Last week about 50 people attended a tour of an Intensive Management System near Altona hosted by the Manitoba Sheep Association.

Owner Albert Giesbrecht follows the Pipestone System, drylotting 285 ewes for the meat market. He got started in the sheep industry in the late 60's/early 70's and eventually grew 15 head into a 120 head operation.

Giesbrecht explained the biggest challenge of raising sheep.

Albert Giesbrecht

"The biggest challenge for me is to get them to market on time," he said. "The consumption of lamb primarily is in eastern Canada and therefore they have to be expedited to the market in Ontario and Quebec. That's where the consumption is."

Giesbrecht adds that the BSE issue over a decade ago still causes problems for exporting heavy weight lambs into the United States.

The Manitoba Sheep Association represents over 400 sheep and lamb producers across the province.