Sheep Production Sheep Production OperationsOperations

Animal ScienceAnimal Science

Ms. Selman Ms. Selman

Production SystemsProduction Systems

The Farm Flock MethodThe Farm Flock Method

The Purebred Flock MethodThe Purebred Flock Method

The Range Band MethodThe Range Band Method

The Confinement MethodThe Confinement Method

Lamb FeedingLamb Feeding

The Farm Flock MethodThe Farm Flock Method

Most popular method used in the eastern, Most popular method used in the eastern, southern, and central U.S.southern, and central U.S.

Often use registered rams on Grade ewesOften use registered rams on Grade ewes

Producers usually raise other livestock, Producers usually raise other livestock, which compete with the sheep for pasturewhich compete with the sheep for pasture

The Purebred Flock The Purebred Flock MethodMethod

Similar to the farm flock methodSimilar to the farm flock method Use registered rams and ewes in Use registered rams and ewes in

breeding programbreeding program Main purpose is to sell replacement rams Main purpose is to sell replacement rams

and ewesand ewes Must raise sheep of ideal typeMust raise sheep of ideal type

Range Band MethodRange Band Method

Use large areas of landUse large areas of land

Each band has it’s own full time herderEach band has it’s own full time herder

Emphasis is either lamb or wool Emphasis is either lamb or wool production, or bothproduction, or both

Range Band Method Range Band Method (emphasis on market lamb (emphasis on market lamb production)production)

Use blackface Use blackface (Suffolk or Suffolk (Suffolk or Suffolk Hampshire cross)Hampshire cross) rams rams

Use whiteface Use whiteface (Columbia, Rambouillet, (Columbia, Rambouillet, Targhee, or Western White faced)Targhee, or Western White faced) ewes ewes

Produce terminal cross (smutt-faced Produce terminal cross (smutt-faced lambs)lambs)

Producers are able to sell two products Producers are able to sell two products wool from the ewes and lambwool from the ewes and lamb

Range Band Method Range Band Method (emphasis on replacement (emphasis on replacement ewes)ewes)

Use white face Use white face (Columbia, Rambouillet, (Columbia, Rambouillet, Targhee, or Western White faced)Targhee, or Western White faced) rams rams

Use whiteface Use whiteface (Columbia, Rambouillet, (Columbia, Rambouillet, Targhee, or Western White faced)Targhee, or Western White faced) ewes ewes

Virgin yearling rams are purchased Virgin yearling rams are purchased yearlyyearly

Whether lambs and culled ewe lambs are Whether lambs and culled ewe lambs are sold for slaughter sold for slaughter

The Confinement MethodThe Confinement Method

Raised totally indoorsRaised totally indoors Modeled after hog and chicken Modeled after hog and chicken

confinement operationsconfinement operations Benefits include: Less land needed, Benefits include: Less land needed,

fewer parasite problems, and the fewer parasite problems, and the increase in young producedincrease in young produced

Disadvantages: high building and Disadvantages: high building and equipment cost, restrictive, better skill equipment cost, restrictive, better skill and management practices are requiredand management practices are required

Lamb FeedingLamb Feeding

After weaning, lamb may be sold to feed After weaning, lamb may be sold to feed lotslots

Usually located near good, cheap food Usually located near good, cheap food suppliessupplies

Feed out lambs to desired weight Feed out lambs to desired weight