sHEEP CARE GUIDE
The well-being of their sheep is an important consideration for all sheep producers. This Sheep Care Guide was developed to serve as a reference for the sheep producer using a variety of management and production systems and has been written in recognition of an ethical responsibility for the humane care of animals. It is not intended to be an exhaustive review of all aspects of animal care; supplemental information on such topics as breeding, feeding, housing, predation, health, and management is available in other publications including those listed in the References section. An attempt has been made to provide information about sheep care practices which are based on research findings and which are consistent with a program of quality assurance.
tHE sHEEP SAFETY &QUALITY ASSURANCE
SHEEP SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (SSQA)
The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) began development of an industry-wide quality assurance program in 1991. Since then, the ASI, through cooperative agreements with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Colorado State University, University of Minnesota, and Texas A&M University, conducted a quality audit of meat, wool, and milk from U.S. sheep. In the final report of that audit, industry problem areas were identified, and preventative management strategies to assist in the reduction of quality challenges were developed.
This publication provides information about objectives and process control procedures for use by sheep producers that will help to generate safe, high-quality products.
The mission of the Sheep Safety and Quality Assurance (SSQA) program is to maximize consumer confidence in, and acceptance of, sheep products by using research and education to improve management during the production of safe and high-quality sheep products.
cLEON’S cORNER
The Colorado Sheep & Wool Authority is a sponsor of "Cleon's Corner" on the Optimal Livestock Services, LLC website.
Colorado Livestock Care coalition
Photo Credit Banner: Karen Maneotis