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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)
