Sheep Flashcards
Ram (Buck)
Intact or Uncastrated Male
Any age
Ram Lamb
In tact male sheep
Less than 1 yr of age
“Young sheep”
Mutton
When meat is taken from a mature sheep
Older than 1 yr
Contains a much stronger flavor than lamb.
Ossification is used to determine age after slaughter
Ovine
Species name for sheep
Wool
Fibers produced by sheep
Fleece
Wool Produced from one sheep at the time of sheering
1x per year typically
Lanolin
Found with wool & dirt
Used in moisturizer and hand creams etc bc it gives moisture
Oily substance obtained from the wool
Important Traits of Sheep
Adaptability - Can they produce and thrive under the conditions they live in ? - Heat, Humidity
Prolificacy- Number of lambs born per ewe; As fertility increases fleece weight decreases ;
Growth rate - Growing faster means they can be marketed faster. Weight is taken at weaning and post-weaning
Carcass Merit - Muscle vs. Fat ; select for rate of gain ; the average ones typically provide consistent profit and less fluctuations
Fleece trait-Grease Fleece, Clean Fleece weight, Staple length and grade
Meat Breeds
More productive in farm flock conditions because of their prolificacy and desirable growth rate
Fine wool - Medium wool Breeds
More productive under range conditions
Hardiness, longevity and flocking instincts contribute to this
Grease Fleece
Requires Skowering to remove dirt and Oil
Types of Operations
1-Manage Intensively: feeding, housing, protecting, healthcare(More of a financial commitment)
2-Manage Extensively: Not feeding, No Healthcare , Not Housing ( Less of a financial COmmitment
Range- Primarily Wool Type Sheep;Large group that is self sufficient, not tended to ; Western US
Farm Flock-Fenced Pastures, They need to be more profitable to offset expenses
Purebred- Mostly farm flocks ,sheep are registered , throughout the US
Feedlot-Fed In a dry lot
Fiber Diameter Grading
Finer diameter means more expensive product
