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