Don and Anne Brown, Fresno, Ohio – Don and Anne Brown have over 20 years experience with all phases of artificial insemination (AI) in horses including collection, handling and shipment of semen. Don is retired from an agricultural education and extension career; Anne is a nurse. They have a flock of Bluefaced Leicester sheep. Don will be the lead person who manages and organizes all facets of the project. Anne will be responsible for the work on semen extenders.



Kathy Bielek, Wooster, Ohio – Kathy raises Katahdin sheep. Kathy has been the recipient of four successful NCR-SARE grants to study the genetics of parasite resistance. Kathy works as a program assistant for the Organic Food & Farming Education & Research program at Ohio State University. She will assist Don in project coordination, handle data management and prepare reports.



Ginger Davidson, Hanover, Indiana – Ginger is a relatively new Katahdin breeder who utilizes a small flock to assist in mowing the grounds of an airport. She has received training to assist in laparoscopic AI in sheep.  She is also involved in the genetic advancement of honey bees and performs microscopic AI on queens. She will develop and maintain an outreach blog.





Dale Duerr, DVM, Bolivar, Ohio - Dr. Duerr is both a shepherd and mixed practice veterinarian with a special interest in biosecure methods of improving sheep genetics utilizing AI. He worked closely with Dr. Shulaw  on a transcervical AI technique. For this project he will train  team members in ram management and care, breeding soundness exams (BSE), collection and handling of semen, as well as AI techniques.

Craig Zimmerly, DVM, Apple Creek, Ohio – Dr. Zimmerly graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010 and is currently employed by Country Road Veterinary Services. His veterinary interests center around dairy cattle production medicine and small ruminant veterinary medicine, especially AI and ultrasound for pregnancy detection of sheep and goats. Along with his brother, he is involved with Zimmerly Club Lambs, which is a flock of 30 wether type ewes. He will assist Dr. Duerr in training team members and will also be ultrasounding ewes for pregnancy detection.
William P. Shulaw, DVM, MS, Extension Veterinarian, Beef/Sheep, Ohio State University - Dr. Shulaw has experience in both cervical and transcervical AI and has done on-farm research and demonstrations of both techniques. He will assist in training team members in all aspects of BSE, collection and handling of semen, and transcervical AI techniques.

Jeff McCutcheon, Agricultural Extension Educator, OSU Extension Morrow County – Jeff will help develop economic projections of different AI techniques for farmer adoption. He will also develop outreach materials including factsheets and instructional videos.

Troy Cooper, Agricultural Extension Educator, OSU Extension Knox County –Troy has a MA degree in Animal Science- Reproductive Physiology. His Masters research was on semen extenders and their impact on cryopreserved ram semen. He will advise the group on semen handling and semen extenders.