Sheep Stuff Ewe Should Know

Cheatgrass is an invasive annual grass that threatens millions of acres of grazing land and habitat in the western US. Dan talks with Idaho sheep rancher Riley Kowitz and Boise State researcher Dr. Kelly Hopping about a collaborative research project in Idaho that is proving that targeted grazing with sheep can be part of the solution!

After successfully avoiding talking about the biggest challenge facing the California sheep ranchers, Ryan and Dan dive into AB1066 and the challenges the interpretation of that law has created. Lots of generalizations for an extremely complex issue, we hope it gets some good conversations going

Ryan and Rosie recorded 12/13/24 about emerging diseases, outbreaks, investigations, and responses (appropriate or otherwise). Since this recording new developments may have come to light. Seek guidance from your local sources. Other notes: 1. During this episode we use the aviation industry and its black box mindset as an example of an industry that is able to use data and field reports to inform changes to minimize accidents. Accidents still happen. For anyone affected by the recent flight incidents we give you our most sincere condolences. 2. It wasn't made super clear in this dialogue as to how the NAHMS samples would be used in any reporting related to the FSIS. The NAHMS samples will be used as was described in the consent forms. NAHMS is a statistical service that provides clinically relevant information to aid in decision making by producers, industry, and academics. The organisms and testing methods vary greatly between these various studies. As always, thanks so much for listening! ~Rosie, Dan, and Ryan

Ryan and Dan recorded 11-15-24

Ryan and Dr. Rosie (recorded in early November) talk about lambing and how raising orphan lambs has changed over the years at Emigh Livestock.

Dan and Rosie update each other on their lives inside and outside the sheep world. Dan asks Rosie to help discuss some changes he's considering within his own operation.

Ryan and Dan talk sheep stuff

"Wool is the greatest thing ever and it's a miracle what it can do." Ryan and Rosie dedicate another episode to celebrate the craftsmanship and artistry that allows us to use wool for so many of it's miraculous qualities. It's not all about knitting, I promise!

Dr. Rosie Busch and Dan Macon have there minds blown by this fun conversation with Dr. Payam Vahmani. Did you ever wonder how what our livestock eat changes the flavor or health of the meat or milk they produce? Then this is your episode...

Dan Macon talks with special guest, Danielle Duni, from the Climate Beneficial Fiber Partnership about the benefits of sheep on our incredibly diverse landscapes. After listening if you’d like to learn more about how you can enjoy a premium for your wool for land stewardship practices you are doing go to https://fiberpartnership.ncat.org

Dan and Ryan talk about financing and the importance of cash management, especially in a high interest rate environment. Don’t take a loan you can pay back and when in doubt stick with cash.

Did you ever watch Bones and think, “I could do that!” Dan and Dr. Rosie Busch talk about the importance of an investigation of what type of predator may be impacting your flock and how those impacts may be measured.

Dan talks with UC Davis range management specialist Dr. Leslie Roche about restoring native plants using sheep! And about the flexibility small ruminants can provide for modern ranching operations.

Dr. Rosie Busch catches up with Dr. Natalie Urie, the Sheep and Goat Study Lead for the National Animal Health Monitoring System at USDA. The 2024 National Sheep Study is underway. How are these studies developed and what are they used for? Join us for this short chat.

Dan and Ryan chat about the long absence and how to deal with change. We appreciate all the listeners

Ryan Mahoney and Dr. Rosie Busch catch up after a busy lambing season. How is success measured? Any noticeable difference? [Dr. Busch mentions at one point that she thinks of thiamine deficiency with animals that have a rumen since the thiamine is produced by rumen microbes. While that is true, pre-ruminants (young calves, lambs, and kids) need thiamine from their milk diet. If lambs aren’t eating enough they can absolutely show signs of thiamine deficiency!] Always learning something…

Rosie makes a visit to Ryan’s lambing camp and record a podcast. We cover how lambing’s going and Dr Busch has some advice for helping sick young lambs

Dan and Ryan catch up in person the th Bruin ranch bull sale and talk bull buying strategy and how it relates to sourcing rams. Fresno State alum and expert herdsman Justin Davis makes a guest appearance too

Ryan and Dan banter about covering all the time that’s past since we last recorded! Great to be back

Two in one week!! Dr. Rosie Busch had the great opportunity to guest host for the ASI Research Update podcast. Don’t miss it! We talk with Dr. Christie Mayo and Dr. Molly Carpenter about their works and incredible collaborations to help us better understand the complexities of the virus-vector-host interface!! So wild.

A lot of life, travels, business, and discovery has happened in these many months in between. Ryan and Rosie catch up. It’s been a while. We talk about a little of it and lots about sheep stuff! We’ve missed you all.

Ryan and his son Connor visit with 2023 shearing champ Chad Furlong about shearing and farming in Roseburg, OR where the sheep industry is thriving.

Cat Urbigkit is an author and photographer based in Wyoming. In addition to her career as a newspaper reporter, Urbigkit became a full-time book author in 2005. She’s been a devoted reader, writer, and library user since she was in third grade. Cat continues to write books and report for various news outlets. The author lives on a working sheep ranch in western Wyoming with her family and her livestock guardian animals, including guardian dogs and burros. Urbigkit shares the beauty of rural life through her nonfiction books for children. Her books have received honors from the International Reading Association, Junior Library Guild, National Science Teachers Association, Society of School Librarians International, and numerous state reading associations. In her nonfiction books for adults, Urbigkit often writes about big predators, and life on western rangelands shared by these species. http://paradisesheep.com/index.html https://www.facebook.com/cat.urbigkit

Didn’t Ryan say his grandpa always said to “plan for the unexpected”? Dan Macon and Dr. Rosie Busch catch up about life and how communities respond and step up when the unexpected happens.

Dr. Rosie Busch has sooooo many questions when it comes to the topic of sustainability. We’ve touched on this topic before, but in this episode Rosie gets to ask all of her burning questions to Dr. Sara Place with CSU and AgNext, one of the top researchers in her field.

Rosie and Ryan sit down with Dr Allen Pettey of UC Davis and walk through nutrition basics and then walk into the great unknown of attempting to balance vitamins and minerals in an ever changing grass systems. So much information packed into this hour chat. Happy Ash Wednesday

If you have a structure for lambing all ewes, just ewes and lambs that need some TLC, or you’re in the dreaming/planning stage, this is a great episode for you. Ryan Mahoney and Dr. Rosie Busch talk about their favorite features of lambing facilities.

Ryan catches up with Angus Underground podcast star and SSESK friend Joe Fischer. Joe quiz’s Ryan about weaning and where is seasonal grasses are and Ryan learns how to read and graze in trees.   The conversation then jumps into an excellently inspiring bit about working with people and building relationships. Enjoy 

It’s still raining in California! Wow! This is amazing. Dan and Dr. Rosie Busch talk about how it impacts our animals and the difficult conversations we may need to have with our peers.

The first episode of 2023. It’s amazing. It’s raining in California! Ryan Mahoney and Dr. Rosie Busch talk all things weather and water especially. 😁 Thanks for being a listener. Let us know what you want to hear.

Dr Busch, Dan, and Ryan sit down and answer your questions

Dan joins UC Cooperative Extension wildlife experts Dr. Carolyn Whitesell and Breanna Martinico to talk about all things critters - predators, beneficial (and potentially problematic) birds, and livestock protection tools.

Ryan and Dan get caught up and talk about the unspoken rules of ranches

Dan and Dr. Busch reminisce over various feasts they’ve prepared. Discussing different cooking methods and favorite cuts of lamb. Then they talk briefly about difficult but very real impacts of predators on flock behavior and performance. New research idea? I think so!!

Don’t they say the one thing that is constant is that everything is always changing? Today Ryan and Dr. Rosie Busch talk about how this year looks different from last year. How does that impact our ability to measure environmental impacts on a large scale?

All you would ever want to know about foot rot and foot health in your sheep. Dr Busch helps Ryan understand footrot through this episode. We hope it helps you too.

Dan Macon and Dr. Rosie Busch talk about how important and challenging it can be to balance such a small part of a ruminant diet… trace minerals.

Ryan Mahoney and Dr. Rosie Busch have a casual conversation about conspiracy theories, cultural norms, and lots of random stuff. Rosie has had way too much time traveling alone and has been thinking a lot about the incredible unique qualities of the places and people she gets to work with. What did you take away from this conversation?

Ryan and Dan talk about flushing ewes and what affects it has on a lamb crop. Then they discuss what we’re the causes of Ryan’s early lamp crop and when/if he should make changes to the breeding program.

Dr Busch and Ryan sit down in the lambing barn and discuss a variety of things Ryan has seen over his lambing season. We were planning on posting this next week but due to popular demand(Mr Blakeman) here you go!

Dan and Ryan get caught up about all sorts of ranch and farm things. Even some important sheep things ewe should know. Ryan’s starting lambing so he talks about it a lot. And Dan makes obscure rock-n-roll references…

In todays world less than 2% of the population are involved with agriculture. So just imagine the fraction of a percent involved with raising sheep lamb or wool. Many large commodities connect with the consumer and tell their story with the help of marketing programs. Ryan and Dr. Rosie Busch talk about the benefits of these program and ways to ease the burden on small producers considering certification of their flock.

Dan Macon (much like Alice) daringly and inquisitively follows Dr. Busch (like the white rabbit always running late) down the chaotic rabbit hole of vaccine technology, immune responses, and availability in the US. It’s quite a tale.

After a lively herd check of the Emigh Livestock ewes and super speedy OPP sampling (seriously) Ryan decides it would be a great idea to be outnumbered by UC Davis SVM alumni. Meet the new Mill Station Vet associate, Dr. Katie McFarren, and enjoy the stories of Dr. Jason Bravos.

Dan and Ryan discuss the current negative market conditions. During last years markets record highs, we all knew they would come down. Now that they have, we are wondering why. They could have gone deeper and left a lot unsaid, but they discussed some key points we all should consider.

Rosie and Dan catch up on the California Wool Growers annual meeting and take a deep dive into EID technology

Ryan and Dr. Rosie Busch talk about what Ryan learned at the wool mill in North Carolina! Then we go down a major rabbit hole of the value of American wool to the infrastructure and the hard working people that make it happen. Enjoy

Ryan visits with Sam Kennedy of Columbia TN, and they talk about Sam’s family legacy and how he’s using sheep to rejuvenate and rebuild his family’s farm.

Dr. Rosie Busch and Dan Macon talk about ways to learn from your experiences, both successes and failures, and build a full story for what may have happened. Feild necropsies, the ultimate diagnostic test, may be a useful tool to add to your strategies for capturing information.

Ryan and Dan talk goals, goal setting, and how to not overachieve. Enjoy