It takes a year to produce a lamb crop from the time a ewe is bred until her offspring are marketable. That being said, producers have a few brief periods during a new lamb's life where critical management can determine the success or failure of their entire enterprise.

University of Kentucky Extension Sheep Specialist Monty Chappell said sheep producers from the Commonwealth and surrounding states have a unique opportunity to learn more about hands-on management for one such brief period - the first three days of life.

The 15th annual UK winter lambing school will provide new and veteran sheep producers a chance to learn essential skills to get them through the critical phases of late gestation, lambing and early lactation. On February 5, 2003 Endre Fink and Winston Deweese of the UK Animal Research Center in Woodford County will provide applied management instruction and hands-on opportunities related to ewe care during late gestation through creep feeding of new lambs.

Chappell will lead discussions with producers and answer important questions concerning lambing.

"If lambs make it through the first 72 hours of life, they usually are well on their way to market," Chappell said. "We want to teach producers the importance of these first three daysand give them the knowledge and skills to improve the quality of their lamb crop. Neonatal lamb care can determine the difference between profit and loss in the sheep business."

Once again, the UK Animal Research Center in Woodford Co. is the site for the event. It's located on U.S. Hwy. 62 near Versailles. The lambing school will be broken up into two, half-day sessions. The first session will be from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and then will be repeated from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Registration is free. If you plan to attend, send your name, address and phone number to 2002 Lambing School, 911 W.P. Garrigus Bldg., University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0215 by Feb. 3, 2003 Also, you may call or e-mail Chappell at (859) 257-2716, mchappel@uky.edu.