Montana Wool Lab Update...Montana Wool Lab Update Whit Stewart, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Sheep...

Montana Wool Lab UpdateWhit Stewart, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Sheep and Wool Production

Extension Sheep Specialist

New faces in the sheep program at Montana

State University

New Extension Sheep Specialist

• B.S., BYU-Idaho, Ag Education

• M.S., Oregon State University, Sheep Nutrition

• Ph.D., NM State University- TX A&M Research San Angelo

– Ruminant Nutrition, SAMM-Test, Wool Judging Coach

• Montana State University Role:

– Assistant Professor of Sheep and Wool Production

– Extension Sheep Specialist

– Director Montana Wool Lab

Monica EbertWool Lab Manager/Research Associate

• B.S. from Kansas State University in Apparel Design and Marketing

• M.S. from Angelo State University in Animal Science focusing on sheep genetics and wool apparel product development

• Actively involved with the International Wool Textile Organization• Will be Co-Coordinating the Young

Professionals group at the 2016 Congress in Sydney

• Owns ¼ interest in Ebert Sheep Farm near St. George, KS

What’s new in the sheep program and

wool lab?

Ram Sale Sheep SymposiumSeptember 16th, 2015

• Funded “Lets Grow- ASI”• Quantitative Genetic Selection Focus• Interactive Polling Software• 85 Participants from 7 states and Canada• 2016 Program Planned• “Ram Select” Workshop and Symposium

LaserScan Equipment

• Fiber Diameter, SD, CV, Comfort Factor, Curvature

• Increase Efficiency in Preparation and Analysis

• Major Capitol Improvement, owned by Montana Wool Lab

– Funding Partnership:

• MSU Ag Exp. Station Equipment Grant

• Montana Wool Growers

Public and Private Partnership!

Laserscan Technology

Emphasis on Yield• Conducting yield analysis on individual

fleeces• Engineering mobile fleece corer:

• facilitate producer selection strategies for yield improvements

• facilitate research at improving yields

MSU-USDA-ARS Sheep Exp. Station Partnership

Genetic Improvement in U.S. Wool Type Breeds

– Lamb production (prolificacy and lamb survival)

– Wool production and quality

– Lamb growth and carcass merit

– Ewe size (maintenance requirements), fitness and longevity

MSU-TX A&M Research PartnershipWool Education and Research Initiative (NSIIC )

• Quantify hair contamination at processor level

• Implementation of FibreLux instrumentation for selection purposes and wool pool use

• Lifetime wool production research

Ongoing Efforts• Wool Pool Education

• Central Ram Test

• Shearing School

• Wool Selection Strategies with field use of OFDA 2000

• National Sheep Improvement Program Research

– Hiring of Dr. Tom Murphy (Univ. Wisconsin)

• Regional collaboration (UWyo, NDSU, SDSU)

Questions

Additional information:Whit.stewart1@montana.edu; 406.994.3758