Texas Sheep and Goat Expo sets performance-oriented sheep, goat sale

Producers should consider consignments now for Aug. 18 event

Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu

Contact: Dr. Reid Redden, 325-653-4576, reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu

SAN ANGELO – Plans are being made to conduct a second performance-oriented sheep and goat sale Aug. 18 immediately after the Texas Sheep and Goat Expo, organizers said.

The expo, conducted by Texas A&M AgriLife, is billed as the state’s premier sheep and goat educational event, and is set Aug. 17-18 at the First Community Spur Arena in San Angelo, organizers said. The sale will conclude the expo and is tentatively set for 4 p.m.

New this year to the sale, which is open to any performance-tested sheep or goat breed, is the option for breeders to consign ewe lambs or yearlings in addition to consigning rams, said Dr. Reid Redden, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service state sheep and goat specialist at San Angelo.  

“August seems a long way off, but producers should start making plans soon for the animals they intend to consign, as it takes time to collect the data,” he said. “This is a performance-based sale designed to increase the awareness and understanding of genetic selection via performance testing.”  

Redden said the sale is open to rams from centralized tests and animals with estimated breeding values, or EBVs, through the National Sheep Improvement Program. He said there also may be exceptions made for breeders using other forms of approved on-farm performance testing.

“The primary goal of the sale is to promote awareness of performance testing, as it is a proven method to improve the genetic potential of livestock, especially for hard-to-measure traits, such as reproductive rate and parasite resistance,” he said.

“We felt last year’s sale was a success, given it was a first-time offering promoting new technology. Rams with above average EBVs sold at a $300 premium or $1,000 versus $700, and all the rams with above average EBVs sold.”

The sale committee comprised of Redden, Robbie Eckhoff, Rambouillet Sheep Breeders Association executive secretary from Hawley; Brad Roeder and Tom Guthrie, AgriLife Extension agents in Gillespie and Mill counties, respectively; and Jake Thorne, Texas A&M AgriLife Research farms manager at San Angelo will set the official rules for the sale in coming weeks.

Redden advised those considering consigning animals to contact him as soon as possible as there will be a limited number of breeders and consignments allowed. Contact him at 325-653-4576 or reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu .

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