Our mission is to develop and maintain multiple flocks that model modern livestock production and provide a hands-on learning environment for our students. Our students are exposed to all aspects of sheep management, husbandry, marketing while developing interpersonal and leadership skills.
Produce quality project lambs for area youth.
Produce quality, seasonal product for our meats lab.
Support the educational mission of our college.
Currently the Chico State Sheep Unit has two flocks to use for education and research. Visit our "Ewes" page to learn more about our flocks.
Students are responsible for the daily management of all sheep. We believe in the use of performance data and using genetic selection tools available to us. We are enrolled in the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP) and are active in DNA testing for scrapie resistance, ectodermal dysplasia in Southdowns, and the dwarf gene in our wether sheep flock.
Dr. Celina Phillips, faculty supervisor (crphillips1@csuchico.edu)
Hunter Ortiz, staff supervisor (hlortiz@csuchico.edu)
Lead Shepherd:
Taryn Chima, Animal Science (Yuba City, CA)
Student Shepherds:
Sophia Benitez, Animal Science (Visalia, CA) - Genetics
Jaye Eaton, Animal Science (Susanville, CA) - Health/Nutrition