2016 Wisconsin State Fair Junior Performace Lamb ID Information

Those who wish to exhibit in the 2016 Wisconsin State Fair Performance Lamb Division must have their Lambs weighed at one of the following locations:

• Polk Co Fairgrounds (St.Croix Falls) – 9 to 10 am Contact: Ed Dittbrenner – 715.419.1952   May 14^th  
• Plymouth High School (Plymouth) – 9 to 10 am Contact:  Walter Taylor – 920.980.7865   May 14^th      
• Schmoll Farm (Wausau) – 9 to 10 am Contact:  Kevin Schmoll – 715.370.2064   May 14^th  
• Waupaca County Fairgrounds (Weyauwega) – 9 to 10 am Contact:  Mikayla Wehrle – 920.279.2766   May 15^th       
• Grant County Fairgrounds (Lancaster) – 9 to 10 am Contact:  Alan Thorson – 920.344.1235   May 21^st  
• Jackson County Fairgrounds (Black River Falls) – 9 to 10 am Contact:  Rick Olson – 715.896.3771   May 21^st      
• Juneau County Fairgrounds (Mauston) – 9 to 10 am Contact: Alan Thorson – 920.344.1235   May 21^st    
• Mint Gold Ranch (DePere) – 9 to 10 am  Contact: Dale Dobberpuhl – 920.864.7732   May 21st

** Please contact a Performance site coordinator in advance to confirm participation**

Eligible performance division lambs must have been RFID ear tag identified and have submitted DNA through the WLIC statewide identification program by May 9^th.      2016 Wisconsin State Fair Performance Lamb Entry Information   Live Show Judging:  Tuesday, August 9^th at 8 am. This program emphasizes the exhibitor’s ability to select and raise lambs which will be evaluated on average daily gain, ultra-sound carcass merit and visual appraisal.     QUALIFICATIONS 1) Lambs must be entered in the Performance Lamb Division on the Wisconsin State Fair Junior Sheep Entry Form.  Entry fee is $6 per head.  Performance lambs are eligible to exhibit in the market lamb division with an additional entry fee and appropriate entry. 2) Only castrated males (wethers) and female lambs born January 1, 2016 or after are eligible. 3) Lambs must have been weighed and DNA sampled at one of the official Wisconsin State Fair lamb identification sites on May 14^th and 21^st.  See www.wistatefair.com for locations and details.  An unlimited number of lambs per exhibitor may be identified but no more than 2 may be exhibited in the performance division at the Fair.  Performance lambs are subject to all rules for drug residue and unethical practices listed in the Junior Sheep section as well as the “Junior General Rules and Regulations” section located on www.wistatefair.com.  4) Overall placing will be based on 40% average daily gain, 20% on live visual appraisal and 40% Ultrasound carcass evaluation.

Rate of Gain Component: Lambs will be weighed at the Fair on Monday, August 10, 2015.  The Fair weight and beginning weight recorded at the official Wisconsin State Fair performance identification site (Ma will be used to calculate average daily gain.

Live Show Component: Lambs will be shown on Tuesday, August 11^th following the breeding show.  The specific judging time will be announced at the Fair.  Lambs will show by official Fair weight.  The top lambs in the live show will be selected from the top two placings in each class.  Lambs must be slick shorn.

Ultrasound Carcass Component:  Lamb carcasses are evaluated via ultrasound to generate a projected ”Boneless Retail Product Yield” as well as a “Lamb Carcass Index”.  Each system uses measures of fat thickness and distribution combined with measures and evaluations of muscling.  In general, a higher score in either or both calculations leads to a carcass that ranks well.  However, there is further consideration given to carcass weight and fatness “desirability” as influenced by industry standards and expectations.  “Heavy” carcasses and carcasses lacking “sufficient” finish (carcasses need approximately .15” of fat cover to be considered “desirably finished”) will be ranked lower due to their deficiencies.  Lambs showing characteristics of the callipyge gene will be heavily discounted.  Lambs weighing under 115 lbs will be heavily discounted. 5)  Since the carcass measurements will be collected by the use of ultrasound technology the performance lamb division is non-terminal.  Please check the Superintendent’s Office to see if a marketing agent interested in purchasing the lambs is secured.

AWARDS/PREMIUMS Official results and performance information will be posted on the Wisconsin State Fair website www.wistatefair.com.

If you have any further questions please contact Wisconsin State Fair at entryoffice@wistatefair.com or Brian Bolan, Agriculture Director at 414.266.7050.   Web link is available at: http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=3358543c72375943313eecbfd&id=ec1c11700c&e=0a1673b3b9.