The sheep program at Cal Poly focuses on teaching students about proper grazing management techniques and how sheep can be used as a tool to improve rangeland quality. The sheep unit has been a part of the animal science department since the university opened its doors. In 1998 the sheep unit was moved to Cheda Ranch to accommodate construction of the new sports complex. The sheep unit maintains
a "whiteface" grade flock of sheep to provide students opportunities to work with commercial type sheep.
The Flocks
Approximately 100 ewes make up the grade flock. These ewes are primarily crossbred ewes with Finnsheep and Targhee
as the dominant background breeds. These ewes are managed as a range
flock, defined by minimal barn time, and virtually no supplemental
feeding for the entire year. All replacement females are produced
within the flock. Lambs are sold either at weaning as market lambs
or as feeder lambs into a lamb feeding enterprise project.
Organizations
Cal Poly is closely aligned with the sheep industry of the United States. Three members of the California Wool Growers Association, the nation's oldest livestock organization, sit on the departmental advisory committee. The Cal Poly Senior Sheep Specialist, Rob Rutherford, currently sits on the Board of Directors of the California Wool Growers Association,
and is a commissioner for the California State Sheep Commission, the state sheep "check-off" organization. The campus hosts the annual convention of the California Wool Growers Association on a routine basis.
The Future of Cal Poly Sheep Production
The future success of raising livestock will depend upon reducing input costs and serving customers. Future students at Cal Poly learn how to manage resources more wisely, how to breed stock that is well-adapted to thrive in a given set of conditions, how to reduce input costs, how to identify customers and then produce what is demanded. Sheep will be used as a tool to convert stored solar energy into profits. Intensively managed grazing, multiple-species grazing, financial planning, breeding and selection with new and different types of genetics, electric fence design and use and market development are among the skills developed through our program.
