Small Ruminants Flashcards
What is a “doeling”?
A young female goat
What is a CM sheep OR goat called?
Wether
What are the functional characteristics of the South African Mutton Merino sheep breed?
Meat and Wool!
In sheep feeding, is amount or quality more important pertaining to protein?
AMOUNT
as opposed to chickens
What critical vitamins may need supplementation in the sheep?
A and D
Often in the winter and during confinement
T/F: Wool fiber is thinner than hair
TRUE
What is the largest single cost on sheep farms?
nutrition/feeding
Sheep production is controlled by the efficiency of converting _____ _______ into products (meat, milk, or wool)
Feed resources
What are two key components in the sheep diet?
Pasture and forage
Many sheep are raised under range conditions. What is the major cause of their high mortality rate?
Poor nutrition
What is one of the most important nutrients that sheep need, and typically will need to be brought to pasture for supply?
WATER
_____ limits the performance of sheep, especially in lactation and gestation
Energy
What will be noted in energy deficient sheep?
Reduced growth
Poor fertility
Decreased wool production
*generally pasture and hay are sufficient - but animals that are lactating/pregnant may need energy supplements
Lambs that are finished in feedlots require what kind of supplements?
Energy –> cereals
What type of pastures will provide sufficient protein for sheep?
Green pastures
*dried, matured pastures DO NOT
Do sheep require mineral supplementation?
YES - should be free choice
Trace minerals like Na, Cl, Co, Fe, Me and Zn
What is the BCS scale that is used in sheep?
1 - 5
Normal conditions Ewes will be between 2 - 4
BCS tends to be lower in older animals
What points on the body are used to assess BCS in sheep?
Spinous process
Muscle development or fat over transverse process
What two feeding systems are used on sheep farms?
Intensive feeding vs Range
*feeding systems vary with production stage, breed, size, occurrence of twins etc
What is flushing? When is it done?
It’s the process of increasing the nutrition of an ewe before breeding - to increase BCS, increase ovulation rate, and increase lambing rate (by 10-20%)
want to avoid over conditioning
How does the nutritional needs of a gestating ewe change?
Needs of the fetus will be much higher in the last two months - so nutrition of the ewe should be increased to supplement that (poor nutrition can result in lamb death)
- First 15 weeks: feeding under normal conditions
- Last 6 weeks: Critical period for fetus growth - will need to add energy supplement
- Parturition: good quality forage - supplementation at onset of lactation
How high are the needs in the lactating ewe (compared to maintenance)?
2-3 times maintenance
***especially when there are twin lambs
When does milk production peak in ewes?
3 weeks
They generally produce between 3- 6 lbs per day
What non animal factor will affect the lactation levels of sheep?
Season of lambing
Spring lambing: Ewes do well on pasture plus grain supplement
Fall lambing: Ewes do well on forage plus grain supplement
*lactating ewes should have mineral supplementation - mineral blocks
Lambs should nurse within ____ hours post birth
Within the first hour post birth
They need colostrum (passive immune transfer), then milk or milk replacer
Naturally fed lambs are weaned at ___ days
Artificially reared lambs are weaned as early as ___ days
natural - 60
Artificial - 30
To reduce nutritional stress in recently weaned lambs, they should get a _______
Supplement: 18-19% CP and high energy
T/F: Lambs can reach market weight while nursing
TRUE (southern Europe)
Not common in the US though
At what age to most lambs enter the feedlot for finishing?
5-6 months old
*hay supplemented with grain is the most effective diet for finishing and most cost effective on the feedlot
At what age do replacement ewes typically lamb for the first time?
1 or 2 yrs old
What are the advantages of 1 yr old lambing in replacement ewes?
Reduced maintenance costs
Shortens generation interval
Increases productive lifetime
Early selection
Ewes that are bred at 7-8 months old, to lamb at one year of age, are typically ____ % of their final body weight at that time
How does this affect their nutritional needs
65-75%
- these ewes will require a higher plane of nutrition to accelerate maturity
- grain needs to be incorporated in the diet (half a pound per day)
Why is nutrition not as critical when ewes are bred at 18 months and lamb at 2 years of age?
The animals are more mature - so they do well with range conditions (and supplements in the winter)
T/F: Pasture is sufficient for immature rams
FALSE
They need to be supplemented with hay and cereal during the winter or if the pasture quality is poor
*Mature rams can be maintained on pasture - but they should be supplemented prior to breeding (30-45 days prior)
What is the cause and result of pulpy kidney or overeating disease?
Enterotoxemia caused by Clostridium perfringens type D
Toxins cause enterocolitis, increase permeability of blood vessels - then enter the blood
Can cause swelling of the lungs and kidneys
*affects larger, fast gaining lambs
What are common signs associated with enterotoxemia in sheep?
Sudden death
loss of appetite
Abdominal discomfort
Profuse dhr
*Glucosuria - is diagnostic
How is enterotoxemia in sheep treated?
Administering C and D antitoxin
Admin thiamine (B1) IM
IV or SQ fluids
**prevention = vaccinate
What is a common nutrition related problem seen in rams and wethers in the drylot?
Urinary calculi
*animals will be depressed, off feed, and show a “humped” appearance. Abdomen will be distended with bladder rupture. Swelling along the penis will be noted with urethral rupture
How can urinary calculi in sheep be prevented?
Maintaining an ideal Ca:P ratio of 1:1
Having a continuous supply of water available
Salt blocks - to enhance drinking
Addition of ammonium chloride to the feed ration to acidify the urine
What is rectal prolapse associated with in sheep?
Genetics
Feeding pelleted, high roughage rations
Dustiness within the ration - increase coughing and rectal prolapse
Short docked tails
tx = surgery = $$$$$$
Where/when does cobalt deficiency occur in sheep?
In areas where soil is low in B12 concentrations
Can be complicated by parasitic infections
Commonly observed in weaned lambs at pasture during late summer/fall
What are some signs associated with cobalt deficiency in sheep?
Lethargy
reduced appetite
poor quality wool with an open fleece
small size and poor body condition
Tx: IM B12 injection and drenching with up to 1mg/kg colbalt sulfate
What are the conditions of pastures that result in copper deficiency after grazing?
Low in copper but high in iron
What are clinical signs associated with cooper deficiency in sheep?
hind leg weakness, poor wool quality, anemia, poor bone mineralization
Tx: Copper heptonate injection or supplementation with copper oxide
What is the etiology of what muscle disease?
Selenium and vitamin E deficiency
Selenium deficiency occurs in soils of certain geographic areas
Prevention: feed medication, periodic drenching, Selenium injection, free access to mineral licks
What is a browser?
Feeds on grasses and bush
goats
What should be the primary source of goats feed intake?
Fiber
*maintains healthy rumen function
T/F: Goats have less nutritional problems when they are forage fed
TRUE
Minimum amount of roughage is half a pound per 100lb body weight
In which goats is protein a dietary concern?
In dairy and high production (milk/fiber) goats
What is more important when it comes to protein in a goats diet, quality or quantity?
Quantity
but if given in excess –> will cause obesity
Selenium, ______, and _____ can be a particular problem in goats
Iodine and zinc
What are sources of vitamins for goats?
Natural sources = pastures
vitamin packs
Mineral blocks/mixes
What is a better health indicator in goats than weight?
body condition score
1-5 scale (half scores are commonly used)
When is the most important time to evaluate BCS in goats?
During breeding (3), late gestation (3- 3.5), and weaning
What is the majority of a meat goats diet?
Pasture and browse
want to get them fat cheaply
How much grass hay or pasture should a goat take in during early and mid gestation?
3-4 pounds
*no grain at this time
How much average quality hay should a goat take in during late gestation?
4 - 5 pounds
better hay (like alfalfa) should be fed in late gestation and lactation *plus .5 - 1 pounds of grain per day (make sure to gradually add into the diet)
poor quality day can be fed in late lactation and after weaning
How should goats be fed for the first three days post partum?
forage
then after one week start to introduce full feed
ad lib water
FIY - goats normally give birth early spring
What are the feeding guidelines for a lactating goat?
Feed 4-5 lbs of the best quality hay plus 1 lb of grain for each offspring the female is nursing
Separate females into production groups - singles, twins, triplets
When should pregnant dairy goats have an increased in their level of nutrition?
6 weeks prior to kidding
Good quality hat/pasture + concentrate –> continue after kidding
When does lactation peak in dairy goats?
3-35 days into milking
*most critical phase - increase concentrate feeding at this stage
When should diet changes be avoided in angora goats?
In the spring and autumn bc this is when they are sheared - want to decreased stress as much as possible
What occurs in goats with an iodine deficiency?
Goiter - hyperplastic thyroid
What is an alternative to iodized salt, to prevent goiter in goats?,
offer kelp (seaweed)
What does zinc deficiency in goats lead to?
Excessive salivation deformed hooves stiff joints skin problems small testicles and libido
T/F: Alpacas are ruminants
False
they are not true ruminants - they have a 3 compartment stomach
What kind of eaters are alpacas?
Strict grazers
they prefer bottomland vegetation of meadows and marshes - consume tall grasses in the wet season and short grasses in the dry season
What is unique about the mouth of a alpaca?
Upper lip is split by a labial cleft - each side is independent of the other –> high selection
(the tongue does not participate in grabbing food)
T/F: Alpacas should be supplemented with mineral blocks
FALSE
They do not lick themselves, their young, or mineral blocks
By ___ weeks of age, the C1 of the alpaca stomach reaches adult proportions
8 weeks
What percentage of the alpaca forestomach volume does C1 make up? Where is it located in the abdomen?
On the left side
Makes up 80% of the forestomach volume
How much of the alpaca forestomach volume does C2 make up?
6%
C1 and C2 together contain about 10-15L of digesta
*there are also glandular saccules across the ventral surfaces of these compartments
What is the function of the glandular saccules within C1 and C2?
nutrient absorption
Addition of mucus secretions, glycoproteins, mucus
Secrete bicarb ions –> buffering
Alpacas can perform better than sheep when using poor quality roughage. Why?
They have a slower particulate passage time = more microbial action to breakdown roughage
They have a faster liquid passage time –> faster removal of microbial protein
What are some feeding behaviors noted in alpacas?
Feed in groups - active at dawn and dusk
Eat for 5-6 hours per day
*avoid competitive feeding behaviors
T/F: Normally, Alpacas can be maintained on pasture only
TRUE
- supplementation needed for lactating animals
- watch fiber animals closely for mineral deficiencies (will affect coat)
