Sheep management

Question 1

cull ewe

Answer 1

ewe no longer fit for breeding so used for meat

Question 2

down breed (sheep)

Answer 2

short wool

Question 3

draft ewe

Answer 3

too old for hill grazing so goes to lower ground

Question 4

ewe

Answer 4

female sheep who has had first lamb

Question 5

gimmer

Answer 5

female sheep in second year without having a lamb

Question 6

hogg

Answer 6

young sheep from jan after birth until it cuts 2 teeth (18 months)

Question 7

raddle

Answer 7

coloured pigment applied to tups chest to show which/when ewes have been mated

Question 8

ram/tup

Answer 8

uncastrated male

Question 9

store

Answer 9

sheep sold for further fattening

Question 10

teaser

Answer 10

vasectomies ram which behaves like a ram but doesn’t impregnate. Brings ewes into season

Question 11

Terminal sire

Answer 11

tup used to produce lambs for slaughter

Question 12

wether

Answer 12

castrated male sheep

Question 13

Mule

Answer 13

swaledale and blue faced leister

Question 14

highland sheep breeds

Answer 14

welsh mountain, scottish blackface, swaledale, hershwick

Question 15

upland sheep breeds

Answer 15

border leicester and bluefaced Leicester

Question 16

lowland sheep breeds

Answer 16

suffolk, hampshire down

Question 17

To advance sheep breeding period

Answer 17

• Use of teaser rams (vasectomised rams) to utilise the ‘ram effect’. Contact with the ram causes onset of breeding activity probably by release of pheromones.
• Artificial shortening of day length by keeping the sheep in light proof buildings and steadily reducing the day length. This is not a particularly reliable method.
• Melatonin implants inserted under the skin behind the ewe’s ear. This mimics decreasing daylight hours.
• Progesterone sponges placed in the vagina for 12-14 days (when released causes oestrus)

Question 18

Lambing percentage

Answer 18

number of lambs born/number of ewes put to tup

Question 19

Rearing percentage

Answer 19

number of lambs reared/number of ewes put to tup

Question 20

Body condition scoring sheep

Answer 20

The spinous process and transverse process of the lumbar vertebrae and the overlying muscle (eye muscle) are felt and used to assess BCS.
Scale 1-5; 3 is a sheep in average condition and 2.5 is perfect

Question 21

breeds which breed all year - sheep

Answer 21

finns and Dorsets