Sheep

Question 1

What is the main product from sheep production?

Answer 1

Meat

Question 2

Why is wool removed from the sheep?

Answer 2

Control fly strike

Prevent heat stress

Question 3

How is wool quality measured? What is the target?

Answer 3

Microns

Less than 24 microns is the target

Question 4

How many microns defines coarse wool?

Answer 4

35-50 microns

Question 5

What is stratification?

Answer 5

How we use different breeds

Question 6

What are the 3 stratifications in the UK?

Answer 6

The hills
Uplands
Lowlands

Question 7

How is fecundity increased when sheep are moved to upland areas?

Answer 7

More likely to have twins when crossed with upland rams

Question 8

How have the top 1/3 performing flocks increased their profit per ewe?

Answer 8

1. Strategic feeding
2. More lambs born and reared
3. Better carcass quality
4. Lower fixed costs
5. Higher scanning %

Question 9

What is the average cost of a replacement commercial ram?

Answer 9

£300-£1000

Question 10

What is the average cost of a replacement ewe?

Answer 10

£100-£140

Question 11

What is the minimum housing requirement for a ewe alone?

Answer 11

1.2-1.4 m2 / ewe

Question 12

What is the minimum housing requirement for a ewe with lambs?

Answer 12

2.0 – 2.2 m2 / ewe with lambs

Question 13

Why is ventilation a problem in lambing housing?

Answer 13

Housing is often temporary for the few weeks of lambing that occur each year - can not be as good quality as permanent housing

Question 14

When do sheep need to be ID’d?

Answer 14

Before 6 to 9 months old or if moving off holding

Question 15

When is a full tag needed for a lamb?

Answer 15

If staying more than 12 months - need 1 electronic and 1 plastic

Question 16

What sire breed is always used to produce a mule crossbreed?

Answer 16

Blue-faced Leicester

Question 17

What is the peak DLWG for lambs?

Answer 17

250-350g at 20-40 days old

Question 18

Before how many weeks old is growth poor if they are weaned?

Answer 18

8 weeks old

• ideal weaning is 12-14 weeks old

Question 19

What is the average weight at 11 weeks old for creep fed vs control fed lambs?

Answer 19

creep = 32kg
control = 16kg

Question 20

What are short keep store lambs?

Answer 20

Lambs that are 5-7 Kg off their target weight

Winter finished for a few weeks

Question 21

What is the target finish weight of an individual lamb?

Answer 21

1/4 of sire + dam weight

Question 22

What is flushing of a ewe? What are the benefits of this?

Answer 22

3-6 weeks of feeding 0.25Kg/head/day post tupping (breeding)

• increase in twin production
• increased body condition score

Question 23

What are the 
1. mid pregnancy
2. 4 weeks pre-partum 
3. lambing
MJ requirements?

Answer 23

1. 10MJ = maintenance
2. 15MJ
3. 20MJ

Question 24

How can correct nutrition be assessed/ensured?

Answer 24

• assess condition score
• scan for foetal numbers
• check teeth

Question 25

When should lambs body condition score be assessed? What may result if a lamb is thin?

Answer 25

8 weeks after lambing

If thin, wean lambs early

Question 26

What causes pregnancy toxaemia?

Answer 26

Longer term underfeeding PLUS acute shortage

Question 27

When does peak lactation occur?

Answer 27

at 4 weeks

Question 28

What is the main issue with ewes mobilising their own body tissues?

Answer 28

Releases 17MJ of energy but requires 65MJ to regain the weight

• not economically beneficial
• maintaining dams ME through feed is essential

Question 29

When can hypocalcaemia occur, what are the 2 main causes?

Answer 29

pre- or post- partum

• stress
• changes in diet

Question 30

What is a common problem with feeding silage?

Answer 30

pH doesn’t get low enough leading to growth of listeria

Question 31

What are some disadvantages of feeding root-crops?

Answer 31

• tubers aren’t ploughed and ground freezes so they cannot access them
• links to vaginal prolapse as the food is bulky which increases abdominal pressure

Question 32

How many hours per day do sheep graze?

Answer 32

9 hours - any more than this means the sward height is limiting so they are having to feed for longer

Question 33

What is the target body condition score for rams at the start of mating?

Answer 33

3.5-4