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Green County Fair lamb weigh-in is April 25
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MONROE - An identification program for all market lambs to be exhibited at the 2015 Green County Fair will be conducted on April 25 at the Green County Fairgrounds in Monroe. Lambs will be weighed and identified between 10 a.m. to noon in the south end of barn No. 7.

Only lambs that are identified on this date will be eligible for exhibition in the market lamb classes and to sell at the Green County Fair Meat Animal Auction.

Market lambs for the 2015 Wisconsin State Fair will not be identified at the Green County weigh-in. Wisconsin State Fair requires that all lambs be self-identified by the exhibitors. State Fair sheep exhibitors must request tags and DNA envelopes directly from the state fair office.

All market lambs that will be shown at the Green County Fair will be weighed and given RFID ear tags. Each exhibitor can identify a maximum of five lambs. Market lambs being identified for the Green County Fair can weigh no more than 105 pounds at the weigh-in on April 25. There is no minimum weight. However, it is suggested that lambs weigh at least 50 pounds or more in order to make the 110-pound minimum weight at fair time that is needed to sell in the auction.

Since the market lambs will be tagged with official USDA tags, they will no longer need to have scrapie tags at the fair. Exhibitors are reminded that all breeding sheep will still be required to have a USDA scrapie tag before the animals are allowed onto the fairgrounds this summer. The only exception to this is for breeding animals that have breed registration papers and a breed tattoo.

If sheep exhibitors plan to exhibit breeding stock, they can order their own free scrapie tags for their flock by calling 866-873-2824. These tags should be ordered early since it usually takes several weeks before they are received from the United States Department of Agriculture.

Exhibitors and a parent or guardian must be present at the weigh-in and will be required to complete and sign a County of Origin Labeling affidavit stating that their animals originated in the United States. Auction record books and other show information will also be distributed to exhibitors at the identification day.

For more information, contact Mark Mayer, UW-Extension dairy and livestock agent, at 608-328-9440.