A flock of sheep grazing in an orchard.

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Headshot of Ben Lehfeldt

Budget Time

Ben Lehfeldt , ASI President

These past few months have been somewhat tenuous in terms of ASI’s financial picture for the future. The Farm Bill’s delays over the past two years have stretched the 2018 Farm Bill funding to the limit and even left us unfunded for the next fiscal year. Thankfully, the staff over the years has been able to create some obligated funds that proved essential in giving us a year’s cushion to continue advocacy on behalf of the industry.
The July 4th signing of President Trump’s reconciliation bill included several Farm Bill priorities. With the help of ASI staff, our lobbyists, and sheep producers, many of the sheep industry’s priorities were included as well. Our funding for the Wool Trust was part of the bill and will provide funding through 2031. This serves as the baseline for all our ASI funding and is essential to our organization.
The National Sheep Improvement Center also received an increase in funding — from $2 million over five years to a new package of $3 million over five years. Lastly, because of our meetings over the last three to four years with House and Senate Agriculture staff, we were able to raise the Wool LDP payment on ungraded wool to 55 cents per pound from 40 cents per pound. Not everything that is normally included in the Farm Bill made it into the reconciliation bill, so we are very happy that some of our priorities were included in both the House and Senate versions of the bill.
We were able to have ASI representatives in Washington, D.C., during June to help move these items forward and keep lamb and wool top of mind. While the Wool Trust is very important, we also focused on what can be done to curb imported lamb and continued meeting with Senate and House members to help lead our sheep industry charge. We met with the U.S. Trade Representative, along with many offices — including Senator Crapo, Senator Barrasso, Senator Lummis and Senator Daines. Along with these meetings in D.C., our legal team has been gathering financial data from four meat companies. I think it is essential that we continue to put pressure on imports through the Trump administration, legislative leaders, and our legal process with the 201 case.
Other staff members have been diligently preparing and adjusting budgets for approval by the Wool Council, ASI Executive Board, and our ASI Board of Directors. I am so pleased with the amount of work done by Rita and Peter’s staff to help more clearly break down the financials for our boards. I know that the Wool Council alone spent three sessions and over 11 hours on Zoom (one meeting lasting nearly until 11 p.m. EST). I really appreciate our volunteer leaders spending this personal time to help make sure we are efficiently utilizing our funds. The discussions regarding how to use our funds will continue in our July Executive Board meeting and ultimately be approved by the Board of Directors.
Committee and council meetings covering various aspects of the sheep industry are essential opportunities for all stakeholders to participate and engage actively. If you are a member of one of these groups, please make sure to join the upcoming conference calls. Our budget and priorities should be built from what results from these discussions. Starting now, we need to build the list to be included in the fiscal year 2026–2027 budget.
Thanks to our ASI staff and all our volunteers in the sheep industry. Please reach out to your regional representatives on the Executive Board and the Board of Directors to learn more about our ASI budget. Also, feel free to reach out to me and the ASI staff with any further questions or concerns.

Summertime Seasonality Dominates Market

Spring lamb markets exhibit a strong seasonal component and that is true of summer markets, as well. Lamb production tends to decline from Spring highs. Live lamb prices exhibit different seasonality depending on weight. So far, it looks like this year is following some normal seasonal patterns.

Lamb Production
Weekly average lamb production has declined from about 2.6 million pounds in April to 2.2 million pounds in June. That decline is not all that different from the average over the last few years. But the level of lamb production this year has been larger than last year. Using weekly lamb production data, production in the second quarter of the year was 7.7 percent greater than last year. It’s worth remembering that Easter was in April, part of the second quarter of 2025 and in March 2024. Production in the first quarter exceeded that of 2024 by about 2.3 percent.
Heavier dressed weights have boosted production for most of the year. Weekly average weights have exceeded those of last year by as much 8 pounds so far this year.

Trade
Lamb imports have been an important topic for many years. For the year through May, lamb imports are about 1.2 percent smaller than last year. Reduced imports in February and May of this year have offset greater imports in January and April. Lamb imports in May totaled 22.4 million pounds, the fewest for a May since 2023, and a 20 percent decline from May 2024. While the imposition of tariffs may play a role in reduced May imports its worth remembering that imports tend to decline, seasonally, after Easter.
Other factors play a role in imports in addition to tariffs. While the U.S. dollar has gained in value versus the Australian currency since 2021, the dollar has weakened in value over the last couple of months. A weaker dollar would work to reduce imports. Another factor is the price difference between U.S. and Australian lamb leg prices. The spread between them has narrowed in recent months reducing the incentive to send product to the U.S.
Other good news on the trade front is that lamb and mutton exports have increased. U.S. lamb exports totaled 223,000 pounds in May, the most for any month since December 2019. The 93,000 pounds exported to Canada in May were the first for any month since November 2014. The 121,000 pounds exported to Mexico were the most for any month in several years. Mutton exports in May increased to their largest level this decade.
The combination of increased domestic production and reduced imports indicates that total lamb supplies have been just slightly ahead of last year.

Prices
Prices are tending to follow seasonal patterns in light and heavier weight slaughter lambs, although with some notable points. For lighter weight, 60–90-pound, slaughter lamb prices have experienced some striking volatility. Over the May to June period average prices dropped by a third, going from $294 per cwt. to just under $200 per cwt. over a six-week span. The decline left average prices below those of a year ago.
Heavier weight slaughter lambs indicate a different picture. From the Sioux Falls, SD market, prices have been about the same as a year ago throughout the year. Prices climbed to their seasonal mid-year peaks, hitting $242 per cwt. in recent weeks before declining by more than $20 per cwt. to begin the second half of the year. The national negotiated live lamb data has painted a different picture of lamb prices. Since the first of the year prices in that report have languished well below 2024, trading between $160 and $180 per cwt. until June when they jumped to $200 per cwt.
In lamb meat markets, the cutout has traded below that of 2024 all year. In June, the cutout set a new low for the year of $452 per cwt. The was the lowest cutout value in at least 18 months. Within the cutout, boxed lamb shoulder and loin prices have been about equal to a year ago. Boxed leg prices continue to struggle recently declining to $478 per cwt., about $50 per cwt. lower than last year. Recent market data reported by the American Lamb Board lent support to the notion that leg prices and sales struggled in the first quarter while other items, such as ground lamb experienced growth.

Wool Market
July brings the beginning of the new, 2025-26, Australian wool marketing year. In contrast to past years, the first sales of this new year brought unusually small offerings for sale. Only 27,716 thousand bales were offered for sale, reportedly the fewest since 1997.
For the first week of July, prices expressed in U.S. dollars, increased a few cents across all microns. In relative terms, prices have increased more for coarser wools. Twenty-two micron and finer wools increased from $0.08 for 17 and 21 micron to $0.01 for 19-micron wool. Those were the highest prices since earlier this year. Twenty-six micron wool jumped $0.12 to $2.22 per pound from the prior week. That was its highest price since September 2022. Coarser wools hit their highest prices since 2020.
A number of other factors have been impacting the wool market recently. In Australian markets, drought impacted wools with reduced yields have experienced large discounts. Prices for well-prepared wool held firm. The broader textile fibers market is experiencing lower prices. Cotton prices are projected to be the lowest of this decade. Broader macroeconomic struggles in major economies are impacting demand.

On Balance
Seasonally tighter supplies may bring some near-term support to live prices prior to the arrival of midwestern lambs to the market. As noted earlier, normal seasonal patterns have been in place, albeit with some significant live animal price volatility. Where imports go from here will be an important area of market focus over the next few months.

Montana Ram Sale, A Hundred-Year Legacy

Brent Roeder
MSU Extension Sheep and Wool Specialist

Jack McRae, past ram sale manager and Targhee consigner for forty-five years, discusses the history of the Montana Ram Sale. In 1950, the Montana Wool Growers first sponsored the sale, then known as the Montana State Ram Sale, in Miles City. There are complete records from that date forward. In talking to older members of the Wool Growers, they recall the ram sale in Miles City during the 1930s and ’40s.
Then a picture showed up of the 1928 ram sale in Miles City. In researching that picture, it was learned that 1928 was the third sale for the Eastern Montana Ram Sale. The picture of the rams was probably to show off the new barn, as reported in the April 1928 Montana Wool Growers magazine: “Due to the efforts and careful planning of J.H. Bohling, Secretary of the Eastern Montana Fair and Ram Sale, the contract has been let to build new and permanent pens with roofs, and a covered sale ring for the Ram Sale held in connection with the Eastern Montana Fair.
The building and ground will cost $3000.” This sale was sponsored by the Eastern Montana Wool Growers in its early years and later by a group of Miles City businessmen and local sheepmen. By 1950, they were ready to turn it over to someone else, and the Montana Wool Growers have run it ever since.
Prior to 1950, the Montana Wool Growers had sponsored state ram sales around Montana, and for a while, there were several Wool Grower-sponsored sales each year in different parts of the state. The earliest of the “modern” Montana Wool Grower magazines started in 1928 (we also have issues from the 1880s and ’90s), and it reported that the 1928 sale would be the 11th Montana Ram Sale.
Chase Hibbard, of Sieben Livestock Company, sold 3,031 rams over 65 years and still holds the record for the most Targhee rams sold at the Montana Ram Sale more than a decade after retiring from the sale. Chase says the Montana Ram Sale was likely the first major sale in the United States to embrace the use of NSIP-generated EPDs. Before the advent of EPDs, and early in his sale career, MSU was a leader in assisting sale consignors with keeping good performance records and followed that with a central ram test where the performance of rams could be compared against one another. Then, with the advent of the National Sheep Improvement Program and computer-generated EPDs, the information available to ram buyers was better than ever. The next step forward was the creation of an EPD-centered index that focused upon the limited but important trait of “number of lambs born to ewes exposed.”
“We were on a jet plane before improving the economic traits of rams with application of EPDs, but with the new index, we boarded a rocket ship!” Having said all of this, the challenge and “art” of this was to combine these powerful EPD tools with the old-fashioned “look good—feel good” traits that all of us old-timers grew up with, and of course, with basic animal soundness and traditional wool traits. This would include a proper fleece with good crimp, density, staple length, uniformity, color, and character. And proper conformation with good feet and legs, thickness, depth of body and proper wool cap. Easy, right? Seldom can you do it all, but you do the best you can.
Retired Montana State University Sheep Extension Specialist Dr. Rodney Kott says recordkeeping among Montana purebred livestock (beef and sheep) producers has always been largely influenced by MSU’s extension, teaching, and research program and began many years ago (likely in the late ’50s). There has always been a strong partnership between the Montana Ram Sale and MSU. To assist the buyers, there has always been an effort to limit information posted to verifiable and relevant performance information. MSU’s role was to develop and recommend a standard set of records that could be posted on pens of sale rams.
Initially, the importance of multiple births was stressed in educational programs, and producers quickly realized—in the absence of any other measures of reproductive performance—the importance of favoring twins in selection programs. Twin rams were routinely bringing premiums at the ram sale. By the ’70s, MSU had introduced the concept of utilizing an “on-farm” performance testing program that measured weaning weight, post-weaning gain, and wool weight, and within-flock ratios were calculated. In the mid-’80s, a twinning rate ratio (based on the dam’s number of lambs born and the opportunities to lamb) and measured wool micron were added.
Ram sale buyers quickly recognized that these records were an important tool in their ram selection program. Consignors that embraced these records flourished, and those that resisted slowly dropped out of the sale. When NSIP became available, several key consignors embraced the program. The key is these producers recognized the value of the program and used it in their own selection program. Ram sale buyers noticed the extent to which these consignors were utilizing NSIP in their selection program and started paying attention. It really wasn’t a big leap for buyers to start rewarding these progressive consignors, as most had cattle and had been buying bulls based on “EPDs” for years.
The key was to make it as simple as possible for the buyer. One of the problems affecting adoption of these records by buyers was the extreme variation in traits reported by consignors (each consignor reported a different set of traits), leading to difficulty for buyers to compare the records. In that effort, MSU developed a production index which put the more important traits together into one number for Montana range producers. That index, designed to sort the better genetic testing rams to the top, is now the Western Range Index. Also, MSU identified a standard set of data that should be reported and developed a sale information catalog.
Longtime consignor Carolyn Green, of Melville, likes to say she was not inhibited by experience when deciding to develop an extensive recordkeeping system for her registered Targhee flock. She started with a 3” x 5” notecard system recording ewe performance records; transitioned to the farm flock ration developed by MSU; and ultimately enrolled in NSIP. Her goal was always to produce genetics that were better than a commercial producer already had. She said the primary purpose of the sale was to provide rams in their working clothes with pertinent production data for range producers, and the sale was one of the highlights of her life—seeing old friends and making new.
Cord Bieber, the current Montana Ram Sale Committee Chair and commercial producer, says buyers have a desire for data. They can select the animals with the traits they are looking for to improve their flocks. NSIP is a tool that facilitates that opportunity. Seedstock operations utilizing NSIP go through an enormous amount of time, effort, energy, and resources collecting the necessary data for NSIP. From birth weights in the lambing barn to weaning weights, to fleece weights and microns, to scanning for ribeye depth, seedstock producers are not only striving to better their flocks but hopefully the flocks of the producers who purchase from them.
Most hogget rams offered for sale will have had up to 15+ points of data taken and submitted into the NSIP program. These data points lend themselves to greater predictability through genetic evaluation and data collection. The consignors at the Miles City Ram Sale take great pride in offering what they consider their best animals through the use of NSIP.
The 100th Anniversary Montana Ram Sale and 12th Annual Ewe Sale will be held at the Eastern Montana Fairgrounds on Sept. 10 and 11, 2025. It will be a special event, held on the same ground at the same time for the past 100 years. Only the buildings and new generations of buyers and consignors have changed.
The Montana Ag Experiment Station has consigned for 75 years. Members of the Sampsel family from Stanford are also 75-year consignors through the Hughes family, and Lehfeldt Ranch of Lavina (ASI President Ben Lehfeldt’s family) consigned their first lot in 1952. Sieben Ranch of Wolf Creek (the Baucus family through Henry Sieben) and the Whiteside family of Jordan both purchased rams in the 1950 sale and continue to do so. Other buyers that have supported the sale for over 70 years include Sieben Livestock of Adel, Bair Company of Martinsdale, the Hinnaland family of Circle, the Murnion family of Jordan, and the McRae family of Jordan.
Please join us for the celebration at the Eastern Montana Fairgrounds on September 10 & 11 in Miles City. More information can be found at https://mtsheep.org/news-events/annual-montana-ram-and-ewe-sale.

Sara Gurule Wins Sheep Heritage Scholarship

Sara Gurule, a Ph.D. student in Animal Science at New Mexico State University, has been awarded the 2025 Sheep Heritage Foundation Scholarship by the American Sheep Industry Association.
Raised in Standing Rock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation, Gurule is now pursuing a Ph.D. in reproductive physiology—research that reflects both her personal roots and professional ambitions.
Gurule began her academic career at New Mexico State, where she earned her bachelor’s in animal science and spent all four undergraduate years involved in research. Her early work focused on using sensor technology to detect lambing and illness in sheep—an experience that laid the groundwork for her future in sheep-focused research.
She went on to complete a master’s degree at Texas A&M University, using sheep as a model to explore neuroendocrine regulation related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). That led her back to NMSU for her Ph.D., where her current research investigates how low-level bacterial infections—often undetected by producers—disrupt endocrine and immune signaling pathways in sheep.
“These infections may not show clinical signs, but they
can impact fertility, hormone profiles, and potentially even lamb growth and wool quality,” Gurule said. “We’re studying how lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- a component of bacterial cell walls- affects the pituitary response and overall reproductive performance. Understanding how long LPS lingers in the system is critical for figuring out just how long these low-level infections are affecting animal health.”
A second component of Gurule’s research examines the impact on lambs born from infected ewes, looking at how maternal immune stress shapes offspring development.
“By understanding these subtle but significant disruptions, we can develop management practices to help producers minimize fertility losses and improve flock productivity,” she said.
Gurule also takes pride in giving back to her community. She’s presented extension talks on sheep reproduction to producers on the Navajo Nation and serves as a mentor to fellow students in research and applied sheep management.
“Seeing the lightbulb go off for a student is incredibly rewarding,” she said. “Helping train the next generation of scientists makes this work even more meaningful.”
Gurule said she felt honored and grateful to be selected for the scholarship. “It motivates me to keep producing research that benefits both producers and the broader field of animal science. NMSU has a long history of impactful sheep research, and I’m proud to contribute to that legacy.”
She credits much of her growth to longtime mentor Dr. Jennifer Hernandez Gifford.
“She took me into her lab as a freshman and has supported me through every phase—scientifically, professionally, and personally,” Gurule said. “She pushes me to be a better scientist and a better leader.”
Gurule has also received support from the USDA/NIFA Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program, which funds her dissertation research.
Looking ahead, she plans to pursue a career in animal science research—whether in academia or industry—while staying connected to the sheep sector.
“Sheep have been central to my life since childhood,” she said. “I hope to stay involved in sheep research, extension, and maybe even keep a small flock of my own.”
Her advice for others considering a career in sheep science?
“It’s incredibly meaningful work,” she said. “You’re helping producers, animals, and communities. Don’t hesitate—there’s always room for passionate scientists who want to make a difference.”

U.S. Shearing Championship Results

 

The U.S. Sheep Shearing Championship was held June 6th and 7th at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Roseburg, Oregon. The competition featured coarse wool, cross-bred ewes generously provided by local commercial producers Dan Dawson, Chad Furlong, and Tom O’Conner. In a collaborative effort to promote wool utilization, Soundview Fiber Mill of Washington purchased 1,200 pounds of wool from the event, which will be processed into commemorative rugs. A total of fifty-one competitors participated, representing a range of experience levels. Among them were brothers Juan and Natividad Cornejo from California, who showcased the traditional Mexican style of shearing, where sheep are laid on their side and the belly is sheared upward instead of downward. Additionally, three beginner shearers took part virtually, completing timed and judged runs through the Oregon Sheep Growers Association Beginner Shearing School held prior to the championship.

Winners by Division:
• Beginner:
1st – Leslie Sullivan (Hartland, VT)
2nd – Jake Sexton (Haines, OR)
3rd – Flora Winters (Creswell, OR)
4th – Juan Cornejo (Gustine, CA)

• Intermediate:
1st – Blade Thomsen (Turner, OR)
2nd – Henry Shere (Laytonville, CA)
3rd – Tirzah Gunther (Luverne, MN)
4th – Mary Lake (Randolph Center, VT)

• Open:
1st – Paul Astin (Hermosa, SD)
2nd – Chad Furlong (Roseburg, OR)
3rd – Alex Moser (Larchwood, IA)
4th – Timothy Wright (Byron Center, MI)
5th – Marcus Irrthum (Wanamingo, MN)
6th – Loren Opstedahl (Union Center, SD)
7th – John Quimby (Idleyld Park, OR)
8th – Matthew Bean (Penngrove, CA)

• Blade:
1st – Loren Opstedahl (Union Center, SD)
2nd – Doug Rathke (Hutchison, MN)
3rd – Mary Lake (Randolph Center, VT)
4th – Kevin Ford (Charlemont, MA)

• Wool Handling:
1st – Brook Williams (Wanamingo, MN)
2nd – Doug Rathke (Hutchison, MN)
3rd – Helen Astin (Hermosa, SD)
4th – Katherine Moser (Larchwood, IA)

In addition to the official competition, a pop-up speed shear event was held Friday night in the parking lot of a local bar and grill. Twenty-four competitors took their chances shearing lambs using a shearing machine strapped to the side of a stock trailer. While most spectators came with the shearers, bar patrons also joined the crowd. No lambs escaped, and Paul Astin won the event.

IWTO Congress Brings Global Wool Industry Together

Weaving a perfect fit between past and present, Lille, France, was the venue for the 94th International Wool Textile Organization (IWTO) Congress, held May 20–22, 2025. This historic city, known for its rich textile history, was a fitting backdrop for wool industry leaders and enthusiasts from around the world to gather.
The event brought together 286 participants representing more than 170 companies and 28 countries across the global wool supply chain for three days of industry dialogue.
The IWTO Congress is more than just an industry gathering — it’s a vital opportunity to better understand the global wool market, from wool growers through the textile industry and beyond. It provides valuable market intelligence, including updates from all major wool-producing countries, reports from first-stage processors, certification program insights, and input from spinners, weavers, and trend forecasters. IWTO also has formal Working Groups on key issues such as biosecurity, sustainability, product wellness, and traceability — where growers and other stakeholders contribute to shaping global best practices.
The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) played an active role by sponsoring the event, being members on Working Groups, and presenting an update on the U.S. wool industry. ASI”s presentation, along with promotional videos, highlighted the quality and value of American wool.
ASI Officers Ben Lehfeldt and Joe Pozzi, Wool Council Chair Julie Hansmire, ASI staff and consultants, and other U.S. wool representatives were actively involved in the Congress to represent American wool. With a large portion of U.S. wool exported, active engagement at global events like IWTO is vital to maintaining strong trade relationships, expanding market access, and keeping American wool competitive and well-represented in the international marketplace.
This year’s Congress also highlighted major developments shaping the future of the global wool industry. Just before the event opened, the European Commission validated France’s environmental cost labelling system for clothing. Vincent Colomb of ADEME presented the framework, which builds on the EU’s Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) while incorporating additional factors that better capture wool’s strengths, such as zero microplastic release, durability, and end-of-life impact. This marks a milestone toward more accurate and balanced environmental assessments that reflect wool’s renewable and circular nature, a goal ASI has supported IWTO’s work on for several years.
Throughout the Congress, sessions also showcased wool’s expanding role in diverse industries, including construction, luxury interiors for cruise liners, and even gardening. As the conversation around sustainability deepens, wool continues to prove itself not only as a traditional textile but as a forward-looking solution across sectors.

U.S. Wool Testing Continues to Advance,
But Needs Your Support

Commercial Wool Testing in the U.S. is Critical
When the Covid-19 pandemic began five years ago, the global disruption highlighted the need for domestic resources. International shipping became strained, people around the world were secluded at home, and the global economy paused. Times like this emphasize just how fragile the global system is and how important it is to maintain key capabilities here at home, including domestic wool testing.

Domestic wool testing is also critical in the event of a trade barrier, such as when imports are prohibited due to sanitary & phytosanitary (SPS) restrictions. If there were a serious disease outbreak in the U.S. (such as Foot and Mouth Disease) and borders “closed” internationally, raw wool samples would need to be treated for disease pathogens before leaving the U.S. or could be prohibited. With SPS restrictions, it would add weeks of time before wool would be allowed to be shipped overseas. Having a domestic wool testing lab ensures that wool can still be tested within a reasonable amount of time and ensures that wool trade could continue domestically and internationally.

Wool Testing in the U.S.
The Bill Simms Wool and Mohair Research Lab (BSWMRL) at Texas Agrilife in San Angelo, Texas provides both commercial core testing as well as individual fleece testing. While several U.S. labs offer individual fleece testing for micron, the Bill Simms Lab is the only lab in the country offering both commercial core testing and individual fleece yield and VM testing.
The expansion of the Bill Simms Lab has been years in the making. Several years prior to the Yocom-McColl Lab closing in 2020, ASI was already holding discussions with testing and wool industry leadership, as well as conducting studies to determine the best course of action for continuing commercial wool testing. A formal commitment to keep and support the testing lab in the U.S. was supported by the largest users of wool testing—wool warehouses and buyers/exporters during an industry stakeholder meeting in July 2019. With the wool industry’s formal support for the lab, the National Sheep Improvement Center and ASI’s for-profit arm – the Sheep Venture Company – took action by helping purchase new, expensive testing equipment. The equipment arrived in August of 2021. Leaders at the lab spent months installing, learning how to use, calibrating, and testing the equipment.

In the meantime, U.S. core tests were sent to the New Zealand Wool Testing Authority (NZWTA), whose assistance and guidance is greatly appreciated by the U.S. wool industry. The Bill Simms Lab purchased its equipment from NZWTA and benefited greatly from the technical guidance of Duane Knowles, Chief Executive NZWTA, whose expertise was instrumental in getting the lab up and running to international standards.

Progress and Performance
The Bill Simms Lab has continued to improve and is dedicated to fulfilling the mission of large-scale, commercial wool testing. The Texas lab has successfully completed renowned Interwoollabs round trials to ensure its equipment is properly calibrated and aligned with other international standardized labs. Experts from international labs have also examined the lab to determine ways they can operate more efficiently while maintaining accuracy. Recently, the lab has worked to decrease turnaround times and is investigating vegetable matter measurement.
“Our turnaround time was seven to ten days,” said Wool Lab Manager Sarah Linton, who took over the operation back in January. “We’ve got it down to four to five days now.
Additionally, “We’re really focusing on vegetable matter right now because there was a complaint that we were higher than the samples tested in New Zealand. We’ve started a trial with New Zealand where the process will start here and then go to New Zealand so that we have a comparison.”
In March, Russell Jessup, Ph.D., was named the new director of the research center that oversees the lab and wants to see the lab live up to its potential. He took over in his new role on May 1. “He’s been very encouraging already,” said Linton. “He definitely wants us to open up a larger customer base.”
How YOU Can Help
While industry leaders, ASI’s Sheep Venture Company, and the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center have made significant investments in the Bill Simms lab, continued success depends on broader usage and support. Most U.S. wool core tests are still being sent overseas for testing, which puts the lab’s long-term viability at risk. To ensure this valuable resource remains available, we encourage growers, buyers, and warehouses to consider using the Bill Simms lab.

Here’s how you can help:
1. Encourage those submitting commercial core tests to utilize the Bill Simms Lab. Growers, warehouses and buyers utilize core tests for wool sales. Ask your marketing representative or buyer to use the Bill Simms lab.
2. Encourage those using individual fleece testing (for wool, mohair, cashmere, alpaca and more) to use a U.S. lab. Individual fleece testing labs are located throughout the U.S.- find the full list at www.sheepusa.org/contacts/wool-pelt/research-testing.

ASI will also be with the industry every step of the way. ASI continues to lease wool testing equipment to universities across the country. And ASI will continue providing communication, resources, and support to ensure commercial core testing and individual fleece testing are available to U.S. producers.

To learn more about the Bill Simms Wool & Mohair Research Laboratory, visit SanAngelo.TAMU.edu/bsl/, email [email protected] or call 325-657-7348.

Selecting the Optimal Sheep for Solar Grazing

Jake Thorne
Andrew Weaver

The rise of agrivoltaics—where solar energy production coexists with agricultural practices—has created new opportunities for sheep producers across the United States. As solar developers seek sustainable vegetation management solutions, sheep have emerged as an ideal partner, offering cost-effective and environmentally favorable grazing services. However, success in this dual-purpose system depends on more than just turning sheep loose under panels.
A balanced approach to animal selection, emphasizing longevity, adaptability, and health, is essential for flock sustainability, grazing enterprise profitability, and long-term partnerships with solar developers and managers.

Why Sheep?
On solar farms, vegetation under and between solar panels must be controlled to maintain panel operational efficiency, reduce fire risk, and allow personnel to easily work on equipment within the array. Traditional approaches such as mowing and herbicide use are costly, can be logistically difficult, and have negative environmental impacts. Grazing with sheep reduces these costs while adding value through lamb production, positive ecosystem services, and public perception.
Solar development is certainly a polarizing topic amongst the agricultural community and this is something that is recognized by the developers, especially those constructing arrays on valuable farm or pastureland. Maintaining agricultural production at solar sites can maintain a greater level of public support of solar development and fortunately for our industry, sheep are the most suitable species in this scenario.
While perception is highly important to the solar companies, from the perspective of the grazier, it’s important that providing this service is economically sustainable. However in the scenario of being “paid to graze”, profit may be generated a little differently than we are used to.
For an example, a 1000-acre utility-scale solar site in a moderate rainfall region might require four mowing passes per year, at ~$75 per acre per pass, totaling $300,000 in annual mowing costs. By integrating sheep grazing stocked at one ewe per acre, operators may reduce mowing to twice annually, saving $150,000 per year. If a ewe is responsible for one acre, her grazing service alone could save $150 per year.
Consider a ewe purchased as a yearling for $300 and maintained at $30 per year from age two to seven. Over a seven-year lifespan, her total cost is roughly $480. During that time, she could save $1,050 in mowing expenses, not counting revenue from lambs. Even accounting for potential increases in cost, the longer-lived ewe delivers a favorable return. However, a different purchased ewe that only remains in the flock to age four might cost $390 but only save $450—highlighting the economic importance of ewe longevity in solar systems.
While the second ewe still generated profit over her lifetime in our model, we all know that unexpected costs are a reality and her $60 mowing savings could easily get negated. Remember, these are just estimates for the sake of example and you should calculate your own numbers for specific solar sites and production systems.

Longevity vs. Prolificacy: A Production Trade-Off
While prolificacy (lambs per ewe per year) is traditionally a key driver of profitability in sheep operations, its role in solar grazing systems is more complex. Ewes producing larger litters annually may have higher short-term returns but could also face increased physiological stress, potentially reducing their lifespan in the flock.
On the other hand, ewes that consistently produce singles but remain healthy and productive for more years may provide greater total value, especially when grazing services are factored in.
Imagine the same two ewes:
• Ewe A raises seven lambs over seven years.
• Ewe B raises eight lambs over four years (twins each year).

While Ewe B produces one additional lamb ($150), Ewe A provides three extra years of grazing service ($450 in mowing savings). The combined value of longevity and moderate reproduction may outweigh short bursts of productivity.
This scenario is not meant to suggest that prolific ewes should be culled, but rather to highlight the need for balanced selection. The most profitable ewe in a solar grazing system likely falls in the middle of the spectrum—long-lived, moderately prolific, easy fleshing, and resilient to environmental stressors.

Selection Challenges and Genetic Tools
Identifying and selecting ewes with the right combination of traits—longevity, structural and udder soundness, disease resistance, and temperament—requires more than intuition. Comprehensive data collection and objective selection tools are essential but often limited in commercial grazing systems.
The National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP) offers valuable tools, including Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) for growth, reproductive, and parasite resistance traits. Of particular importance for solar operations is the Fecal Egg Count (FEC) EBV, which quantifies genetic resistance to internal parasites like Haemonchus contortus.
This trait is critical because solar grazing flocks are often large, mobile, and extensively managed. Variable forage management and inconsistent handling schedules may increase parasite pressure. Ewes must be able to maintain health under these conditions without frequent intervention.
Selection for low FEC EBVs is a proven strategy to improve resistance and reduce dependence on anthelmintics, especially in humid regions where parasite loads are highest. Survival despite disease challenge is not only important to longevity, but ensures positive public perception in a service-based business model.
Producers are encouraged to work with NSIP-participating seedstock suppliers who can provide animals with proven parasite resistance and other performance traits. More information on this topic is available through the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (www.wormx.info).
These EBVs are scientifically proven, accurate selection tools. However, they don’t exist for all traits important to solar graziers. Some traits are more difficult to quantify, and respective genetic metrics have yet to be established in the sheep industry. Therefore, astute observation and recording keeping is necessary for improvement.

Temperament: An Undervalued but Essential Trait
In traditional systems, a calm, docile ewe is often appreciated. In solar grazing, she is essential. The operational realities of solar sites—including frequent trailering, constrained alleyways, breakable infrastructure, and dynamic group management—demand animals that are easy to handle and exhibit strong flocking instinct.
While temperament is largely evaluated subjectively, it remains one of the most practical selection criteria in a solar grazing context. Wild or non-cooperative ewes increase labor costs and elevate risk of injury to people, animals, and equipment. Producers should consistently cull or avoid retaining animals that are difficult to manage. Likewise, positive behavior—such as consistently leading the flock or loading easily—should be rewarded in selection decisions.

Additional Traits to Consider
Beyond the traits of longevity, parasite resistance, and temperament, solar producers may benefit from selecting for the following:

• Moderate Frame Size and Fleshing Ability: Smaller-framed ewes require less input and supplemental feed, maintain condition easier on lower-quality forages, and increase likelihood of breeding offering improved longevity potential.
• Aseasonal Breeding: Ewes capable of lambing outside traditional seasons allow for flexible stocking strategies.
• Nonselective Grazing: Sheep that consume a broad range of plant species are more effective at vegetation control.
• Wool Shedding: Hair sheep or shedding composites reduce labor and costs associated with shearing. More importantly, long wool becomes an animal wellbeing concern as it can become entangled in the driveline and gear system of certain solar arrays.
Not all of these traits are currently associated with formal EBVs, but they can be evaluated through visual appraisal, performance recording, and collaboration with seedstock breeders who emphasize functional traits for extensive environments.

A Call to the Seedstock Sector
Seedstock producers supplying genetics to the solar grazing industry hold a pivotal role in shaping its future. This sector’s long-term success depends on ewes that are not only productive but also well-suited to the unique environmental, health, and behavioral demands of solar arrays.
Breeders who invest in genetic evaluation, collect relevant data, and prioritize traits like parasite resistance, structure, moderation and fleshing ability, along with temperament will be positioned to serve a rapidly growing and economically meaningful market. More importantly, they will help ensure that solar grazing remains a sustainable and profitable component of the broader United States sheep industry.
As agrivoltaics continues to expand, the relationship between renewable energy and sheep production is poised to deepen. Producers who approach this opportunity with scientific insight, economic awareness, and genetic foresight will lead the way in transforming sheep from a commodity into an essential service provider.

The North American Hill Sheep Show
Sept. 19th – 21, 2025

 

The North American Hill Sheep Show returns for its second year, bringing a three-day, UK-style celebration of hardy hill sheep breeds and the rich culture that surrounds them. This unique event offers American shepherds, farmers, and sheep enthusiasts the chance to take part in traditional UK-style shows and trials, enjoy cultural activities, connect with fellow shepherds, and experience authentic farm-to-table dining.
Family-friendly and steeped in heritage, the show honors the resilience and charm of hill sheep and the dedicated people who raise them. The show’s mission is to educate and inspire American shepherds while promoting and preserving the traditions of shepherding through an immersive UK-style experience.
The event features judges traveling from England, Scotland, and Wales, along with donated trophy cups that will be passed on year after year. Expert presenters will share their knowledge on topics like pasture management, hedge laying, and other time-tested practices. The widely adopted three-tier stratified breeding system will be spotlighted, with an emphasis on prime market lamb production. New this year: the first-ever Scottish Blackface National Show & Sale, followed by a UK-style auction.
A full schedule of activities rounds out the experience, including a stock dog trial, agricultural competitions, and games for both children and adults. Ladies Teatime, a beer tent featuring local brews, traditional Celtic music, and shearing demonstrations will keep attendees engaged throughout the weekend. Also new this year is a Farm-to-Table Dinner, featuring local lamb and seasonal flavors, followed by an after-dinner guest speaker. A butchering demonstration will also be offered.
Sunday is Family Day—children get in free and can enjoy old-fashioned games in an old-timey bazaar atmosphere.
Although the event primarily promotes hardy UK hill breeds, a new Any Other British Breed category has been added this year. Private sales are encouraged. The North American Hill Sheep Show invites shepherds and enthusiasts to the breathtaking Upper Peninsula of Michigan—one of the most romantic destinations of the year.

Learn more at www.nahillsheepshow.com

Where Performance Meets Progress: Lessons from the Wyoming Ram Test

 

 

Dylan Laverell, (University of Wyoming Extension Sheep Program)
Tom Murphy, (USDA – Agricultural Research Service)
Whit Stewart, (University of Wyoming Extension Sheep Specialist)
The Wyoming Central Ram Performance Test was started in 1961 as a partnership between the University of Wyoming Extension, Agricultural Experiment Stations, and the Wyoming Wool Growers Association. For over six decades, it has evaluated ram lambs from a variety of Western white-faced breeds through a 140-day testing period during which growth and wool quality traits are measured. From 2022 to 2025 alone, the Wyoming Ram Test evaluated over 360 rams from four breed types enrolled by 40 consigners representing six U.S. states and Canada.
Central performance tests were once the mainstay of genetic evaluation and were located throughout the country. Their concept is to evaluate ram lambs that were born and reared on different sheep operations at a single location, thereby removing some of the non-genetic variation that can influence post-weaning performance. However, central performance tests have important limitations. We now understand that the phenotypes measured during a ram test are shaped well before animals enter the facility. Factors such as birth and rearing type, dam age and milk production, pathogen exposure history, and many others can influence an animal’s phenotype even into adulthood but are challenging to account for in a traditional central performance test.
Furthermore, some of the most economically important traits—like prolificacy, mothering ability, and longevity—are inherently excluded from evaluation in a male-only, post-weaning centralized test. Perhaps most importantly, central performance tests only consider an individual ram’s performance as a proxy for genetic merit and the performance of their genetic relatives is overlooked. In contrast, across-flock genetic evaluations, like those used by the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP), correct for non-genetic effects and combine information from all available genetic relatives to generate trait estimated breeding values (EBV). Therefore, NSIP EBV serve as more accurate predictors of genetic merit than central performance ram tests.
Despite their inherent constraints, central performance tests provide a critical and consistent tool for making improvement in traits that can be objectively and reliably evaluated under controlled conditions. For those involved, data generated from the Wyoming Ram Test and others has served as a benchmark, enabling phenotypic trends over time to be estimated while providing key insights into underlying biological mechanisms and husbandry associated with animal performance and health. Therefore, the Wyoming Ram Test continues to play a vital role in advancing the performance of fine-wool sheep across North America.

Shifts in Productivity and Phenotype
Data collected from central performance ram tests can be used to observe long-term phenotypic trends in ram growth and fleece characteristics. From 1949 to 1976, average daily gains (ADG) of rams in the Texas central performance test improved by nearly 50%, increasing from 0.31 to 0.72 lbs/day. Similarly, ADG of rams in the Wyoming test increased from 0.51 to 0.86 lbs/day from 1961 to 2013. During the last five years (2021 – 2025), rams on the Wyoming test averaged an impressive 0.97 lbs/day. Selecting for increased post-weaning ADG is associated with increased mature weight.
Unsurprisingly, ram body weight at the end of the Wyoming ram test has also increased 21% (195 lbs to 235 lbs) from 1961 to 2011. Depending on your environment and availability of shearers, maximizing ADG may not be advantageous. While ADG and mature weight have increased, breeders have also made reductions in unfavorable traits such as wool blindness and skin folds (Figure 1). Furthermore, fiber diameter on both tests were largely unchanged, emphasizing that fleece quality can be maintained as other traits change.

Ram Test Research Discoveries and Collaborations
Feed Intake and wool quality
Feed costs are widely considered to be the largest variable cost associated with sheep production. However, measuring individual feed intake in large settings was impractical until relatively recently. The University of Wyoming was one of the first institutions to implement Vytelle (formerly GrowSafe) electronic feeders for use in sheep (Figure 2). These feeders record individual daily feed intake and enable other traits such as feed efficiency and feeding behavior to be evaluated. Residual feed intake (RFI) measures how much more or less feed an animal ate than expected for its size and growth.
Therefore, RFI can be used to identify animals who more efficiently convert feed into gain. Data from white-faced rams on the 2009 – 2011 Wyoming tests found that RFI was not correlated with carcass, growth, or fleece traits. This suggests that selection for improved RFI might not negatively impact other traits. While the cost of an electronic feeder is prohibitive for most, enrolling in a central ram performance test allows producers to have access to this and other valuable data.

Wool Quality
Rams are shorn at the beginning and end of the testing period to evaluate wool traits. Before off-test shearing, staple length is measured across the body and a belly wool score is assigned by a trained evaluator (1 = no belly wool, 2 = belly wool less than one-third of the side, 3 = over one-third side to over one-half side). Greasy fleece weights are captured, and fleeces are individually cored to objectively quantify yield and fiber diameter. Notably, central performance tests are the only current program to provide clean fleece weight—a measure of actual marketable wool—which is critical for improving wool profitability.
The University of Idaho, in collaboration with the University of Wyoming and North Dakota State University-Hettinger Research Extension Center (NDSU), evaluated wool characteristics using data collected at both the Wyoming and NDSU tests. One of the most important findings quantified the relationship between belly wool and fiber diameter. It was observed that rams with a belly wool score of 3 (high) had finer fiber diameter than rams with a belly wool score of 1 (low). This is a great example of how genetic progress in one trait (lower fiber diameter) can negatively impact another trait (increased belly wool) if left unchecked. Additionally, several genomic regions were found to be associated with wool quality and could be useful in marker assisted selection programs.

Limb deformities also known as “bent leg”
Angular limb deformities (ALD), also known as bent leg, have historically impacted 3% to 18% of rams enrolled in the Wyoming and NDSU tests. This phenomenon, which can result in the inward or outward bowing on one or both front legs (Figure 3) tends to be observed more frequently in fine-wooled rams. The obvious leg deformity impairs ram mobility and therefore necessitates culling, oftentimes at a reduced market value. Bent leg occurs during the developmental phase, meaning we cannot visually tell at birth whether a ram will have the condition later. However, little is known about biological or husbandry factors associated with ALD because large contemporary groups of developing rams under uniform environmental conditions are rarely available for study.
Through collaborations with the University of Idaho and NDSU, research in Rambouillet rams identified three genes associated with increased ALD risk, with certain genetic variants making rams up to 4.8 times more likely to develop the condition. These results could aid producers in genetically screening breeding animals to reduce the occurrence of this economically important condition. Follow-up research at the Wyoming ram test found no differences in growth rate or feed intake between rams with and without ALD. However, affected rams showed higher blood levels of vitamin D later in the test period, suggesting a potential disruption in vitamin D metabolism. These results point to a possible nutritional-metabolic bone disorder, similar to Type 1 rickets, though further research is needed to confirm this connection. In conclusion, ALD is a complex disease where both genetics and nutrition have important, and likely interacting, roles. Nevertheless, rams with ALD should be avoided in breeding programs.

Looking to the Future: Adapting Tools for Evolving Needs
The tools and systems used to drive genetic and phenotypic improvement must continue to evolve. International models provide a glimpse into what may lie ahead. For example, progeny testing programs abroad use artificial insemination to mate elite sires to standardized ewe groups. This enables stud ram prospects to be more comprehensively evaluated by considering the performance of both them and their offspring across a wide spectrum of traits.
Environmental challenge tests are another frontier. The Virginia Tech performance test challenges rams with a known amount of infective gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) larvae and measures their immune response. In many ways, this more clearly identifies GIN resistant animals than natural infection under less controlled settings. Similarly, programs in New Zealand expose rams to footrot-prone pastures or fungal toxins (e.g., facial eczema) to evaluate underlying mechanisms associated with genetic resilience. Aligning innovation with the realities of U.S. production constraints is an important consideration. Recent efforts in the Wyoming ram test have included grazing trials and supplementation efficiency studies to mimic realistic production settings. Tying data collected from central performance tests, both on standard and more refined traits, into larger genetic evaluation programs like the NSIP is a critical next step.

Public–Private Partnership: Art and Science in Practice
In the words of the late University of Wyoming Sheep Specialist, LeRoy Johnson, “sheep production is an art and a science”. The Wyoming Ram Test, now over 60 years strong, exemplifies this blend of innovation and intuition through one of the sheep industry’s longest-standing public–private partnerships. This reciprocal relationship is more than an operational success—it’s a model for how land-grant institutions can remain relevant by staying connected to the producers they serve. While genetic merit may be calculated on paper, the lasting values of central performance tests lies in the trust they build, the questions they raise, and the progress they make possible.

If you have any questions regarding background information cited here, please do not hesitate to contact the authors.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Our journey with Sheep GEMS is nearing its end

 

 

Dr Ron Lewis
Emeritus Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Time flies. Over nearly four years I have had the pleasure of working with talented sheep scientists and students, and with nearly forty Katahdin, Polypay, Rambouillet, and Suffolk producers engaged in the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP)—our so-called Innovation Flocks—in Sheep GEMS. With this project nearing its finish this December, it seemed timely to share what we have learned so far. In this article, I summarize team members’ insights into the project based on questions that I posed to them.
As a reminder, the “GEMS” in Sheep GEMS stands for Genetics, Environment, Management, and Society. Our aim was to consider how these four key facets of a sheep production system collectively impact robustness and resilience to weather conditions or, more generally, fitness of your flocks. We measured a lot of fitness traits, such as ewe longevity, gastrointestinal parasitism, udder health, and lamb survival, in both Innovation and USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) flocks. Such measures help us describe Genetics. The flocks engaged in Sheep GEMS are spread across the U.S., with unique geographies and weather conditions, or Environments. We also conducted a national survey to gather information about on-farm practices, learning about your Management and, to a smaller extent, Society.

Tom Boyer, a third-generation rancher and a Board Member of Sheep Genetics USA, serves as the Chair of our project’s industry advisory board. I asked Tom what aspects of the project stood out as most key to him.

“The broad array of production traits encompassed in the study has been interesting to learn about and see the deep dives that become apparent as we wrap our minds around the power of genetics.”

“Historically, we think of genetics as being the way to identify parentage or carriers of various problems that have plagued the industry. While these have value for our industry, the power comes from identifying individual and flock genetic diversity.”

Tom believes as we become more and more accurate in the prediction of various genetic traits in our breeding programs, we will continue to see greater productivity and profitability through improved breeding and selection decisions every generation.

When asked if he found anything surprising, Tom responded, “It is valuable to stand back and see the changes in crop production, and other livestock species from genetics. The only thing surprising to me is that we have not moved faster to identify and adopt the new technology that will bring the quantum leaps in productivity in the U.S. sheep industry. Some ‘What if’ questions are helpful. What if our entire flock had the productivity of our very best ewe? What if we could wean a 175% lamb crop of 120 or even 130 lb. lambs on grass? What if every ewe had a great udder with ideal teat placement that did not require having jeans with manure-stained knees from kneeling to start lambs nursing? What if every ram could increase loin eye size, improve lamb eating experience, while producing replacement ewes that can raise a set of twins. What if we could ‘stack traits?’ Such questions are all within reach through the power of genetics!”

Dr Luiz Brito is an Associate Professor of Animal Science at Purdue University, specializing in quantitative genetics and genomics. I spoke with Luiz about one of the traits we are considering, ewe longevity.

“Ewe productive longevity basically means how long a ewe stays productive in the flock—most often measured as the number of days between her first and last lambing. Ewes that stay in the flock longer can help improve profitability by lowering the need for replacements, producing more lambs over their lifetime, and often have fewer health or reproduction problems. In our work with Katahdin sheep, we found that about one-third of ewes were removed from the flock before they had a second lamb crop. Even among ewes that lambed at least twice, half had a productive life of less than three years.”

I quizzed Luiz on how we can best incorporate ewe longevity into breeding programs going forward. He replied, “based on records from NSIP producers, Katahdin ewes, on average, had their last lambs at around three years of age, producing about 2.7 litters over their lifetime. But these numbers differed among ewes, which is heritable, meaning we can improve ewe longevity through selection.”

“We recommend that breeders keep track of why and when ewes are culled. This would help improve the way in which we evaluate ewe longevity. We found that the total number of lambs weaned by a ewe over her lifetime was the best measure to use. Selecting for this trait would help increase both ewe productivity and longevity. It also would make the flock more profitable and allow for stronger selection of replacement females.”

The Sheep GEMS team is interested in interconnections among its four facets mentioned above. This leads us to consider a topic known as genotype by environment interaction or GxE. I asked Luiz to explain GxE and how it is evaluated.

“GxE means that the way a sheep performs can depend on both its genetics and the environment it is raised in. In other words, a ram that sires fast-growing, healthy lambs in one type of environment, like a cool, grassy pasture, might not produce offspring that do as well in a hot, dry region with less forage. This concept is especially important in national programs like NSIP, which aim to compare and improve sheep across a wide range of farming and ranching conditions in the U.S. To study GxE, we look at performance and genetic data from sheep raised in different settings to see if certain bloodlines do better in some environments than others. Importantly, we have detected GxE in some key traits around weaning time, namely weight and fecal egg count.”

When asked whether he could speculate on its impact on ranch or farm practices going forward, he responded, “As tools like genomic selection become more common in the sheep industry, understanding GxE will help breeders and producers make better decisions. It could lead to breeding values or selection indexes that are customized to specific weather conditions or production systems. This means farmers and ranchers might eventually choose rams not just based on general performance, but on how well their genetics fit local conditions—whether that is heat, high humidity, arid conditions, or limited feed. In the long run, this approach can lead to more resilient and efficient flocks.”

Dr Brad Freking, a Research Geneticist at U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC), contributes to Sheep GEMS by evaluating genomic data on the four breeds engaged in the project. At this point, 14,313 Katahdin, 2,414 Polypay, 2,055 Rambouillet, and 1,654 Suffolk genotypes have been accumulated. I asked Brad why collecting genotypes is so important, and why the choice of genotyping tool or platform used in the project, which evaluates 50,000 genetic markers, mattered.

“In Sheep GEMS, the choice of this medium-density genotyping platform was because it currently provides the most cost-effective way to generate the genomic information that achieved three aims: to generate more accurately estimated breeding values from genomic prediction, which we call genomically enhanced EBV; to verify the recorded pedigree information; and to determine some economically important genetic conditions.”

“Genomic prediction uses genetic markers to estimate genetic merit earlier in the life of the animal than just pedigree and phenotypic information alone. For example, two full sibs could be compared at birth and differentiated from each other at birth for carcass merit traits rather than waiting for the traits to be measured later. In addition to genomically enhanced EBV, pedigree errors can be identified and fixed if needed, and genetic status for multiple genetic conditions can be gathered from the same DNA sample.”

Producers participating in Sheep GEMS are provided with information on genetic conditions in their sheep, like ovine progressive pneumonia (OPP) and scrapie susceptibilities. Brad summarized what has been learned this way, “genetic condition status can be useful in selection or culling, and mating, decisions and in marketing programs. For two of the five validated genetic conditions—Booroola fecundity and Callipyge—we find very little or even no occurrence of the causal mutation in our U.S. breeds. Double muscling appears in some breeds to a small extent.”

“The four breeds in Sheep GEMS, however, are at different endpoints in achieving the favored genetic status for low susceptibility to OPP and resistance to scrapie. The Polypay and Rambouillet breeds are already at a high frequency—over 85%—for the favorable forms of genetic markers for low susceptibility to OPP. However, in Katahdin and Suffolk, nearly 60% of the genotyped animals were genetically susceptible to this disease.”

“The U.S. is fast approaching the time where we can be declared scrapie-free as a country. Nearly all Polypay, around 93% of Katahdin and Suffolk, and about 84% of the Rambouillet sheep we genotyped were either resistant or rarely susceptible to scrapie. However, about 16% of Rambouillet were characterized as highly susceptible to scrapie. Selection to increase the amount of scrapie resistant genotypes across breeds and the nation is considered a key part of the National Scrapie Eradication effort in the U.S.”

When asked how this knowledge could be best used, Brad responded, “Breeders can be tempted to test and select only animals with favorable genotypes. However, there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach. In part, it depends on the economic importance of the genetic condition to a sheep enterprise. Culling all animals with less favorable genotypes is seldom the best strategy. From our results, there are clear differences among breeds in OPP and scrapie susceptibilities. That information is useful for designing breeding objectives tailored to the needs and priorities of individual breeds and flocks.”

He added “We encourage breeders to integrate this genetic condition information alongside, rather than instead of, their current breeding objectives. One approach to save genetic diversity in the flock would be to expand and evaluate more sons than needed to obtain a more favorable genetic condition status. A focus on rams and changing the frequencies in the ewe flock over time is a reasonable approach.”

The Sheep GEMS team is also considering parasite resistance, particularly given increasing anthelmintic resistance in our flocks. Dr. Joan Burke is a Research Animal Scientist at the USDA, ARS, Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center. Among her contributions to Sheep GEMS is her knowledge of genetic and management tools to control gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) parasites.

When asked what we have learned so far, Joan responded, “I recall over 20 years ago deworming sheep and watching the fecal egg counts, or FEC, skyrocket rather than fall to undetectable levels as expected. It led to examining relative differences in GIN parasite resistance among breed types. We also found variable responses within breeds.”

“Selection for parasite resistance was recognized many years ago in Merino and Romney breeds, and more recently in the Katahdin breed in the U.S. The timing of measuring FEC differs among breed types due to differences in immune response and maturity and should be validated for each breed for optimal selection criteria. Because Katahdins mature more quickly than many wool breeds, FEC can be collected as early as 45 or 60 days of age around weaning, and between 90 and 150 days of age post-weaning. Beyond that, compared with other breeds, FEC often naturally declines, and little variability exists within a contemporary group. In our Booneville, AR, ARS flock, we have heavily selected for parasite resistance. Most lambs never require deworming. In addition, we have simultaneously made progress on all economically important traits included in NSIP.”
Beyond resistance to GIN, there is interest in identifying so-called resilient sheep. I asked Joan “what is the difference between resistance and resilience? In addition to FEC, we are collecting FAMACHA scores in Sheep GEMS. Why so? Is it to help distinguish genetically resilient from resistant sheep?”

“Resistance to GIN parasites in the animal or host is the ability to initiate and maintain an immune response to suppress establishment or eliminate the parasite. That is, the animal resists becoming infected with GIN. The FEC remain low in the presence of GIN on pasture. Resilience, on the other hand, is the ability of the host to remain healthy and productive even when parasitized.”

“Resilient sheep may have high FEC, but do not become anemic or lose body weight or condition like susceptible sheep in the same contemporary group. Resistance is relatively easy to measure by comparing FEC within a group of animals. Resilience can be more difficult to assess. The FAMACHA system examines the color of the lower eye membrane to estimate degree of anemia associated with the barber pole worm, a blood sucking GIN. Farmers can easily use this tool with proper training. GEMS flocks have been recording FAMACHA scores in their lambs. Even with its limited five-point scale, it is a heritable trait. FAMACHA can help us distinguish genetically resilient from susceptible sheep. Both may have high FEC, but the susceptible sheep will become anemic if heavily parasitized. Body weight is also an indicator of resilience and is already recorded routinely in lambs. Resilient lambs continue to grow, but susceptible lambs may grow more slowly.”

Dr Tom Murphy is a Research Geneticist who also is at USMARC. With his interest in udder health, I asked him why udder health is so important.

“In previous sheep industry surveys conducted by the USDA APHIS, he replied, it has been estimated that 14% of the U.S. breeding ewe flock is culled each year and, of these ewes, 15% are culled for udder health issues such as hard bag syndrome and mastitis. While most of us are familiar with clinical mastitis like palpable lumps, abnormal milk, and so on, subclinical mastitis has major economic implications but goes unnoticed in most flocks.”

In follow up, I inquired about what his evaluations of udder health entailed, and what has been learned from them. Tom replied, “To date, we have collected milk samples from over 2,500 ewes of varying ages, breed types, and production systems in our research flocks. These studies have found that approximately 25% of sampled ewes were visually healthy but had milk somatic cell count values indicative of subclinical mastitis. Furthermore, these sub-clinically infected ewes weaned, on average, 13 to 35 lb. less total weight of lamb than healthy ewes, which presents a substantial loss in potential revenue.”

“The problem is that milking ewes to diagnose subclinical mastitis is extremely labor intensive and, while increased ewe milk production generally results in heavier lamb weaning weights, heavy milking ewes are typically more prone to udder health issues. To improve udder health in industry flocks we need to identify traits that are both easier to measure and indicative of udder health while balancing our selection efforts for optimal, rather than maximal, outputs. In many ways, this is easier said than done. However, our preliminary work in Sheep GEMS has found that udder depth and teat placement, both recorded on subjective scales of 1 to 9, are moderately heritable traits (20 to 35%) and most mature ewes have intermediate scores. These early findings are encouraging as we continue to evaluate selection strategies to breed more productive and longer-lived ewes.”

The newest member of the GEMS team is Dr Carrie Wilson, a Research Geneticist at the USDA, ARS, U.S. Sheep Experiment Station (USSES), she is assessing inbreeding in our sheep, a topic of particular interest to her and to sheep producers. I asked Carrie to explain what the team is doing on this topic, and why it is important to evaluate inbreeding levels in our breeds now.

“We have used the full NSIP pedigree to compute inbreeding coefficients for every animal for each breed participating in Sheep GEMS. This allows us to track trends over time and get an understanding of the inbreeding levels and rate of inbreeding for each breed. For animals that have been genotyped, we are able to measure genomic-based inbreeding and get an even better understanding of the realized inbreeding in the breed.”
“It is important to establish a baseline level of genetic diversity prior to the implementation of genomic selection so we can assess the impact, if any, that genomic selection has on the overall genetic diversity of each breed. In the extreme case with dairy cattle, where few elite sires have been heavily used, genomic selection has led to an increased annual rate of inbreeding with negative impacts on fitness traits. While this is unlikely in sheep due to the limited use of A.I., it is still important to monitor and understand the impacts of genomic selection on inbreeding levels over time.”

Evaluating lamb survival is another aspect being studied, and Carrie is taking the lead. when asked, “why do you consider lamb survival as key to improving the robustness of our flocks?”, she replied,

“Any lamb that is born that does not make it to its end goal, whether that is a market lamb or to be retained as a breeder, is affecting profitability. This trait has been reported in the literature for over 75 years, yet we have not been successful as an industry in improving this all-important trait.”

She then described the approaches taken to help better understand ways to improve lamb survival.

“In our flock at the USSES, we evaluated 40 years of lamb survival data and made several conclusions. First, lamb survival is a different trait for a single, twin, or triplet. Second, a lamb’s survival is dependent on the sex composition within its litter, particularly for triplet litters. Third, uniform birth weights within a litter support lamb survival. Lastly, young and old ewes have lower lamb survival and may need closer monitoring to ensure the survival of their lambs. Heritability estimates for lamb survival are extremely low, so I have been evaluating novel models to try to improve genetic selection for this trait. While the initial models still show low heritability for the trait, evaluation of lamb survival for singles, twins, and triplets as separate traits is showing some promise. Once we work through this in our flock, I look forward to seeing what we can do to improve selection for lamb survival across all NSIP flocks.”

Earlier, I mentioned the producer survey conducted to gain insights into producers’ management practices. We are combining what we learned about management practices with weather conditions specific to the location of individual flocks to define their overall production environments. These are called “eco-management clusters”, and we use them as a ‘better’ definition of environment in our investigations of GxE.

The team was also asked about their thoughts on the next steps after Sheep GEMS ends. The consensus was that, with the help of NSIP, genomic selection for traits already evaluated needs to be implemented, along with development of genomically enhanced EBV for novel traits of economic importance to breeders, including lamb survival and ewe longevity. If GxE proves to be important, we need to establish tools for incorporating those interactions into producers’ breeding decisions.

Key to the implementation of Sheep GEMS is for producers to continue – if not expand – their recording of both novel and traditional traits. Without that, many of the advantages of incorporating genomic data into the NSIP genetic evaluation will be lost. There also is a need for tools to assist producers collect and digitize their flocks’ performance data more easily, and for web-based tools to support breeders’ selection and mating decisions. In short, there is a lot left to do.

I would like to finish by returning to Tom Boyer. The value of Sheep GEMS depends on its outcomes being adopted by the U.S. sheep industry. I asked Tom about his thoughts on this.

Boyer replied, “I see many within the industry who will think it is too hard, too expensive, too ‘some other reason’ not to adopt the outcomes of GEMS. Productivity wise, they will stay where they are and have been for decades. There are, however, within the industry a select group of ‘Young Guns’ who are tired of mediocrity, and who have a passion for constant improvement, especially improvement in their profitability. These folks include a powerful set of young educators, extension, and sheep specialists, and early adopter producers who will embrace GEMS and take the industry forward with a quantum leap. I salute this group!”

I would also like to salute and thank everyone participating in Sheep GEMS. Its success is because of you.

Acknowledgements. We thank U.S. sheep associations and breed organizations, NSIP, and sheep producers, for their contributions to this research. This work is supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant (grant no. 2022-67015-36073/project accession no. 1027785) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the USDA.

Attaining goals through selection indexes

 

 

Tom Murphy, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center
Ron Lewis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The internet, now super-charged with artificial intelligence, has given us the ability to quickly find answers. With just a few keywords, we instantaneously have information at our fingertips. But these tools have limitations. Often, they favor more recently published material and overlook those from the past. Sometimes it’s good to set aside the smartphone and crack open an old book or have a conversation with a more “seasoned” person to reassure ourselves that we stand on the shoulders of giants.
An excerpt from “Quantitative Genetics in Sheep Breeding”, published by Australian authors Helen Turner and Sydney Young in 1969, summarizes an age-old concept in sheep breeding. “Any sheep enterprise has a greater chance of success if its aim is clearly defined…Aims are not necessarily static; they will be modified in the light of increasing knowledge, or possibly, for sheep-breeding, of changing end-use…”. It’s easy to get distracted by the latest trends and lose sight of our long-term goals. We are only human. That’s why it’s important to have a reference point to maintain the straightest path toward our ultimate breeding goals. Breeding objectives help serve as that reference point.

What is a breeding objective?
A breeding objective is simply the long-term goal of our selection program. Sometimes our breeding objective is strictly economic: “I want to improve the profitability of my flock.” At other times our breeding objective might focus on traits that we can’t easily measure directly: “I want to improve lean muscle growth for traditional lamb markets.” What is essential is that we define our breeding objective clearly.
There are many traits that we can measure that will impact our ability to achieve our long-term goal. These may include the number of lambs a ewe weans, the quality of her fleece and her parasite resistance, as well as the growth rate and carcass conformation of her lambs. Importantly, we can combine these measures to construct selection indexes that best align with our breeding objective.
Constructing selection indexes
Selection indexes are built by weighting the estimated breeding values (EBV) for the traits contributing to our breeding objective by their importance. This results in a simplified single index value or score that we can use to compare animals for their overall genetic merit for our breeding objective. A selection index could consist of only two or many traits. However, the more traits we put in a selection index, the less genetic progress we make in any individual trait.
Additionally, some traits are easier to improve and have greater genetic variability than others. Determining which traits to include in a selection index and their weighting factor is a process that melds scientific principles and pragmatism to best approximate real-world scenarios.

Current selection indexes in the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP)
Maternal productivity indexes
The NSIP technical committee developed two maternal productivity indexes (MPI) for use in hair and maternal wool breeds (e.g., Katahdin and Polypay, respectively). Their breeding objective is to maximize the total weight of lamb weaned per ewe lambing (TW). Since TW isn’t measured directly in NSIP flocks, these MPI predict TW from component traits on which EBV are generated. There are slight differences between these breed groups in the relative emphasis placed on individual traits in the MPI, but their interpretations are similar.
The MPI place a slight emphasis on increasing weaning weight (4 to 5%), a moderate emphasis on increasing maternal weaning weight (i.e., ewe milk production and mothering ability; 9 to 21%), and a strong emphasis on increasing number of lambs weaned (67 to 71%). It also places some emphasis on reducing number of lambs born (7 to 16%), which may initially seem counterintuitive. The reason, though, is we designed MPI to identify ewes that are genetically capable of weaning large litters without losing lambs. Selection on the MPI, therefore, will improve TW and, thus, reproductive efficiency in maternal sheep flocks.

Carcass plus index
The NSIP carcass plus index (CPI) was developed in Australia with the breeding objective to improve lean muscle growth (LMG). Although developed for Australian markets, past research has determined that the CPI provides a reasonable assessment of carcass value for U.S. terminal sire breeds. Since LMG cannot be easily measured directly, the CPI predicts LMG from component traits that are directly recorded.
This index places a moderate emphasis on increasing weaning weight (14%), and strong emphasis (40%) on increasing both post-weaning weight and ultrasound loin muscle depth. It also places some emphasis (6%) on reducing post-weaning backfat depth, which is to limit, but not drastically reduce, carcass fat cover. Therefore, selection on the CPI will improve overall LMG in flocks generating terminal sires.

Western range index
The NSIP technical committee designed the Western range index (WRI) for use in dual-purpose breeds (e.g., Targhee and Rambouillet) with the breeding objective to improve overall flock profitability. The WRI considers the costs (e.g., purchased feed) and returns (e.g., wool, market lamb, and cull ewe receipts) of a typical western range flock, which are reflected in the emphasis placed on component traits.
The WRI places a slight emphasis on increasing milk production and mothering ability (6%) and on yearling greasy fleece weight (10%), and a strong emphasis on increasing post-weaning weight (27%) and number of lambs born (38%). It also places slight emphasis on reducing yearling fiber diameter (4%). Lastly, it places a moderate emphasis on reducing yearling weight (15%), which is to limit, but not drastically reduce, adult size. Therefore, selection on the WRI will increase lamb production while maintaining wool production and mature ewe size to improve enterprise profitability.

Current developments
You may have noticed that current NSIP indexes do not directly consider traits associated with health (e.g., internal parasite susceptibility, survival, etc.) and functionality (e.g., longevity, udder structure, etc.). This is because component traits included in indexes are limited to those that are presently recorded by NSIP breeders. However, current projects led by the NSIP technical committee are focused on practical ways to record novel traits with the goal of making them available as EBV while investigating how they may fit into larger breeding objectives.
Let’s step back, though, and consider health. Internal parasitism is particularly important to hair sheep producers. However, so is their current focus on maternal productivity. We, therefore, have begun designing a selection index with the goal of increasing parasite resistance while still improving TW. To do so, we constructed indexes that placed varying emphasis on post-weaning fecal egg count (PFEC) relative to TW. We then predicted rates of genetic gain in TW and PFEC. We learned that placing 79% of the selection emphasis on TW, and thereby 21% on PFEC, made for a good balance.
Under this scenario, 98% of the yearly gain in TW was retained while PFEC was favorably reduced by as much as 8% per year. Although work remains before we can launch a new index for producer use, we have demonstrated that we can incorporate parasite resistance into a breeding objective with positive impact on both maternal productivity and fitness.

Future considerations
A common saying among scientists, credited to the statistician George Box, is “all models are wrong, but some are useful”. Biology is complex, and economics change and are often unique to individual sheep operations. We attempt to remedy this by considering market trends over several years and by evaluating how model outputs change when inputs and management systems vary. Still, no model is perfect, and it would be impractical to develop selection indexes for every breeder. Nevertheless, by employing selection indexes, NSIP breeders have been making steady progress at improving multiple traits simultaneously for several years.
To date, nearly every selection index across livestock species focuses on the general breeding objective of improving profitability or increasing the quantity of marketable products. After all, we need to make money to be sustainable. But notice in the earlier quote from Turner and Young they don’t define “success” in purely economic terms.
They also consider our aims and recognize that the utility of our flocks may change in the future. Some of us have already witnessed these changes as flocks find themselves in landscape management and agroecological roles where maximizing productivity, or even profitability, is seldom the primary goal. The methodologies of selection indexes are flexible. As production systems, end-uses, and our definition of success change, so too will the genetic tools available to sheep producers to ensure steady progress toward our goals.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

ASI Seeks Nominees for American Lamb Board

 

 

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking nominees to fill four positions on the American Lamb Board, as the terms of current members will expire in early 2026.
The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), a certified nominating organization, is now gathering nominations for the following positions:

• One producer with 100 or fewer lambs
• One producer with more than 500 lambs
• One feeder at large
• One first handler

Either the small-scale (≤100 lambs) or large-scale (>500 lambs) producer must be from Region II (west of the Mississippi River). The feeder at large must be from Region I (east of the Mississippi River).

Any U.S. producer, feeder, or first handler who owns or purchases lambs may be considered. Candidates must be nominated by a certified nominating organization and submit a completed application. Final appointments will be made by the Secretary of Agriculture from among the submitted nominees.

ASI encourages interested individuals to visit www.sheepusa.org or contact the ASI office for a nomination form. Completed forms must be returned to ASI by August 22, 2025.
The current directors whose terms are expiring include Jeff Ebert (KS), Gary Visintainer (CO), and Don Hawk (OH), all of whom are term-limited. ASI must submit at least two nominees for these three seats.

Ben Lehfeldt, ASI president, said: “Having served on the Lamb Board several years ago, I can say the opportunity to be a director is exciting and well worth considering. I encourage you to contact ASI or your state association for the forms and put your hat in the ring.”

USDA is also accepting nominations for one producer and one expert in finance and management to serve three-year terms on the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center (NSIIC) Board of Directors. Bob Buchholz and Faye Schalesky currently hold these seats and are up to serve another term. Nominations for NSIIC are due by September 8, 2025. ASI Taking Nominations for the NSIIC by August 22, 2025.

For a list of certified nominating organizations, nomination forms, and additional information about the Lamb Board, visit lambresourcecenter.com or the AMS American Lamb Board webpage. For more information, contact Peter Orwick, ASI Executive Director, at (303) 771-3500, ext. 103, or
[email protected].

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