SHEEP HANDLING Flashcards
What is the general name of a cross-breed from hardy hill ewe (Cheviot) x longwool ram(Blue-faced Leicester)?
What are their qualities?
Crossbred ewe (Cheviot mule) - good-mothering, hardy and thrifty, prolific milky, larger, faster growth;
Hardy hill ewe - hardy, thrifty, milky, good-mothering;
Longwool ram - prolific, extra milk, large size, fast growth
Mostly for breeding purposes
Name the breed from Cheviot mule (crossbred ewe) x Texel ram (terminal sire tup) and state their qualities.
Texel cross - meat lambs for market
Crossing ewe - Good-mothering, prolific, hardy & thrifty, milky, larger
Terminal sire tup - large size, fast growing, meaty
What are the ages for eruption of sheep’s permanent teeth? State their in wear age.
Central incisors - 1 yr 3 m
Second incisors - 1 yr 9 m
Third incisors - 2 yrs 3 m
Fourth incisors - 2 yrs 9 m
In wear age - 3 months after permanent teeth eruption
State the estimated of weight in newborn lambs.
Single lamb: 6-8kg
Twin lamb: 5-6kg
triplet: 3-4kg
Prime lambs (fat lambs) are selected for market when what conditions are met?
Weight: 40kg
Condition score: 4
State the estimated weight and age of Cheviot mule ewe lamb replacement in the autumn.
Around 6 months old and weigh 45-50kg
State the estimated weight of adult Scottish mule ewe.
70-80kg
State the estimated weight of adult Suffolk ewe
Around 80-100kg
State the estimated weight of adult Suffolk tup.
These will weigh around 100-120kg
How many teeth do adult sheep have?
32 teeth;
8 incisors on the lower jaw with a dental pad on the upper jaw for grazing, and 24 molars (12 upper and 12 lower) at the back of the mouth for grinding food
State the major ear-tagging requirements.
- A prime lamb going for slaughter
- A single tag (which must be electronic in Scotland with UK flock number only
- A ewe lamb being retained on farm for breeding
- Double tagged with flock number and individual number (one must be electronic, on left ear)
- A breeding ewe that loses a tag (purchased)
- Double tagged with replacement tags or replace both with red tags from current holding
In what range of liveweight (kg) would you expect a mature Mule ewe to be?
70-80kg
What liveweight (kg) would you expect a mature Suffolk tup (ram) to be?
At least 100 kg (usually between 100-120 kg)
What are the most likely reason for the colour marks (red and green) on the eras of sheeps?
Ewes that have been mated
And by changing the colour regularly we get an indication of the order in which the ewes will lamb
A Scottish mule ewe is a cross between a Scottish Blackfaced (Sb) ewe and a Bluefaced Leicester ram. What are the desirable breed characteristics that the Scottish Blackface passes on the hybrid mule?
- Hardy
- Good mothering ability
Name the Terminal Sires breed.
- Texel
- Suffolk
- Beltex
What are the breed characteristics of a Terminal Sire such as the Suffolk?
- Good muscle confirmation
- Larger size
- Fast growing rate
What would be the most reliable method of visually identifying the gender of a sheep (especially a young one)
Check under the tail for anus/vulva
Why does lambing usually happen in the spring?
So the ewes can benefit from the spring grass during lactation
What is the average gestation period of sheep?
147 days
How do farmers confirm that the ewes have been mated?
Put colour on the ram’s brisket / chest, so that when he mates an ewe, it leaves a colour on her tail head, so the farmers know these ewes have been mated
When are ewes usually ultrasound during gestation?
At 45-90 days gestation;
To detect pregnancy, and to find our how many lambs each ewe’s expecting. The benefit being that the feed can be allocated more efficiently, and make sure every ewe’s nutritional needs are met
Give examples of ad lib forage (forage that is available at all times and doesn’t run out)
Conserved grass either as hay, haylage or silage
What are the benefits of bringing the ewes into the shed in January?
- Resting the grazing pasture, preventing it getting damage over the winter
- Gives more control of the ewes’ nutrition
- Allows us closer supervision of the ewes at lambing time
List the events in order after lambing
- Treat the umbilical cord
(Dipping or spraying the navel with iodine to help prevent infection entering the lamb’s system) - Ensure lambs have their first vital feed of colostrum as soon as possible (if the lamb is weak, colostrum is provided through stomach tube)
How to achieve 200% of lambing percentage (a target that is rarely met)
For every ewe to leave the shed with 2 healthy lambs
When around are lambs weaned?
When they are 4 months of age
