Four North Dakota sheep producers were presented "Master Sheep Producer" awards at the annual banquet of the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association at the Seven Seas Motel in Mandan, December 4th. The banquet and awards presentation were a part of the fourth annual North Dakota Sheep Convention.
Each producer was recognized for his excellence and efficiency in sheep production. The awards are sponsored by the Production Credit Association of North Dakota, the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association and the North Dakota Cooperative Extension Service.
1983
Master Purebred Sheep Producer
Jerry Ehlers
Hettinger
Jerry Ehlers of Hettinger is North Dakota's 1983 Master Purebred Sheep Producer. Ehler's purebred flock consists of 70 Columbia breeding ewes. He began his purebred operation 19 years ago. Besides the purebred flock, Ehlers runs about 140 commercial ewes of Columbia breeding and 140 commercial cows (in partnership with his dad). He annually feeds out about 200 to 250 of his own lambs. Today, 40 percent of his farm income is derived from the sheep.
The lambing season is one of the most important times during the year in the Ehlers operation. He considers this period a full-time job with ewes being closely watched around the clock for lambing difficulties. An attempt is made to keep barn conditions at an optimum to assure healthy progress of all lambs. Records are kept on each ewe and include type of birth, mothering ability and fleece weight. His lamb drop averages about 170 percent with his ewes shearing about 14.5 pounds per year.
The feeding program consists of pasture utilization and homegrown feeds. Ewes are pastured during the summer and into the fall, as grazing permits. In late fall to early winter ewes are given chopped alfalfa hay. Approximately one month prior to lambing, ewes are given 2 to 1 pound of oats till lambing, at which time oats is increased to 2 lb/head. All lambs are on creep feed until weaned.
Ehlers promotes his Columbia flock through NDLWPA sales, shows and sales in neighboring states, plus advertising in national sheep magazines. He indicates that his best promotion has been through satisfied customers. Since the start of his purebred operation, Ehlers has improved the quality of his flock over the years by carefully selecting stud rams for traits that conform with buyer demands.
Ehlers serves as Southwest director in the NDLWPA and is a member of the marketing committee. He has been a supervisor on the township board and he and his family are members of the Hettinger Lutheran Church.
Ehlers and his wife, Karen, have a son (Brad) and a daughter (Tanya).
1983
Master Commercial Sheep Producer
George Speidel
Monango
George Speidel of Monango is North Dakota's 1983 Master Commercial Sheep Producer. The Speidel operation, located in Dickey County, consists of 300 ewes and 33 cows. The farm includes four quarters of land of which 118 acres are cropland. Sheep have been a part of his farming operation for 16 years and at present make up about 50 percent of the farm income.
Utilization of buildings and equipment, a good feeding program and adapting new innovations are keys to Speidel's success.
Lambing facilities include a 30 x 60 insulated pole barn and a 30 x 48 total insulated barn with ventilation fans. In addition, an old beef barn can be used in emergency. The 30 x 60 barn is also used as a shearing barn and the 30 x 48 barn is used for lamb feeding following the lambing season. Speidel's weaned lamb percent exceeds 150 and his ewes shear about 10 pounds per year.
The ewe flock is primarily made up of Columbia, Corriedale and some Finn breeding. The ewes are bred to Hampshire and Suffolk rams. Speidel annually keeps back about 30 to 40 replacement ewe lambs from his own flock. These are selected from the twin and triplet born ewe lambs. Twins are identified by a notch in one ear and triplets by a notch in both ears. All replacement ewe lambs are exposed as lambs to lamb in May.
Homegrown feeds plus some commercial supplements are utilized in Speidel's feeding program. Breeding pellets are fed two weeks prior to breeding at 1 pound/head/day. Speidel has noticed an improvement in lambing percentages since starting this practice.
Lambs are fed out on a corn base ration. A grinder mixer mill is utilized in formulating ration and self-feeders are used to reduce labor. Lambs are weighed and sorted on the farm and sold through the lamb tele-auction.
Speidel is a member of the NDLWPA, a Jaycee, chairman of the township board, and trustee of St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Monango.
1983
Master Lamb Feeders
Fred and Darrell Schroeder
Valley City
Darrell and Fred Schroeder of Valley City are North Dakota' s 1983 Master Lamb Feeders. The brothers annually feed out between 700 to 1400 lambs. They have been in the lambing feeding business for 17 years. Besides feeding lambs, the Schroeder Bros. run 60 to 70 Suffolk ewes and raise grains on their Barnes county farms.
A good health program and the utilization of economical feed sources are keys to the Schroeder Bros. success. In the 17 years of feeding lambs, they have always been in the black.
All lambs are fed in drylot. Upon arrival onto the farm, all lambs are put on a highly medicated full fed ration. The ration contains 40 percent corn cobs which helps prevent the lambs from overeating. The brothers indicate that it has reduced many of the stress problems. In addition, lambs are vaccinated for overeating with a C&D toxoid and given a vitamin A,D&E shot. Also, lambs are wormed and implanted with Ralgro.
Most feeds used in the Schroeder operation are raised on the farm. Straw is often ground and mixed into the feed as the only source of roughage. In some years, damaged feed has been utilized to reduce costs.
Feeder lambs are obtained through local auction markets and sold on the North Dakota lamb tele-auction.
The Schroeder Bros. are both members of the NDLWPA. Darrell has been on the township board, is a Sunday School teacher, a trustee and president of the men's club at Salem United Methodist Church. Fred has been on the grain elevator board and FFA advisory board. He is on the Barnes county crop and livestock board and chairman of the church council.
Darrell and his wife, Becky, have two sons (James and Craig) and one daughter (Ann). Fred and his wife, Dorothy, have two daughters (Holly and Dawn).