All about sheep

Bethany J. Royer Originally published Nov. 2012 ACRES edition PIQUA Make no bahs about it, raising sheep is big business. Facts provided by the American Sheep Industry Association states there are more than .! mi""ion head o# sheep being raised on $%,&&& #arms and ranches across the United States. 'hi"e many (ou"d assume sheep serve the dua")purpose o# both meat and (oo", (ith production a"so #or mi"k and cheese. *heir use and use#u"ness does not stop there, as sheep are being hera"ded #or creating hea"thier "andscapes via their abi"ity to digest to+ic vegetation, thus o##ering a natura" method o# eradicating nuisance (eeds. *heir gra,ing habits seen as a potentia" reso"ution to pub"ic-commercia" spaces that bene#it both (i"d"i#e and the (a""et. A"so, their manure is used #or #erti"i,er, (hi"e bones, horns and hooves are used #or a p"ethora o# products inc"uding syringes, buttons, adhesives, even shampoo. *he #ats and #atty acids #or cosmetics, dish soap, and tires. .ide and (oo" #or paint, upho"stery, and insu"ation. 'hi"e a"" states raise sheep most are (est o# the Mississippi river. /et, 0hio ranks %!th in sheep tota"s, (ith the "oca" Miami 1ounty Sheep Improvement Association (orking to educate, promote and encourage invo"vement in the industry. 0ne that has seen an in#"u+, both in popu"arity and in the market, throughout the years and according to the economy. Participation in the Association has e2ua""y #"unctuated over the years according to sheep popu"arity as goats are current"y on the trend. 3i"" 'right, secretary-treasurer o# the Miami 1ounty Sheep Improvement Association #or the "ast $ years, gracious"y spoke on beha"# o# the group and their endeavors, beginning (ith the constitution by"a(s o# promotion and education. *hese are shared through "oca" sho(s and #ormer"y (ith participation in such #unctions as the Pi2ua .eritage Festiva" and *roy Stra(berry Festiva", (ith educationa" in#ormation popu"ar"y served through the Miami 1ounty Fair. It is the "atter (here the Association a"so promotes their 4amb and 'oo" Queen, (ith Meagan Mc5inney, daughter o# 6yan Mc5inney and Ange"a 7i"ts, cro(ned at this year8s Miami 1ounty Fair.

Sho(s, (here participants (i"" purchase a "amb through a Miami 1ounty Sheep Improvement Association member breeder or county)"ocated breeder, serve many purposes beyond education. *hey a"so o##er the opportunity o# #ive cash payouts, a trave"ing trophy and a director8s chair. Promoting nine to %& di##erent breeds in the county, 'right e+p"ained the Association8s numerous a##i"iations that inc"udes the state Association and ties through "oca" members in their breed)speci#ic re"ated organi,ations. *hey a"so have c"ose contact (ith the county e+tension o##ice, and parpticipate in "oca" pro9ects, their most current is a #resh coat o# paint at the south sheep barn at the #airgrounds, (ith members he"ping to re)set the pens. *he group is a"so (orking to revive a "amb camp to he"p kids "earn more about sho(ing. :It8s nice #or them to "earn about the di##erent ru"es,; said 'right, (ith #ormer camps he"d at the #airgrounds, and the hope to ho"d #uture camps at #e""o( Association members8 homes #or a more hands)on e+perience. According to the 0hio State <+tension o##ice, Miami 1ounty producers raised =,!== sheep and "ambs during the year =&&=. 'hich means #or those interested in the (ide)e+panse o# sheep raising that o##ers everything #rom an eco"ogica" perspective, to (oo" and meat, the Miami 1ounty Sheep Improvement Association is a great p"ace to start. *heir meetings are he"d at > p.m., the third *hursday o# every other month, at the #airgrounds (ith the ne+t meeting s"ated #or ?ovember. :'e8d "ove to have ne( members,; said 'right (ho states the group sees a "arge diversity o# members, #rom a"" (a"ks o# "i#e, ages and covering both marketing and breeding. *he Miami 1ounty Sheep Improvement Association is open to residents o# Miami 1ounty.