small ruminants Flashcards
ruminants
animals with multi chambered stomach etc sheep and goats have 3 llamas have 3
small ruminants also have
split hooves, a ridge in the tongue, maxillary dental pad and horizontally positioned oval eye pupils
sheep
compact animals with scent glands on the face and hind feet. Used for meat, wool, milk, hide and research
of domesticated breeds of sheep
300
sheeps wool
called fleece and is shorn one a year in the spring. average one weights 8lbs
lanolin
natural oil secreted by sebaceous glands, is recovered when fleece is washed and sold to cosmetic industries
sheep meat
young sheep meat- lamb. stronger tasting and stringier meat from the older adult sheep is known as mutton
goats used for
dairy, meat, hide, research, animal companions, weed control, pack animals and pets
goat meat is called
chevon
goat breeds
French alpine, saanen, toggenburg, oberhasli, Nubian, lamancha
llamas used for
companions, or pack animals, for fiber and meat, and as protectors of livestock. normally not sheared (takes 2yrs to grow back)
sheep and goats breeding
regular heat cycles occur every 18-21 days from late summer through the late winter
kid
young goat from birth to weaning age
buckling
immature male goat
lamb
young sheep from birth to weaning age
freshen
beginning of the lactation cycle immediately after parturition
culling
removal of undesirable animals from the group ie injury, unsound feet or legs, or infection of the mammary system or reproductive failure
breeding llamas
commonly hand mated or pasture bred year round. gestation- 11mos. Females are not permitted to be open bred
bonding
lambling or kidding pen is kept clean and the family allowed to stay for a few days before reintroduction to group
after birth
within a few weeks after birth lambs tails are docked (1” from body) and ram lambs are castrated
polled
naturally hornless
wattles
fleshly appendages found along the necks of goats can also be removed after birth
run-in-shed
shade or shelter from the sun
house dairy goats
in a barn with a milking parlour, master escape artists
llamas housing
shelter from wind during periods of extreme cold to prevent hypothermia
grazers
animals consume pasture or cereal crops (sheep mostly)
browsers
animals that consume bushes and shrubs rather than grasses (goats prefer)
llamas eat
both graze and browse
alfalfa hay
improves milk production of dairy goats but is too rich for llamas and male sheep goats
grain supplement
suggested for animals used for breeding, packing, meat, and milk production
pellets
ground mixed and compressed into a small uniform bullet
sweet feed
whole, cracked or rolled grains with molasses for palatability
sheep restraint
herd bound, should be grasped by the legs not by the wool, done with the animal in a standing or sitting position
goat restraint
more independent, easily backed into a corner
llama restraint
may be restrained by tying to a fence or post using a lead or halter, when threatened they will spit
common vaccinations
tetanus, clostridium perfringens and rabies. Dams during last 6-8 weeks of pregnancy boosters given at arrival
sheep preventive meds
oral meds for lice, keds, and mice
proper foot care
reduces chances of hoof rot, teat injuries, abnormal gait and sore feet. sheep and goat hooves should be trimmed at least 3x per yr
enteroxtoxemia
overeating, more common in confined animals fed heavily for maximum growth
signs of enteroxtoxemia
diarrhea, weakness, anorexia, incoordination, circling, convulsions, sudden death
tetanus
lockjaw, signs: poor coordination, anorexia, stiff limbs, prolapsed third eyelid, bloat, usually death
pneumonia
bacteria and viruses can cause. stress like shipping, changes in weather, barn that is too warm, or harassed by dogs
signs of pneumonia
fever, lethargy, dyspnea. coughing
