Released June 26, 2008

ALBANY, Ohio — Learn the latest information on feeding and protecting your flock at Ohio Sheep Day, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, July 12, at the Curt and Wendy Cline Farm in Albany.

This year’s program, organizers say, will cover everything from diseases and predators to utilizing various forages to increase yields and revenue.

“We hope to show sheep producers the latest in GPS technology as well as the most up-to-date information on sheep management, grazing, health and fencing,” said Roger High, an Ohio State University Extension sheep specialist and the executive director of the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association (OSIA) and the Ohio Sheep and Wool Program (OSWP). “There will be so many things to see and learn that visitors will not be able to do it all.”

The Cline farm is at 3933 Factory Road in Athens County.

Registration costs $5 for OSIA members (with OSIA membership card) and $10 for non-members. A lamb lunch is included. No pre-registration is required.

Registration starts at 8 a.m., the talks and tours at 9 a.m.

Contact High at (614) 292-0589 or high.1@osu.edu or go to http://www.ohiosheep.org for more information.

The topics:

• Forages for grazing.

• Utilizing grid sampling and soil fertility for fertilization decisions.

• Non-traditional forages for parasite control.

• Utilizing Global Positioning System (GPS) technology for pasture fertility.

• Improving the sheep operation with Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funding.

• Fencing for sheep and predators.

• Forage-based sheep genetics.

• Managing foot scald and foot rot on the sheep farm.

• Pulling it all together: Management decisions for profitability.

• Pasture walks and a tour of the Cline farm facilities.

The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), OSU Extension, Ohio State’s Department of Animal Sciences, Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, OSIA, and OSWP are the sponsors.

If you've traveled outside the United States within 10 days of the event, please don't attend. This helps guard against the spread of contagious livestock diseases.

OARDC and OSU Extension are the research and outreach arms, respectively, of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

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http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~news/story.php?id=4702

Contacts: Roger High, 614-292-0589, high.1@osu.edu

Randi Espinoza, 330-263-3780, ct-oardc@osu.edu