Meeting to be held in conjunction with start of annual ram test
Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contacts: Dr. Dan Waldron, 325-653-4576, d-waldron@tamu.edu
Dr. Reid Redden, 325-653-4576, reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu
SAN ANGELO – A meeting to discuss the National Sheep Improvement Program has been set for 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center north of San Angelo on U.S. Highway 87.
Dr. Reid Redden, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service state sheep and goat specialist at San Angelo, said the meeting is being held in conjunction with the delivery date set for rams to arrive for the 2016-2017 annual Ram Performance Test conducted by Texas A&M.
Redden said the meeting will be to introduce producers to the improvement program, also known as the NSIP, and explain how it can help them improve their flocks, no matter the breed.
“The NSIP’s mission is to ‘provide predictable, economically important genetic evaluation information to the American sheep industry by converting performance records to relevant decision-making tools,’” Redden said. “And that pretty well sums it up. Some breeds use the program extensively to good advantage and we would like to see it adopted here as well.”
Redden said the meeting is being held in conjunction with the start of the ram test, held since 1948, as some of the cooperators on that test have shown an interest in learning more about the NSIP.
“In the past, the ram test has been very effective in increasing the growth rate and wool traits of our Rambouillet sheep industry in West Texas,” Redden said.
“However, we see in the future there’s a need for more selection for more reproductive ability and parasite resistance, which our test cannot select for. So, the purpose of this meeting is to inform producers involved with the test on the possible option of combining the current longstanding ram test with the NSIP.
“It should be an interesting discussion regardless of the outcome.”
For more information, contact Redden at 325-653-4576, reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu.
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via source AgriLife TODAY | National Sheep Improvement Program to be discussed Sept. 12 in San Angelo
For more information regarding news from the Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, please contact Maggie Tucker at maggie.tucker@tamu.edu or (979) 845-1542.