August 9 and 10 sheep conference in Rycroft with BBQ

Peace Country Sheep Conference

August 9th and 10th, 2013 Rycroft Ag Building.

Start at 1 pm on April 9 with registry.

Mark your calendars and plan to attend!!!

Camping available.

Aug 9th/ Blair Dow from Lakeland College.

Blair will be covering picking breeding stock, showmanship and judging.

At the end of the day there will a BBQ and social evening.

Aug 10th/ Dr. Kathy Parker of Three Hills.

Kathy is a well-known Veterinarian and sheep producer. She will be covering flock production, health and challenges facing today producers.

Lunch will be served.

This two day conference is to help educate, promote, and expand the sheep industry in Northern Alberta and British Columbia. We plan to make this an annual event to reach out to: 4-H’rs, Beginner Sheep Farmers, Future Farmers, 4-H Leaders, Established Producers and Farmers, Potential Judges, and anyone who has an interest in Sheep!!

For more information and registration. Please call:



Sherry Mortland 780-864-3057 or Dawn Pedersen 780-500-0125 Sponsored by PEACE RIVER LAMB ASSOCIATION

Winter shear.
It is proven that ewes who have been shorn 6 weeks before lambing produce bigger and stronger lambs. People that have the opportunity to lamb sheep in a heat controlled barn could consider shearing the ewes before lambing. essential is that the animals can be out of the weather elements after shearing. The whole metabolism of the ewe needs to adjust to the fact that there is no wool on her. They will eat significantly more and therefore have better nutritional condition  at lambing time.

It is important that you can have the sheep indoors day and night after shearing. so make a good plan before jumping into action

please check the classified for a shearer that will be in the area this month if you are interested.

There is a shearing school going in march check out the classified again. learn to shear your own sheep. 

New years wishes from the chair. 

I want to wish every sheep farmer a prosperous 2013. Sheep farming has been in the picture for a few years now. lots of people look at us and think we are making a killing with the prices the way they were last spring. reality is however that most sheep farmer are trying to overcome lots of challenges. out of season breeding to hit the right market, prepare ewes for the lactation with the right feed ration, raise and feed lambs to sell, transport those lambs to the often remote selling points.

It is good to know that different initiatives are available to help our producers with this. ALP and PRLA are going to put up training courses again this year. we managed to get some of the training in the Peace country. The sheepbite program is available to calculate rations, we are going to get the auction at Dawson Creek going again.  there will be a slaughter facility specialised in killing sheep and goat available for who wants to do farm gate sales.

So to all of you a prosperous and healthy 2013. 

If you have any feed back, let me know.

Eric