Module 4 Flashcards
Of all the major livestock species, _______ and _______ have the greatest potential for advancement in reproductive efficiency
sheep and goats
Recent advancements in genetic selection technology and management practices
have proven that flocks and herds can rear _____% larger lamb and kid crops depending on their environment.
50-100%
A high input scenario relative to the amount of utilized land are classified as __________.
intensive production
It is defined as being low input and often utilizing larger tracts of land.
Extensive production
It is one of the primary differences in intensive versus extensive production.
Reproductive management
_________ will generate larger lamb and kid crops, but at an added production cost.
Lambing or kidding generally occurs in a facility or small paddock and under daily management.
Intensive operations
It is typically more precise in intensive management, and often includes pedigree,
health, performance information and dates for breeding, lambing/kidding, and weaning on individual animals.
Record keeping
These are typically higher in intensive operations, but the adoption of technology to improve efficiency is also more prevalent in this system.
Labor outputs
It usually focuses on groups of animals as opposed to the individual. Though these operators tend to be larger in animal numbers (greater than 1,000).
Extensive production
In an ____________, ewes or nannies often give birth outside and under limited supervision.
Though limited individual animal management occurs, the prevalence of disease is typically lower in this system and thus animal health is not necessarily poorer in this type of system.
extensive system
In some extensive production systems, a female sheep or goat is managed to produce ________ offspring in their lifetime; whereas, some intensive production systems may produce _______ offspring per breeding female annually.
3 - 5
3 - 5
What are the four main breeding systems commonly employed in the goat and sheep industry:
- Hand mating
- Pen breeding
- Artificial insemination (AI)
- Out-of-season breeding
This method involves selecting the buck/ram for the doe/ewe and mating them.
Hand mating
This method has the advantage of allowing the exact breeding date to be recorded. It is, however, quite labor intensive, requiring the manager to accurately identify the doe/ewe in heat and facilitate the mating.
Hand mating
The buck/ram is put in a pen of does/ewes to facilitate their mating.
Pen mating
This method relies on the male to detect females in heat. It is significantly less labor
intensive when compared to hand breeding.
Pen breeding
It has the disadvantage of resulting in a less certain day of breeding record. Also, if more than one female comes into heat on the same day, the male may single out one
female and miss the others. There may also be the requirement of follow-up pregnancy ultrasounds to determine the female’s due date.
Pen breeding
A yearling male should be placed with how many females? while a more mature male can be placed with how many females?
10 to 25 females
15 to 40 females
It offers the advantage of introducing
superior genetics cost effectively.
Artificial insemination (AI)
It requires large investments of time in order to carefully and accurately detect
estrus. It is suggested that producers start off with a manageable number of females and work toward whole-herd usage.
Artificial Insemination
Currently, the most reliable results in goats and sheep are obtained by inseminating trans-cervically with fresh semen
Artificial insemination
The most reliable, though costly, method involves using artificial lighting. Males
and females must be housed separately indoors to allow control of light exposure.
Out-of-season breeding
During the winter months, both are exposed to at least ______ of light for ______.
20 hours
60 days
When considering lighting, it is important that the light is bright at the eye level.
TRUE
Goats are then moved to natural lighting for _________, after which the buck is put with the does for breeding. This generally produces a single shortened estrus.
45 days
It is important to keep the buck to doe ratio high, and pen breeding should be used.
TRUE
To ensure prevention of production losses due to infertility, a breeding soundness exam should be performed on the male 30 to 60 days prior to the breeding season.
TRUE
Evaluation should include what?
physical exam, reproductive tract exam, and semen analysis
Various factors that can determine when and how often operations choose to lamb or kid
available labor, breed, seasonality, available forage, and targeted market
Most often, birthing occurs when?
once a year and spring
