Virginia ram test continues to evolve alongside industry needs and technology
With one of the nation’s longest-running performance programs, Virginia Tech has helped sheep producers make better breeding decisions for five decades.
Clinton Bell '78 has been making the trip to the Virginia Performance Tested Ram Lamb Sale for as long as he can remember.
Each August, the seventh-generation farmer from Tazewell arrives at Virginia Tech’s Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center (AREC), looking for rams that will improve his flock of 300 ewes on the family's 1,700-acre century farm.
"I know they've been performance tested, fertility tested, and handled the same way as the others in the program," said Bell, who earned a degree from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and serves on Virginia's Sheep Industry Board. "That gives me confidence that when I take them home, they're going to perform well and improve my flock."
Virginia Tech launched the ram test in 1975 to give producers an impartial way to evaluate and market their animals. Fifty years later, it remains one of the nation’s oldest continuously run programs — strengthening flocks, supporting farm profitability, and contributing to Virginia agriculture.
Taking the guesswork out of genetics
Each spring, rams arrive at the Shenandoah Valley AREC for a 63-day evaluation. They’re raised under identical conditions and monitored for traits that matter most to producers: growth rate, feed efficiency, structural soundness, and carcass merit. Only the top performers advance to the sale after passing breeding soundness exams administered by the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.
Scott Greiner, professor in the School of Animal Sciences and Virginia Cooperative Extension beef and sheep specialist, has led the program for 27 years.
“The ram test has remained relevant because it provides an important service and is valued by the industry,” Greiner said. “What we do in the process of evaluating rams has direct application on farms, and that’s why it’s endured for 50 years.”
Carlton Truxell helped launch the program in 1975 and managed the Virginia Sheep Evaluation Station until 2002.
"The genetics have improved a lot over time," said Truxell. "The rams today are much better than when we first started. Back then, there wasn't much to compare to. Now, year after year, you just keep seeing progress."
The test and sale now regularly draw participants from Virginia, West Virginia, and beyond. At this year’s event, 51 rams across several breeds were offered, along with more than 40 replacement ewe lambs, from 20 farms.
Gabriel Pent, superintendent of the Shenandoah Valley AREC, said the station’s location is another factor in the program’s success.
“We’re centrally located in the state, right off the interstate, and people enjoy the ability to get here quickly,” Pent said. “We’re also in Augusta County, one of the top sheep-producing counties in the state. Being centrally located helps us serve producers from multiple areas.”
The U.S. sheep industry has declined since World War II because of reduced wool demand, but changing demographics and stronger ethnic markets have created new demand for lamb. The rise of hair sheep breeds like Katahdin, which don’t require shearing and offer parasite resistance, has also attracted new producers in Virginia.
Proven results for producers
Improved genetics translate to healthier flocks and higher profits for producers. Over the past five years, performance-tested rams have fetched sale prices averaging $742 apiece. After test and sale costs, consigners net about $533 per ram — a premium that reflects the value of performance testing.
For consignors like John Scott Jr. '78, who has participated since the mid-1980s from his farm in Princeton, West Virginia, the program provides crucial benchmarking data.
"It tells me how my rams are performing," said Scott, who graduated from Virginia Tech and is a former Extension agent. "I can look at the top-performing animals and figure out what changes I need to make in my breeding program. Over time, I've been able to make improvements by learning from those comparisons."
Buyers see the difference as well.
“Over time, it’s changed the way my lambs grow and how they look,” Bell said. “It’s a slow process, but you see genetic improvement year after year.”
Adapting through five decades
The program's longevity stems from its ability to evolve with changing industry needs and technology. When Greiner arrived in 1998, ultrasound technology was implemented to objectively evaluate body composition and carcass traits. Since then, the program has added online bidding systems, video marketing, and DNA testing for disease resistance.
This approach exemplifies Virginia Tech's land-grant mission of connecting university resources with real-world agricultural needs. The sale is supported by the Virginia Sheep Producers Association and its Seedstock Council, reflecting the close partnership between producers and Virginia Tech.
"The fact that it still exists speaks to the value of the program in the state and the strong relationship between Virginia Tech, Extension, the industry, and all the people involved,” Greiner said.
A comprehensive approach to sheep improvement
Virginia Tech's support for the sheep industry extends beyond the Shenandoah Valley AREC’s program. The Virginia Tech Sheep Production Center Sale in September offers producers the opportunity to purchase university-managed breeding stock. The Southwest AREC Forage-based Ram Test, Sale, and Field Day is the first program in the country that evaluates rams for parasite resistance under pasture-based conditions.
"Together, these programs raise the genetic bar for sheep across Virginia and beyond — ensuring flocks are productive, profitable, and resilient,” Greiner said.
Looking back 50 years, Pent said the program’s legacy can be seen in farms across Virginia and the mid-Atlantic.
"We've had an impact on generations of farmers,” Pent said. “It's inspiring to hear farmers share their stories about rams their dad or granddad purchased years before. They have memories tied to the sale, and those rams have provided lasting value to their farms."
