Sheep and Goats Flashcards
gross annual income
$460 million from sheep, lamb, and wool
consumption
less than 1lb of sheep per capita
sheep producing states
TX, CA, CO, WY, UT
goat industry
dairy goats, fiber-producing goats (angora), and meat goats
goat production growth
increased 58% in the US from 2002-2007 with the Boer goat
fibers
wool and mohair
young goats
kids
stocking rate
function of intake, most important aspect of pasture management
looks at animal unit equivalent
sheep
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goats
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meat breeds
smaller production systems that are more intensive
strengths: growth traits and carcass merit
disadvantages: not as adapted to range environment
hampshire
England, black faced, large frames, medium wool on legs, terminal sire
suffolk
England, largest framed, medium wool, bare head and legs, terminal sire, black faced
southdown
England, small to medium size, medium wool, wool on legs, one of the oldest breeds, not black faced
dorset (horned and polled)
england, medium size, medium wool, wool on legs, not black faced, can breed out of season
corriedale
new zealand, medium size, medium wool, wool on legs, dual purpose
finsheep
finland, small size, medium wool, bare legs and head, dual purpose, prolificacy
friesian sheep
highest producing dairy sheep
wool breeds
less muscling, higher quality wool, more extensive production, range flock
merino**
spain, medium size, fine wool standard, wool on legs, very hardy
rambouillet
france, largest frame, dial purpose, wool on legs, long-lived, rugged, basis for US western flocks
lincoln
england, large size, long wool, lustrous, wool on legs, spinning
colombia
lincoln x rambouillet, large, sheep station out of Dubois, ID, medium wool, wool on legs, dual purpose
targhee
rambouillet x colombia x corriedale, from sheep station, dual purpose, high quality wool, large size
polypay
targhee x dorset x rambouillet x finnsheep, medium size, from sheep station, prolific, out of season
jacob
rare breed, four horns, spotted fleece
alpine
switzerland/france, large size, dairy breed, no distinct color, upright ears
la mancha
california, dairy, any color pattern, very short ears, gopher or elf ear
saanen
switzerland, largest size, dairy, highest milk producer, white, forward pointing ears, light color
toggenburg
switzerland, medium size, dairy, 2nd highest in milk production, fawn with white on face, high fat content, wattles
nubian
UK, most numerous, large size, dairy, dual purpose, any color pattern, highest fat content, long pendulous ears
boer
asia, south africa, white with brown head or brown with spots, pendulous ears, #1 meat breed in the US
spanish
US, small size, meat, any color pattern, rugged and hardy, large horns
angora
himalayan mountains, turkey, fiber-mohair*, hardy, adaptable
mature female
ewe
mature male
ram or buck
young
lamb
castrated male
wether
meat of young sheep older than one year
hogget
meat of adult sheep
mutton
production systems
range production- larger bands of sheep (500+)
farm flock production- closer management
range production
migratory range: located in the intermountain states, use very large land areas often combining privately owned land and land leased from BLM
fenced range: primarily located in texas and southwestern states, rambouillet, fine wool breeds such as merino, and some hair sheep are common
shed lambing
allows earlier lambing, protected from predation, jugs (small stalls), bum lambs(mom doesn’`t take lamb), dock tail via elastrator
neonatal loss
weather events, predators, disease
farm flock production
average 40 head
commercial farm flock: produce lamb for either traditional or emerging ethnic markets, smaller, more diverse, and higher production costs
purebred farm flock: smaller operations that specialize in producing purebred breeding stock, club lamb production
replacement ewes
seasonally reproductive, short-day breeders, flushing prior to breeding (feeding higher quality feed to increase conception rate)
feeder lambs
feed out lambs from 70 to 140, fed high energy diet, risky type of operation- disease, worms, coccidiosis
reproductive management-sheep
seasonal polyestrous, short day breeders, estrous cycle 16-17 days, gestation length 144-152 days, national lambing rate ranges from 105 to 110%
physiological age of lamb carcass
break joint**, shape and color of ribs, and color of lean
quality grade of lamb
utility, good, prime, choice
