Sheep Production And The UK sheep Industry Flashcards
Tup
Breeding male
Ewe
Breeding female that has had more than one crop
Tupping
Mating of a ram and a ewe
Gimmer
A female ewe lamb from first shearing to giving birth
Ewe lamb
Female lamb destined for breeding >1 year
Shearling
A lamb destined for breeding after first shear (1 to 2)
Finished lambs
Lambs that are ready for slaughter within a year from birth
Hogg/Hoggett
Lamb destined for meat between 1-2 years
Barren
Ewes that don’t become pregnant after being tupped
Broken mouthed
A sheep that has lost broken teeth
Draft ewe
Older breeding ewe, sold off hills to lower ground where the conditions are less challenging
Teaser
Vasectomised ram, placed among ewes to encourage oestrus
Highland sheep
Harsh climates, long winters, poor soil quality
Upland
Less harsh than hills, land and soil are not very productive
Lowland
Least harsh weather condition, more productive soil
Hill breeds
Hardy, excellent mothers, 1 lamb a year, thick coated and adapted for harsh conditions
Upland breeds
More prolific than hill breeds, do better on lower/ easier terrain
Lowland breeds
Grow fast, heavier frames, more prolific
Terminal sire
The cross gives a lamb that is not used for breeding
Mules
A cross bred sheep, usually born to upland systems, with a drafted hill breed mother and an upland breed father
What is the worlds sheep population in the UK?
3-5%, it has 20 to 25% of the sheep in Europe
What percentage of farmland is best suited to grass
60
What are the benefits of not cultivating the grass
Carbon stores remain locked in the ground and not released into the atmosphere
How do sheep contribute to conservation
They help maintain grasslands and uplands, which promote plant and animal biodiversity and wildlife control- they also help to fertilise soil to grow crops in a low impact way
Flushed
Ewe is fed enhanced diet before tupping
What is the average year sheep are Culled?
6
What weight are lambs slaughtered
40kg, at around 5-8 months old
Mutton
Meat from a sheep over 2 years, different taste and texture compared to lamb, usually produced from ewes at the end of their productive lamb
Wool
Secondary product of sheep farming, a renewable material- used for clothing, insulation etc
What is the shearing cost to farmers
0.9-£1 a sheep
Milk industry in the UK
small industry, mostly to produce cheese- they are usually milked twice a day
Hobby sheep farming
Can be kept in a very small flock or as pets to accompany other species- there are legal requirements relating to livestock (register holding)
Farm assurance scheme
A single schème accepted by all major buyers, monitor what consumers value the most from the food
Government schemes
DEFRA, APHA and AHDB
What are draft ewes?
older sheep that are raised on hill farms then sold to farmers on lower grounds where the environment is less challenging
How much does the sheep industry contribute to the national economy?
290 million
