Small Ruminants

Question 1

grazers

Answer 1

sheep

Question 2

browsers

Answer 2

goat

Question 3

true or false

goats were the first animal to be domesticated for food

Answer 3

true

Question 4

what were sheep initially brought to US for?

Answer 4

wool production

Question 5

what did the production of lamb led to?

Answer 5

slaughter of sheep for meat

Question 6

sheep, lamb, fiber account for how much of US farm cash receipts?

Answer 6

.19%

Question 7

why is US sheep production declining?

Answer 7

limited product
too many predators
only reproduce seasonally
low demand for wool and mutton
inadequate profits
seasonal business/ sporadic supply and demand
decreased government support

Question 8

small flock

Answer 8

less than 100 animals
94% of operations
36% of sheep inventory

Question 9

large flock

Answer 9

more than 500
1-2% of operations
44% of sheep inventory

Question 10

sheep fenced range production

Answer 10

southwestern states
produces lamb and also wool production
uses Merino and Ramboullet
Large # of sheep grazing/browsing large fenced acreage

Question 11

migratory range production

Answer 11

Location: intermountain states (Rockies, Sierras)

winter- ewes are kept at lower elevation
lambing occurs and ewes and lambs are grouped into bands (large flocks).

Summer: Ewes and lambs graze at higher elevations.

Question 12

Sheep Farm Flock Production

Answer 12

Location: Any geographic area, but historically in the East & Midwest

Product(s): Diverse!
Meat
Wool
Dairy
Club Lambs

Breeds: Variable

Question 13

Commercial farm flock operations

Answer 13

produce primarily LAMBS for the traditional meat markets in the U.S. or the emerging ethnic-market trade

150 to 200% lamb weaning rates are needed to enhance economic returns, because input costs for feed is high

Crossbreeding using prolific breeds is often
practiced to achieve this goal.

Question 14

sheep dairying

Answer 14

Breeding season is in Fall (Sept. to Dec.)
Pregnancy is 5 months
lambing = Feb to May
Lactation= March to Sept.

sheep milk fat content= 6-8%
protein = 5-7%

Question 15

How much do domestic ewes lactate?

Answer 15

90-150 days

100-200 lb milk/lactation

Question 16

How much do dairy breeds lactate?

Answer 16

120-240 days

400-1100 lb milk/lactation

Question 17

Lamb Feedlots

Answer 17

Feeder lambs (weigh 60 to 110 lb) are placed in a feedlot and fed high-energy diets until they reach a suitable weight and carcass finish

Average live weight = 130-140 lbs

Question 18

demand for sheep meat in the US

Answer 18

demand is stable but small

US = lamb>mutton

import lambs from Canada and export mutton to Mexico

Question 19

3 main types of goats

Answer 19

1. dairy
2. fiber-producing
3. meat

Question 20

goat industry

Answer 20

similar to sheep industry

less infrastructure than sheep

harvesting occurs in smaller processing facilities or on farm.

Question 21

demand for goat meat in the US

Answer 21

importation of goat meat and domestic production have both increased due to increasing demand from populations immigrating
to the U.S. = Ethnic & Religious Markets

Question 22

phases of production

Answer 22

breeding–> gestation –> lambing–> lactating/nursing–> weaning –> growing & finishing

Question 23

sheep reproduction

Answer 23

females puberty @ 4-9 months; breed-dependent

pregnancy- 5months

seasonally polyestrous “short day breeder”

Question 24

Estrous cycle of sheep

Answer 24

average= 17 days
estrus= 24-36 hours
ovulation = 24-27 hrs after onset

Question 25

Estrous cycle of goat

Answer 25

average= 21 days
estrus- 24-48 hrs
ovulation = 24-36 hrs after onset

Question 26

anestrus

Answer 26

do not cycle through late winter, spring, and early summer

Question 27

transition

Answer 27

erratic/less fertile cycles at the beginning and end of the breeding season