named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Annual Symposium
Educational and networking event featuring expert presentations, farm tours, and cheese receptions for dairy sheep producers, cheesemakers, and industry stakeholders across North America.
Dairy Sheep Udder Assessment System
Collaborative tool developed by DSANA members to evaluate udder conformation in dairy flocks, supporting improved health, milk production, and milking efficiency.
Genetic Evaluation Program (GEP)
Formerly the Production Improvement Program, this initiative uses data collection and analysis to generate Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) for milk yield, components, somatic cell count, and persistency to support informed breeding decisions.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Agricultural Producer Education & Support Networks 3 activities
- Facilitate importation of Lacaune semen for U.S. sheep dairiesImported Lacaune semen from Genelex in France in 2017 and 2018 for use by U.S. sheep dairy farms, facilitating the purchase of 900 straws for 19 farms, resulting in approximately 350 lambs born, most of which were healthy and successfully raised.
- Facilitate knowledge exchange and technical education for membersSupports member learning through a Flock Management Forum, technical articles, resource pages on nutrition, and educational programming on topics such as optimal growth and nutrition of dairy ewe replacements. Produces webinars and video tutorials on practical flock management, including milk metering techniques and use of EBVs.
- Maintain and provide access to the Sheep Dairy DirectoryOperates a public Sheep Dairy Directory listing member farms and businesses offering sheep milk products, livestock, equipment, and services, which is accessed by over 3,000 people annually.
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Scientific Conference & Symposium Management 1 activity
- Host and deliver the annual Dairy Sheep SymposiumOrganizes and hosts the annual Dairy Sheep Symposium, the major gathering for the North American dairy sheep industry, featuring expert presentations, farm tours, trade shows, and breakout sessions. The event is held in-person or virtually, with recent symposia occurring annually from 2021 to 2025, including in-person events in Chicago (2024) and virtual formats (2021–2023, 2025), and produces written proceedings and video recordings of sessions for member access.
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Member Business Referral & Discount Programs 1 activity
- Support member farm operations through organizational servicesProvides member farms with organizational tools including bundled account access for up to five members via an online portal and organizes regional farm tours, such as those in the Toronto area with transportation provided.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Archive and publish symposium resourcesMaintains a comprehensive archive of Dairy Sheep Symposium materials, including written summaries and video recordings of nearly all presentations since 1995, and compiles detailed proceedings from expert sessions. Plans to publish recordings from virtual symposia held between 2020 and 2023.
- Operate a Genetic Evaluation Program for dairy sheepRuns a Genetic Evaluation Program that collects flock data—including individual identification, pedigree, lambing, reproduction, monthly milk yield, and milk quality analysis through Rocky Mountain DHI—and partners with GenOvis to generate estimated breeding values (EBVs) for milk yield, components, somatic cell count, and persistency. Provides educational webinars to help producers use EBVs for breeding and flock improvement.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$74K
Contributions & grants$32K43%
Program service revenue$35K47%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$65K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$87K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$62K
1 years on record · 2024–2024
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- CEPOQ Partner — Collaborates with CEPOQ, a sheep genetics organization, for genetic analysis and expertise.
- DSANA Network — Host and organizer of the Dairy Sheep Symposium and its archival index.
- Dairy Sheep Association of North America Network — DSANA is the organization itself, serving as a central hub for dairy sheep professionals and producers.
- GenOvis Partner — Livestock genetic evaluation program in Quebec that generates estimated breeding values (EBVs) from collated milk production and component data for DSANA's program.
- GenOvis Partner — Partner organization linked through collaboration with DSANA's Genetic Evaluation Program
- Genelex Partner — Partner in the importation of Lacaune semen from France for use by US sheep dairy farms.
- Glendale Shepherd Partner — Supporter of DSANA's Genetic Evaluation Program.
- Great Lakes Dairy Sheep Symposium Network — DSANA evolved from and continues to host the annual symposium series previously known as the Great Lakes Dairy Sheep Symposium.
- INRAE La Fage Partner — Conducts research on dairy sheep nutrition and feed efficiency, cited by DSANA as a source of scientific evidence
- Milkhouse Government — Provides technical support for DSANA member accounts via email assistance.
- Northeast SARE Partner — Supported the development of the Dairy Sheep Udder Assessment System.
- Ontario Dairy Sheep Co-op Partner — Collaborates with the Ontario Dairy Sheep Co-op to include its member farms in symposium farm tours.
- Rocky Mountain DHI Partner — Partner organization providing milk component and somatic cell count analysis for the Genetic Evaluation Program.
- Society des Elevurs de Moutons de Race Pure du Quebec Partner — Supported the development of the Dairy Sheep Udder Assessment System.
- University of Wisconsin Partner — Collaborates on educational content related to dairy sheep management, including nutrition and raising replacements
- Utah State University Partner — Co-publisher of a factsheet on raising replacement ewes for dairy sheep production
strategies · 2
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Data-Driven Genetic Improvementmethodology: data_driven_breedingBy collecting flock data and generating estimated breeding values (EBVs), the organization enables producers to make objective breeding decisions that improve genetic quality and farm profitability, because data reduces uncertainty in selection and enhances long-term herd performance.
- Multidisciplinary Knowledge Sharing Networkmethodology: multidisciplinary_knowledge_sharingBy convening producers, researchers, veterinarians, and processors in a shared learning environment, the organization improves dairy sheep health and milk quality, because cross-sector collaboration accelerates the adoption of best practices and innovation across the industry.