BROOKINGS — SDSU Extension is hosting a sheep ultrasound certification school.

The sheep ultrasound certification school is from 8 a.m. Aug. 24 to noon Aug. 26 at the SDSU Sheep Research and Teaching Unit found 1.5 miles north of the SDSU campus.

Registration is $300 per person. To register and see a complete event agenda, visit the SDSU Extension Events page and search “ultrasound.”

Participants may bring their own ultrasound machine, but are not required to.

Chris Schauer, director of the North Dakota State University Hettinger Research Extension Center, will instruct the hands-on certification school, which will teach participants how to measure loin eye area, backfat and body wall thickness.

Jaelyn Whaley, SDSU Extension sheep field specialist, said ultrasounding livestock can help producers measure and work toward improving their herd’s carcass characteristics.

Whaley said carcass traits, which determine meat quality, can be passed down through herds. With ultrasound, producers can look at the carcass data on their animals to inform their decisions on which livestock to keep or sell.

“The ultimate goal of a sheep producer is to produce high-quality meat for consumers,” Whaley said. “The first step in achieving that goal is making sure we are raising sheep with superior carcass genetics.”

For more information, contact Whaley at 605-374-4177 or Jaelyn.Whaley@sdstate.edu.