Sheep Sale Draws Interest In Performance Tested Animals
District 10 of the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency hosted a Multi-Breed Sheep Sale in Spencerville on August 4th 2007. Sheep sold were performance tested animals of nine various breeds and included commercial ewe lambs. All purebred rams were required to have been enrolled in the Sheep Flock Improvement Program (SFIP). Many of the ewes sold also included performance data. The sale order was determined by record of performance information including the average daily gain, multiple index, maternal index and growth index.
Prices were strong for the 86 animals sold. Both the 18 consignors and 65 registered buyers were pleased with the overall sale results. Purebred ewe lambs averaged $252 and yearling ewes averaged $310. Purebred ram lambs averaged $405 while the yearling rams brought an average selling price of $494. The commercial ewe lambs average sale price was $206.
The highest selling ewe in the sale was a Polled Dorset entry by Colleen Acres of Osgoode and was sold for $450 to Kenneth S Oakley from Foresters Falls. The highest selling ram was a North Country Cheviot sold by Robert Bell of North Gower for $650 to Doug Stewart from North Augusta.
The sale was not only an opportunity for producers to purchase high quality genetics with performance testing data, it was also a great chance to interact with other producers. Many consignors felt that the contacts made at the event for possible future sales of other breeding stock from home made the event even more meaningful.
SFIP is a performance recording program provided by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) to all sheep producers in Ontario who wish to enroll. Useful as a management tool, SFIP collects, summarizes and makes data on individual animals comparable so that producers have information upon which to base decisions. SFIP was designed to assist Ontario purebred and commercial sheep producers in the evaluation of potential breeding stock. Producers can use the data to improve the genetic merit of their flock, assist them in selecting replacement animals and in monitoring the performance of individual animals within their flock. Anyone interested in enrolment in the Sheep Flock Improvement Program can contact OMAFRA.
Plans are underway by District 10 to host another sale event attracting entries with performance test data. The sale is planned for August 2, 2008. Please contact Gary Lapier at rockyhylandfarm@ripnet.com or 613- 989-2792 for further details.