSize
FlockSize MoreEwes Same#Ewes FewerEwes
1-100ewes 55.1% 28.4% 16.4%101-500ewes 49.5% 28.3% 22.2%501-1000ewes 33.3% 38.1% 28.6%1001-5000ewes 40.7% 33.3% 25.9%5000+ewes 0.0% 100.0% 0.0%UnknownFlockSize 42.9% 28.6% 28.6%All 52.1% 29.5% 18.4%Acrossrowtotal(withinflocksize)equals100%.
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A.1.15PercentOperationsthathaveIncreasedFlockSizeoverthePastFiveYearsbyRegion
A.1.16PercentOperationsthathaveDecreasedFlockSizeoverthePastFiveYearsbyRegion
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A.1.17ExpansionPlansovertheNextFiveYearsbyPercentOperations
A.1.18ExpansionPlansovertheNextFiveYearsbyRegion(percentoperations)
ASIRegion MoreEwes Same#Ewes FewerEwes Don'tKnow
1=Northeast 35.4% 45.6% 13.9% 5.1%2=Mid-Atlantic/South 53.0% 38.0% 5.0% 4.0%3=GreatLakes 48.5% 35.6% 9.9% 5.9%4=Mid&UpperMidwest 55.3% 32.9% 2.4% 9.4%5=Texas 52.7% 38.2% 1.8% 7.3%6=Mountain&Desert 36.8% 47.4% 10.5% 5.3%7=NorthernRockies 29.4% 50.0% 14.7% 5.9%8=Pacific 39.5% 39.5% 13.2% 7.9%UnknownRegion 54.5% 21.2% 6.1% 18.2%All 46.6% 38.1% 8.2% 7.0%Acrossrowtotal(withinregion)equals100%.
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A.1.19ExpansionPlansovertheNextFiveYearsbyFlockSize(percentoperations)
A.1.20PercentOperationsPlanningto A.1.21PercentOperationsPlanningtoIncreaseFlockSizebyRegion IncreaseFlockSizebySizeofFlock
FlockSize MoreEwes Same#Ewes FewerEwes Don'tKnow
1-100ewes 45.6% 39.2% 7.6% 7.6%101-500ewes 46.9% 37.8% 12.2% 3.1%501-1000ewes 57.1% 28.6% 9.5% 4.8%1001-5000ewes 57.7% 23.1% 3.8% 15.4%5000+ewes 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0%UnknownFlockSize 50.0% 30.0% 10.0% 10.0%All 46.6% 38.1% 8.2% 7.0%Acrossrowtotal(withinflocksize)equals100%.
ASIRegion %Operations FlockSize %Operations
1=Northeast 10.3% 1-100 71.6%2=Mid-Atlantic/South 19.6% 101-500 17.0%3=GreatLakes 18.1% 501-1000 4.4%4=Mid&UpperMidwest 17.3% 1001-5000 5.5%5=Texas 10.7% 5000+ 0.0%6=Mountain&Desert 2.6% Unknown 1.5%7=NorthernRockies 3.7% Columntotalequals100%.
8=Pacific 11.1%Unknown 6.6%Columntotalequals100%.
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A.1.22PrimaryReason(s)forDecreasingFlockSizeRelativeto2010byPercentOperations
A.1.23PrimaryReason(s)forNOTIncreasingFlockSizeOvertheNextFiveyearsbyPercentOperations
Reason(s) %Operations
Weather/drought-related 34%Landavailability 33%Part-timeorworkingofffarm 23%Laborcost/availability 20%Age/Health 19%Predation 17%Flockhealth 17%Marketprices 14%Otherenterprisesmoreprofitable 10%Other 9%Accesstofinancing 7%Marketaccess 5%Governmentregulation/compliance 5%Columntotalisgreaterthan100%.
Reason(s) %Operations
Landavailability 44%Satisfiedwithcurrentoperationsize 41%Part-time/workingofffarm 32%Laborcost/availability 28%Retirement 24%Feedresources 21%Predation 12%Marketprices 9%Weatherrelated 9%Marketaccess 7%Accesstofinancing 7%Flockhealth 7%Gov'tregulations/compliance 6%Otherenterprisesmoreprofitable 6%Other 3%Columntotalisgreaterthan100%.
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GreatestProducerChallengesA.1.24GreatestChallengesbyPercentBreedingEwesandPercentOperations
A.1.25GreatestChallengesbyPotentialtoIncreaseProfitability(percentoperations)
GreatestChallenges %breedingewes %operations
Labor/labormanagement 55.4% 29.6%
Predatormanagement 51.8% 22.9%
Governmentregulations/compliance 47.9% 8.9%
Marketing 31.8% 33.3%
Flockhealth 26.5% 32.6%
Grazingandforagemanagement 20.4% 42.0%
Facilitiesandfencing 14.7% 28.4%
Estateplanning/generationaltransfer 11.7% 8.9%
Reproductiveperformance 11.1% 19.3%
Genetics 9.6% 22.3%
Financialmanagement/financing 8.7% 14.9%
Nutritionalmanagement 7.4% 14.2%
Animalwelfareissues 3.9% 3.4%
Biosecurityissues 1.0% 2.3%
Other 0.6% 3.0%
PotentialtoIncreaseProfitability %breedingewes %operations
Marketing 27.8% 17.7%
Predatormanagement 21.8% 6.5%
Labor/labormanagement 9.4% 6.3%
Grazingandforagemanagement 8.0% 16.6%
Flockhealth 7.7% 11.4%
Reproductiveperformance 6.1% 10.6%
Governmentregulations/compliance 5.2% 1.3%
Genetics 4.7% 13.4%
Financialmanagement/financing 4.1% 3.8%
Nutritionalmanagement 2.5% 2.9%
Nutritionalmanagement 1.1% 1.6%
Predatormanagement 1.1% 6.3%
Other 0.4% 1.4%
Animalwelfareissues 0.0% 0.0%
Biosecurityissues 0.0% 0.0%
Columntotalsequal100%.
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A.1.26GreatestChallengesbyPercentBreedingEwesandRegion
A.1.27GreatestChallengesbyPercentOperationsandRegion
Labor/labormanagement 32% 23% 28% 44% 60% 90% 63% 47% 64% 55%
Predatormanagement 3% 46% 13% 17% 46% 46% 86% 36% 79% 52%
Governmentregulations/compliance 2% 5% 5% 1% 2% 39% 81% 69% 51% 48%
Marketing 27% 29% 31% 30% 9% 8% 53% 39% 3% 32%
Flockhealth 45% 57% 35% 39% 23% 5% 26% 22% 29% 27%
Grazingandforagemanagement 38% 39% 21% 19% 48% 4% 25% 18% 7% 20%
Facilitiesandfencing 25% 24% 35% 15% 24% 1% 9% 9% 31% 15%
Estateplanning/generationaltransfer 16% 8% 20% 16% 35% 4% 14% 8% 0% 12%
Reproductiveperformance 26% 20% 37% 30% 10% 7% 1% 11% 2% 11%
Genetics 19% 17% 25% 27% 20% 2% 2% 7% 3% 10%
Financialmanagement/financing 18% 8% 18% 17% 3% 27% 0% 5% 8% 9%
Nutritionalmanagement 26% 8% 11% 22% 2% 1% 9% 1% 4% 7%
Animalwelfareissues 2% 2% 2% 17% 4% 0% 1% 1% 11% 4%
Biosecurityissues 15% 0% 6% 0% 0% 3% 0% 0% 0% 1%
Other 9% 2% 2% 0% 1% 1% 0% 0% 0% 1%
Columnandrowtotalsaregreaterthan100%.Producersaskedtoselectuptothree.
Region5Texas
Region6Mountain&
Desert
Region7NorthernRockies
Region8Pacific
UnknownRegion
ALLRegionsGreatestChallenges
byPercentBreedingEwesRegion1Northeast
Region2Mid-Atlantic
South
Region3GreatLakes
Region4Mid&UpperMidwest
Grazingandforagemanagement 49% 46% 37% 33% 48% 30% 38% 45% 36% 42%
Marketing 44% 33% 35% 41% 18% 30% 24% 37% 12% 33%
Flockhealth 28% 40% 40% 30% 36% 15% 11% 26% 42% 33%
Labor/labormanagement 31% 24% 29% 37% 21% 40% 38% 32% 33% 30%
Facilitiesandfencing 33% 35% 25% 25% 38% 20% 16% 22% 30% 28%
Predatormanagement 9% 24% 10% 16% 30% 30% 46% 38% 33% 23%
Genetics 23% 19% 24% 25% 32% 15% 27% 15% 18% 22%
Reproductiveperformance 9% 21% 22% 24% 23% 20% 11% 18% 18% 19%
Financialmanagement/financing 24% 12% 15% 13% 14% 15% 5% 13% 18% 15%
Nutritionalmanagement 17% 14% 18% 11% 9% 15% 22% 8% 12% 14%
Estateplanning/generationaltransfer 6% 5% 9% 17% 7% 10% 16% 6% 3% 9%
Governmentregulations/compliance 6% 8% 7% 2% 4% 25% 27% 17% 18% 9%
Animalwelfareissues 3% 4% 1% 6% 5% 5% 8% 5% 3% 3%
Other 9% 1% 5% 0% 4% 5% 0% 0% 3% 3%
Biosecurityissues 4% 2% 6% 1% 0% 5% 0% 0% 0% 2%
Columnandrowtotalsaregreaterthan100%.Producersaskedtoselectuptothree.
Region6Mountain&
Desert
Region7NorthernRockies
Region8Pacific
UnknownRegion
ALLRegionsGreatestChallenges
byPercentOperationsRegion1Northeast
Region2Mid-Atlantic
South
Region3GreatLakes
Region4Mid&UpperMidwest
Region5Texas
80
A.1.28GreatestChallengesbyTypeandSizeofFlock
A.1.29GreatestChallengesbyPrimaryTypeofFlockManagement(percentoperations)
FlockSize1-75
FlockSize76-225
FlockSize226-500
AllSeedstock&ShowFlocks
FlockSize1-99
FlockSize100-1499
FlockSize1500+
AllCommercial
Flocks
%AllBreedingEwes
%AllOperations
Labor/labormanagement 23% 32% 43% 26% 27% 38% 61% 32% 55% 30%Predatormanagement 15% 21% 57% 18% 17% 43% 48% 27% 52% 23%Governmentregulations/compliance 5% 6% 0% 5% 7% 9% 65% 11% 48% 9%Marketing 35% 21% 43% 32% 39% 30% 17% 34% 32% 33%Flockhealth 33% 32% 0% 32% 35% 31% 22% 32% 27% 33%Grazingandforagemanagement 41% 40% 43% 41% 51% 32% 13% 40% 20% 42%Facilitiesandfencing 27% 17% 14% 24% 36% 26% 9% 29% 15% 28%Estateplanning/generationaltransfer 8% 9% 43% 9% 5% 15% 13% 9% 12% 9%Reproductiveperformance 21% 21% 14% 24% 14% 23% 9% 16% 11% 19%Genetics 36% 38% 14% 36% 15% 12% 9% 13% 10% 22%Financialmanagement/financing 19% 6% 0% 16% 17% 11% 9% 14% 9% 15%Nutritionalmanagement 18% 9% 0% 15% 14% 13% 9% 13% 7% 14%Animalwelfareissues 2% 0% 29% 2% 4% 4% 9% 4% 4% 3%Biosecurityissues 2% 9% 0% 4% 2% 2% 0% 2% 1% 2%Other 2% 2% 0% 0% 4% 1% 0% 2% 1% 3%Columntotalsaregreaterthan100%.Producersaskedtoselectuptothree.
GreatestChallenges
Seedstock&ShowFlocks CommercialFlocks ALLFlocks
Animalwelfareissues 5% 7% 2% 5% 0%
Biosecurityissues 0% 2% 2% 3% 0%
Estateplanning/generationaltransfer 9% 16% 8% 8% 8%
Facilitiesandfencing 5% 35% 29% 29% 15%
Financialmanagement/financing 14% 12% 12% 21% 8%
Flockhealth 9% 19% 35% 34% 23%
Genetics 5% 21% 23% 23% 23%
Governmentregulations/compliance 64% 16% 6% 6% 23%
Grazingandforagemanagement 27% 28% 51% 35% 23%
Labor/labormanagement 73% 40% 26% 28% 54%
Marketing 14% 21% 35% 35% 54%
Nutritionalmanagement 5% 5% 15% 16% 0%
Predatormanagement 59% 56% 19% 17% 38%
Reproductiveperformance 5% 9% 21% 22% 0%
Columntotalsaregreaterthan100%.Producersaskedtoselectuptothree.
GreatestChallengesHerdedOpenRange
FencedRange
PastureCombinationPasture&DryLot
Other
81
A.1.30GreatestChallengesbyYearsofExperienceRaisingSheep(percentoperations)
GreatestChallenges <6years 6-10years 11-20years 21-30years >30years unknown
Animalwelfareissues 1.9% 2.7% 1.9% 3.2% 7.0% 16.7%
Biosecurityissues 1.0% 1.4% 5.8% 3.2% 1.0% 0.0%
Estateplanning/generationaltransfer 5.8% 4.1% 5.8% 9.6% 12.9% 16.7%
Facilitiesandfencing 40.8% 31.1% 32.7% 19.1% 21.9% 50.0%
Financialmanagement/financing 26.2% 13.5% 19.2% 10.6% 8.5% 33.3%
Flockhealth 33.0% 35.1% 24.0% 48.9% 27.4% 16.7%
Genetics 16.5% 25.7% 28.8% 20.2% 22.9% 0.0%
Governmentregulations/compliance 8.7% 2.7% 6.7% 4.3% 16.9% 33.3%
Grazingandforagemanagement 49.5% 54.1% 47.1% 42.6% 28.9% 50.0%
Labor/labormanagement 20.4% 24.3% 31.7% 21.3% 41.8% 33.3%
Marketing 48.5% 28.4% 31.7% 34.0% 27.4% 33.3%
Nutritionalmanagement 12.6% 23.0% 17.3% 12.8% 10.0% 0.0%
Other 2.9% 1.4% 4.8% 2.1% 3.0% 16.7%
Predatormanagement 11.7% 25.7% 8.7% 25.5% 34.8% 16.7%
Reproductiveperformance 12.6% 20.3% 21.2% 18.1% 21.9% 0.0%
Columntotalsaregreaterthan100%.Producersaskedtoselectuptpthree.
82
Chapter2:GeneticsandBreedingA.2.1PercentOperationswithEwesExposedforOut-of-SeasonBreedingDuringthePastThreeYearsbyTypeandSizeofFlock
A.2.2FactorsLimitingtheSuccessofOut-of-SeasonBreedingProgramsbyPercentOperationsthatExposedEwesforOut-of-SeasonBreeding
11.2%
15.4%
19.6%
24.5%
44.1%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%
Noteconomicallyfeasible
Other
InformaTonneeds
Management/laborintensive
Breed/geneTcs
83
A.2.3ReasonsGivenbySeedstockProducersforNOTUsingEBVs
84
Chapter3:FlockHealthA.3.1Lambs:DiseasesDifficulttoManagebyFlockSize
A.3.2Lambs:DiseasesDifficulttoManagebyRegion(percentoperations)
Internalparasites 44% 46% 46% 14% 43%
Starvation 34% 51% 61% 50% 40%
Pneumonia/respiratorydisease 27% 46% 64% 45% 34%
Coccidiosis 27% 34% 18% 32% 28%
Enterotoxemia 11% 21% 11% 18% 14%
Diarrhea(scours) 14% 14% 0% 14% 14%
Otherdigestiveproblems 14% 8% 11% 23% 13%
None 16% 4% 4% 5% 12%
Otherdisease 9% 7% 4% 0% 8%
Whitemuscledisease 6% 4% 0% 23% 6%
Navelorjointill 4% 4% 21% 14% 6%
SoreMouth 3% 7% 4% 5% 4%
Ringworm(clublambfungus) 2% 3% 0% 0% 2%
Polyarthritis 1% 2% 4% 5% 1%
1-99 100-499 500-1499 1500+ All
Coccidiosis 18% 40% 32% 34% 17% 20% 18% 23% 28%
Diarrhea(scours) 8% 16% 10% 11% 24% 25% 12% 11% 17%
Enterotoxemia 18% 7% 9% 18% 9% 15% 36% 12% 17%
Internalparasites 47% 65% 39% 36% 63% 20% 15% 32% 45%
Navelorjointill 3% 2% 9% 4% 2% 15% 9% 8% 7%
Otherdigestiveproblems 9% 9% 14% 16% 15% 20% 21% 12% 3%
Otherdisease 9% 9% 5% 10% 9% 5% 15% 6% 7%
Pneumonia/respiratorydisease 24% 25% 37% 36% 26% 35% 52% 43% 41%
Polyarthritis 0% 0% 3% 0% 0% 0% 0% 6% 0%
Ringworm(clublambfungus) 0% 0% 4% 4% 4% 0% 0% 2% 0%
SoreMouth 2% 5% 4% 3% 9% 5% 0% 5% 0%
Starvation 39% 35% 53% 45% 20% 40% 52% 28% 38%
Whitemuscledisease 20% 1% 3% 4% 0% 10% 9% 9% 0%
Region7NorthernRockies
Region8Pacific
UnknownRegion
Region1Northeast
Region2Mid-Atlantic
Region3GreatLakes
Region4Mid&UpperMidwest
Region5Texas
Region6Mountain&
Desert
85
A.3.3BreedingEwes/Rams:DiseasesDifficulttoManagebyFlockSize
A.3.4BreedingEwes/Rams:DiseasesDifficulttoManagebyRegion(percentoperations)
InternalParasites 55% 56% 36% 18% 53%
Mastitis 33% 44% 57% 45% 37%
Footrot/Scald 26% 30% 25% 23% 27%
Abortion 12% 15% 14% 18% 13%
Pregnancytoxemia 10% 12% 11% 32% 12%
Otherrespiratorydisease 8% 13% 25% 18% 10%
Ovineprogressivepneumonia(OPP) 4% 13% 32% 23% 8%
Caseouslymphadenitis 8% 10% 4% 0% 8%
ExternalParasites 7% 6% 7% 14% 7%
Thinewesyndrome(chronicwasting) 4% 9% 7% 5% 5%
Bluetongue 2% 5% 7% 5% 3%
Otherdisease 3% 3% 4% 0% 3%
Pinkeye 3% 1% 0% 0% 2%
Ramepididymitis 0% 2% 4% 9% 1%
Scrapie 0% 1% 0% 0% 0%
1-99 100-499 500-1499 1500+ All
Abortion 8% 7% 18% 18% 9% 15% 18% 10% 12%Bluetongue 0% 1% 0% 3% 2% 10% 9% 12% 0%Caseouslymphadenitis 3% 4% 12% 3% 23% 10% 9% 6% 4%ExternalParasites 6% 4% 7% 8% 2% 15% 3% 12% 8%Footrot/Scald 23% 48% 27% 15% 0% 25% 3% 37% 38%Internalparasites 63% 68% 54% 45% 68% 25% 24% 40% 50%Mastitis 29% 31% 38% 49% 28% 45% 55% 34% 35%Otherdisease 5% 3% 1% 6% 2% 0% 0% 1% 4%Otherrespiratorydisease 5% 4% 11% 13% 15% 20% 9% 13% 12%Ovineprogressivepneumonia(OPP) 6% 6% 8% 13% 2% 5% 15% 15% 8%Pinkeye 6% 0% 2% 0% 4% 5% 0% 1% 0%Pregnancytoxemia 15% 7% 15% 15% 9% 5% 15% 7% 8%Ramepididymitis 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 10% 3% 4% 0%Scrapie 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%Thinewesyndrome(chronicwasting) 8% 4% 8% 6% 2% 0% 9% 4% 4%
Region6Mountain&
Desert
Region7NorthernRockies
Region8Pacific
UnknownRegion
Region1Northeast
Region2Mid-Atlantic
Region3GreatLakes
Region4Mid&UpperMidwest
Region5Texas
86
A.3.5Disease/DiseaseConditioninLambswithGreatestEconomicImpact(percentoperations)
A.3.6Disease/DiseaseConditioninBreedingEwes/RamswithGreatestEconomicImpact(percentoperations)
87
ParasiteManagementA.3.7PercentOperationswithinaRegionIdentifyingInternalParasitesasaDifficultDiseaseConditioninLambs&/orBreedingSheep
A.3.8UseofParasiteManagementTechnologies(percentoperations)
88
A.3.9UseofParasiteManagementTechnologiesbyParasiteManagementChallenge
A.3.10EffectivenessofParasiteManagementTechnologiesbyOperationsReportingParasitesareaDifficultDiseaseConditiontoManage
30%
39% 40% 40% 40%43%
57%61%
70%
61% 60% 60% 60%57%
43%39%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%somewhattoveryeffecTve somewhatineffecTvetoineffecTve
89
A.3.11EffectivenessofParasiteManagementTechnologiesbyOperationsReportingParasitesareNOTaDifficultDiseaseConditiontoManage
59%
53%57%
55%57% 56%
60% 61%
41%
47%43%
45%43% 44%
40% 39%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%somewhattoveryeffecTve somewhatineffecTvetoineffecTve
90
Chapter4:ReproductivePerformanceA.4.1SatisfactionwithReproductivePerformancebyPercentOperations
A.4.2ReproductivePerformance:LeastSatisfiedwithOutcomesbyPercentOperations
Notsatisfied
Somewhatunsatisfied
Somewhatsatisfied
Verysatisfied
#eweslambingperewesexposed 3.6% 7.3% 41.9% 47.2%#lambsbornperewelambing 3.8% 12.8% 47.7% 35.8%Lengthoflambingseason 4.2% 12.8% 40.2% 42.7%%eweslambingasyearlings 4.9% 12.7% 39.6% 42.9%#lambsweanedperewelambing 4.9% 20.6% 41.5% 33.0%Lifetimeproductivity/longevityofewes 3.1% 10.8% 42.2% 43.9%Rowtotalsequal100%.
91
Chapter5:GrazingandPastureManagementandNutritionA.5.1GrazingandPastureManagementChallengesbyPercentPasture-basedandPercentRange-basedOperations
A.5.2GrazingandPastureManagementChallengeswithGreatestPotentialtoIncreaseProfitability
%Range-based %Pasture-based
Multi -species grazing 50% 26%
Pasturerenovation 41% 62%
Cropaftermath 37% 13%
Control invas ivespecies 31% 19%
Intens iverotational grazing 30% 64%
Forageanalys is 11% 19%
Alternativeforages 6% 16%
Other 4% 4%
Soi l testing 2% 15%
Columntotalsaregreaterthan100%.Producersaskedtoselectuptothree.
%Range-based %Pasture-based
Rotational grazing 22% 31%
PastureRenovation 20% 39%
Multi -species grazing 18% 9%
Cropaftermath 18% 4%
Control invas ivespecies 18% 4%
Alternativeforages 4% 6%
Other 2% 3%
Forageanalys is 0% 4%
Soi l testing 0% 1%
Columntotalsequal100%.
92
A.5.3NutritionalManagementChallengesbyPercentRange-basedOperations,PercentPasture-basedOperations,PercentBreedingEwesandPercentOperations
A.5.4NutritionalManagementChallengeswithGreatestPotentialtoIncreaseProfitability
Alternativefeedsinbalancedrations 5% 8% 11% 8%
Balancingrations 11% 20% 11% 19%
Droughtmanagement 60% 27% 54% 31%
Earlyweaning/artificialrearingoflambs 11% 11% 9% 11%
Feedanalysis/feedquality 16% 21% 23% 20%
Feedefficiency 9% 17% 18% 16%
Feedhandling/deliverysystems 9% 21% 13% 20%
Finishingrationsforlambs 11% 6% 6% 6%
Growingrationsforlambs 11% 14% 6% 14%
Least-costrations 31% 36% 28% 35%
Micronutrientmanagement 16% 11% 8% 12%
Nutritionalmanagementofewes 31% 29% 35% 29%
Orphanlambmanagement 16% 21% 19% 21%
Supplementalfeedingpasturelambs 9% 15% 5% 14%
Other 0% 1% 0% 1%
Columntotalsaregreaterthan100%.Producersaskedtoselectuptothree.
%Range-based
%Pasture-based
%BreedingEwes
%Operations
Alternativefeedsinbalancedrations 2% 2%
Balancingrations 2% 5%
Droughtmanagement 33% 13%
Earlyweaning/artificialrearingoflambs 6% 3%
Feedanalysis/feedquality 8% 6%
Feedefficiency 2% 8%
Feedhandling/deliverysystems 4% 6%
Finishingrationsforlambs 4% 2%
Growingrationsforlambs 2% 5%
Least-costrations 12% 20%
Micronutrientmanagement 6% 3%
Nutritionalmanagementofewes 12% 15%
Orphanlambmanagement 4% 6%
Supplementalfeedingpasturelambs 2% 6%
Other 2% 1%
Columntotalsequal100%.
%Pasture-based
%Range-based
93
Chapter6:PublicInterestandSocialIssuesA.6.1ModeratetoSignificantCurrentorPotentialImpactonOperationbyPercentBreedingEwesandPercentOperations
A.6.2ModeratetoSignificantCurrentorPotentialImpactonOperationbyPercentRange-basedandPercentPasture-basedoperations
94
A.6.3SignificantCurrentorPotentialImpactonOperationbyPercentBreedingEwesandPercentOperations
A.6.4SignificantCurrentorPotentialImpactonOperationbyFlockSize(numberbreedingewes)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
EnviromentalRegulamonsEndangeredSpecies LandUse AnimalWelfareDomesmcWildlifeinterfaceImmigramonReform
1-99 100-499 500-1499 1500+
95
PredatorManagement
A.6.5RespondentsIdentifyingPredatorManagementasaMajorChallengebyRegion
A.6.6RespondentsIdentifyingPredatorManagementasaMajorChallengebyFlockSize
%operations%breeding
ewes
Northeast 5.2% 0.1%
Mid-Atlantic/South 17.8% 3.6%
GreatLakes 7.4% 1.4%
Mid&UpperMidwest 9.6% 3.6%
Texas 12.6% 5.3%
Mountain&Desert 4.4% 8.6%
NorthernRockies 12.6% 44.0%
Paci fic 22.2% 16.3%
Unknown 8.1% 17.0%
FlockSize %operations%breeding
ewes
1-100 49.6% 3.6%
101-500 28.1% 13.7%
501-1000 5.9% 8.0%
1001-5000 9.6% 41.8%
5001+ 2.2% 32.9%
Unknown 4.4% --
96
A.6.7MostDifficultPredatorstoManagebyPercentOperationsandPercentBreedingEwes
A.6.8MostDifficultPredatorstoManagebyTypeofManagement
%operations%breeding
ewes
Bear 11% 33%
Bobcat/lynx 10% 11%
Fox 15% 4%
Mountainl ion 15% 32%
Coyotes 89% 96%
Wolves 9% 34%
Dogs 51% 21%
Eagles 13% 15%
Vultures 14% 10%
Unknown 7% 4%
Other 4% 8%Note:co lumnto tals >100%P roducers as kedto s elec tupto three.
OpenRange
FencedRange
PasturePasture&Drylot
Other
Bear 18% 4% 3% 3% 14%
Bobcat/lynx 0% 11% 4% 4% 0%
Fox 0% 7% 7% 7% 0%
Mountainl ion 18% 9% 4% 5% 0%
Coyotes 36% 36% 36% 40% 57%
Wolves 20% 5% 0% 4% 14%
Dogs 4% 4% 26% 27% 14%
Eagles 0% 11% 6% 4% 0%
Vultures 0% 9% 7% 5% 0%
Unknown 0% 2% 4% 2% 0%
Other 4% 4% 2% 0% 0%
100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
97
A.6.9MostDifficultPredatorstoManagebyRegion
A.6.10EffectivenessofPredatorManagementTechnologies
NortheastMid-
Atlantic/South
GreatLakesMid&Upper
MidwestTexas
Mountain&Desert
NorthernRockies
Pacific
Bear 4% 3% 0% 0% 0% 22% 13% 2%
Bobcat/lynx 9% 2% 0% 5% 18% 0% 0% 1%
Fox 6% 7% 4% 5% 14% 9% 6% 1%
Mountainl ion 2% 1% 1% 7% 2% 17% 11% 15%
Coyotes 45% 38% 45% 45% 27% 39% 40% 38%
Wolves 0% 4% 6% 0% 0% 0% 17% 6%
Dogs 21% 29% 32% 20% 8% 9% 8% 24%
Eagles 4% 2% 4% 13% 6% 0% 6% 7%
Vultures 6% 9% 3% 0% 16% 0% 0% 2%
Unknown 0% 4% 4% 5% 6% 0% 0% 0%
Other 2% 1% 0% 0% 2% 4% 0% 4%
100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Haveusedtechnology
somewhateffectivetoextremelyeffective
somewhatineffetive
toineffective
Presenceofherders 18% 66% 34%
Wovenwire(ornet)fences 74% 79% 21%
High-tens i le,electricfencing 42% 75% 25%
Flagging/noise 11% 24% 76%
Livestockguardiandogs 48% 92% 8%
Livestockguardianl lamas 23% 56% 44%
Livestockguardiandonkeys 19% 58% 42%
Nightpenningsheep 44% 87% 13%
ElectronicGuard 7% 31% 69%
Trans location 8% 8% 92%
Shooting 44% 80% 20%
Snares 21% 77% 23%
Leg-holdtraps 18% 68% 32%
LivestockProtectionCol lar 5% 27% 73%
M-44CyanideInjector 11% 61% 39%
98
Chapter7:LambMarketingA.7.1OperationsIdentifyingMarketingasaMajorChallengebyTypeofOperationandRegion
A.7.2CommercialLambOperationsIdentifyingMarketingasaMajorChallengebyFlockSize
TypeofOperation Region1Northeast
Region2Mid-Atlantic
South
Region3GreatLakes
Region4Mid&Upper
Midwest
Region5Texas
Region6Mountain&
Desert
Region7NorthernRockies
Region8Pacific
Unknown
CommercialLamb 14% 22% 22% 15% 3% 5% 8% 10% 2%
Wool 45% 0% 20% 5% 0% 0% 0% 30% 0%
Seedstock 13% 16% 13% 30% 8% 2% 3% 14% 2%
Dairy 33% 0% 0% 0% 0% 33% 0% 0% 33%
Show/4-H 15% 23% 31% 0% 15% 0% 0% 15% 0%
SustainableLandManagement 50% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 50% 0%
Other 25% 0% 0% 25% 0% 0% 0% 50% 0%
Acrossrowtotalsequal100%
99
A.7.3CommercialLambOperationsbyFlockSizeandWeightofMarketLambsSold
A.7.4CommercialLambOperationsbyMarketingasaMajorChallengeandWeightofMarketLambsSold
100
A.7.5CommercialLambOperationsbyMarketOutletandFlockSize
A.7.6CommercialLambOperationsIdentifyingMarketingasaMajorChallengebyMarketOutletandFlockSize
MarketOutlet Small( 1- 9 9 ewe s )
Mid-size( 1- 14 9 9 ewe s )
Large( 15 0 0 +ewe s )
Localauction/salebarn 52.3% 56.0% 15.8%Viainternetauction 0.9% 1.2% 0.0%Lambpool/coop 9.0% 11.9% 21.1%Toafeedlot 4.5% 8.3% 36.8%Nationalpacker 0.9% 13.1% 26.3%Local/regionalpacker 4.5% 7.1% 5.3%Localbutcher 9.0% 9.5% 10.5%Orderbuyerordealer 10.8% 23.8% 10.5%Restaurant 3.6% 8.3% 5.3%Grocerystore 1.8% 4.8% 0.0%"All-natural"grocer 0.9% 1.2% 15.8%FarmersMarket 4.5% 15.5% 0.0%Onfarm 62.2% 39.3% 10.5%Columntotalsmaybegreaterthan100%.
MarketOutlet Small( 1- 9 9 ewe s )
Mid-size( 1- 14 9 9 ewe s )
Large( 15 0 0 +ewe s )
Localauction/salebarn 44.4% 75.0% 0.0%Viainternetauction 2.2% 4.2% 0.0%Lambpool/coop 6.7% 8.3% 50.0%Toafeedlot 2.2% 4.2% 50.0%Nationalpacker 2.2% 20.8% 0.0%Local/regionalpacker 8.9% 8.3% 0.0%Localbutcher 8.9% 16.7% 0.0%Orderbuyerordealer 8.9% 20.8% 0.0%Restaurant 2.2% 8.3% 0.0%Grocerystore 4.4% 8.3% 0.0%"All-natural"grocer 2.2% 0.0% 0.0%FarmersMarket 6.7% 16.7% 0.0%Onfarm 73.3% 33.3% 0.0%Columntotalsmaybegreaterthan100%.
101
Chapter8:WoolMarketingA.8.1WoolSalesbyMarketingOutlet
A.8.2Producer-IdentifiedNeedsforImprovingWool
2.0%
9.5%
15.5%
17.6%
22.3%
22.3%
42.6%
49.3%
56.1%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Other
WoolpreparaTon&handlinginformaTon
Skills/abilityofshearingcrew
Behershearing/handlingfaciliTes
Availabilityofshearers
Buyerfeedbackonqualityahributes
ImprovedgeneTcs(wooltraits)
ReducedcontaminaTon
Higherwoolprices
102
A.8.3WoolBusiness-IdentifiedQuality/ValueAttributesofU.S.Wool
A.8.4WoolBusiness-IdentifiedQuality/ValueWeaknessesofU.S.Wool
103
APPENDIXB--Research,Development,andEducationPrioritiesbySizeofOperationTheU.S.sheepindustryconsistsprimarilyoftwodistinctmanagementtypes:rangeoperationsinwesternU.S.andfarmflockoperationsraisingsheeponpastureand/orpasture/drylotsfoundprimarilyintheMidwestandEast.InCalifornia,ahybridofthetwomanagementtypesisoftenfound:manylarger,fencedoperations.Forcommercialoperations,asflocksizeincreases,thetoprankingchallengesshiftawayfromgrazingandforagemanagementtopredatormanagement,labor/labormanagementandgovernmentregulationsandcomplianceissues.Flockhealthconsistentlyranksfourthacrossallcommercialflocksizeranges.Marketingrankssecondamongsmallcommercialflockchallengesandfifthamongmedium-sizeandlargecommercialoperations.
GreatestChallengesofCommercialOperatorsbyTypeandSizeofOperationSmallcommercialoperations(1-99breedingewes).Thetopfivechallenges--inorderofimportance--were:
1. grazingandforagemanagement,2. marketing,3. facilitiesandfencing,4. flockhealth,and5. labor/labormanagement.
Mid-sizedcommercialoperations(100-1499breedingewes).Thetopfivegreatestchallengesdefinedbythissubsetwere(inorder):
1. predatormanagement,2. labor/labormanagement,3. grazingandforagemanagement,4. flockhealth,and5. marketing.
Largecommercialoperators(1,500+breedingewes).Largecommercialflocksrankedchallengesasfollows(inorder):
1. governmentregulations/compliance,2. laborandlabormanagement,3. predatormanagement,4. flockhealth,and5. marketing.
GreatestChallengesofSeedstockOperatorsbySizeofOperation
Forseedstockoperations,smallflocksweredefinedas1-75breedingewes;medium-sizeflocksweredefinedas76-225breedingewes;largeflocksweredefinedas226-500breedingewes.Smallseedstockoperatorsrankedchallenges(inorderofimportance):
104
1. grazingandforagemanagement,2. genetics,3. marketing,4. flockhealth,and5. facilitiesandfencing.
Medium-sizedseedstockproducersrankedchallenges(inorder):
1. grazingandforagemanagement,2. genetics,3. reproductiveperformance,4. labor/labormanagement,and5. flockhealth.
Thelargestseedstockoperatorsranked(inorder):
1. predatormanagement,2. estateplanning/generationaltransfer,3. marketing,4. labor/labormanagement,and5. grazingandforagemanagement.
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APPENDIXC--DairySurveyResultsOnly1.3percentofrespondentsreportedthatdairywaseithertheirprimaryorsecondarytypeofsheepoperation.Onlyoneoperationreportedthat100percentofbothbreedingewesandbreedingramswereofadairy(milk)breed.Theremainingoperationsreported63percentofewesand70percentoframswereofa“milk-type”breed.Responsetothedairy-specificquestionswaslimitedamongdairyoperations,andnotsufficientforvalidinference.Seventy-onepercentofthedairyoperationsreported50breedingewesorfewerandtheremaining29percentofoperationsreportedbetween100and400breedingewes.Overhalfofdairyoperationscurrentlyhavemorebreedingewesthanin2010and86percentofoperationsplantoincreasebreedingewenumbersoverthenextfiveyears.Grazingandforagemanagementwasthetoprankingchallengeamongdairyoperationsfollowedequallybyflockhealth,marketing,facilitiesandfencing,andfinancialmanagementandfinancing.Pasturerenovationwasthetopgrazing/pasturemanagementchallengeamongdairyproducersandleast-costrationsthetopnutritionalchallenge.Rankingsforreproductiveperformancewerenotstatisticallydifferent.Internalparasitespresentedthegreatestdiseasechallengeforbothlambsandbreedingewes/ramsondairyoperations.
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APPENDIXD--AllocationofPublicFundingforSheepResearchAllocationofpublicfundingforsheepresearchbyCRISKnowledgeAreabetweenFY2004andFY2013hasdroppedsignificantly.Belowisanationaloverviewoftheallocationofpublicresourcesforsheepresearchandeducation.Thedatarepresentresearchandeducationfundingatpublicuniversitiesandfederallaboratories.Thepublicsupportforsheepresearchandeducationhasdeclinedoverthepastseveralyearsasillustratedinthetablebelow.FigureD.1PublicSupportforSheepResearchandEducation
SheepResearchKnowledgeArea(KA) KANo.
FY2004PercentofTotal
FY2013PercentofTotal
ReproductivePerformance 301 31.0 37.6NutrientUtilization 302 8.1 6.1GeneticImprovement 303 3.9 6.5AnimalGenome 304 3.9 15.3PhysiologicalProcesses 305 5.9 7.3ManagementSystems 306 18.0 5.9ImprovedProducts 308 4.4 5.6Diseases 311 8.8 2.0InternalParasites 313 5.6 5.5AnimalWelfare 315 1.0 0.1MarketingandEconomics 600s 3.5 0.02Other 6.3 8.1NationalTotal 100.4 100.02
Thetotalpublicresourcesforsheepresearch,includingscientistyearequivalents(SYs)andfunding,aresummarizedbelowforfiscalyears2001through2014.Thedatarepresentresourcesforfederallaboratoriesandpublicuniversities.ThenationaltotalofSYsdecreasedfrom111to61duringthisperiod,whereasthenumberofSYsatuniversitiesdeceasedfrom85to42.Totalnationalpublicfundingdecreasedfrom$42.7millioninfiscalyear2001to$32.5millioninfiscalyear2014.
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FigureD.2PublicResourcesforSheepResearchFiscalYears2001through2014ScientistYears(SYs)andFunding($Millions) PublicResourcesforSheepResearch(1)
FY2001
FY2002
FY2003
FY2004
FY2005
FY2006
FY2007 FY2008
FY2009
FY2010
FY2011
FY2012 FY2013
FY2014
USDA(SYs)(2) 26.3 27.0 26.4 31.0 32.3 31.8 31.5 32.2 22.3 25.2 24.0 25.0 21.2 19.6Non-USDA(SYs)(3) 84.8 74.8 87.4 78.3 60.2 63.2 67.5 66.0 60.3 59.7 57.0 54.6 46.3 41.5NationalTotal(SYs) 111.1 101.8 113.8 109.3 92.5 95.0 99.0 98.2 82.6 84.9 81.0 79.6 67.5 61.1
NationalTotalPublicFunding($M) 42.70 46.05 50.80 54.72 41.30 44.71 49.07 46.41 38.87 46.65 47.25 45.82 37.73 32.47
(1) Source:CurrentResearchInformationSystem(CRIS),NationalInstituteofFoodandAgriculture,USDA(Nationalsummaries,TableC)
(2) USDAscientistyearequivalents(3) Universityscientistyearequivalents
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AcknowledgementsProjectTeam
• LarryR.Miller(LRMConsultingServices;formerlyUSDA,ResearchandEducation)• JulieStepanekShiflett(JuniperEconomicConsulting)• DeborahJ.Marsh(KnobEconomics)• PaulRodgers(AmericanSheepIndustryAssociation)
AppreciationisextendedtoeveryonewhoparticipatedinU.S.sheepindustryresearch,development,andeducationprioritiesstudy.Thisstudywouldnotbepossiblewithoutcontributionsfromallindustrystakeholders.Specialthanksisextendedto:
• DavidThomas(UniversityofWisconsin-Madison)• JessicaSampson(LivestockMarketingInformationCenter)• LindaDetwiler(consultant,formerlyUSDA,AnimalandPlantHealthInspectionService)• RodneyKott(formerlyMontanaStateUniversity)• J.BretTaylor(USDA,AgriculturalResearchService)• EmmettInskeep(WestVirginiaUniversity)• CynthiaWolf(UniversityofMinnesota)
Contributors(includesparticipantsforfocusgroups,conferencecalls,andpriorityrecommendations)
• DebraAaron(UniversityofKentucky)• DavidAnderson(TexasA&MUniversity)• KeithBelk(ColoradoStateUniversity)• JoanBurke(USDA,AgriculturalResearchService)• RichardEhrhardt(MichiganStateUniversity)• LaurieFortis(USDA,NIFA,CurrentResearchInformationSystem)• ScottGreiner(VirginiaTech)• PatrickHatfield(MontanaStateUniversity)• JeffreyHeld(SouthDakotaStateUniversity)• DuaneKeisler(UniversityofMissouri)• SteveLeValley(ColoradoStateUniversity)• RonaldLewis(UniversityofNebraska-Lincoln)• JimLogan(WyomingStateVeterinarian)• KatherineMarshall(USDA,APHIS,NationalAnimalHealthMonitoringSystem)• LyleMcNeal(UtahStateUniversity)• JamesMiller(LouisianaStateUniversity)• DanielMorrical(IowaStateUniversity)• DavidNotter(VirginiaTech)• TimothyPetry(NorthDakotaStateUniversity)• ShawnRamsey(TexasA&MUniversity)• ReidRedden(TexasA&MUniversity)• JimRobb(LivestockMarketingInformationCenter)• ChristopherSchauer(NorthDakotaStateUniversity)• AnnSeitzinger(USDA,APHIS,VeterinaryServices)• WhitStewart(MontanaStateUniversity)
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• DianeSutton(USDA,APHIS,VeterinaryServices)• MichaelThonney(CornellUniversity)• HenryZerby(TheOhioStateUniversity)
Thankyoutoeveryonewhocontributedtotheonlinesurveysincludingproducers,feeders,lambpackers/processors,woolbuyers/processors,andfocusgroups.