Final Exam Flashcards
_____% of the annual production costs of a sheep operation is expended in feed.
50-65%
_____% of the total feed supply of the US sheep population is derived from roughages
94%
2 ways to make money in the sheep business
- Increase the value of lamb and wool
2. Reduce the cost of production
What concentrate provides more usable energy to sheep than any other common source?
Shelled corn
Roughages contain much more _____ than corn.
Fiber
Alfalfa, clover and other legume hays should be fed to provide _____
Protein
Production Stage: Flushing
- # Days
- Calendar dates
14 days
8/1 - 8/14
Production Stage: Breeding
- # Days
- Calendar dates
53 days
8/15 - 10/7
Production Stage: Early Gestation
- # Days
- Calendar dates
110 days
9/7 - 12/26
Production Stage: Late Gestation
- # Days
- Calendar dates
28 days
12/26 - 1/23
Production Stage: Average Lambing Date
- # Days
- Calendar dates
1/23
Production Stage: Lactation
- # Days
- Calendar dates
60 days
1/23 - 3/24
Production Stage: Average Weaning Date
- # Days
- Calendar dates
3/24
Production Stage: Post-Weaning
- # Days
- Calendar dates
10 days
3/24 - 4/3
Production Stage: Maintenance (open, dry)
- # Days
- Calendar dates
118
4/3 - 8/1
Production Stage: Flushing
What does it mean? What do you do?
Nutritional flushing means ewes are in rising body condition when they enter the breeding season
Provide extra dietary ENERGY
Research has shown that properly flushed ewes have ___ - ___% _____ lambing rates than non-flushed ewes.
15-20% higher lambing rates
What BCS should sheep have when they enter flushing?
1.5 - 2.0
Maximum ovulation rates are obtained with ewes in BC of ___ to ___ at mating time.
2.0 - 3.0
Ewes should gain ___ to ___ lb/hd/d during the 2-week flushing period and 3 weeks into breeding season for a total of _____ lb/hd
0.2 - 0.25 lb/hd/d
7 - 10 lb/hd total
How to increase gain during flushing?
Supplement with 0.5 - 1.0 lb/hd/d of grain and/or move the flock to a higher quality pasture
Production Stage: Breeding
What does it mean? What do you do?
Continue flushing regimen 3 weeks into breeding
Leave ewes in same pasture 7-10d after rams are removed (research shows ^ embryo mortality due to altering of normal routines)
Provide loose trace mineral salt with Se and clean fresh water ad lib
Breeding season BCS should not exceed
3.0 at the end of the season
Production Stage: Early Gestation
What does it mean? What do you do?
- Daily gains should only be 0.07 lb/hd/d (7.7 lb total)
- Period where considerable feed costs can be saved
- Maximize roughage use under grazing conditions - ewes can serve as scavengers
- Provide loose trace mineral salt with Se and clean fresh water ad lib
Grazing _____ is an efficient method of meeting the ewes’ nutrient requirements during early gestation
Alfalfa
Quality of feed is not important during early gestation as long as …
The quantity is adequate
Which production stage can feed the poorest quality hay?
Early gestation
Which is more cost-efficient in early gestation: Pasture or grass hay?
Pasture - costs about $4/ewe/110-d
End of early gestation BCS should not exceed
3.0
_____ increases dramatically during the last 4-6 wk of gestation
Fetal growth
Late gestation ewes should be fed more _____ rations
“Energy-dense”
Production Stage: Late Gestation
What does it mean? What do you do?
- Ewes should gain 0.4 - 0.5 lb/hd/d (15 - 30 lb total) during the last 4-6 wk of gestation
- Condition score should increase from 3.0 to 3.5-4.0 (No more or less due to ketosis)
- More concentrates should be fed and roughage should be higher quality
What should you feed your late gestation ewes?
Corn silage, Ad lib
Alfalfa hay, midbloom 1.0 lb/hd/d
Shelled corn, 0.5 lb/hd/d
Provide loose trace mineral salt with Se and clean fresh water ad lib
Production Stage: Lambing
What does it mean? What do you do?
Ewes and lambs should be moved into individual lambing pens
Provide only water for first 24 hr after lambing
Then, feed 3-5 lb of high quality alfalfa until moved to maternity pen 2-5 days after lambing
Production Stage: Lactation
What does it mean? What do you do?
Feeding in lactation is for MILK production and not body condition
Corn silage, Ad lib
Alfalfa hay, midbloom 2.0 lb/hd/d
Shelled corn, 1.0 lb/hd/d
SBM, 0.4 lb/hd/d
Provide loose trace mineral salt with Se and clean fresh water ad lib
Ewes should enter lactation in condition score
4.0
High-producing ewes may lose _____ lb during lactation
15-30 lb
After 60 d, BCSs of ewes may be as low as
1.5
Daily nutrient requirements are highest in ewes during
Lactation
Production Stage: Maintenance
What does it mean? What do you do?
Send to pasture and rotationally graze them to keep them from becoming overfat when the time for flushing arises
Provide loose trace mineral salt with Se and clean fresh water ad lib
_____ is the most economical feed for ewes overall and should be used to the max during flushing/breeding, early gestation and maintenance
Pasture
Always plan to feed _____ for _____ and _____ and _____.
Energy for energy
Protein for protein
How many days of the year should you pasture your ewes?
281 days
How many rams should you have for your flock?
6-7 rams per ewe
1 ram unit = 30-35 ewes
Products of flushing
Synchronized breeding
15-20% increase in Lambing rate
Average lambing date of October lambs
Average weaning date
October 15
December 15
Average lambing date of April lambs
Average weaning date
April 13
June 20
4 Possible KY Sheep Systems
S/O Lambing
J/F Lambing
April Lambing
Fattening Feeder lambs
S/O Lambing Program produces spring lambs.
4 Advantages?
Assured of early market - fewer “late” lambs
Less labor needed in “open” falls
Stored feed is fed to most efficient animals
May be a means to increase size of operation
S/O Lambing Program produces spring lambs.
2 Disadvantages?
Will require breeds that breed out of season
Black faced rams may be essential
J/F Lambing Program produces spring lambs.
3 Advantages?
Uses slack winter work periods
Normal breeding season
Grass can make up large part of lamb ration (starts to grow M/A)
S/O Lambing Program produces spring lambs.
3 Disadvantages?
Lambing in cold weather
Parasite control more difficult
“Late” lambs more of a problem