A sheep production evening was held at the Jack Graham Community Centre in Bristol last Thursday evening. This was the latest event in the Rendez-vous Agroalimentaire de l’Outaouais, a series of . . .

information sessions held by the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (MAPAQ). The event was attended by approximately 20 people, and featured presentations by Dr. Mel Jowett – a local veterinarian, Johanne Cameron – an independent consultant in the sheep production sector, and Jacques Desjardins from the MAPAQ.

Dr. Jowett’s presentation focused on sheep welfare, management and health. Some of the topics covered included common diseases and recommended vaccinations, human conditions related to animal exposure such as E. Coli and Ringworm, and dietary requirements of sheep at different stages of development.

Dr. Jowett also encouraged producers to take advantage of the Programme intégré de santé animal du Québec (PISAQ), a free two-hour consultation with a local veterinarian. This can be a great way for producers to improve their management practices, and avoid costly vet calls in the future. Dr. Jowett and Dr. Jean-François St. Louis both participate in the program in our region.

Robin Judd, of Starborn Farms in Clarendon, currently has a flock of around 45 ewes.

“I’m really impressed by how many producers showed up for this event, considering there aren’t that many sheep farms in the area,” he said, “It’s great to see a high percentage of them show up for these information nights”.

Judd plans to expand his herd gradually by keeping replacement animals over the next few years.

The next presentation was given by Johanne Cameron, an independent consultant specialising in sheep production.

Cameron worked for the Centre d’expertise en production ovine du Québec (CEPOQ) from 2003-2010, and operates a farm of 1,000 ewes in Ste. Hyacinthe, QC. Her presentation was centred on ventilation and animal welfare.

Many of the sheep barns in Québec were originally designed to house other livestock, such as dairy cows. As these buildings are converted to sheep production, ventilation systems can often be overlooked. Poor ventilation in sheep barns can cause respiratory problems in animals, an increase in mortality rates, and higher levels of humidity which contributes to mold and rust in the building. It can also lead to higher levels of contaminants such as ammonia and carbon dioxide.

Cameron explained how having the correct size, combination and placement of fans and air inlets in your barn will improve conditions for sheep, and lead to a more profitable operation in the long run.

The evening concluded with Jacques Desjardins, from the Shawville office of the MAPAQ, who spoke about some of the financial assistance programs available to farmers. These include programs for improving tile drainage, promoting young farmer entrepreneurship and small agri-business as well as conversion to organic farming practices.

There are also program advisory services available through the Réseau Agriconseils, which offers funding and consultation to help with business plans, farm transfers and other projects. M. Desjardins encouraged anyone interested in these programs to contact the MAPAQ office in Shawville.

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