Megli Farms introduces the Top Indexing Ram for 1999 South Dakota Ram Test.

Overview of Ram Test

The Dakota Ram Test program has now completed a third year at the NDSU Hettinger Research and Extension Center.  The key component in the success of this program is the level of care.  Dave Pearson again deserves credit for his management skill and genuine concern for the rams.  

Three breeds were represented on test, 36 rams were placed on test in early October and 35 rams completed the test in March.  One ram was removed from early in the test due to structural unsoundness.  Ram health was excellent throughout the test.

Nutrition Management

The ram test ration was changed this year to improve palatability, reduce cost and provide management flexibility.  The ration contained 20 % pelleted commercial protein supplement (also provides a source of supplemental minerals, vitamins and feed additives), 40 % whole barley, 20 % whole oats and 20 % ground alfalfa.  Meadowlark Feeds - Lemmon, SD formulated and manufactured the protein supplement.  Other feed ingredients were supplied and prepared at the Hettinger station. The four ingredients were mixed and offered via self-feeders.  Ration specifications were crude protein, 15 %;  TDN, 70%;  Calcium: Phosphorus ratio of 2:1 or greater;  ammonium chloride at .5 % and Deccox (decoquinate) at .5 mg/kg of body weight.

Tested rams consumed approximately 7 lbs of the mixed ration daily, total test period consumption was 1068 lbs per ram.  Feed consumption was similar to past tests.

Highlights:  '99 - '00 Dakota Ram Test

Ram growth and performance was similar to last year at 0.86 lbs per day, thus a tie for the highest growth performance in the test history.  These are excellent gains reflective of the superior rams consigned to the test again this year and the balanced ration offered to the rams.  

Wool data shows the expected trait(s)/strengths for each breed represented on this year's test.  As expected the Rambouillete excelled in fiber diameter (finer), the Columbia and Corriedale for clean lbs of wool and staple length.  Generally wool measures were similar to past test values.

Using the Index formula to rank the rams, a composite measure of growth and wool traits, shows top animals must excel in both trait measurements to rank high within a breed.  As in the past, lbs of clean wool have more variance within a breed than other economic traits in the formula.  Due to this wide variance, the Index ranking is better correlated with clean wool production than other trait measures in the index formulation.

Animal fat depth and rib eye area was measured as indicators of carcass merit.  These were determined using ultrasound technology at the beginning and end of the Dakota Ram Test.  The off-test measurement was determined with a new ultrasound unit, which allows rib eye square area determination directly from the image.  This technology will reduce the error in determination.  The final test report gives the final measurements.

The average rib eye size for all breeds was 4.85 square inches, this is the largest average rib eye area recorded for the Dakota Test.