Sheep/goat nutrition

Question 1

when are sheep and goats bred

Answer 1

fall

Question 2

how long is sheep gestation

Answer 2

147d

Question 3

when do you wean sheep

Answer 3

60-120 days (minimum 6 weeks, consuming 8 oz of starter per day, weigh 3x birthweight)

Question 4

how long is goat gestation

Answer 4

150 days

Question 5

how long do dairy goats lactate

Answer 5

305 days

Question 6

how long is dairy goat dry period

Answer 6

last 60 days of pregnancy

Question 7

target body condition score for ewe during breeding

Answer 7

3-3.5

Question 8

target body condition score for ewe during lambing

Answer 8

2.5-3.5

Question 9

4 places to measure body condition score

Answer 9

1. prominence of spinous process of lumbar vertebrae
2. fat cover over transverse processes
3. ease with which fingers pass under ends of transverse processes
4. fullness of eye muscle area

Question 10

when during breeding is BCS determined

Answer 10

6-8 weeks before beginning of mating

Question 11

lambing risks if too thin

Answer 11

• pregnancy toxemia
• weak lambs –> too little fat, hypothermia
• poor colostrum and milk production

Question 12

lambing risks if too fat

Answer 12

• pregnancy toxemia
• vaginal prolapse
• dystocia

Question 13

what is pregnancy toxemia

Answer 13

excessive fat breakdown –> ketones

Question 14

how do protein needs for sheep change with age

Answer 14

decrease as weight/age go up

Question 15

purpose of mineral feeders

Answer 15

provide ad lib free choice, environmentally protected trace mineral/salt

Question 16

how is rotational grazing best accomplished

Answer 16

subdividing pasture into smaller paddocks, often using portable electronic fence

Question 17

do sheep or goats browse more

Answer 17

goats

Question 18

do goats like to eat with their heads up or down

Answer 18

up –> reduces internal parasites

Question 19

what goats might need additional supplementation

Answer 19

replacements, first kid does, thin does

Question 20

how much corn can you feed

Answer 20

less than 0.4% of BW

Question 21

urinary calculi causes

Answer 21

• nutritional imbalances (esp high grain)

- too much phosphorus

Question 22

how to treat urinary calculi

Answer 22

• increase salt in ration to 4-5% –> higher water intake and diuresis
• urine acidification

Question 23

sheep and copper

Answer 23

• need 5-10ppm, 20ppm is max safe dose
• interacts with molybdenum
• when molybdenum <1ppm, normal copper levels are toxic
• selenium supplementation will increase copper utilization

Question 24

signs of copper toxicity

Answer 24

• hematuria
• icterus** (skin, sclera, omentum)
• depression
• anorexia
• weakness
• excessive thirst
• hemoglobinemia
• hemorrhagic enteritis
• sudden death
• uremia

Question 25

what to rule out before diagnosing copper toxicity

Answer 25

- toxic plants - eperythrozoa - onion poisoning - leptospirosis

Question 26

how do diagnose copper toxicity

Answer 26

- liver copper analysis | - kidney copper analysis

Question 27

copper:molybdenum ratios

Answer 27

6-7:1, >10:1 leads to toxicity, <4:1 leads to deficiency

Question 28

copper deficiency

Answer 28

- rare in sheep, common in cattle, can happen in goats | - caused by excessive sulfates or molybdenum

Question 29

signs of copper deficiency

Answer 29

- diarrhea - poor weight gains - light colored hair coats - anemia - unthrifty appearance - uncoordinated <2 month kids born to deficient does

Question 30

iodine deficiency (goiter)

Answer 30

- born with enlarged thyroids or dead/weak/without hair - no changes in appearance of adults - reduced yield - prevent by giving iodized salt

Question 31

selenium needs of sheep

Answer 31

- absorption best when adequate vitamin A/E, histidine | - diet should be 0.1-0.3ppm (need 0.3 in last trimester of pregnancy especially)

Question 32

polioencephalomalacia

Answer 32

- disturbance of thiamine metabolism | - secondary to acidosis, braken fern, high sulfur diet, amprolium treatment

Question 33

enterotoxemia

Answer 33

- rapid growth of clostridium perfringens D secondary to excess CHO in SI - from rapid feed changes

Question 34

colostrum for lambs and kids

Answer 34

- feed 10% of BW in colostrum in first 12 hours - give total 20% of BW in first 24 hours - should be fed 3-4 times every 12 hours

Question 35

feeding the doeling

Answer 35

- goal is to gain 1/3 lb per day to reach breeding weight at 7 mo old - concentrates, hay

Question 36

transition period

Answer 36

- a month before kidding to a month after kidding - critical time --> metabolic changes - gradually increase concentrates

Question 37

feeding early lactation

Answer 37

- 0.3lbs grain for every lb of milk over 3lbs/day with high forage quality - don't adjust more than 0.25lbs in 4 days - no more than 2lbs gain per feeding

Question 38

feeding peak lactation

Answer 38

- milk production peaks at 4-6 weeks of lactation | - intake peaks at 8-10 weeks of lactation

Question 39

feeding late lactation

Answer 39

- reduce concentrate level as milk production decreases | - want body condition score of 3-3.5

Question 40

formulating lactation rations

Answer 40

- salt 0.5-1% - sufficient vitamins, minerals - magnesium oxide, sodium bicarb to increase milk fat - zinc methionine to reduce SCC

Question 41

feed additives

Answer 41

- rumen undegradable protein - milk urea nitrogen - rumen inert fat - zinc methionine - sodium bicarb - magnesium oxide