Sheep center may close: Oregon State University animal sciences student Thomas Kubitz separates a ram from the rest of the flock Nov. 12 at the OSU sheep barn in Corvallis, Ore. Every year, the sheep center draws families and classes from around the state to witness the ewes and lambs during the spring lambing season. But now the rustic barn four miles northwest of campus on Oak Creek Drive is empty, and there’s a good chance that the public will not be able to visit the ewes and their tail-wiggling newborns next spring. Following a pair of disease outbreaks, OSU officials said they were forced to downsize the flock by more than half. The sheep center sold 250 ewes that tested positive for exposure to either Q fever or Johne’s disease a year ago. (Associated Press)
Sheep center may close: Oregon State University animal sciences student Thomas Kubitz separates a ram from the rest of the flock Nov. 12 at the OSU sheep barn in Corvallis, Ore. Every year, the sheep center draws families and classes from around the state to witness the ewes and lambs during the spring lambing season. But now the rustic barn four miles northwest of campus on Oak Creek Drive is empty, and there’s a good chance that the public will not be able to visit the ewes and their tail-wiggling newborns next spring. Following a pair of disease outbreaks, OSU officials said they were forced to downsize the flock by more than half. The sheep center sold 250 ewes that tested positive for exposure to either Q fever or Johne’s disease a year ago.
