Sheep Husbandry Part 1

Question 1

What age do lambs reach puberty?

Answer 1

8 months old

Question 2

What is the gestation length of a sheep.

Answer 2

147 days

Question 3

What is the average oestrus cycle

Answer 3

3 weeks, they usually have 2 cycles

Question 4

What occurs in October

Answer 4

Pre breeding checks, purchase of replacements, ewe abortion vaccines and flushing of ewes, lambs are made in autumn not spring

Question 5

What occurs in November?

Answer 5

Tupping, 25-100 ewes per ram, 5th nov to 1st April for lambing

Question 6

What occurs in December

Answer 6

Rams are removed after 6-8 weeks with the ewes and 2 ewe cycles

Question 7

What occurs in January

Answer 7

Scanning for pregnancy, presence and number of foetuses, sale of barren ewes

Question 8

Why may sheep be separated

Answer 8

Separated based on body condition scores, so that they can flush appropriately

Question 9

What is Scanning?

Answer 9

Takes place at 55-100 days after the removal of the rams, barren ewes are removed from the group to prevent wasting valuable feed

Question 10

When does the majority of foetal growth occur?

Answer 10

The last 8 weeks of gestation

Question 11

What occurs in February?

Answer 11

Nutrition is evaluated, concentrates often from the 6 weeks prior to lambing, administer pre-lambing vaccines to new ewes

Question 12

March

Answer 12

Administration of pre-lambing ewe vaccines four weeks prior to lambing

Question 13

April

Answer 13

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

Question 14

May

Answer 14

Administration of first lamb vaccinations, worming lambs, crop feeding lambs, they start to eat properly at 6 weeks

Question 15

June

Answer 15

Administration of second lamb vaccine, shearing of adults and last years lambs

Question 16

July

Answer 16

Weaning of best lambs, first batch are sold

Question 17

August

Answer 17

Ewes and lambs grazing separately, lambs continuously monitored

Question 18

What is the average conception time for a ewe

Answer 18

42 days

Question 19

September

Answer 19

Lambs moved to stubble turnips for winter grazing, ewes rest and gain BCS

Question 20

From days 42-90

Answer 20

Feed for ewe maintenance, considerable placenta development- if ewe is not fed enough placenta doesn’t grow properly

Question 21

What does ultrasound scanning identify?

Answer 21

Identifies barren ewes, and which are carrying single/ twins

Question 22

What occurs at day 90

Answer 22

Parturition, rapid foetal grows, giving concentrates, ewes are fed 2x maintenance, so good quality hay or silage

Question 23

What occurs 6 weeks prior to lambing

Answer 23

Ewes are moved to shelters fields or indoors, some people may shear ewes at this time, may be problematic due to changes in weather

Question 24

What are the positives of indoor lambing?

Answer 24

Reduced risk of hypothermia, easier to monitor and intervention more control on ewe diet pre- lambing

Question 25

What are the negatives of indoor lambing?

Answer 25

Potential disease spread, risk of mismothering, stressful to move ewes prior to lambing

Question 26

What are the positives of outdoor lambing

Answer 26

More space, less disease spread and less stressful

Question 27

What are the negatives of outdoor lambing?

Answer 27

Harder to monitor, lamb hypothermia, predation

Question 28

What is the housing of Hill sheep?

Answer 28

Usually lamb outside as they are hardy, supplementary feeding is usually provided- sometimes ewes are moved to shelters grazing areas

Question 29

Housing of lowland sheep?

Answer 29

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

Question 30

What are the first signs of lambing

Answer 30

Not wanting to feed, separated from flock, lifts head up

Question 31

Common sheep husbandry procedures?

Answer 31

Ageing, BCS,

Question 32

How do you estimate the age of a sheep or goat

Answer 32

The age at which the milk teeth are replaced by permanent incisors

Question 33

Teeth in sheep, cow etc

Answer 33

Don’t have a full set on top, instead just have a dental pad

Question 34

What is the ideal BCS

Answer 34

4 at the top of Tupping, 3 at the lowest

Question 35

Foot trimming

Answer 35

Not recommended but important to exam sheep feet to help identify lameness

Question 36

What is the purpose of shearing

Answer 36

To ensure they don’t overheat, and reduces risk of fly strike

Question 37

Crutching

Answer 37

Wool is removed from around the tail and between the back legs

Question 38

How do people shear?

Answer 38

Most use a contracter, electric cutters are used

Question 39

Welfare considerations of shearing

Answer 39

Inexperience shearers can cause injury which can cause stress, shorn sheep need to be protected from very wet cold conditions

Question 40

Why do we delay vaccines in lambs and calves?

Answer 40

Can interfere with maternal antibodies in colostrum, lambs usually vaccinated from 3-4 weeks