The sheep industry in Kentucky has a rich heritage and great potential. The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture is committed to seeing sheep producers succeed. UK's new sheep facility near Versailles provides an excellent training and research headquarters for producers to gain a competitive edge.

The thirteenth annual UK winter lambing school will provide new and veteran sheep producers with the essential skills needed to get them through the critical phases of a ewe's late gestation, the lambing period and early lactation. The event is scheduled for February 7, 2001 at the UK Animal Research Center on US Hwy. 62 near Versailles, in Woodford County, Ky.

Applied management and hands-on opportunities, related to the care of the ewe in late gestation through creep feeding of lambs, will be covered in two, half-day sessions. The first session will be from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. A repeat of the session will be from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

"We're teaching producers how important the first 72 hours are in a lamb's life," said Monty Chappell, UK sheep specialist. "If they make it through that time, usually they will be well on their way to market. Neo-natal lamb care can mean the difference between profit and loss in the sheep business."

Registration is free and should be sent to: 2000 Lambing School, 911 W.P. Garrigus Bldg., University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546–0215. For more information, call or e-mail Monty Chappell at (606) 257-2716, mchappel@ca.uky.edu.