Shepherds symposium to cover scrapie

COLUMBUS – The 2001 Buckeye Shepherds Symposium held by the Ohio Sheep Improvement Symposium will be Dec. 1 at the Raddisson Columbus Airport.

Billed by the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association as a possible “sheep holiday prior to the busy Christmas season and before lambing season begins” for the entire family, the symposium will be preceded by the annual banquet the evening of Nov. 30.

The symposium will include a program on starting with sheep the right way for those just getting started in the ship business.

There will also be an informational program on scrapie eradication, providing up-to-date information on the requirements of the new USDA regulations. Speakers will include USDA representatives, veterinarians, and the sheep improvement association.

Knowledge College. There will also be a concurrent youth program, the “Sheep Youth Knowledge College.”

Activities will include an educational program in the morning, covering meats, sheep nutrition, reproduction, and health.

And afternoon will be taken up by the sheep industry quiz bowl competition.

Speakers for the rotation series will include OSU meats specialist Henry Zerby; OARDC ruminant nutritionist Francis Fluharty; chair of the OSU department of animal sciences Jim Kinder, and large animal veterinarian Tim Woodard.

The quiz bowl completion will have a junior division for those 13 and under, and a senior division for those 14 to 18. Teams will include three members, and can be formed the morning of the completion. Individuals are also encouraged to participate.

Registration. Registration for the symposium should be postmarked by Nov. 23. Fees are $30 for adults and $29 for students. The Knowledge College fee is $8. A late registration fee of $10 will be charged for on-site registration.

Cost of the annual banquet will be $22 for adults, and $12 for children under 12.

For further information or registration materials contact the sheep improvement association at 614-677-7860.