Field Day Focuses on Raising Lambs with Wolves

Compiled By Staff

“Raising Lambs with Wolves” is the theme of the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative’s Eighth Annual Sheep Production Field Day on Saturday, August 4. Dan and Traci Smith of Someday Farm, W13552 Second Avenue, Gleason, will serve as hosts. Registration opens at 8 a.m., with the program beginning at 9 a.m. Advance reservations are due July 30.

Robert C. Willging of USDA Wildlife Services will talk about the status of the timber wolf in Wisconsin, providing an overview of government programs and procedures for reporting losses, plus he will demonstrate predator damage-management tools.

Gina Schrader, conservation associate with Defenders of Wildlife, will present information about the organization’s programs that are available to farmers, landowners and communities to reduce conflicts between wolves and livestock, including support for guard dogs. Defenders of Wildlife is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and habitat and supports the use of non-lethal methods to prevent or reduce livestock losses caused by predators.

Ali Soukup of Sugar River Llamas, Lyndon Station, will present an overview of the success of guard llamas as a means of predator control. She will discuss how to introduce a llama to your flock, basic llama care and what to look for in purchasing a llama that will act as a guard animal.

Following lunch, Hosts Dan and Traci Smith will talk about their farm history and production system, including their use of pasture lambing, rotational grazing and guard dogs. Their presentation will include a pasture walk.

When registered by the July 30 deadline, there is no fee for WSBC-member families or supervised youth groups to attend, and the fee for non-WSBC members is $5. With on-site registration on Aug. 4, the cost is $5 for WSBC members, $8 for supervised youth groups and $10 for non-WSBC members.

To register in advance, send names and addresses of those attending along with a check payable to WSBC to Jill Alf, WSBC Executive Secretary, 7811 Consolidated School Road, Edgerton, WI 53534.

A lunch stand will be available.

For detailed directions to the Smith farm, contact Field Dairy Chairman Bob Leder at 715/752-3459 or rpleder@frontiernet.net.

Source

Field Day Focuses on Raising Lambs With Wolves

Wisconsin Ag Connection

‘Raising Lambs with Wolves’ is the theme of the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative’s Eighth Annual Sheep Production Field Day. The August 4 event takes place at the Dan and Traci Smith of Someday Farm near Gleason.

While there, attendees will hear from Robert Willging of USDA Wildlife Services, who will talk about the status of the timber wolf in Wisconsin, providing an overview of government programs and procedures for reporting losses. Plus he will demonstrate predator damage-management tools.

Gina Schrader, conservation associate with Defenders of Wildlife, will present information about the organization’s programs that are available to farmers, landowners and communities to reduce conflicts between wolves and livestock, including support for guard dogs. And Ali Soukup of Sugar River Llamas, Lyndon Station, will present an overview of the success of guard llamas as a means of predator control.

Following lunch, Hosts Dan and Traci Smith will talk about their farm history and production system, including their use of pasture lambing, rotational grazing and guard dogs. Their presentation will include a pasture walk.

When registered by the July 30 deadline, there is no fee for WSBC-member families or supervised youth groups to attend, and the fee for non-WSBC members is $5. With on-site registration on August 4, the cost is $5 for WSBC members, $8 for supervised youth groups and $10 for non-WSBC members.

For more information or to register, call 715-752-3459.

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