Sheep Flashcards
Are sheep grazers or browsers?
Grazers
What percentage of US farming revenue do sheep make up?
Less than 1%
What are the 4 compartments of the stomach in sheep?
Reticulum, Rumen, Omasum, and Abomasum
What is the primary function of the reticulum?
To sort particles, the small ones continue onto the rumen, and the larger particles get pushed back up to be rechewed. This is where “hardware disease” is dealt with.
What is the primary function of the rumen?
The containment of the microbia, and to break down tougher substances. Has a higher pH (~7 or 8) and finger-like papillae to increase surface area and absorption. Breaks down harder substances by fermentation.
What is the primary function of the omasum?
Called the butcher’s bible because of its density, you could slice along it and flip through it like a book. Where most of the water absorption takes place
What is the primary function of the abomasum?
It is their final compartment and functions like an acid stomach. Works the same as any other monogastric (one stomach compartment, i.e. Humans) and has a very low pH (~2 or 3).
Is the number of sheep operations increasing or decreasing? Why?
Decreasing, there’s a lower demand for wool with the creation of synthetic fabrics. Less need for their meat and milk as well because of other animals providing alternatives to sheep meat.
When was sheep production at a peak?
During wartime, they are a great multipurpose species, and take very little land to raise. They also have a short gestation which makes reproduction somewhat easier.
What kind of reproductive nature do sheep have?
They are seasonally polyestrus, meaning they go into heat multiple times a season.
Are sheep long day or short day reproducers?
Short day, they go into heat during the winters.
Sheep birth weight:
7-15lbs
Sheep mature weight:
125-350lbs
Fleece weight:
6-8lbs for medium wool and 10-15lbs for fine wool per year
Sheep lifespan:
6-12 years
Sheep gestation:
147 days or 5 months
Sheep temperature:
100.9-103.8 degrees F
Sheep heart rate:
70-80 bpm
Sheep respiration rate
16-34 rpm/bpm
Thermoneutral with wool
40 degrees F
Thermoneutral without wool
70 degrees F
Sheep behavior/senses (eyesight, hearing, smell, intelligence, herding instinct, defense):
Eyesight: poor/moderate
Hearing: good
Smell: good
Intelligence: low
Herding instinct: high
Defense: flight
What is an ewe?
Any female sheep
What is a ram/buck?
An intact male sheep
What is a lamb?
A baby/young sheep
What is a wether?
A castrated male sheep or goat
What is mutton?
Meat from an older sheep
Wool sheep breeds:
Merino and Rambouillet
Meat sheep breeds:
Hampshire, Dorset, Suffolk, Southdown
Milk sheep breeds:
East Friesian and Lacaune
What breed has a black face with a wool cap?
Hampshire
What breed has a bright white face with pink skin and bright white legs?
Dorset
What breed has a black face with slick black legs?
Suffolk
What breed has a fluffy white face with mousey brown/grey skin?
Southdown
What are Hampshire sheep qualities?
- medium wool
- rapid growth and feed efficiency
- seasonal breeders
- rams ~275lbs
- ewes ~ 200lbs
What are Suffolk sheep qualities?
- medium wool
- easy lambers
- seasonal breeders
What are Dorset sheep qualities?
- medium wool
- horned or polled
- aseasonal breeders
What are Southdown sheep qualities?
- economical breed
- excellent carcass breed
- moderate size
- very docile
- from Suffolk, England
What is one of the biggest challenges for small ruminant production? Especially in the southeast?
Haemonchus contorts, or the Barber’s pole worm. Lives in the abomasum and requires no intermediate host.
What common issue do parasites cause in hosts?
Anemia
What is the leading cause of death in sheep?
Parasite induced anemia
How do you conduct a FAMACHA scoring?
Cover: eyeball with eyelid
Push: on the eyeball
Pull: bottom eyelid down
Pop: mucous membranes appear
