Sheep Husbandry Part 1 Flashcards
What age do lambs reach puberty?
8 months old
What is the gestation length of a sheep.
147 days
What is the average oestrus cycle
3 weeks, they usually have 2 cycles
What occurs in October
Pre breeding checks, purchase of replacements, ewe abortion vaccines and flushing of ewes, lambs are made in autumn not spring
What occurs in November?
Tupping, 25-100 ewes per ram, 5th nov to 1st April for lambing
What occurs in December
Rams are removed after 6-8 weeks with the ewes and 2 ewe cycles
What occurs in January
Scanning for pregnancy, presence and number of foetuses, sale of barren ewes
Why may sheep be separated
Separated based on body condition scores, so that they can flush appropriately
What is Scanning?
Takes place at 55-100 days after the removal of the rams, barren ewes are removed from the group to prevent wasting valuable feed
When does the majority of foetal growth occur?
The last 8 weeks of gestation
What occurs in February?
Nutrition is evaluated, concentrates often from the 6 weeks prior to lambing, administer pre-lambing vaccines to new ewes
March
Administration of pre-lambing ewe vaccines four weeks prior to lambing
April
Lambing, nursing a treatment, giving colostrum, recording of any issues, castration of male lambs and docking of lambs tails ewes and lambs returned to grazing
May
Administration of first lamb vaccinations, worming lambs, crop feeding lambs, they start to eat properly at 6 weeks
June
Administration of second lamb vaccine, shearing of adults and last years lambs
July
Weaning of best lambs, first batch are sold
August
Ewes and lambs grazing separately, lambs continuously monitored
What is the average conception time for a ewe
42 days
September
Lambs moved to stubble turnips for winter grazing, ewes rest and gain BCS
From days 42-90
Feed for ewe maintenance, considerable placenta development- if ewe is not fed enough placenta doesn’t grow properly
What does ultrasound scanning identify?
Identifies barren ewes, and which are carrying single/ twins
What occurs at day 90
Parturition, rapid foetal grows, giving concentrates, ewes are fed 2x maintenance, so good quality hay or silage
What occurs 6 weeks prior to lambing
Ewes are moved to shelters fields or indoors, some people may shear ewes at this time, may be problematic due to changes in weather
What are the positives of indoor lambing?
Reduced risk of hypothermia, easier to monitor and intervention more control on ewe diet pre- lambing
What are the negatives of indoor lambing?
Potential disease spread, risk of mismothering, stressful to move ewes prior to lambing
What are the positives of outdoor lambing
More space, less disease spread and less stressful
What are the negatives of outdoor lambing?
Harder to monitor, lamb hypothermia, predation
What is the housing of Hill sheep?
Usually lamb outside as they are hardy, supplementary feeding is usually provided- sometimes ewes are moved to shelters grazing areas
Housing of lowland sheep?
Shelter usually provided, protection brought in for ewes in late gestation and during lambing, housing needs to be well ventilated, ewe and lambs usually penned either individually
What are the first signs of lambing
Not wanting to feed, separated from flock, lifts head up
Common sheep husbandry procedures?
Ageing, BCS,
How do you estimate the age of a sheep or goat
The age at which the milk teeth are replaced by permanent incisors
Teeth in sheep, cow etc
Don’t have a full set on top, instead just have a dental pad
What is the ideal BCS
4 at the top of Tupping, 3 at the lowest
Foot trimming
Not recommended but important to exam sheep feet to help identify lameness
What is the purpose of shearing
To ensure they don’t overheat, and reduces risk of fly strike
Crutching
Wool is removed from around the tail and between the back legs
How do people shear?
Most use a contracter, electric cutters are used
Welfare considerations of shearing
Inexperience shearers can cause injury which can cause stress, shorn sheep need to be protected from very wet cold conditions
Why do we delay vaccines in lambs and calves?
Can interfere with maternal antibodies in colostrum, lambs usually vaccinated from 3-4 weeks
