Sheep Heritage Scholarship Goes to W.V. Alum (Again)
Hannah Teddleton became the second straight West Virginia University graduate to receive the Sheep Heritage Foundation Scholarship when she was selected by a review committee earlier this month.
The $3,000 scholarship is administered by the American Sheep Industry Association, and an extremely competitive field of more than 20 applicants made for a difficult selection process this year.
Teddleton follows in the footsteps of former WVU lab partner Kelsey Bentley, who won the scholarship a year ago and was recently appointed as an assistant professor for sustainable small ruminant production at Kansas State University.
“She was one of the first people I called when I found out,” said Teddleton, who started her journey in higher education studying sheep nutrition and immunity at Chico State University in her home state of California. “We worked pretty closely together in West Virgina.”
Teddleton has moved on, as well. After completing her master’s degree at WVU, she’s now pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee – a school that isn’t exactly known for sheep research.
“Tennessee offers me the chance to really build a sheep program at the university and to bring a focus on the sheep industry to the school,” said Teddleton, who will work under the guidance of Elizabeth Shepherd, Ph.D., as she pursues her doctoral degree.
Teddleton’s research – both past and present – is focused on sheep immune systems while specifically looking at the differences between the parasite-resistant St. Croix and parasite-susceptible Suffolk breeds.
“By investigating resistance mechanisms involved in early immunological recognition, we will be able to identify genetic markers and pathways leading to overall improved animal health,” Teddleton wrote in her application for the scholarship. “While a ‘marker’ in what drives immunity is largely unknown, identification of the epithelial microenvironment of parasite resistant sheep may allow us to develop tools for better management through genetics, and advance treatments for susceptible animals by modulating the immune system.”
Teddleton expects to complete her Ph.D. in the spring of 2027.
ALB, ASI Exhibit at Solar Farm Summit
The American Lamb Board co-sponsored an exhibit with the American Sheep Industry Association at the Solar Farm Summit in Chicago on July 8-10. The Solar Farm Summit is a conference and expo focused on dual-use projects connecting solar power and agricultural production.
ALB joined more than 70 exhibitors at this event, which aims to create dual-use land opportunities by pairing solar power development with agricultural production or agrivoltaics.
At the event, ALB shared literature showcasing land stewardship provided by shepherds and their families who graze American pastures to enhance landscapes, improve habitat and support wildfire prevention.
The new promotional piece reads:
- Stewards of the Land
Before it reaches your plate, American lamb is raised by shepherds and their families with thoughtful grazing that provides a wholesome diet for the animals and a cost-effective solution for natural land management. These family farmers and ranchers are passionate about providing you with high-quality food and fiber in a way that sustains the industry, supports our communities, and preserves our land and resources for future generations.
- Sheep are amazingly sustainable animals
They help boost the health, productivity and biodiversity of American pastures by enhancing landscapes, improving habitat and supporting wildfire prevention. Grazing even positively contributes to the sustainability of other agriculture industries.
Check out the short video, Stewards of the Land, for more information about the benefits of sheep grazing.
In addition, ALB Sustainability Director Camren Maierle, Ph.D., spoke at the conference. He addressed conference attendees to promote the ALB Targeted Grazing Workshops. The three-day intensives educate sheep producers on vegetation management for solar arrays, vineyards and fire suppression.
The Solar Farm Summit attracted hundreds of attendees from all areas of the industry.
Click Here for more information on this event.
Source: ALB
Australian Wool Market Remains Unchanged
The Australian wool market had an up-and-down series with a soft start followed by a strong finish that combined for an overall unchanged result in the benchmark AWEX Eastern Market Indicator.
With only Sydney and Melbourne in operation this week, the national offering fell to 27,519 bales. Season to date there have been 13,051 more bales offered compared to last season, however, this figure is misleading. Historically there would be no sales held in Week 3 as the mid-year recess had traditionally begun. The addition of extra sales in July is bolstering early-season offering figures.
Buyer sentiment was again cautious from the start of the first day and while market movements varied, the overall trend was lower. The EMI dropped 3 cents for the day. This was the ninth selling day in a row the EMI recorded a negative result. This was the longest downward run in the EMI since October 2020 (12 selling days). The EMI dipped to 1,104 cents, the lowest the EMI has also been since October 2020.
The second selling day was in complete contrast to the first as buyer sentiment was positive and the widespread competition pushed prices higher. By day’s end, the individual Micron Price Guides had risen by between 2 and 46 cents. The EMI ended its downward daily run, posting a 3-cent rise for the day. Weakness in the other sectors prevented a larger daily rise. The EMI closed the day and the series at 1,107 Australian cents, unchanged for the series.
The passed-in rate was 8.3 percent – 5.2 percent lower than the previous week. An overall clearance rate of more than 90 percent shows the willingness of most sellers to meet the current market.
Fremantle returns next week for what will be the final selling series before the annual three-week mid-year recess. Currently, there are 33,564 bales on offer.
Source: AWEX
SDSU Program Designed for Beginning Producers
South Dakota State University Extension’s Elevate Ewe program is designed for beginning sheep producers who want to develop or improve a full or part-time sheep operation. Participation in Elevate Ewe is a great opportunity to increase knowledge of all aspects of the sheep industry and improve skills needed to be successful shepherds.
The program is open to people with 10 years or less of management experience in sheep production, and the deadline to apply is Aug. 30. If not currently involved in sheep production, participants must show a strong desire to manage a sheep operation in the future. The program will run from September 2024 through August 2025.
Program delivery will feature a combination of workshops, webinars, hands-on field days and networking opportunities. Throughout the course, participants can expect to receive hands-on experience working with sheep and a step-through process of developing a personalized business management plan. Whether a participant has 10 or thousands of sheep, this course is designed to help mitigate risk and increase overall success in raising sheep. Participants can also expect additional assistance through personalized, one-on-one consultation visits to their own operation.
Click Here to learn more.
Source: SDSU Extension
APHIS Offers Tips to Reduce Spread of Disease
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued two fact sheets for reducing the spread of Influenza A during fairs and exhibitions. One fact sheet is geared toward event organizers, while the second caters to fair exhibitors.
Click Here for the fact sheet for organizers.
Click Here for the fact sheet for exhibitors.
Source: USDA/APHIS
Photo Contest Deadline Approaching
The deadline to enter the 2024 American Sheep Industry Association Photo Contest is less than two weeks away. Entries must be in the ASI office – by email or mail – by 5 p.m. mountain time on Thursday, Aug. 1.
Rules and prizes for the contest are the same as previous years. Photographs entered in the contest will be judged on clarity, content, composition and appeal. More than $1,000 will be awarded, with prizes of $125 going to the first-place photographer in each of the five categories listed below; $75 for the runner-up in each category; and a $50 prize for third place in each of the five categories.
The five categories in this year’s contest are:
- Shepherd/Shepherdess – Photographs of producers, shepherds or others working with sheep.
- Scenic (East) – Photographs of sheep outdoors located east of the Mississippi River. Photos entered in this category cannot include people.
- Scenic (West) – Photographs of sheep outdoors located west of the Mississippi River. Photos entered in this category cannot include people.
- Working Dogs and Protection Animals – Photographs in this category should show herding dogs, livestock guardian dogs or any other livestock protection animal in their natural environments. Photos must also include sheep in some fashion as proof that these truly are working animals.
- Open – Photographs with subject matter that does not fall into the four above-listed categories.
The following needs to be included with each submission: title of photo; category (from the five listed above) into which it is being entered; photographer’s name; mailing address; phone number; email address; and approximate location/date of photo. If there is a particular story that goes with the photo, please include that, as well, with the entry.
Entries should be emailed to Sheep Industry News Editor Kyle Partain at [email protected] with the subject line of ASI Photo Contest. Those mailing photos should send them to ASI, Attn: Photo Contest, 9785 Maroon Circle, Suite 360, Englewood, CO 80112.
Click Here for complete rules of the contest.