Month: September 2025

USDA Market News to Add Mt. Hope Auction in Ohio

American Sheep Industry Association

Working in partnership with The Ohio State University, USDA Market News will begin providing coverage of the Mt. Hope Auction, Mt. Hope, Ohio, with the first published report scheduled to be released in mid-October.

The Mt. Hope sheep and goat auction is the third largest sheep and goat market in the nation, behind the markets in San Angelo, Texas, and New Holland, Pennsylvania. It is also one of the primary markets attracting a large volume of buyers interested in purchasing small ruminates for ethnic slaughter, predominately Halal, meat prepared as prescribed by Muslim law.

The addition of this market will increase the auction volume of sheep and goats reported by USDA in the U.S. from 30% to 35%, increasing price discovery and improving market transparency for the U.S. sheep industry. This will be the first USDA Market News livestock auction report for Ohio, made possible through a recently enacted Federal-State partnership with The Ohio State University that has provided the opportunity to facilitate price discovery for this highly followed sheep market in the Eastern corn-belt.

Selecting the Optimal Sheep for Solar Grazing

Dr. Jake Thorne, Assistant Professor and Extension Sheep and Goat Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Dr. Andrew Weaver, Extension Small Ruminant Specialist, North Carolina State University
(Previously published with the Eastern Alliance for Production Katahdins (EAPK): September 12, 2025)

(Image Source: American Lamb Board)

While this article focuses on solar grazing, the principles discussed are relevant to all low-input, grass-based production systems. This article was originally published in the August 2025 issue of the Sheep Industry News and is reposted with permission.

The rise of agrivoltaics—where solar energy production coexists with agricultural practices—has created new opportunities for sheep producers across the United States. As solar developers seek sustainable vegetation management solutions, sheep have emerged as an ideal partner, offering cost-effective and environmentally favorable grazing services. However, success in this dual-purpose system depends on more than just turning sheep loose under panels.

A balanced approach to animal selection, emphasizing longevity, adaptability, and health, is essential for flock sustainability, grazing enterprise profitability, and long-term partnerships with solar developers and managers. Continue reading Selecting the Optimal Sheep for Solar Grazing →

Precision Livestock Farming Technologies for Sheep Production

Jason Hartschuh, Dairy Management and Precision Livestock, Field Specialist

(Image Source: Shearwell NZ)

Ohio is home to about 145,000 sheep on 4,133 farms, according to the 2022 census of agriculture, making it the 11th largest sheep production state in the country. These sheep are raised in both extensive and intensive systems, but precision livestock technologies are having a worldwide impact on both production systems. Precision livestock farming (PLF) is the use of real-time monitoring technologies to manage the flock at the animal level. This includes using monitoring equipment, data, user interface software, and artificial intelligence to guide decision-making. While other species have more developed precision livestock technologies, many different technologies are under development.

The most widely utilized technology is Electronic Identification (EID) Tags. These tags can pair with Continue reading Precision Livestock Farming Technologies for Sheep Production →

Current Status of New World Screwworm (NWS) Infestations in the U.S.

Dr. Gustavo M. Schuenemann, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University

The NWS has been largely eradicated in the United States for over 50 years, but a current outbreak in Central America and Mexico is moving closer to the U.S. On August 18, 2025, the Secretary of Health and Human Services issued the emergency declaration after determining that NWS “has a significant potential to affect national security or the health and security of United States citizens living abroad and that involves New World Screwworm.” This emergency declaration allows veterinarians to use certain treatments under extra-label use provisions, to help control potential infestations.

What is NWS?
It is a parasitic fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax) that lays eggs in and on open wounds and mucous membranes of warm-blooded animals. When larvae hatch (maggot), they burrow into the flesh of these animals and eat healthy living tissue causing the myiasis. This infestation is Continue reading Current Status of New World Screwworm (NWS) Infestations in the U.S. →