SMALL RUMINANT PRODUCTION (HUSBANDRY PRACTICES)

Once an animal is excited- How long does it take for it to calm down?

20-30 minutes

list the reason why we need to handle our animals calmly and quietly?

1. Reduces stress & fear in the animals

2. prevents injuries to both animal & handler

3. improves animal welfare & productivity

4. makes animals easier to move and work with

5. reduces bruising, sickness & weight loss

what happens to a sheep that is ‘wool blind’?

a wool-blind sheep can become panicked, disoriented, & may have difficulty moving/ following the flock due to the wool grown over its eyes

what determines the size of the flight zone?

1. how comfortable the sheep is to people

2. genetics/ temperament of the animal

3. levels of stress/excitement at the moment

define point of balance

at the animal’s shoulder

what is the flocking instinct called?

gregarious behavior

why do sheep stop if they cannot see through a gate?

they do not like moving into areas they cannot see

what is the advantage of a ‘lead’ sheep?

a lead sheep encourages the rest of the flock to follow

what is the advantage of a solid gate behind them?

it prevents them from seeing distractions

what is the advantage of solid sides on a working/handling facility?

they reduce distractions & prevent sheep from trying to escape. It improves flow & safety

What can be used to encourage sheep to move forward?

1. a lead sheep

2. proper handling

3. gentle pressure

what is the difference between white face (maternal) vs black face (carcass) in flight zone?

white faced usually have a higher flight zone while black faced have a smaller flight zone

sheep move easier ( ) the wind and will move easier going ( ) hill

into…. up

list the reasons why a curved shoot works better than a straight chute

1. sheep think they are returning to where they came from

2. they can’t see the end of the chute

3. curves reduce balking & piling up

why do livestock balk at shadows?

because they think that they are obstacles/threats making them hesitant & scared

should you ever pick up a sheep by the wool? (yes/no)

no

should you use electric pods? (yes/no)

no

Dogs should be used in areas where the sheep can do what?

can move away & have room to escape

sheep can recall a bad experience for how many months?

24

why is it advantageous to run sheep through a chute?

they can move stress free

why is it important to understand natural behaviors?

1. easier movement & handling

2. reduced stress & injuries

3. improved animal welfare

Rough handling, transporting, and dog biting can cause ( ) losses in pregnant sheep within the first 11-20 days of pregnancy

embryonic