Productivity improvement has been identified as one of four priorities to the long-term success of the sheep industry

by the U.S. Lamb Industry Roadmap project. The National Sheep Improvement Program has been expanding ever

since the roadmap; increasing the use of quantitative genetic selection throughout the country with now over 400

members. However, genetic selection should be utilized as part of a system-wide approach to improving production

efficiency. Therefore, NSIP can expand its scope/mission to further the industry and fill other voids outlined by the

Roadmap project and industry leaders. The Roadmap project also reported:

• “Producers keenly feel the loss of industry infrastructure-from processing capacity to academic, extension and

research assets”

• “Numerous participants desired greater alignment between commercial producers, seedstock producers,

producers who show animals and club participants-greater coordination can help address the needs for quality and

production improvements industry-wide”.

• “Research results not being fully communicated to producers due to lack of funding”.

Through the efforts of the industry-sponsored re-launch of NSIP in 2014, the program has gained additional exposure

and awareness industry wide. The proposed project takes advantage of this increased awareness of NSIP to better

serve the U.S. sheep industry by cooperating with producers, feeders, packers, American Sheep Industry Association,

American Lamb Board, National Lamb Feeders Association, academia and industry educators while addressing the void

in research and education efforts offered to the industry, especially in areas with limited or no university or extension

programs. With limited resources for research and producer education, information exchange leading to productivity

improvement needs to be as efficient as possible and an organization to lead the efforts. In the inaugural Sheep

Industry Roundtable meeting, held in Denver in July 2018, the industry identified The National Sheep Improvement

Program as the key organization in facilitating producer education, coordinating outreach and research efforts and

taking a whole-systems approach to productivity improvement in the U.S. sheep industry. This project has been

designed to work in conjunction with the efforts of ASI and ALB to streamline producer education and allow NSIP to

provide the most efficient/comprehensive service possible to the industry.

 

Final Report

National Sheep Industry Improvement Center

NSIP Update

July 2020

 

The National Sheep Improvement Program has been very fortunate to receive support from the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center and has been integral to the success of the NSIP.  This funding has allowed NSIP to be forefront in genetic selection for productivity improvement for the U.S. sheep industry.  This project has focused on continuing our efforts in industry education featuring the benefits of quantitative genetic selection.  The support from NSIIC has allowed the NSIP program director conduct educational events in Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.  More than 2,000 producers have been able to learn about the benefits of using EBVs in genetic selection, which has increased enrollment into NSIP as well as increased the demand for breeding stock selected for productivity improvement using the technology.  Additionally, funding from the NSIIC has allowed NSIP to secure additional funding from industry sources to expand the educational and outreach missions of NSIP. 

 

In addition to the educational efforts throughout the country, the NSIP has developed new tools to expand the impacts of genetic selection.  A bi-monthly webinar series has been developed to reach a broader audience in a more cost-efficient manner for educational purposes.  The NSIP also designed and implemented an online searchable database allowing producers to filter through the vast amounts of data to select breeding stock that meets their specific production needs.  These tools are developed to keep genetic selection on the forefront of producers’ advancements and assure NSIP is continuing to innovate new ways to serve the industry.  These innovations would not be possible without the support of the NSIIC. 

 

The increased educational efforts and technology development have led to a measurable increased demand for breeding stock selected for productivity improvement via NSIP.  This increased demand is evidenced by the need for NSIP to develop a second sheep sale, taking place annually, in August in Wooster, Ohio.  This sale is in addition to the long-standing Center of the Nation NSIP Sale in Spencer, Iowa.  Hosting the sale in Ohio expands the geographic reach of the NSIP and provides an additional approximate 100 rams per year to the commercial sheep sector.  Moreover, NSIP continues to receive requests for online sales, which are being developed for the 2020 marketing year.  Again, this increased demand is a direct result of the educational efforts made possible by support from the NSIIC. 

 

Prior to the re-launch of NSIP in 2014, the NSIP has 120 members enrolled.  Through the support from NSIIC, ASI and ALB, there are currently more than 500 members in NSIP and growing by an average of 6 new members per month.   Further, genetic selection continues to be identified as a major key to advancing the U.S. sheep industry by all major industry organizations.  Therefore, the membership in NSIP is expected to expand at an increased rate due to this additional call to action.  This growth allows NSIP to fulfill its goal of providing the industry with quantitative genetic analysis to improve productivity to the U.S. sheep industry. 

 

The support of NSIP by the NSIIC has been integral for the expansion of the program and service to the industry.  The program is extremely grateful for the faith the industry has placed in NSIP to improve production efficiency through genetic selection and for the support in order to do so.  These advancements are a direct effect of the support from the NSIIC and would not have been possible were it not for that financial assistance.  We strive utilize the funding in the most efficient way and to have the most productive industry impact possible.