North Dakota State University Extension, with collaborative efforts from South Dakota State University Extension, will host the 2024-2025 Dakota Performance Ram Test at the Hettinger Research Extension Center (HREC) beginning on Sept. 22.

“The Dakota Ram Test offers producers throughout the northern Great Plains and beyond a unique opportunity to evaluate wool and growth performance of individual rams under centralized management,” says Rachel Gibbs, NDSU Extension livestock systems specialist at the HREC. “This 140-day performance test provides valuable insight into economically important and/or heritable traits that producers can utilize when selecting sires and genetic lineages to retain within their flocks.”

The Dakota Performance Ram Testing program was established to identify differences in wool traits for western white-faced rams managed under the same environmental conditions and nutrition plane. Since then, the test has been expanded to include post-weaning growth performance and carcass merit for several sheep breeds.

In addition, breed associations, such as the American Rambouillet Sheep Breeders Association and the Columbia Sheep Breeders Association, recognize top-performing rams in the Dakota Ram Test through certification programs.

The Dakota Ram Test is open to all breeds, but data collected will be based on the Rambouillet Certified Ram Program.

“The 2024-2025 Dakota Ram Test is expanding opportunities for producers by adding the option to collect more specific data related to ram growth performance and climate sustainability,” adds Gibbs. “Through newly-acquired precision livestock technologies at the HREC, producers now have the option to measure individual ram feed intake, feed efficiency and metabolic gas emissions (methane and carbon dioxide).”

Registration forms and detailed information can be found at ndsu.ag/ramtest.

Before submitting registration, contact Gibbs to determine space availability and options for expanded testing. Registration forms should be submitted and delivery arrangements should be made before Sept. 22.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Aug. 26, 2024

Source: Rachel Gibbs, 701-567-4323, rachel.gibbs.1@ndsu.edu

Editor: Kelli Anderson, 701-231-6136, kelli.c.anderson@ndsu.edu