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Sheep producers feel price pinch

A midwestern sheep producer says lamb sales are taking a backseat at the grocery store.

Brenda Reau tells Brownfield rising food costs have negatively impacted lamb markets.

“People just don’t have the extra disposable income to purchase something that is perceived as more of a specialty type of protein,” she says.

Reau says while demand for direct marketed meat is good, federally inspected processing facilities are few and far between.

“Direct marketing is a particular challenge in Michigan due to the fact that we do not have a state meat inspection program in Michigan like the neighboring states around us—Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin,” she shares.

Separately, Reau says finding large animal veterinarians is a growing concern for new and beginning sheep producers to follow the Veterinary Feed Directive.

Reau farms along the Michigan/Ohio border and is serving as the vice president of the Michigan Sheep Producers Association.

Brownfield interviews Brenda Reau and Samantha Ludlam on recent Shepard’s Weekend

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