Ovine Flashcards
(T or F) Sheep are not a prey species
False
What is the average lifespan of a sheep?
8-10 years
What will free ranging sheep do?
Animals will group together in tighter groups when there is little coverage, and will spread out more in sheltered pasture areas where there is less threat.
What is the flocking instinct?
Social animals that do not like to be separated from flock
Who is the most dominant ewe?
The oldest
Is aggression seen in sheep?
No, unless food sources are limited
(T or F) Sheep never walk in a straight line
True
What are signs of pain that sheep might display?
Reduced feed intake and rumination.
Licking, rubbing or scratching painful areas.
Reluctance to move.
Grinding their teeth and curling their lips.
Changes in posture to avoid moving or causing contact to a painful body area
What are the signs of heat stress?
- Continual panting
- Rapid breathing
- Weakness or inability to stand
- Elevated temp
What are the signs of hypothermia?
- Shivering - will stop if worsens
- Cold mouth
- Inability to get up
- No sucking reflex (lambs)
- Frostbite (young)
What is the positioning of their eyes?
Side of head, 330 degrees of view
(T or F) Sheep are frightened by high-pitched and loud noises because their hearing is excellent
True
What are the two sites they detect smell from?
Nose and vomeronasal organ
How long will sheep chew their cud for?
Several hours a day
How often should you hear rumen sounds?
One sound per minute in 2-3 minutes
What is the major energy source?
Carbohydrates
What are the major energy sources for sheep?
Grass, hay with some silage, and grains
What is the average time a sheep will graze for in a day?
7 hours
Are sheep diurnal?
Yes, especially if it is hot out
How much water does a sheep drink in the summer versus the winter?
8-10L Summer
4L Winter
What is the gestation period for sheep?
142 to 152 days (5 months)
How does a ewe find its lamb?
Smell the milk through the faces of the lamb, makes it easy to foster a lamb that way
What does an elevated tail mean?
In heat, fighting, greeting, suckling
What does head movement indicate?
Aggressive or submissive
behaviours
What are jugs used for?
Indoor lambing
What does a cheviot look like?
No wool on head, white face
What does a Suffolk look like?
No wool on head, black head
What does a Dorset look like?
Horned or polled, wool on head, white face, and pink nose
What does a Ile de France look like?
Ugly as fuuuuuck
What is the flight zone?
Animals personal space
What is the point of balance?
is at the animal’s shoulder. All species of livestock will move forward if the handler steps behind the point of balance. And they will stop if you go in front of it
What do you utilize when handling a sheep?
Wall/panel
Why should you not grab the wool?
Painful and can cause bruising
How do you perform a standing restraint?
- Catch sheep against wall
- Hand to control head
- Legs prevent forward and sideways movement
- May need to be in corner to prevent backwards movement
What can tipping be used for?
- Trimming feet
- Udder and testes
- Teeth (aging)
How do you tip a sheep?
- Place one hand underneath the jaw of the sheep and stand to the side of the sheep.
- Ensure the leg closest to the sheep’s head is in line or just behind the shoulder. Your right knee should be touching the sheep’s hip.
- Place your hand over the sheep’s back, on the hips. Turn the sheep’s nose away from you towards the opposite shoulder your leg is next to.
- Put pressure on the hips (but not to bruise the animal) to cause an imbalance in the sheep’s hind.
- Step back with your leg touching the sheep’s hip while continuing to move the head towards the back of the sheep.
- The sheep’s hind should give way and its back will be leaning against your legs.
- Place one leg on either side of the sheep so it comfortably sits on its rump between you.
- Ensure the sheep is not resting on its dock, but rather the sheep’s hip.
What is on a sheep tag?
Number indicates order of birth that year in the flock and letter indicates the year of birth
What is the temp range?
39-40 degrees celsius
What is the HR range?
70 - 90 bpm
What is the rest rate range?
12 -30 rpm
What colour should the MM be?
Light pink
What should the CRT be?
1-2 seconds
What is the rumen sound scale?
0 = no motility heard
1 = hypomotility (only hear one in 2-3 min)
2 = normal motility ( hear 2 to 3 rumbles-”borborygmi” during the 2 to 3 min)
3 = hypermotility ( hear more than 4 rumbles)
What is the BCS scale?
1-5
What size needle should be used for an SQ injection?
22 or 20 G x 1⁄2 or 5⁄8
What is the size of needle used for IM injections?
20 G x 3⁄4 to 1”
What is a multi dose syringe?
pre-set to prescribed dose
separate syringe for each type of vaccine
change needles every 8-10 animals
always leave one clean/ sterile needle in the vaccine at all
times
What are routes of admin for parenteral medications?
SQ, IM, IV
What is Caseous Lymphadenitis?
Chronic, contagious disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium; palpated in lymph nodes. It is due by abscess formation in or near major peripheral lymph nodes.
What is a balling gun?
For pills/bolus admin