SONORA – The annual Ram Performance Test Field Day and Sale conducted by Texas AgriLife Research and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service is set for March 16 at the Texas AgriLife Research Station at Sonora.

The station is located 28 miles south of Sonora on U.S. Highway 55.

“With lamb prices at an all-time high and wool prices good, with no end in sight, this year’s sale would be an excellent opportunity for breeders seeking a top breeding buck to tap into some of the finest genetics in the Rambouillet sheep industry to be found anywhere,” said Dr. Dan Waldron, AgriLife Research geneticist at San Angelo and the test’s coordinator.

The day’s events start with an informal morning inspection of the Rambouillet rams and their performance test data from 10 a.m.-noon. A catered lunch will be served on site at noon, with an educational program to follow at 1 p.m. The auction of eligible rams that have completed the test will start at about 1:30 p.m.

Program topics will include industry updates by Glen Fisher of Sonora, American Sheep Industry Association past president, and comments on the 2011/2012 Ram Test by Waldron, and Faron Pfeiffer, AgriLife Research, San Angelo.

The afternoon program will be directed by Dr. Frank Craddock, AgriLife Extension sheep and goat specialist at San Angelo.

Burk Lattimore of Levelland, secretary of the American Rambouillet Sheep Breeders Association, will award the certified ram certificates to the owners of the qualifying rams.

For further information, contact Waldron or Craddock at 325-653-4576 or call the AgriLife Research station at Sonora at 325-387-3168.

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