Introduction to Agriculture Ms. Tonnessen
SHEEP INDUSTRY
¡ Ovine—scientific species name for sheep ¡ Lamb—sheep under a year old ¡ Ewe—female sheep ¡ Ram—intact male sheep ¡ Weather—castrated male sheep ¡ Mutton—sheep over a year old ¡ Gestation length—145 days
TERMS TO KNOW
¡ Rambouillet § Origin—France
§ Horned, polled, or scurred § Can breed out of season § Advantages
§ High quality wool § Hardy § Growth characteristics
§ Disadvantages § Muscle quality
MAJOR BREEDS
¡ Columbia § Origin—United States § Cross of Rambouillet and Lincoln § Polled § Range condition § Advantages
§ Large fleece § Larger framed
§ Disadvantages § Muscle quality
MAJOR BREEDS
¡ Dorset § Origin—Whales § Smaller breed § Horned or polled § Advantages
§ Fall lambing § Prolific lambers § Strong fleece and free of dark fibers § High milk
§ Disadvantages § Growth & size
MAJOR BREEDS
¡ Lincoln § Origin—England § Developed specifically for wool § Advantages
§ Longest wool
§ Disadvantages § Growth & muscle
MAJOR BREEDS
¡ Corriedale § Origin—Australia and New Zealand § Cross of Merino and Lincoln § Advantages
§ Medium-Large fleece
§ Disadvantages § Muscle & growth
MAJOR BREEDS
¡ Southdown § Origin—Susix England § Polled § White face § Advantages
§ Adaptable § Early maturing § High lambing
§ Disadvantages § Smaller sized
MAJOR BREEDS
¡ Suffolk § Origin—England § Norfolk horn ewes with Southdown rams § Polled § Black faced § Advantages
§ Medium wool § Rapid growth § High quality muscle
§ Disadvantages § Maternal characteristics § Poor wool quality
MAJOR BREEDS
¡ Hampshire § Origin—England § Wool cap § Black faced § Advantages
§ Large framed § High quality muscle § Freedom from unsoundness
§ Disadvantages § Poor maternal characteristics § Poor wool quality
MAJOR BREEDS
¡ Targhee § Origin—United States § Cross of Rambouillet, Columbia, and Corriedale § Developed by the USDA § Advantages
§ High quality wool § Extremely hardy
§ Disadvantages § Medium quality meat
MAJOR BREEDS
¡ Katahdin § Origin—United States § Cross of Suffolk and St. Croix § Color varies § Polled § Advantages
§ Hair § Maternal characteristics § High milk § Medium quality milk
§ Disadvantages § Growth § No wool
MAJOR BREEDS
¡ In groups of 4, using your notes, please pick two breeds of sheep that were just covered.
¡ One breed will hypothetically be used as your ewe. The other as your ram.
¡ Your goal is to create a cross-bred offspring who will be heavy muscled, fast growers, adequate wool production, and raised from good mothers.
¡ You will turn this in at the conclusion of class.
ACTIVITY