Wondering whether to become a sheep producer? The Manitoba Sheep Association may be able to help.
Through Manitoba sheep industry initiative, the association is organizing a library of technical information on sheep production.
The information is available, free of charge, in books and videos at Manitoba Agriculture offices in Dauphin, Brandon, Gladstone, Steinbach and Selkirk.
Topics deal with include nutrition, disease management, pasture management, lambing and sheep dog training. The purpose of the library is to help existing producers upgrade production and offer information to industry newcomers.
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There are also four demo sites in Manitoba where producers can observe grazing management techniques used for sheep.
The sheep association is also planning several courses on sheep production for this winter.
John Hamerton, a sheep industry initiative co-ordinator, said economic models will be developed to show the costs of sheep production.
Those models will include part-time ventures with 50 to 100 sheep, commercial farms with 200 to 600 sheep as a supplementary enterprise, as well as full-time producers with over 1,000 animals.
A generic business plan also is being developed. Prospective producers can use that plan to determine whether sheep production is a viable enterprise for them. The plan will also be useful for existing sheep producers contemplating expansion.
A consultant has been hired to look at the opportunities and constraints for marketing sheep from Manitoba.
The possibility of lamb processing in the province is also being explored, along with value-added marketing opportunities.
In January, the Manitoba sheep industry initiative will host an industry-wide workshop to chart the future of the industry in Manitoba.
For more information on the initiative, phone 204-866-2627.
