Breeds of SheepBreeds of Sheep

ObjectivesObjectives

Identify breeds of sheep Describe the differences in the breeds Discuss their uses based off of traits Explain reproduction of sheep

CheviotCheviot

Resistant to cold, windy conditions

White, wool free faces Long wool type Wool has a helical

crimp Tend to be resistant to

worms and foot rot

ColumbiaColumbia

Developed by the US Department of Ag

Developed to thrive on Western ranges

Produce medium wool and large amounts of meat

CorriedaleCorriedale

Developed in New Zealand & Australia

Dual purpose breed Produces bulky, high

density wool

DorsetDorset

Originated in Europe Medium-sized breed

with high quality, white wool

Most popular white-faced breed in the United States

Horned and polled varieties exist

HampshireHampshire

Originated in Hampshire, England

Black face and legs Mild demeanor Unbroken wool cap

should extend from the neck over the forehead

JacobJacob

Originated in England

Two, four, or six horns

Black and white fleece

Fleece is highly sought after

Unimproved breed

LincolnLincoln

Originated in England

The largest breed of sheep

Long-wooled breed White faces Pronounced forelock

between the ears

MerinoMerino

Originated in Australia

Primarily a wool breed

White-faced High quality wool

used in the textile industry

OxfordOxford

Originated in England Second largest sheep

breed Meat-type breed Tends to forage for its

own food White with black ears

and bridge of nose

RambouilletRambouillet

Originated in France Finewool breed Used for meat and

wool production White with a white

face and legs Large framed

SouthdownSouthdown

Developed in England

Gray face with white body

Adapted to wet conditions

Medium wool breed Used mainly for

meat

SuffolkSuffolk

Originated in England

Another popular breed in the US

Produce large amounts of meat

White with black faces and legs

VocabVocab

Ewe- A female sheep Ram- A male sheep Wethers- A castrated male sheep Lamb- young sheep (male or female) Fleece- wool Wool blindness- condition of wool

covering face

Sheep Breed BookletSheep Breed Booklet

Using the breeds discussed, make a booklet outlining their traits and names.

Then create a visual representation of the sheep in the booklet to help you remember what each breed looks like.

Sheep ProductionSheep Production

Why choose sheep?Why choose sheep?

Sheep can survive where cows can’t Sheep will eat problem weeds like Leafy

Spurge Profit per acre is the same for sheep

and cows, and usually higher for sheep Easier to get started due to less

equipment needed

Breed CategoriesBreed Categories

Wool Type: white wool only, better quality

Meat Type: any black wool Dual Purpose: white wool, but better

meat than wool types

Sheep ReproductionSheep Reproduction

Seasonal breeders - only breed in spring and fall

Gestation- 148 days Ewe lambs must be 100 lbs to breed Ram can service 12-15 ewes as a lamb,

and up to 100 as a yearling Most common = 3 rams / 100 ewes Usually not kept after 6 yrs

Sheep ReproductionSheep Reproduction

Marking harness - ram marks back of ewe with a crayon when mating

Change crayon colors every couple of weeks, if ewes are rebred, the first time was not successful

– may have a bad ram or ewe

LambingLambing

Many lambs are lost in the first 24 hrs Twins - first born gets separated while

second is being born Assist difficult lambings Disinfect lambs navel with iodine

LambingLambing

Lamb should nurse within minutes, especially if cold weather

Strip teats to remove a mucous plug that seals the teat

Lamb may not be strong enough to suck the plug out and not get any milk, if he fails, he will quit trying and die

LambingLambing

Colostrum: mothers first milk (antibiotics) Keep ewe and lamb together for first 24

hours or more if the ewe doesn’t want to claim the lamb

Grafting: adopting lambs (triplets) onto other ewes (with singles or dead lambs)

– can be difficult to get ewe to claim lamb

RaisingRaising Identification: mark lambs with paint brands,

or ear tags or tattoo ears (purebreds) Docking: cut off tails

– tails are a bother

– between 1st and 2nd vertebrae of tail

– Elastrator: rubber band cuts off circulation

– Hot Iron: electric, heated knife stops bleeding

RaisingRaising

Castration: remove testicles

– Elastrator

– Cut with a knife

– Burdizzo crushes cords Dock & Castrate before 6 weeks old Wean at 5-6 months or 100 lbs..... Shear at least once per year, before

lambing (20-40% of income)

Mike Rowe is at it again!Mike Rowe is at it again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QErgjt_GYBk

Sheep TermsSheep Terms

Lambing- the act of giving birth

– Also know as ?????

PARTURITION

Sheep ReviewSheep Review

What do you call a castrated male?

Wether What is the gestation for sheep?

148 days What do you call a young female?

Ewe Lamb

Production ReviewProduction Review

Let’s compare and contrast all the production animals we’ve learned so far.

Make a chart like the one below

Animal # of offspring

Gestation Term for giving birth

Term for females

Term for males

Term for offspring

Managing SheepManaging Sheep

ManagementManagement

Culling: choosing animals not to keep for breeding purposes

Aging Sheep: less than 1 yr. = milk teeth– 1-2 yrs = middle two teeth replaced by 2

larger teeth– each year to 4 yrs = another set replaced– 6-7 yrs = begin to lose teeth (broken

mouth)

Sheep ProductionFeedingSheep ProductionFeeding

Ruminants like cattle Feed a quality 18 % protein

feed Most feeders feel a textured

feed is more desirable than a pellet

Feeding SheepFeeding Sheep

Mostly roughages, concentrates for finishing

Average adult eats about 4 lbs..... dry feed per day

Really fat ewes - problems conceiving & delivering

Feeding SheepFeeding Sheep

Average lamb weighs 7-9 lbs..... and will gain 1/2 LB per day

Flush ewes 17 days prior to breeding (increased level of nutrition)

Feeding SheepFeeding Sheep

Increase nutrition 6 weeks prior to lambing until 1-2 months after lambing

Increase quality of feed not quantity

– stomachs shrink when pregnant due to lambs in uterus

Males - increase nutrition 6 weeks prior to breeding to build strength

Create a sheepCreate a sheep

1. Take out a sheet of paper 2. Draw a sheep (you don’t have to be an artist) 3. Name your sheep breed and list the following: 4. Wool color and type 5. Used for meat, wool, or both? 6. Any special traits (heat tolerant, cold tolerant, wet

adapted) 7. Using the supplies given, create a sheep (supplies

include construction paper, cotton balls, and anything students might have).

8. With this sheep, you must name it, give it traits, and give it color!

GoatsGoats

Like sheep, but different!

OverviewOverview

Goats and sheep are similar as far as use

Some goats are used for meat and some for mohair (like wool)

But there are even some that are used for milk!

Judging Dairy GoatsJudging Dairy Goats

General Appearance: Impressive style and carriage, possessing attractiveness and feminity.

Mammary System: Strongly attached and high quality udder, indicating high production and longevity.

Dairy Character: Angularity and general openness throughout.

Body Capacity: Relative to the size of the animal, providing ample capacity for feed intake and production.

Angora Goat SelectionAngora Goat Selection

In selecting for fiber, one is interested in both quantity (weight) and quality of fiber (length, fineness, style, character, absence of kemp, etc.).

In addition to fiber, farmers are concerned with traits that contribute to the survival or viability (soundness, fertility, etc.) of the individual.

Selection based on quantity of fiber is accomplished by: size of the animal completeness of cover length of fiber (four inches minimum) diameter of fiber (finer fibers preferred) differences in density (desirable lock formation)

Angora Goat SelectionAngora Goat Selection

Angora Goat SelectionAngora Goat Selection

Selection based on fleece weight grease (oil) dirt

Selection based on age Weaning or first shearing is a poor time Select the animal at second and third shearing

(12-18months old)

Judging Meat GoatsJudging Meat Goats

Conformation:

Rectangular in appearance from the side Straight level top and belly Length of rump, body, and leg are important Legs should be straight and placed squarely under

the body and should show evidence of muscle. Width between front legs Hindquarter should be muscular with loin and rump

being of uniform width. Legs should be square and wide from the rear view

Judging Meat GoatsJudging Meat GoatsGeneral Appearance

Stature: Overall Skeletal Size

Head: Both Strength and refinement

Front End: wide chest smooth blending shoulder

Front Legs: Sound

Back: Straight, wide, long, and level

Rump: long, wide and level from thurl to thurl (above rump)

Hind Legs: wide and straight well muscled stifle

Feet: strong pasterns with even tight toes

Muscle Hindquarters: long deeply attached muscle, thick high

stifle, muscle over the thurl and rump should be obvious. Loin: wide with a symmetrically oval shape on each

side of the backbone. Shoulders: muscling should increase from

the withers to the point of shoulder with the thickest muscle being above the chest floor. Forearm muscle should be prominent.

Neck: should be free of waste. Smoothness and quality are important. A long clean neck with muscle and balance is desirable.

Judging Meat GoatsJudging Meat Goats

Condition refers to the amount of fat the animal is

carrying. The ideal condition is thin but uniform. The

external fat thickness over the loin at the 13th rib

should be between .08 to .12 inches or an average of

.1 inch.

Judging Meat GoatsJudging Meat Goats

VocabVocab

Kemp-  short hairy fibers in the fleece that have a hollow core and do not accept dye, thereby lowering the quality of a fleece

Thurl- area above the hind legs in the rump

Withers- top of shoulders

Don’t Faint!Don’t Faint!

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/dirty-jobs-fainting-goats.html

Biotech ApplicationsBiotech Applications

http://science.discovery.com/videos/kapow-superhero-science-spider-silk-gene-goats.html