Ag News
Sheep event scheduled for Spender, Iowa
Published Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 04:56 AM
SPENCER (Iowa) July 21, 2009 - In today's times, everyone wants to get more out of every buck…and every ewe, too. Today, progressive sheep producers seeking more return on rising feed and fuel costs are relying on proven genetic tools, like the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP) to enhance profitability. Seminars and sale set for Spencer, Iowa The fourth annual Center of the Nation NSIP Seminar and Sale (CNSIP) will attract sheep enthusiasts to the Clay Co. Fairgrounds in Spencer, Iowa, on Saturday, August 1. Educational seminars will begin at 9:30 a.m. as Dr. Dave Thomas, Professor of Animal Sciences and Extension Sheep Specialist at the University of Wisconsin will focus on "How to use NSIP to enhance your flock's productivity and bottom line." Dr. Dave Notter, Professor of Animal Breeding and Genetics at Virginia Tech, will highlight "The history and future of NSIP. Seminars will conclude with Stan Potratz of Washington, Iowa speaking on "How does the world economy impact your sheep flock?" All 114 sheep to be sold feature NSIP EPDs The one-of-a-kind sale of the nation's highest-performing breeding sheep featuring rams and ewes from the nation's leading breeds and NSIP breeders begins at 1 p.m. Breeds offered for sale include Polypays, Suffolks, Hampshires, Columbias and Dorsets. Yearlings and lambs will be featured in the sale. Limited exclusively to registered purebred breeding sheep featuring NSIP expected progeny differences (EPDs) provides accurate predictions of an animal's ability to produce offspring with certain genetic traits. Producers using NSIP data can earn a greater return on their sheep operations, since top NSIP sheep are expected to produce more prolific, productive offspring in less time on feed. NSIP EPDs help predict a variety of essential traits from a ewe's ability to milk, a ram's ability to sire offspring that reach weaning and market weights more quickly, and the ability to produce uniform fleeces in wool breeds. The sale attracts satisfied buyers across the United States. "The beauty of these sheep goes far beyond what you see to most importantly, what you get from them and their offspring in terms of genetic consistency and productivity," said event chairman Mike Park of Woodhill Farm of Woodbine, Iowa. For the benefit of buyers, all sheep in the CNSIP sale are sold objectively on the basis of performance, rather than simply on one person's opinion on one day like most shows and sales. Every single animal sold at this industry-leading event is by objective NSIP data backed up by EPDs to help producers get the most for their time and money." One-stop shopping for leading sheep breeds from leading breeders The combination of one stop-shopping for whiteface, blackface and hair sheep in a single location on a single day backed by NSIP EPDs has proven very popular with buyers and consignors. In addition, every animal, with the exception of wool-breeds and hair sheep, is sold slick-shorn, so the buyer can truly see the animal's true confirmation. Buyers believe in the benefits of NSIP Buyers truly appreciate this unique national event. "It's easy to compare flocks based on NSIP data, and the best part is, you can select from good sheep all in one spot," said David Moeller of Elm Creek Acres, Fairmont, Minn. "The combination of the educational programs that provide information to help improve your herd and the chance to purchase breeding stock to do it is very valuable," said Jerome Nelson of Volin, S.D. "The best part of the CNSIP sale is the variety and excellent quality of sheep sold," said buyer Vernon Meinberg of Hampton, Iowa. Designed to provide information for everyone from industry veterans to newcomers in sheep production, the event continues to grow in size and popularity, drawing participants from far and near. "The people of NSIP who consign to this event are so willing to talk, to share information and to help someone who is new to this business," said Janet Gibbs of Benson, Ill. In the 2008 sale, 164 sheep sold, with rams averaging $509 and ewes $230 per head. For more information To obtain a sale catalog at no charge, contact Conover Auction Service at P.O. Box 9, Baxter, IA 50028 or call 1-641-227-3537. The 2009 NSIP sale catalog may also be viewed online at: http://www.conoverauction.com For more information on the National Sheep Improvement Program, log on to http://www.nsip.org
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