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Iowa lawmakers pass sheep checkoff increase

Iowa sheep producers may be able to launch a marketing campaign like the dairy industry’s “Got Milk?” promotion because of a bill passed by the Iowa House and Senate. The measure would allow the state’s sheep producers to vote on increasing the fee they pay when selling a lamb, ram or ewe. It’s 10-cents per animal today, but the referendum could raise that to 25-cents per animal. Senator Joe Seng of Davenport expects the sheep industry to use the money for something rivaling “the other white meat” promotion.

“You hear of all the pork promotion. I think that it’s needed possibly to raise awareness of the healthy attributes of sheep.”

Lamb has fewer calories and less fat than beef and pork.

Seng suggests promoting lamb as a menu option might increase the number of Iowa farmers who raise sheep.

“When I drive up to Des Moines there is only one herd of sheep that I go by on the interstate,” says Seng.

Governor Branstad will have the final say on the bill.

~Radio Iowa contributed to this report~