The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

North Central Montana Sheep Seminar in Conrad

Front Range Wool Pool President Pete Cornell is inviting Chouteau County sheep producers and 4-H youth to attend the North Central Montana Sheep Seminar in Conrad on December 8, 2015. The event will begin at the Moose Lodge around 1:00 with registration. Seminars will begin at 1:30 with sheep industry updates and a survey by the new MSU Extension sheep specialist. Other presentations include grazing alfalfa aftermath and alternate forages, the basics of intensive grazing, feedlot on fields, new supplements for stubble grazing and a report from Wildlife Services. A pot luck supper will follow at 5:15. The evening will conclude with a Front Range Wool Pool Meeting.

Presenters include Dr. Whit Stewart (MSU Extension Sheep specialist), Monica Ebert (Wool Lab Director), Emily Glunk (MSU Forage Specialist), Shaelyn Meyer (MSU Extension Pondera County Agent), Devon Ragen (MSU Animal Science Research Associate), Lisa Surber (Westfeeds), Mike Hoggan (Wildlife Services) and Kraig Glazier (Wildlife Services).

Handling Calving Difficulties Workshop in Big Timber

A handling calving difficulties workshop presented by Dr. Robert Mortimer will take place in Big Timber on December 15. Please contact the Sweet Grass County Extension office at 406-932-5146 for further information. Additional workshops are being offered in Drummond (406-859-3304) on December 14, Miles City (406-874-3370) on December 16, and Baker (406-778-7110) on December 17. Please contact the respective Extension office for further information.

Dr. Mortimer was born and raised on a cow/calf operation in southeastern Idaho. He received a BS degree in Animal Science from Texas A&M University and later completed both MS and DVM at Colorado State University. After graduation, Dr. Mortimer practiced in a mixed practice in in northern Idaho before joining the Food Animal Section at Colorado State University in 1981. During his 32 years of teaching, Dr. Mortimer maintained a teaching program that strongly emphasized hands on experience in calving management, pregnancy evaluation, male reproduction, nutrition, and production management. During this time, Dr. Mortimer produced a video on “How to Save More Calves at Calving” which will be available in DVD at the workshop. Since retiring, he still practices, consults, and gives presentations to various segments of the livestock industry.

The emphasis of this presentation will be on “Handling Calving Difficulty” with emphasis on decision making and the “Hows” and “Whys” of techniques of providing assistance.

Livestock management questions can be answered by contacting Chouteau County Extension at 622-3751. Please don’t hesitate to stop in and say hello. We are located in the Courthouse basement.

Montana State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Montana Counties Cooperating. MSU Extension is an equal opportunity/affirmative action provider of educational outreach.