News

Joint sheep conference addresses animal health

An extension sheep specialist attributes healthier animals to improved management more than new technology.

Travis Hoffman serves both North Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota, which are hosting a joint sheep conference in early December.

“So if we can keep those ewes in the correct condition and work with them, just on simple things (like) keeping hooves trimmed so we don’t have challenges from foot rot.  And keeping those lambs healthy because lamb survival is a big part of profitability for a sheep producer.”

He tells Brownfield producers are becoming better at managing predators too.

“The wolves, coyotes, and even foxes, trying to manage some of these predators needs to be at the forefront because you can go from a medium to a small operation in too quick of a time.”

The joint conference of the North Dakota and Minnesota Lamb and Wool Producers Associations will be December first and second in Fargo.