Sheep Flashcards
Which state has the highest sheep and lamb production?
Texas
How is Iowa ranked in sheep production?
10th
What percentage of US livestock receipts does the sheep industry account for?
less than 1%
Which country leads in sheep production?
China
What is the gestation length in sheep?
147 days
What kind of breeders are sheep considered?
Seasonal, bred in the fall and lamb in the spring
What is the weaning age of sheep?
60 days
How is age determined in a sheep carcass?
the presence or absence of a spool or break joint
What is a spool joint?
a joint that ossifies with age
What is a break joint?
a joint that does not ossify with age
What type of joints does lamb have?
2 break joints, the carcass has 1 break joint and 1 spool joint
What type of joints does mutton have?
2 spool joints, the carcass has 1 break joint and 1 spool joint
What is mutton?
older sheep meat, it will have much more fat than lamb and have a stronger flavor
What is lamb?
Sheep meat within its first year
What happened to lamb production in ww2?
it increased, Australia made more wool for the US
Why has wool production dropped?
synthetic materials increased in clothing, making the need of wool less
Why are sheep useful in the west?
There are increased chances of wildfire in the west US, sheep will graze on undergrowth which adds nutrients back into the soil and lessens the impact of natural disasters.
Where do range flocks normally lamb?
on open range
What percentage of range flock is lamb crop?
90-140%
What is the main concern for range flocks?
predators
What breeds are associated with range flocks?
Rambouillet
Where do range flocks normally occur?
western states
What sheep breed leads in wool?
Merino
Which sheep is derived from the Merino?
Rambouillet
What is the herd number of farm flocks?
25-100 hd
Is farm flock more or less intensively managed than range?
More
What is the percentage of lamb crops made from farm flocks?
180-200%
What are farm flocks orientated toward?
lamb production
What are jugs?
small maternity pens that transports
What are the concerns for farm flocks?
dogs and coyotes
What does alfalfa provide for sheep?
protein and energy
What is docking?
removing most of the lamb’s tail
What is the process of docking?
use castrator to place rubber band between vertebrate, tail will fall off within a week
Why is docking done?
Defecation and urination happen under tail, will stick and causes flies and maggots
When is docking done?
within a week of birth
What is crutching?
shearing around udder and vulva before farrowing
Why is crutching done?
To avoid oil in vulva clumping the fleece
What are farm flock fed?
supplement (grain) and minerals
What do worms do in sheep?
attach to intestinal tract and produce more eggs, becoming more resistant
How can you prevent worms in sheep?
rotating dewormers
How can you tell if sheep have worms?
3rd eyelid is white instead of pink
What kind of guard animals are used in farm flocks?
dogs, llamas, jenny
What are you hoping for when a sheep farrows?
twins
What age are yews bred?
6-8 months
What kind of dog breeds are popular with herding sheep?
Anatolian, Great Pyrenees, Hushbach, but they must be raised with whatever they are protecting
How has the predation of sheep changed over time?
the total number killed is down but cost to industry increased
How can you tell if a coyote has attacked?
Jugular kill of sheep
How can you tell if a dog has attacked?
Multiple injuries, herd clustered, and/or sheep have ran into fence
What are sheep fed in a feedlot?
High concentrated diet, 90% whole corn
What state is leading in lamb feeding?
California
At what weight do sheep enter? Exit?
Enter at 70-90 lbs and exit at 120-150 lbs
How long are sheep fed in feedlots?
4-10 months, based on market and supply
What is “overeating”
clostridium perfringens C and D, metabolic intestinal disease, can be prevented by vaccinations
What is urinary calculi?
Ca:P in feed, stop peeing, like kidney stones, manage with feed, intestinal parasites, hoove root, only in castrated males
What are the 2 qualities in wool that are important?
crimp and diameter
What is lanolin, and why is it important?
it is oil in sheep, it can be used in products
What is important when it comes to the diameter of wool?
The smaller, the better, fleece bigger diameter are considered meet breeds
What are goats used for?
meat, milk, mohair
What is goat meat called?
borego
What goat breed is considered for meat?
Boer, Spanish goat
What goat breed is used for milk?
Saanen, all white, biggest producer of milk
What goat breed is used for mohair?
Angoris for its natural fiber, Casameir is from goats
What is the gestation length for goats?
147 days
What is giving birth called in goats?
kidding
What is giving birth called in sheep?
farrowing
