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Sheep Production. Chapter #9. 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 Categories. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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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
Feeding SheepFeeding Sheep
Mostly roughages, concentrates for finishing
Average adult eats about 4 lbs..... dry feed per day
Overfat ewes - problems conceiving & delivering
Feeding SheepFeeding Sheep
If sheep can eat all their feed in 1/2 hour, increase amount
If food left at next feeding, decrease amount
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
Sheep ReproductionSheep Reproduction
Seasonal breeders - only breed in spring and fall
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 hands, gently pull front legs Give ewe antibiotics after 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)–cam be difficult to get ewe to claim
lamb
ManagementManagement 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
ManagementManagement
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)
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 TermsSheep Terms
What do you call an adult male?
Ram or Buck What do you call an adult female?
Ewe What do you call the act of giving birth?
Lambing
Sheep TermsSheep Terms
What do you call a castrated male?
Wether What is the gestation for sheep?
147 days What do you call a young female?
Ewe Lamb