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COLUMBUS, Ohio - Sheep owners and anyone interested in forage management is invited to Ohio Sheep Day, to be held July 12 at the Athens County farm of Curt and Wendy Cline, 3933 Factory Road, Albany.

The event will provide ideas about sheep nutrition, sheep management systems as well as many other areas of sheep production.

Sponsored by the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association (OSIA), Ohio Sheep and Wool Program, Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio State University Animal Sciences Department, Sheep Day will also focus on forage demonstrations, grazing management and stored forage use.

Other topics include:

• Soil fertility management using grid sampling and GIS fertilizer application on pasture paddocks

• Internal parasite management within a rotational grazing system

• Handling and caring for foot rot

• Economic issues and considerations in a forage based sheep operation

• Utilizing cost-share assistance programs like EQIP to protect the environment and improve grazing management

There will also be vendors/exhibitors dealing with all aspects of sheep production.

The Clines operate a forage-based sheep operation that has been in the family since the 1800s. It is currently undergoing an expansion that will take it from 120 ewes to more than 300 ewes in time for Sheep Day.

The expansion is the result of some significant management changes that revolve around internal parasite control, more intensive use of traditional and alternative forages and the economic potential of the Ohio sheep industry.

Curt Cline, who currently serves as a director on the board of the Ohio Sheep Industry Association (OSIA), was recently named the national Environmental Stewardship Award winner by the American Sheep Industry (ASI).

For more information, visit www.ohiosheep.org, or contact Roger High at (614) 292-0589, or e-mail high.1@osu.edu. A lamb luncheon is included as part as registration for the Ohio Sheep Day event.

Plans are also underway for the Second Ohio Forage and Grasslands Pre-Sheep Day Farm Bus Tour to be held on Friday, July 11, in the Athens County area, visit www.ohiosheep.org as more details become available.