
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, September 3, 1993                   TAG: 9309030244
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-14   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: DUBLIN                                LENGTH: Short

GRADING OF RAMS TO BE EMPHASIZED FOR SALE

Organizers are working on the next Virginia Commercial Bred Ewe and Ram Sale, set for Jan. 8 at the New River Valley Fairgrounds.

The deadline for consigning animals to the sale is Oct. 15.

To make pregnancy checks more accurate, rams must be removed from flocks of consigned ewes by Nov. 8, said A.C. Spotts III, Sale Committee chairman.

More emphasis will be placed on grading rams for this sale.

The Sale Committee, with the help of Virginia Tech sheep specialist Stephen Umberger and Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs representative John Beahm, has developed a set of ram grading criteria.

Since the Steele's Tavern Ram Sale is being discontinued, this sale is expected to be the only one in Virginia where yearling rams are offered.

Rules for the sale and consignment forms with fee information are available from Extension agent Richard S. White, 143 Third St. N.W., Pulaski, Va. 24301.

by CNB