USDA – November Sheep and Goat Market Report

 

By Colorado Department of Ag Market News

Compared to a week ago: Slaughter lambs traded mostly 5.00 to 10.00 higher on a moderate to light test.  Feeder lambs were fairly steady on a very light test.  Slaughter ewes were 5.00 to 9.00 higher while slaughter bucks traded unevenly steady on a light test. In the goats, slaughter kids traded sharply higher on a very light test, while slaughter nannies/does traded unevenly steady on a very light test.  Slaughter bucks/billies traded sharply higher while Wethers traded sharply lower on a very light test. Trade activity and demand were moderate to good. In the sheep supply approximately 45 percent were slaughter lambs, 40 percent feeder lambs, and 15 percent slaughter ewes and bucks. The goat supply consisted of approximately 50 percent slaughter kids, 30 percent slaughter nannies/does with the balance being slaughter billies and wethers. Sheep and lambs sold on a per cwt basis and goats sold on a per head basis unless otherwise noted.

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Black Vultures Growing Problem for Livestock Producers

 

By Lancaster Farming

Livestock producers beware — black vultures are on the hunt and they aren’t just looking for dead animals.

These migratory birds are known to attack and eat live animals, too.

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Better Genetics Equals More Profit

 

By Terri Queck-Matzie, American Sheep Industry News

A producer-driven field study in Utah has proven genetics make a difference in lamb profitability.

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Global Factors Impact U.S. Farmers & Ranchers

 

By Burton Pfliger, American Sheep Industry News

In my recent conversations with ASI Executive Director Peter Orwick, as well as others within the sheep industry, the following topic was an integral part of the conversation.

Feeder lamb prices and sales were trending a bit lower in late September and early October, which I thought odd given a bounty of less expensive livestock feed is expected this fall. All we hear from grain country is record production from wheat to row crops, which should provide finishers of lambs an opportunity to recoup losses on many of the 2015 lamb crop.

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Topics of interest for sheep and meat goat producers at 2016 Missouri Livestock Symposium

 

By High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal

The Missouri Livestock Symposium has announced their Sheep and Meat Goat Section speakers and topics for 2016. The program will be held Dec. 2 and 3 with all of the sheep and meat goat programs held on Dec. 3. The Missouri Livestock Symposium is held in Kirksville, Missouri, at the William Mathew Middle School, formerly Kirksville Middle School. The event also features an agriculture-related trade show, a classic tractor display, a free beef dinner on the first night at 6 p.m. and a free Governor’s Style Luncheon on Saturday at noon. There is no pre-registration required and no cost to attend. Nationally known speakers on equine, beef cattle, forages, stock dogs and more are also a part of the Symposium and program details may be found at missourilivestock.com or by calling Garry Mathes at 660-341-6625 or the Adair County Extension Center at 660-665-9866. You can also email Zac Erwin at erwinz@missouri.edu (and put MLS in the subject line).

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Forage management considerations after frost

 

By Rory Lewandowski, OSU Extension Educator, Wayne County and Mark Sulc, Extension Forage Specialist, The Ohio State University

Heading into November we had a few, light scattered frosts in the area that have generated some questions about forage use after a frost. The two most common questions concern the use of warm season grasses in the sorghum family and grazing alfalfa. The issue with grasses in the sorghum family, which includes sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, sudangrass and Johnsongrass in addition to sorghum, is that they contain cyanogenic glycosides and enzymes that convert those compounds to free cyanide (sometimes called Prussic acid) within their cells. Prussic acid or cyanide is a lethal toxin.

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Farmers eye dairy goat option

 

By The Country

Dairy goat farming is growing in popularity as farmers look to non-cow options for milking platforms around the country.

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2016 Sheep and Goat Health & Production Free Webinar

This 2016 Sheep and Goat Webinar is a cooperative effort between Kentucky State University and Purdue University.

When: Thursday, December 8, 2016

from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. EST (6:00 – 8:00 p.m. CST)

FREE HOME VIEWING: www.ansc.tv

Please see the following two attachments for more information:

 2016-sheep-and-goat-webinar-details

 2016-sheep-and-goat-webinar_flyer

 

Herd decisions continue to fuel supply

By Mark Elliot, Manitoba Co-Operator

With fall heading quickly to winter, sheep and goat producers continue to eye herd quality when marketing their animals.

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Rampaging sheep kills 94-year-old Frenchman

By AFP

A 94-year-old man was knocked down and killed by a ram that was protecting its flock in southwest France, police and the animal’s owner said on Tuesday.

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