Sheep Flashcards by Sophie Robinson

What is the main product from sheep production?

Meat

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Why is wool removed from the sheep?

Control fly strike

Prevent heat stress

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How is wool quality measured? What is the target?

Microns

Less than 24 microns is the target

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How many microns defines coarse wool?

35-50 microns

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is stratification?

How we use different breeds

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the 3 stratifications in the UK?

The hills
Uplands
Lowlands

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

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

More likely to have twins when crossed with upland rams

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

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

Strategic feeding
More lambs born and reared
Better carcass quality
Lower fixed costs
Higher scanning %

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the average cost of a replacement commercial ram?

£300-£1000

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the average cost of a replacement ewe?

£100-£140

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the minimum housing requirement for a ewe alone?

1.2-1.4 m2 / ewe

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

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

2.0 – 2.2 m2 / ewe with lambs

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Why is ventilation a problem in lambing housing?

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

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

When do sheep need to be ID’d?

Before 6 to 9 months old or if moving off holding

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

When is a full tag needed for a lamb?

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

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

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

Blue-faced Leicester

What is the peak DLWG for lambs?

250-350g at 20-40 days old

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

8 weeks old

ideal weaning is 12-14 weeks old

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

creep = 32kg
control = 16kg

What are short keep store lambs?

Lambs that are 5-7 Kg off their target weight

Winter finished for a few weeks

What is the target finish weight of an individual lamb?

1/4 of sire + dam weight

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

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

increase in twin production
increased body condition score

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

10MJ = maintenance
15MJ
20MJ

How can correct nutrition be assessed/ensured?

assess condition score
scan for foetal numbers
check teeth

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

8 weeks after lambing | If thin, wean lambs early

What causes pregnancy toxaemia?

Longer term underfeeding PLUS acute shortage

When does peak lactation occur?

at 4 weeks

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

Releases 17MJ of energy but requires 65MJ to regain the weight - not economically beneficial - maintaining dams ME through feed is essential

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

pre- or post- partum - stress - changes in diet

What is a common problem with feeding silage?

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

What are some disadvantages of feeding root-crops?

- 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

How many hours per day do sheep graze?

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

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

3.5-4