Sheep Flashcards
When do the majority of sheep come into season?
Back end of ther year (Autumn time) and this is called “tupping season”
The pregnancy lasts around 145 days (4.5 months) and lambs are born normally January-May.
How many Ewes are used per ram during tupping?
Approximately 40 ewes per ram, depending on the size of their enclosure.
What are the two main categories for sheep?
Upland sheep- on the hillsides, usually less productive and less valuable hill breeds. More sturdy breeds.
Lowland sheep- down in the good grasslands and compete with other enterprises on the land. More productive, larger in size, and more valuable.
What is a progesterone sponge, and why is it used?
Sponges alter the hormone levels in sheep, and within 48 hours they are in season. This is useful, as all the sheep can lamb in a short spell. This improves management and cuts down on labour.
Give an example of an upland ewe and lowland ewe? Explain their differences.
Upland: Shetland ewe, much smaller under 35kg, and is very hardy and can tolerate extreme weather.
Lowland: Suffolk ewe, much larger around 120kg, less hardy and need soft rich ground to feed on.
What is a “Wether”?
This is a male lamb, which has been castrated. It has been fattened on forage rape crops etc, and then sold for meat.
What is a shearling?
It is a lamb, which is sold after approx 1.5 years. They are called shearlings because they have just been sheared and ready for the market.
Give some examples of common Scottish hill sheep?
Blackface and North country cheviot (NCC). They are normally kept “pure bred” so to keep them hardy. Blackface is the hardier of the two (just) and can survive on the very poorest of land.
What directly reflects the productivity of the sheep?
The environment of the sheep, and the poor weather conditions can affect the number of lambs produced (productivity). Sometimes can drop as low as 1 lamb every 2 years.
How many ewes do you expect to see on the upper hill tops?
Normally around 1 ewe per 7 acres, but in very poor heathery conditions, it may be 1 ewe per 10 acres.
Explain the breeds of sheep used on the upland areas?
Upland is not quite the same as hill sheep
Normally cross ewes, as slightly lower down the hill. Maternal half from the hill (blackface), and paternal half from an upland breed; usually a Leicester (blue face or border). Produce a cross called a grey face.
How many ewes do you expect to see per acre, in upland sheep?
Slightly more than the hill sheep. Approximately 3-4 per acre. Grassland usually better slightly lower down the hill.
What is vital when managing a lowground sheep flock?
They require intense management, because of their early lambing and high productivity. They often require shelter inside a barn, so they need access to this on poor weather days. If this is not provided lamb survival will drop.
Why are we seeing more sheep returning on arable farms?
Sometimes sheep owners (livestock) rent the land from the arable farmer and they can often eat the stalks left from the crops, or any weeds. They in return improve the soil quality naturally.
What is the general apetite of lambs?
4% of drymatter of bodyweight. So 28kg sheep eats 1.12kg a day,
