Tri-State Neighbor: South Dakota Farm Newspaper

Are there less expensive rations? How can feed efficiency be maximized? Will the volatility in prices subside? And if the answer is “not likely,” then how can lamb producers cope with this risk?

These questions are the focus of a lamb feedlot meeting Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Community Center in Ireton, Iowa.

“Producers who attended last year's meeting said these were their top issues,” said Beth Doran, Iowa State University Extension beef field specialist. “Now, a year later, these issues are still with us and may be for some time.”

Dan Morrical, Extension sheep specialist at Iowa State University, will discuss “Ration Options and Managing Change.” He will highlight rations for the lamb feeding operation, ways to improve feed efficiency and techniques to deal with rapid changes in sheep production.

After the first year of the Lamb Livestock Risk Protection Insurance (LRP) program, lamb producers are asking if they are able to hedge a good lamb price.

Dennis DeWitt, ISU Extension livestock field specialist, will visit about the first year of LRP - who used it, did it work, how did the basis track for northwest Iowa producers and his recommendations going forward in 2009.

Meeting participants will sample Tangy BBQ Lamb Balls. This appetizer was one of the top four recipes in a nationwide contest sponsored by the American Lamb Board in 2005 and was served at the 2006 American Sheep Industry Association annual meeting. The recipe is the creation of Marsha Spykerman, executive director for the Iowa Sheep Industry Association.

The feedlot meeting is sponsored by ISU Extension, Northwest Iowa Sheep Producers Association, Iowa Sheep Industry Association and Iowa Sheep and Wool Promotion Board.

For a meeting flier, contact Beth Doran by e-mail at doranb@iastate.edu or phone (712) 737-4230. Interested participants are encouraged to pre-register ($10 per person) by Nov. 17.