NDSU Hettinger Center to Hold Fall Ram Test

The 2011 Dakota Fall Ram Test will be held at North Dakota State University’s Hettinger Research Extension Center.

The cost is $225 per ram, with $25 due when the animal is entered in the performance test and the balance due when the animal is delivered to the center. The fee will cover the cost of feed, management, veterinary attention and wool testing.

“The Dakota Fall Ram Test is one of three ram tests in the nation that participate in the Rambouillet Certification Program that provides progressive producers the opportunity to measure both performance and wool traits, aiding in the selection of high-performing rams for use in breeding programs,” says Christopher Schauer, Hettinger center director. “In today’s record setting environment for the sheep industry, selection for high-producing rams has never been more important or resulted in such large gains in profitability.”

All rams must be accompanied by a completed test entry form and health papers, and must come from a foot rot- and scrapie-free flock. The federal identification tag must be in the animal’s ear and listed in the health papers.

Lambs more than six months of age at the beginning of the test must be tested for B. Ovis or originate from a certified B. Ovis-free flock before they can be accepted at the station. All breeds will be accepted. However, procedures outlined by the American Rambouillet Sheep Breeders Association will be followed in accordance with their Certificate of Merit program.

The rams will undergo their first shearing Sept. 29 and be weighed and started on the test Oct. 3. They’re scheduled to be weighed Oct. 31, Nov. 28, Dec. 26 and Jan. 23. Test personnel will take wool samples in February to determine staple length, clean yield and fiber diameter.

The animals will be shorn again Feb. 21 and ultrasound measurements for ribeye area and backfat thickness taken on March 9. The field day will be held on March 10 at 9 a.m. (MT).

Schauer and Dave Pearson, an agricultural research technician at the Hettinger center, will be the test managers.

Sept. 28 is the deadline to enter animals in the test. Contact Schauer for an entry packet at (701) 567-4323 or christopher.schauer@ndsu.edu. An entry form also is available at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/HettingerREC/ram-test.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Sept. 9, 2011