Animal Science Sheep Program
ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ has a long history of producing sheep on campus for research, teaching and extension programming.
The ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ Sheep Research and Teaching Unit, located 1.5 miles north of the main campus, maintains a closed ewe flock of 250 commercial Polypay and 125 purebred Hampshire ewes. Lambing seasons include fall (September-October), winter (late January to early March) and May. The current flock manager is Blake Johnson. He has responsibilities for day-to-day management and supervises eight to 10 undergraduate student employees each semester. Rosie Nold is the faculty supervisor for the unit.
Animals from the Sheep Unit are utilized in a wide range of teaching, research and extension programming activities. The ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ Hampshire flock is the oldest registered flock in the U.S. with continuous registration dating back to 1898. Since 2007, this group has been enrolled in the National Sheep Improvement Program.
Dates: October 25-27, 2025
Where: Brookings, South Dakota
Topics covered:
- Professional shearing
- Equipment maintenance and repair
- Wool handling and preparation
Sponsored by South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, Wool Committee with cooperation from ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ Extension.
