Sheep Industry

Question 1

Ewe

Answer 1

female

Question 2

Ram

Answer 2

male

Question 3

Wether

Answer 3

castrated male sheep

Question 4

lanb

Answer 4

young sheep < 1year

Question 5

Flock

Answer 5

group of sheep

Question 6

Ruminants

Answer 6

multi- compartment stomach

Question 7

Why did sheep import/export drop dramatically in 2003

Answer 7

BSE - mad cow

boarders were closed

Question 8

Key facts about sheep breeds?

Answer 8

• over 50 recognized sheep breeds in Canada ( over 900 in the world)
• British; maternal lines, long/short wool
• Continental / exotic ; terminal lines (lines of genetics that increase growth rate)

Question 9

What are some British breeds

Answer 9

Dorset (horns and polled)
Suffolk
Boarder Leicester
North country cheviot

Question 10

What are some continental/exotic breeds of sheep?

Answer 10

Texel
Dorper
Arcott
East friesian dairy

Question 11

Typical sheep environment?

Answer 11

Sheep do well in cool weather

Sheep prefer dry area

Question 12

What is flystrike

Answer 12

when manure accumulates around the rear of the sheep and flies start to nest in it which can lead to flesh eating maggots

Question 13

At lambing…

Answer 13

Lambs must be kept warm (claiming pens)
Lambs are tagged (RFID tag)
Tails docked (prevents flystrike)

Question 14

Key points on lamb magement

Answer 14

• creep feeders
• lambs weaned at ~3 months
• after weaned may enter feedlot or raised for replacements
• Ewe lambs can be bred at ~ 7 months old

Question 15

Key points for sheep nutrients

Answer 15

Not like small cows

• more selective
• can feed whole grains
• sensitive to some minerals like copper

Question 16

What is the target market weight in sheep?

Answer 16

100-110lbs

45-48lbs

Question 17

Key facts about sheep reproduction?

Answer 17

• 5 months gestation, 17-21 day oestrus
• short-day breeders (breed dependant)
• Multiple births
• Naturally bred
• AI done surgically

Question 18

Market weight of less than 30kg

Answer 18

Long keep

• more than 12 weeks
• total gain = 12-18kg
• 80-100g grain/day

Question 19

Market weight of 30-35kg

Answer 19

Medium keep

• 6-12 weeks
• total gain = 6-12kg
• 90-110kg grain/day

Question 20

market weight over 35kg

Answer 20

Short keep

• less than 6 weeks
• total gain = 5-6kg
• 140-160g grain/day

Question 21

Key points on accelerated lambing systems

Answer 21

3 lambings in 2 years or 5 lambing in 5 years is goal standard (about every 5 months)

Question 22

Key points of wool

Answer 22

• Sheep are shorn once/year
• “meat” breeds 4-6lbs per year
• long wool breeds 8-12lbs per year

Question 23

More key points on wool

Answer 23

• commercial wool price ~$1.00/kg
• shipped to asia to be processed
• Canada markeys about 2.5-3 million lbs of wool/year
• Canadian wool is marketed through the canadian co-operative wool growers
• smaller niche market mills
• Lanolin: natural wax, 5-25% of raw wool weight, many uses cosmetics to lubricants

Question 24

Features of sheep milk

Answer 24

• 400L/220 day lactation
• 7 % fat, 5.98% protein
• sheep milk had higher solids than cow or goat milk = cheese

Question 25

Key points on Lamb meat market

Answer 25

• 70-110lbs
• ethnic market
• 2 main holidays: easter, christmas