The Manitoba Sheep Association

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Introduction and History

two sheep

The Manitoba Sheep Association Inc. is the designated provincial sheep organization representing all sheep producers in the Province of Manitoba

Aim:

The initiation, support and conduct of programs and activities designed to stimulate and improve the economic well being of all segments of the Manitoba Sheep Industry

Objectives:

  • To provide a forum in which producers can make their concerns known.
  • To ensure that adequate market information is available to sheep producers to allow them to make informed marketing decisions
  • To lobby the Provincial government on issues of concern relating to the sheep industry in Manitoba.
  • To ensure that issues of national importance to the sheep industry that are of concern to Manitoba producers are brought to the attention of the National Sheep organization
  • To ensure that issues of importance to the sheep industry are brought to the attention of other agricultural organizations where this is appropriate
  • To coordinate and inform producers on all matters pertaining to sheep production including information on breeding, management and marketing of sheep and sheep products including meat, milk and wool.
  • To support and encourage the continued development of the purebred sector of the industry in accordance with the general objectives of the Canadian Sheep Breeder's Association.
  • To encourage the production of genetically improved breeding stock.

History:

sheering a sheepThe Manitoba Sheep Breeders Association was formed in 1904, becoming active in the promotion, showing and selling of purebred stock. This remained the major purpose of the MSBA, although it also handled industry concerns. Concern that the commercial side of the industry was not being adequately served resulted in the formation of the Manitoba Lamb Feeders Association. For several years both organizations were active. However after the late 1940s the industry in the Province decreased in size and in January 1981 the two groups amalgamated under the name of the Manitoba Sheep Association, which was incorporated in 1989. In 2003 following a successful referendum the Manitoba Sheep Association (MSA) is now designated as the official organization representing sheep producers in the producers in the Province and thus allowed to levy a mandatory but refundable check-off. In Manitoba and the other western provinces this will be $1.00 tied to the purchase of national ID tags (Check-off regulations). All producers paying check-off and not requesting a refund will be members of the MSA. This will allow the MSA to more effectively represent sheep producers at both the provincial and national levels.

The MSA actively promotes the sheep and lamb industry and presents sheep producer concerns and issues to government and other agricultural organizations. It represents both the commercial and the purebred sectors of the industry. It is a member of the Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), the Manitoba Forage Council and the Canadian Sheep Federation.