Sheep Flashcards
How long do they graze for?
12 - 14 hours
What is a Kade?
a bottle fed lamb, smaller flight zone
Areas to watch out for in sheep?
Body - Charge and butt
What is Orf?
Zoonotic disease
Contagious pustular dermatitis
Where is the Point of balance on a sheep?
Shoulder
Use this point to move sheep
What parts should you never lift, drag or pull at?
Wool,
Ears,
Horns,
Legs.
What is casting?
1 or 2 people,
a way of getting the sheep to be laying down back against you.
Sheep Gestation period?
145 days (143-147 days)
What physical changes happen in stage 1 of labour - and how long can it last?
Stage 1 =
2 - 6hrs
cervical dilation
behaviour changes
abdominal contractions
appearance of water bag
What physical changes happen in stage 2 of labour - and how long can it last?
Stage 2 =
1 hr
passage of lamb through birth canal
What physical changes happen in stage 3 of labour - and how long can it last?
Stage 3 =
within 2-3 hrs of stage 2
repulsion of foetal membranes (a thin tissue that surrounds the fetus during gestation)
How long should after lambing should the placenta be passed?
within 3 hrs
what is the colostrum volume required for a lamb in the first 2hrs?
50 ml/kg in first 2hrs
what is the colostrum volume required for a lamb in the first 24hrs?
250 ml/kg in first 24hrs
What are some physical signs you should intervene in a ewe’s lambing? (10)
the ewe:
* has been trying to pass the lamb for over 1 hr with no delivery
* no process once lamb is at visible at the vulva for 20mins
* if ewe started lambing but as stopped
* lambs head visible but no forelimbs
* foetal head and 1 forelimb visible
* only tail visible
* large and swollen at vulva
* parts of 2 lambs visible
* brown / smelly discharge
* vaginal prolapse identified
What are some consequences of dystocia for the lamb? (4)
lamb has a:
* increased mortality rate
* higher chance of neonatal infections
*slower weight gain
* increased cost of care/medications
what are some consequences of dystocia for the ewe? (4)
ewe has:
* reduced colostrum
* poor mothering behaviour due to difficult birth
* higher cost of care/medications
* potentially future fertility decrease
How to know when the ewe is close to lambing?
udder starts to get bigger as accumulating colostrum
sacroiliac ligament starts slackening
What is the ligament between the tail head and vulva?
Sacroiliac ligament
Type of presentations of lambs Ewes? (6)
normal
leg back
head back
head only
backwards
breach
Key signs to assess in a healthy born lamb? (8)
general demeanour
posture
abdominal fill
standing ability
gait
eyes and eyelids
salvation
play behaviour
Normal temperature of a lamb?
39 - 40
Moderate hypothermic temperature of a lamb?
37 - 39
Severe hypothermic temperature of a lamb?
less than 37
common diseases in lambs? (3)
watery mouth
joint ill
entropion
what is watery mouth in lambs caused by, symptoms and how to treat?
caused my E.coli
dull, refuse to eat, salivate more, collapsing
antibiotics or anti-inflammatory druys
what is joint ill in lambs?
hot, swollen, painful joints
what is entropion in lambs, symptoms and how to treat?
turning of one or both of the lower eyelids
runny eyes and cloudy cornea
injection of penicillin parallel to the eyelid
application of Michel clips to the eyelid
when does watery mouth typically affect lambs?
12 - 36hrs
what bacteria caused joint ill?
Streptococcus dysgalactiae
when and why would you castrate a lamb?
first week of life, allow 1-2 days of suckling
prevents inbreeding
breeding management
influences carcass composition and growth -> higher fats
when would you not castrate a lamb?
if going for slaughter at young age
what age do lambs hit puberty?
7 - 9 months old
rams start serving at 6 months
why would you tail dock?
reduced faecal contamination in tail
reduced fly strike
when would you inject glucose into a lamb?
more than 5 hrs old
temp less than 37
weak can’t hold its head up - can’t stomach tube it
dry and warm lamb
feed by stomach tube
when would you stomach feed a lamb?
more than 5hrs old
temperature less than 37
can hold head up
dry and warm lamb
feed by stomach tube again
where would you inject a glucose injection in a lamb and how?
Intraperitoneal injection
45 degree angle towards tail
1 inch down and left/right of navel
hold by legs, let organs drop
how do you measure a feeding tube for a lamb?
from mouth to shoulder
How long do lambs have milk teeth for?
birth - 12 months
How old when lambs get first 2 incisors ooo00ooo ?
1yr 3 months
central incisors
How old when lambs get incisors 3/4 oo0000oo ?
1yr 9 months
middle incisors
How old when lambs get incisors 5/6 o000000o ?
2yrs 3 months
lateral incisors
how old when lamb get incisors 7/8 00000000?
2yrs 9 months
corner incisors
What is broken mouth in sheep?
teeth become elongated
become loose
fall out
when can it be hard to tell the age of sheep?
if have broken mouth
would have to be culled if affected eating and BCS
what is the best way to tell the weight of a sheep?
Body Condition score 1-5
what body condition score does a ewe have to be over to breed?
2
what is the optimum bcs to breed a ewe from?
2.5 - 3.5
what are foot shears used for and how would you present animal?
trim feet of sheep
maintain shape and remove overgrowth
cast animal or turning gate
what is a bolus applicator used for?
to administer boluses
why should you not force a bolus out?
damage pharynx
what is a drench gun and what is it used for (2) and where is it administered?
deliver liquids
e.g. anthelmintics, mineral drenches
ejected at the back of the tongue
injection/injector what does it do?
administer multiple injections
e.g. vaccines
via subcutaneous delivery
what is a raddle harness / crayon?
attaches onto ram to identify mounting
crayon marks rear of mounted lamb
change colours - lighter - to calculate approx timings - group 10-20
what are 2 identification markers and what are they used for?
crayon - temporary, 1-2 weeks, indicate treatment, selection for sale
spray - longer lasting, 2-3 months, mark different groups, indicate treatment, no. ewe/lamb
what are Dagging shears and what are they used for?
to remove dirty wool known as dags
e.g. faecal soiling
aka crutching
what do you use to tail dock / castrate
an elastrator
what is a crook?
extends handlers reach
to catch sheep by head
or leg (can pull which is a welfare issue)
when is a halter used?
mainly showing
tying up reluctant ewe’s when fostering
where would you inject a subcutaneous injection in a sheep?
top of neck
behind front leg
pinch skin
where would you inject a intermuscular injection into a sheep?
triangle formed by nuchal ligament, jugular vein and cranial border of scapula
where would you inject a intravenous injection into a sheep?
jugular vien
occlude to raise
what breeding type are ewe’s?
short day seasonal polyoestrus (specific time)
when is a sheep breeding season?
mate July - December
born December - may
how long is their oestrus cycle and how long does it last?
16 - 17 days
24 - 40 hrs
when are lambs ‘finished’?
half adult body weight - 40kg
what weight would they need to gain per day to be finished within 10-20 weeks?
200-250 g/day
what would be an appropriate mature ram : lamb ratio?
1 : 50
less for less ram lambs
when can rams mate?
any time of the year
but lower libido and semen quality
when can ewe lambs be bred from?
at 60% of adult body weight
what does flushing mean in sheep terms?
number of ewe’s lambs per to ewe’s mated
what does fecundity mean?
number of young produced per females mated
what is the scientific name for sheep?
Ovis Aries
where are sheep glands?
face / tear glands under eyes
foot / scent glands between toes
what meat is produced from sheep?
lamb - only significant product
mutton - minor product
what is sheep milk used for?
milk
cheese
Sheep minor products?
wool
sheepskin
milk
mutton
types of sheep flocks? (3)
commercial -
pet/hobby -
pedigree -
what are EasyCare sheep?
need minimal labour input
some worm/ lameness resistant
high fleece value
no shearing
no crutching
no fly treatment needs
