Connecticut Sheep Breeders Association, Inc.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to promote and encourage keeping sheep in Connecticut. The CSBA was formed in 1893, and we have been supporting Connecticut shepherds since that time by educating sheep farmers about issues relevant to raising lamb and wool, and facilitating marketing opportunities.

2018 CT Sheep, Wool & Fiber Festival is this coming Saturday!

We are making final preparations for Saturday which makes this a very busy week for all of the volunteers on our committee.  We all have regular jobs which sometimes don't allow us to take phone calls or read emails all day.  You may not receive a response until we get home from work.

PLEASE read the Festival page before you pick up the phone and call.

Our Secretary has been swamped with phone calls from people for the past 2 weeks and the overwhelming majority of them could have been answered if the caller had simply read the Festival page.

Vendor Opportunities for 2019 CT Sheep, Wool & Fiber Festival  

If you are interested in becoming a vendor for 2019 please send an email to csbafestivalvendors@gmail.com and include your business or farm name, location, product line, and a couple of pictures. We will also need assurance of your ability to provide a CT Sales and Use certificate and liability insurance.

2018 Fleece Sale

The CSBA festival boasts the first, and most popular, fleece sale of the northeast fiber festival season!
Browse our 200+ fleeces from all types of sheep, ranging from fine wool to primitive, and sometimes you can find goat and alpaca fleeces too!

Since this is a cooperative sale, you can often meet the shepherd who raised the sheep whose fleece you buy, and learn about the fleece and farm your purchase supports.

For more information, or to volunteer at the sale, contact Anne McIntyre-Lahner at Olympiafarm@att.net

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WHY TAG YOUR ANIMALS?

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture sent out this message today to remind everyone why it is important to put your own ID tags in your animals.

There are advantages to producers officially identifying their animals and keeping records of their animals moving off the farm:

1.It ensures that the ownership of their animals will not be confused with others either by the transporter or at a livestock market.  This will minimize the risk of a producer being paid for an animal owned by someone else, which could be of lesser value.

2. It provides producers with additional sales options, potentially resulting in a higher sales price.  Officially identified animals can be sold and moved from more than one livestock market prior to going to a slaughter facility. 

3. It ensures the correct ownership of animals moving through the market chain to slaughter facilities, minimizing the risk of a producer being wrongly held responsible for incidents of either drug residue violations or disease conditions involving animals he did not own.  

Animal Disease Traceability Rule Information for Connecticut Producers

Bureau of Regulation and Inspection

Seven steps to use when animals are going to be shipped

1. Identify all animals at birth (not just females). Call Elizabeth Hall at 860 713-2541 for FREE supply of USDA tags.
2. Keep treatment records, with date of allowable slaughter based on label.
3. Use software to issue a warning if animals are to be shipped before the labeled recommended date.
4. Tag all animals (including bull calves) being shipped.
5. Complete ‘Owner Shipper Statement’ or ‘Certificate of Veterinary Inspection’ to provide documentation of the animal movement (keep a copy).
6. Have the ‘Dealer’ apply the back tags that are issued to them by their home state (not the auctions back tags), prior to loading,
7.  If you deliver the animal directly to the sale barn, Back Tags are attached from the auction.  Record those numbers.

Questions should be directed to:

Elizabeth Hall

Conn. Animal Disease Traceability Coordinator