Sheep Research Impact

“If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” This age-old philosophical riddle may have a parallel in sheep research and production. “If a sheep research project is conducted and no producers hear (or read about) it, does it have an impact on the industry?” Of course, the answer depends on whom you ask. If you asked a group of uninformed lamb-eating or wool-wearing consumers, they might respond by saying they were not aware of any impacts that research had ever made on sheep production. If, on the other hand, you asked a group of informed breeders, producers, or sheep researchers, they would all likely be able to produce a short list of research topics that have made a significant impact on the industry. In fact, all research that has ever been conducted (and reported) has made a measurable impact on today’s sheep industry, although it may be infinitesimal in some cases. My task in preparing this manuscript was to delve into 100 yr of animal (but primarily sheep-related) research literature and decide (with the assistance of 21 colleagues) which research has made an impact. Therefore, this is our collective opinion, with apologies to the thousands of animal scientists whose research will not be mentioned. It is unfortunate that so much technology produced by sheep researchers was or may never be used by the industry because of the …show more content…
Because it was prepared for the centennial celebration of the American Society of Animal Science (formerly the American Society of Animal Production), scientists who conducted their research in this country and reported their results in the Journal of Animal Science have received primary attention. However, it is recognized that research resulting in major impacts on sheep production has been conducted and reported elsewhere, and an effort was made not to overlook the major