In today's continuously growing technological market, we need our presence felt to increase awareness of our breed and demand for our animals!  So, your association has been at work on several new projects.  One of which is a new web site, which makes it easier for users to find us on the World Wide Web.  We are currently working on the site and continuously updating and adding new features.  

The new site comes with its own web address www.saskkatahdinsheep.com information about the Katahdin breed and the SKSA, a Director's list, a current membership list, newsletters, a classified advertising page and numerous other features that can be implemented.  Along with this site, all current paid SKSA members have the option to set up their own personal web page!  So, take a moment and have a look at our new site, I'm sure you will see some vast improvements!

If you have any questions call:
Janette Mish at 306-429-2221 (jmish@sk.sympatico.ca) or Bryant van Kuik at 306-947-2429 (bryant.lynette@sk.sympatico.ca) and we will get your site up and running!

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Happy New Year!!!  January 2002!  I should actually write that 20 times, and maybe I would remember that it is the year 2002, and not 2001 as I have been writing on several cheques sent out today....hopefully the bank will overlook it, surely I can't be the only one behind the 'times'.  Anyway, it is the start of a new year with wonderful new and optimistic changes in the air.  Those of you who took advantage of the low prices in sheep and increased their flocks should be pleasantly surprised with what the new year brings....prices are on their way up, marketing opportunities are unfolding, interest is continuing to increase, and our sheep never looked better.  It is indeed a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Now that we are all energized, I would like to offer you a wonderful opportunity to get involved in the SKSA...becoming the new editor for this newsletter.  Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed the experience.  This is the start of the my 4th year and honestly, it has gone by fast.  Unfortunately, for various reasons I have recently missed too many important SKSA meetings and events - including Agribition.  Although, the executive forwards pertinent information to me, I feel the newsletter editor could and should add more that what I have been able to give.  Hopefully, one of you is eagerly awaiting the challenge....Thank you for the opportunity and support you have given me...it has been appreciated....see you around!

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Classified Advertising is now free to SKSA members.

When submitting information by fax....be advised that it does not always reproduce logos adequately enough for publication.  If you can, please mail logos.

Please send payment for advertising to the treasurer:
Terry Shackleton
Box 463
Kipling, SK
S0G 2S0

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Membership fees are used for the following purposes:

• To send information packages to prospective Katahdin buyers.  This package consists of the latest membership list, promo material, and a complimentary newsletter.
• To pay for the printing and distribution of a quarterly newsletter.  At present, Carol Cairns is the newsletter co-ordinator.
• We bring the taste of Katahdin to potential customers through promos in stores and trade fairs.
• Promote breeding stock through booths at trade fairs, giving the opportunity to view first rate Katahdins and talk to Katahdin owners.

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The SKSA board of directors have been very busy during 2001.  We have restructured our organization and our mission statement is to represent our membership and promote the Katahdin sheep industry.  Through ambitious and innovative teamwork, we aim to provide uniform, consistent quality animals to exhibit our exemplary meat product and develop a dynamic and profitable specialty meat to ensure the long term viability of the industry.

For our industry to successfully fulfill its mission we have restreuctured our board.  Our organizational structure is exemplified by the Hub & Scope model.  All members of the board work in conjunction with one another but the president oversees all aspects of the operation.

We have been working on different options for marketing our lambs.  We were very excited about a Japanese market we though we had and worked with Specialty Meats in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (our contact with Japan).  Unfortunately we were not successful and so we are now focusing on another potential market.

Tom Porter, a consultant who has been working on a proposed Specialty Livestock Slaughter Facility near Saskatoon, SK approached our organization with the name of a national company who is looking for fresh lamb.  At the present time Tom is sending out letters to all hair sheep producers who have memberships with organizations within Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba.  So if you have not received a letter then I hope that the following information will be helpful to you:

"Re:  Katahdin, Dorper and Cross Marketing Opportunity"

Tom writes:  

I am writing to you and to many other hair sheep producers to find and secure fresh lamb for premium markets.  The hair lamb industry has a great opportunity right now to expand into this secure market that I have developed.  I have talked to people in Katahdin sheep associations and to others with Dorper sheep or with Dorper-Katahdin crosses.  They support developing this market because of the premium price and because the supply can be controlled by producers.

Producers are getting $60 cwt for 95 - 110 pound animals - Katahdins often sell for less. If Katahdin and Dorper producers mange their own supply company, then I can get $100 cwt from a marketing and distribution company in Ontario. To start, we need to know how many producers want to and are able to participate. I need to know:

1. How many breeding animals do you have for this premium market? 
2. Are you willing to forward contract (commit to supply on a particular date at a specific price) in order to earn the premium?
3. Do you have good records for an on-farm quality program, for capturing the premium? 

I am seeking your interest and your potential support. Please call me at (306) 241-2117 day or night. As a group we will be able to take control of the supply for lambs and earn more of the marketing margins. 

You can also find on the internet at www.aginfonet.com an article by Kevin Hursh dated November 22nd, 2001 titled (Multi-Species Slaughter Plant for Saskatchewan...)

Our Association has also been in close contact with the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board. We have worked very hard to have a good working relationship as SSDB are recognized by the Saskatchewan government and the government will not duplicate program funding.

The SSDB have been working on the slaughter plant, value added chain as well as the concept of some type of organizational structure (New Generation Co-op). Funding is in place for some of these things so we as an organization (SKSA) would not qualify for funding. We are hoping to be able to participate in all of the above mentioned markets as a sheep industry. 

The SSDB have initiated a steering Committee which I sit on as SKSA representative. This steering committee will be responsible for implementing an organized structure for marketing our sheep.  This structure may take on the form of a New Generation Co-op.  It is my intention to have all sheep marketed through this structure.  It is time that all producers work for a common goal and that is to have this industry move forward in marketing and pricing.  Hiring of a professional marketer is essential for our industry to succeed.

Our 2001 Agribition Show and Sale was great.  Our numbers were down from last year, as were all other breeds at Agribition.  The Show and Sale was very well attended.

We are hoping for lots of snow this winter, as it was very dry and many producers were forced to sell because of lack of hay.

Our association has a new web site www.saskkatahdinsheep.com  Check it out and call Jeff Mish for more information on how you as a SKSA producer can use this site.

Our spring meeting will be during the month of March at Raymore, Saskatchewan, so mark it on your calendar and plan to attend.  This is the time to bring up all those things that you have concerns about.

Our Board of Directors and myself would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Lillian Meekins,
President SKSA

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Our show and sale this year at CWA was on November 20th.  The entries were down due to the foot and mouth scare, as well as the economy.  Brent Brooks from Rosthern was our judge and did a great job!  We had 34 top quality animals shown, 16 of those were sold in our sale.  Prices were satisfactory as we had a few delegates from Mexico bidding on the sale animals.  These individuals were looking for breeding rams and ewes.  They went to several farms and bought some top quality animals for a decent price.  They are very impressed with the breeding stock we have in Saskatchewan, so I suspect we will see them again soon.  We had a very large crowd for our Show and Sale, about 100 spectators.

I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to those who helped organize the show and sale:  Fred Loveridge who did a great job announcing our show and sale.  He was also our liaison person.  Donna & Jim Brunough who helped with marshalling and the presentation of ribbons and awards.  Lillian Meekins who was our ring master.  A big thank you to Terry Shackleton who was our barn boss and organized the sale.  This job requires arriving Friday and not leaving until Tuesday evening.  Terry made many miles those few days he was there getting everything organized and making sure everyone was happy.  He did a great job!  We thank you Terry for your time and effort you put into our show and sale.  Hope to see you there next year.  To anyone else who helped in any way - thank you.

Most of all I would like to thank those dedicated sheep producers who took time out of their busy schedules to participate in our show and sale.  We are very appreciative that you came and hope to see you again next year, especially the girls who travelled from Alberta to attend our show and sale.

The raffle lab this year was donated by Jean & Louis L'Arrivee from Arborfield.  Thank you for your donation.  The ticket sales were $872.00 and the lamb was won by Don Swanson from Birch Hills, SK.  The ewe was a top quality animal that I would loved to have won to add to my flock.

With our entries down we decided not to have an organized social.  Instead, we gathered in the barn and exchanged sheep stories, had a sing song led by Fred Loveridge (he's a good singer and also plays guitar) and dance lessons from Jean & Louis L'Arrivee.  They are very graceful dancers.

Having such a fun and ambitious group of people to work with, I very much enjoyed organizing our show and sale.  Each year we learn by our mistakes and strive to do our best.  If anyone has any suggestions or would like to see changes in our show or sale, please don't hesitate to call myself or any Director.  We would like to hear from you, whether it be good or bad, so we can improve next year.  We are going to need more entries next year for our show, especially if the Mexican buyers come back, so start choosing your winners for our 2002 show and sale.  Hope to see you next year!

2001 Canadian Western Agribition Katahdin Show Results:

• Grand Champion Ewe
  KOMEAL
  Bill & Diane Campbell
  Blindloss, AB
    
• Reserve Grand Champion Ewe
  CCC90L
  Jean & Louis L'Arrivee
  Arborfield, SK
    
• Grand Champion Ram
  CCC31K
  Jean & Louis L'Arrivee
  Arborfield, SK
    
• Reserve Grand Champion Ram:
  LASER
  Bill & Diane Campbell
  Blindloss, AB
    
• Produce of Dam
  Harry & Pat Dirk
  Dunmore, AB
    
• Get of Sire
  Jean & Louis L'Arrivee
  Arborfield, SK
    
• Farm Production (Breeder's Flock):
  Bill & Diane Campbell
  Blindloss, AB
    
• Premium Exhibitor:
  Jean & Louis L'Arrivee
  Arborfield, SK
    
• Premium Breeder:
  Jean & Louis L'Arrivee
  Arborfield, SK

Over 100 people were in attendance for this years show and sale.  Fifteen animals were entered into the Sale with an average selling price of $366.00.  The top selling animals were as follows:

• Top Selling Ewe:
  • Consignor:
    Beaver River Ranch
    Harry & Pat Dirk
    Dunmore, AB
  • Buyer:
    Randy Thomas
    Quinton, SK
  • Amount:
    $ 380.00
      
• Top Selling Ram:
  • Consignor:
    River Valley Katahdins
    Bill & Diane Campbell
    Blindloss, AB
  • Buyer:
    Randy Thomas
    Quinton, SK
  • Amount:
    $ 770.00
    

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We have been working with the SSDB trying to develop some new markets for Katahdins.  Coleen has shipped a number of loads down east to a buyer who is paying a few cents less for Katahdins.  I had a buyer from Ontario who called me and wanted 200 head/month.  Coleen tried to work something out with him, but he wasn't willing to pay a decent price and the freight on 200 head would be too high.

The SKSA had a booth at Premier 2001 and made a few contacts which I have followed up on.  The first was a store owner in Emma Lake.  He would like to try some in the spring.  The second were restaurant owners interested in certain cuts.  So I called Federated Co-op in Saskatoon who are taking one animal per week.  Their problem is they can't get rid of the trim so until we find a buyer for the trim or can come up with some use for it they weren't interested.  The third contact was a company in the United States who makes a dried sausage with a long shelf life.  He asked for information on the Katahdin breed, which I sent.  I haven't been able to get in contact with him yet, I will try again.

Several months ago Lillian and myself received a phone call from Tom Porter who is a consultant based out of Saskatoon.  Some of you may have recently received a letter from him or went to one of his meetings.  The letter has been reprinted under Lillian's report.)  We have been working with Tom to establish a carcass market for Hair Sheep.  As there aren't enough Hair Sheep, traditional sheep will pick up the slack for this market.  Tom needs to know how many breeding ewes you have.  You can contact Tom at 306-241-2117 or feel free to call myself at 306-874-2063 or Lillian at 306-874-5484.  We are hopeful that we will be able to supply the number of animals this company wants.

Good luck with lambing and I hope to see you at our spring meeting.

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Mastitis refers to inflammation of the udder, usually due to infection.  Mastitis can occur at any time.  However, many cases 'smolder' for several weeks or months before 'flaring up' at lambing, weaning or other periods of stress.  One of the first signs is that the ewe appears to be lame on the affected side.

In sudden onset cases, one or both sides of the udder can be swollen, hot and painful.  The milk is often watery or bloody and has a foul odor.  These ewes are usually very sick, with a high fever and not eating.  If left untreated some will go on to die.  In other cases, when mastitis has been ongoing for some time, the udder can be hard, shrunken and cold.  Sometimes gangrenous mastitis can develop causing a portion of the udder turn blue-black, die and fall off.  Often by this point the ewe's breeding value is lost.

Early treatment is most effective.  Once the infection becomes organized and the udder is hard, treatment is more difficult and takes longer.  An antibiotic udder infusion should be combined with a broad-spectrum systemic antibiotic.  The ewe's temperature should be monitored to appreciate the extent of systemic effects i.e. high temperature will often put the ewe off feed.  In cases where the temperature does not drop in response to antibiotics, an anti-inflammatory may also be required.  Length of treatment will depend on response.  Ewes that do not respond well to treatment should be culled.

David Nairn BSA. DVM is part of the Veterinarian Group at:
Mohawk Animal Clinic Ltd.
106 Broadway Ave. S.
Melfort, SK
S0E 1A0
Ph: 306-752-2133

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Easy Marinated Lamb Kabobs

The Agriculture class at our local High School requested an easy recipe for Katahdin Lamb as part of their diversification in Livestock section.  This is what I gave them.  It was a hit with the students, I think you'll enjoy this as well.

• Cubed Lamb
• ½ cup soya sauce
• ½  tsp. garlic powder (to taste)
• Greek spice
• Wooden skewers

Soak skewers in water for 15 minutes.  Cube lamb and trim any excess fat.  Place in plastic or glass container.  Combine soya sauce and garlic.  Pour over lamb and marinate for at least ½ hour.  Preheat oven or grill.  Place lamb on skewers (alternate with onions, peppers, or partially cooked vegetable of your choice).  Place on grill.  Sprinkle with Greek spice.  Do not over cook.

Serve with rice.  Delicious!

Note:  for variation - brush with a sweet sauce for example - plum, while cooking instead of Greek spice.

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For Sale:  Add some color and size to your flock with black, brown and white registered Katahdin Rams.  Call Terry Shackleton at 306-736-2595.

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