Much like the power and influence a confluence of several rivers has over the landscape so is the confluence of events currently shaping the recent A bull-run@ in the sheep markets today.

Each of you can recall my touting of how past events will shape our future, today we as producers of lamb and wool are reaping the rewards of our past efforts. Remember back a couple painful years to 38-40 cent lambs. Imports from Australia and New Zealand were killing our markets. Along comes this little unknown piece of legislation known only as the 201 Trade Act. This act spearheaded by ASI and your state associations like NDLWPA has had dramatic effect on profitability by limiting imports of lamb. Along with the act came all the bonuses such as 3 and 5 dollar lamb payments, 18 dollar ewe lamb retention payments, and facility improvement cost share. We were then successful inserting the Wool Act into the Farm Bill. This wool act made up the price difference on our better quality wool. We followed that with drought assistance for each effected producer in North Dakota and the USA. We added to that by initiating the first nation wide marketing campaign on American Lamb with the development and deployment of the A Meat Lovers Know@ campaign. Today with the recent announcement of the first case of BSE, A mad cow disease@ in Canada the Country of Origin Labeling Act promises to bring the food safety issue to the forefront. COOL Act has been harshly criticized by many, but will come to serve our producers well. It will identify the safest and most wholesome lamb on the market, American Lamb.

Calendar of Events:
June 20: Open Sheep Show at Red River Valley Fair in West Fargo
June 21: Youth Sheep Show at Red River Valley Fair in West Fargo
July 20: 4-H Sheep Show at ND State Fair in Minot
July 21: FFA Sheep Show at ND State Fair in Minot
July 23-25: Open Sheep Shows at ND State Fair in Minot
July 24: NDLWPA Summer Picnic and Informational Meeting at ND State Fair in Minot
July 31, August 1-2: Open Sheep Shows at SD State Fair
September 17: State Ram Sale in Hettinger
December 5-6: Annual Sheep Convention in Mandan

Treasurers Report: Theo reported the checking account balance as of 4-7-03 at $11,141.57. CD= s balance is $3,170.49. Rod Hickle made the motion and Don Lawson seconded to approve the treasurer report. Motion carried.

Secretary report: Brent Stroh made the motion to suspend the reading of the minutes , Mark Sheppard seconded. Motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS
There was discussion on the Wool Outreach $ - Burdell informed the board that we need to voucher expenses to the ASI. There is a sheep information day being planned at the State Fair in Minot. Roger and Tim are in charge of this - there will be genetic information and also info on wool clips.

Dr= s. Schuler and Keller addressed the board with rule changes for scrapie exposed flocks. The codon 154 comments have been dropped and a brochure sent out by NAIA needs to be redone. They reported that Dr. John Clifford is just focusing on 171 testing not 136 anymore.

They also reported that when checking a flock - infected or source - all QQ= s need to go and then required to bleed the flock 2 times if infected or source flock. The Texas slaughter plant is no longer taking sheep from infected or source flocks. They now are going to Pullman, WA., or animal landfills.

Dr. Schuler stated that there is money coming from APHIS to individual states to do genotyping - ND could possibly get $60,000.

Dr. Schuler also stated that the 3^rd eyelid test can give producers a sense of false security. Because an animal that tests negative at the time the 3^rd eyelid test is taken, could become positive down the road.

Roger Haugen, Burt Pfliger and Tim Faller volunteered to work on committee with our state vets to use grant dollars in ND to do genotype testing and set up rules to follow.

Dr. Keller stated that in exposed flocks you can test ewe lambs and sell QQ= s in slaughter channels.

Tim Faller informed us that ND was hosting a Research Field Day to be held June 4-6. This brings in sheep researchers from the land grant universities in the US. 40 people will be attending. They fly into Bismarck and will tour from there. Tim asked the NDLWPA to sponsor a break session. Brent Stroh made a motion and Mark Sheppard seconded it to sponsor the lamb for one of their evening meals at the Field Day. Motion carried. Burt volunteered to work with Tim on getting the meat marinated and grilled.

Burt Pfliger will write a letter in support of the 4 state lamb feeding grant for Tim Faller. The four state encompass ND, SD, WY and MT.

OLD BUSINESS
Discussion on convention registration fees. It was decided that attendees will have to pay a full convention fee from now on - they won= t be able to pay for attending just one agenda item or meeting.

CAFO - Hettinger Sheep Day had information on this. It affects 15 producers in ND. 3000 head of sheep is a medium size herd. 10,000 head of sheep is a large herd.

EPA rules: If any producers have any questions regarding feedlot runoff etc., the person to talk to is Scott Ressler with the North Dakota Stockmens Association - they will help you plan your feedlot and drainage, etc.

As of Dec. 1^st, > 02, everyone is impacted if you pollute - regardless of size. There are federal dollars available to make improvements for small producers. If your livestock is confined in a lot for 45 days or more with no growing vegetation, you are affectedY There is federal cost sharing 60%-40% to do updates using EQUIP $.

Don Lawson represented the NDLWPA at the Hettinger Sheep Day. Tim Faller said that 120 producers signed up for the day - considered a good turnout.

BILLS PAYABLE
Brent Stroh made a motion, Don Lawson seconded to pay Ag Coalition dues. Motion carried.

Rodney Hickle made a motion, Mark Sheppard seconded to pay Swenson $619 for airfare to DC Convention and also for wool scarf given to Senator Conrad. Motion carried.

MIYWW No report - Jane Horner absent.

LAMB COOP Brent Stroh gave a report on the coop.

Next meeting June 16 at 5pm at the Seven Seas, Mandan, ND.

Meeting adjourned.
Paula Swenson, Secretary

FEED SHORTAGE - WHAT TO DO?
A shortage of pasture and hay is occurring in some areas of the state this spring/summer and will affect the supply this fall and winter. How do we get ewes through this shortage period and still have them ready for fall breeding?

First, remember that a dry ewe contributes very little to lamb production during mid summer. Feed her enough to maintain her in good health.

Minnesota research indicates ewes in average conditions can lose 5 to10% of their body weight (8-15 lbs) during the summer months, if followed by adequate nutrition for two weeks prebreeding and during gestation, with no effect on lamb and wool production. They attained their 5 to 10% weight losses by:
a) feeding 2.2 to 2.5 pounds of hay (1.1 to 1.3 lbs TDN) per ewe daily in dry lot or
b) restricting grazing time by 50% and pasturing twice as many ewes per acre. Restricting grazing time also minimized the selectivity of forage and more complete utilization of the pasture occurred.

If ewes are in reasonable condition, reducing their condition from average down to thin is an effective approach, however two points of caution:
1) Don't let a high internal worm population be responsible for the weight loss.
2) If you are forced to feed at levels that result in a 5 to 10% weight loss, be certain you flush the ewes so they are gaining weight prior to breeding so you don't adversely affect next year's lamb crop.

Above all, don't waste feed. Make the ewes eat all that is offered. Don't over supplement. A 150 lbs ewe losing 5% body weight should receive 1.2lb TDN and .22 lb protein daily. Don't forget to provide a salt/mineral supplement.

No experimental data are available on the minimum roughage requirements for ewes. However, experience tells us that ewes probably should have at least 1 to 1.5 pounds of roughage per day for normal rumen functions. We do know that during periods of low level roughage feeding, ewes can become bored and wood chewing or wool biting may be a problem.

Feeding higher levels of grains or screenings than normal is one alternatives during low roughage supplies. Screenings can be used quite successfully during maintenance. Suggested drylot daily ration for maintenance would be 1.5 lbs hay and 1.5 lbs grain.

Another alternative is utilizing straw. If straw is available, it will make the ration considerably cheaper and still meet the ewe requirements. Suggested drylot ration for maintenance with straw is 1.0 lb hay, 1.5 lbs straw and 0.5 lb grain per day.

What about the lambs during pasture and hay shortage? Wean any lambs that are 8 weeks or older. Drench to eliminate internal parasites and feed the lambs in drylot.

Acidosis
An excessive ingestion of grain by animals not accustomed to grain or by hungry animals causes a condition known as acidosis. Grain fermentation results in abnormally high levels of D-lactic acid and lactate. The rumen pH falls to 4.0 to 4.5.

Signs occur 6-12 hours after grain ingestion and are associated with indigestion and dehydration. Signs include off-feed, irritability, dullness, a distended, paralyzed rumen, profuse diarrhea, dehydration, sunken eyes, incoordination, collapse, coma and death. Recovered animals often "founder".

Treatment includes emptying the rumen, either with stomach tube or surgery and administering mineral oil and antacids. The dehydration and acidosis are corrected by electrolytes and buffers. Fluid treatment may need to be supplemented with antibiotics, antihistamines, and steroids depending on severity of clinical signs. Consult your local veterinarian.

Prevention includes removing the offending cause: properly managed feedbunks are the best prevention. Do not offer free-choice grain to unaccustomed, hungry or starving sheep.

Polio
Polio (Polioencephalomalacia) is a non-infectious disease caused by a digestive upset which impairs thiamine (Vit B1) production, hampers absorption of thiamine, and results in the destruction of thiamine. Thiamine is indispensable for the vital functioning of the brain. If thiamine is not available or its requirements are not met, the brain degenerates. Signs of polio are incoordination, depression, prostration, no rumen movement, and blindness. Fever is usually absent. It may be confused with enterotoxemia. Lambs in the growing stage (feedlot) are the main animals affected. Prevention involves slowly increasing the dietary concentrate intake of lambs going on full feed.

Treatment involves the administering of thiamine (Vitamin B1). Thiamine may be provided alone or in a B-complex preparation. Affected sheep should receive (preferably intravenously) 1.5 gm to 2 gm of thiamine, depending on size of the sheep and the severity of the condition. Treatment should be repeated every 6 hours for at least 24 hours. Recovery is not always complete. Animals severely affected for more than 24 hours cannot be expected to respond adequately to treatment.