Sheep Production Final Exam

What is the correct spelling of a castrated male sheep

Wether

A group of sheep is called a _____

flock

The number of days between a ewes estrus cycle is ____

17 days

Sheep are descended from three sub-species of which wild sheep?

Mouflon

How many lambs are born in the US for each ewe

1.07

The wool of meat breed sheep is classified as ____

medium

Of the following breeds, which is most popular in traditional western US range flocks

Rambouillet

A sheep producer has developed an excellent market for lamb at easter. (80-90 pound market-ready lambs). Which breed best fits the scenario

Southdown

On average, how much milk will an East Friesian ewe produce in a 220-240 day lactation?

1,000 pounds

What sheep breed is known for producing the highest quality wool

Merino

This sheep breed was developed to be the perfect, independent sheep that doesn't require shearing

Katahdin

A producer wants to raise low-input, fast growing. heavy muscled sheep, while the ewes breed out-of- season, and the producer doesnt have to shear them. Which breed best fits the scenario

Dorper

The goals for this range flock are to produce sheep with moderate growth and frame size, with good quality fleece, while the ewes are productive on limited forage. Which breed best fits the scenario?

Targhee

What country has the most sheep

China

What is the average price paid for wool in Ohio

$0.55 per pound

What is the average price paid for wool nationally

$1.53 per pound

Ohio's national rank for number of sheep FARMS

3

Ohios national rank for number of sheep

11

The number of sheep in Ohio

143,000

Intact male sheep

Ram

newborn or young sheep

lamb

Female sheep of breeding age

ewe

Sheep meat from adult animals (2 spool joints)

mutton

Sheep meat from sheep 12-24 months of age ( 1 break, 1 spool joint)

yearling mutton

Sheep meat from sheep less than one year of age ( 2 break joints)

lamb

What is the genus and species of the domesticated sheep

Ovis aries

The breeding season of ewes of most sheep breeds is described as being seasonally polyesters what months of the year do most ewes cycle

August- January

List two breeds of sheep that are known for breeding out of season

Dorsets and Dorper

Describe the population of people that traditionally consume sheep meat

Developing countries; and Australia

name a meat breed

cheviot

name a wool breed

merino

name a hair breed

Dorper

Name a dairy breed

Fraishen

List two production traits the Meat Breeds are known for

Heavier muscled; lower quality wool; multiple births

list three breeds of sheep developed in the United States

Columbia, Targhee, polypay

list two production traits the Hair breeds are known for (not counting having hair)

Hardy, Good for more avid environments, good for pasture lambing

Where were sheep domesticated

Afanastan and Iraq

Using complete sentences, What are the causes of the record prices the sheep market is currently experiencing

Very limited supply and very high demand due to ethnic holidays

Why should poultry and swine feeds NOT be fed to sheep?

They contain copper which is toxic o sheep when fed in excess

What is one advantage and disadvantage of accelerated lambing?

• One advantage is that they lamb more than once a year so it could lead to more money being made

• One disadvantage is that it requires a lot of time and labor

Why is it recommended to rotate dewormers with a different active ingredient for all livestock (not just sheep)?

it is recommended to rotate dewormers because the worms can become resistant tot he active ingredient, so switching the active ingredient helps prevent the worms from becoming resistant.

What are two factor we use to determine if sheep should be selectively treated for parasites?

FAMACHA, body condition score, parasite count

Ewes are four-six weeks away from lambing and you notice several ewes are thinner. You’re not feeding any grain and the hay you’re feeding is average quality, first cutting grass. From your pregnancy checking records, the ewes that are thinner are carrying multiple lambs. You’re concerned about what metabolic issue with thinner ewes? How do you prevent this metabolic issue with this group of thinner ewes?

Pregnancy toxemia, separate thinner ewes and give TLC

What two species were domesticated before sheep

Dogs and Reindeer

In what countries were sheep developed?

England, Spain, France, New Zealand, US, South Africa

How many pounds of lamb does each person in the United states eat anually?

1.7 pounds

What are the four types of wool?

Fine, medium, coarse, long

Differences between sheep and goats

• Sheep tails are down, Goats tails are up

• Goats are browsers, Sheep are grazers

• Goats are naturally curious and independent, Sheep flock together

• Many sheep are naturally polled there horns curl up, Goats are naturally horned and are less curved

Top five states with the most sheep

Texas, California, Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah

What feed program in general do you recommend for bred ewes in the last six weeks of gestation?

12% crude protein, add 1+ lb of good quality hay/forage, feed CTC, free choice minerals

What management do you recommend for bred ewes in the last four weeks of gestation?

Clean/dry bedding, clean water with no ice, set up jugs, vaccinate for CDT, sheer vulva and udder, observe body condition.

You have averaged-sized (150 pounds, not big sheep) commercial Dorper ewes. What size lambing jug best fits them?

5×5 jug

You’ve been feeding corn silage to the flock for two weeks and notice several ewes displaying ‘neurological symptoms.’ The corn silage was very dry when it was made and didn;t ferment very well. What is the likely cause of the neurological symptoms? How do you treat the neurological symptoms?

Listeria, treat with aggressive penicillin

Please list 3 diseases causing ewes to abort that can be controlled by vaccinating

Vibriosis, CL, and Chlamidya

You’re almost to lambing season and several ewes have aborted fetuses. What would you do?

Separate the ewes and lambs from the rest and clean everything with bleach. Send aborted fetuses and placentas to diagnostics. Feed crumbles and CTC to unaffected sheep.

How do you best manage ewes to limit the impact of Cache Valley Virus?

Control mosquitoes as best as you can, Use fans in the barn, do not sheer the sheep

Please describe three potential issues of newborn lambs and how to solve those issues.

• Hypothermia: Make sure lambs are fully dried and put them under heat lamp. Use Nutridrench

• Rejection from Ewe: bottle feed

• Ewe not having any milk: Drench ewe with mixture of strawberry jello and 1 gallon of water.

What is the single greatest cause of newborn lambs dying?

Hypothermia

Not including hypothermia, please list four more causes of lambs dying

Getting laid on by ewe, not enough milk, diseases, just born to die

Why is it strongly recommended we wear OB sleeves and/or gloves when assisting ewes are partuition?

So you are not infecting the ewe with anything and the ewe cannot infect you with anything she may have

T/F: it is estimated parasites extract value from their host s costing livestock and poultry producers $10 to $12 billion annually

True

T/F: it is practical and realistic to eliminate all parasites from our animals.

False

T/F: The larvae and early pupae stages of parasites are most susceptible to chemical control (insecticides, anthelmintics, antibiotics, etc.)

False

T/F: The quality of management (sanitation, stocking rate, nutrition) has no impact on the growth of parasite populations

False

T/F: The goal of Integrated Pest Management is to prevent clinical disease and production losses.

True

T/F: The goal of IPM is achieved by treating sheep every 60 days, using the same product, to totally eliminate the parasites

False

T/F: Rotating pastures/padlocks has no impact on the parasite load of the livestock

False

T/F: Resistance and Resilience are highly heritable genetic traits (40-60%) and the fine wool breeds ar the most resistant and resilient.

False

T/F: Chemicals (insecticides, anthelmintics, antibiotics, and feed additives) are used most often to treat cheep for parasites.

True

T/F: When deworming, its best to deworm the entire flock (one needs dewormed, they must all need dewormed)

False

T/F: Benzimidazoles are the ‘white drenches’

True

You notice tapeworm casings in a fresh pile of sheep manure. Which anthelmintic is the best choice?

Valbazen

Early-bred (30-45 days pregnant) ewes look unthrifty and checking their eyes (FAMACHA) they are anemic. Which anthelmintic is NOT recommended?

Valbazen

Which anthelmintic has the least efficacy controlling parasites, because it has been used so heavily, without rotating to other anthelmintics that have different active ingredients.

Ivermectin

A sheep with swollen lymph gland below it’s ear. What is the most likely cause?

Caseous lymphadenitis

What is the cause of the record high sheep market we’re currently experiencing?

Limited supply, Strong demand, and Several ethnic and religious holidays occurring at the same time

Please give two examples of ectoparasites

lice and mites

Please give two examples of Endoparasites

Roundworms and tapeworms

Lambing is due to start in several weeks. Please list 10 things you’d have in your lambing kit, AND list four other things that are important to do now

• lube, ear tags, iodine, halters, towels, drench gun, bottles, nipples, thermometer, pepto bismol

• Set up jugs, sheer vulva and udder of ewe, vaccinate for CDT, clean/dry bedding

You have an awesome, nationally known flock of Columbia sheep. What size lambing jug best fits those ewes at lambing time?

6X6 jug

Lambs are here and you’re so excited! When should you start offering creep feed to the lambs and what is the ideal percentage of crude protein, fat, and fiber of the creep feed?

Start offering 2-6 weeks of age, 18% CP, 3.5% fat, 10-12% Crude fiber

Please list four ways parasites cause damage to an animal (host)

Take nutrients from feed that are supposed to go to the animal, blood loss, release toxic organisms, cause skin infections

Please list three ways to determine of a sheep has parasites

Unthrifty, coughing, abnormal behavior (excitatory)

Please define Refugia

Refugia is when the worm is not exposed to the drug due to stage of development. But some worms are just resistant to that drug.

Please list three precautions to follow when treating an animal for parasites

Only give animals that need treated medication, do not under/overdose, give dose amount based on the heaviest sheep

Please discuss three ways to slow parasite drug resistance

Proper nutrition, prevent mixed grazing, prevent overstocking

Please list three drug families used to control parasites

Benzimidiazoles, Nicotocins, Macrolides

Which drug family is effective against biting external parasites? Please give two examples

Macrolides, Examples: ivermectins, Avermectins

One half of a ewes udder is swollen (double the size of other half), teat is inflamed, the swollen half is hard, hot to the touch, and the ewe is obviously uncomfortable. What is the issue and how do you treat it?

mastitis, milk that half out, dry and treat her with intra mammary treatment

What is my theory regarding livestock breeding programs? (Breed to...)

Make females as top priority

Why do we breed to make females?

Great females are the foundation of the flock. There are many more females in the flock than males, resulting in they require the greatest amount of time and financial resources

What are the two most important things a livestock producer does every day? Why are they so important?

1. Observe

2. From observations, use common sense

Know the difference between normal and abnormal behavior to treat animals humanely, efficiently, resulting in the least cost, time, and effort.

Please list five 'symptoms' of an animal displaying abnormal behavior (for example, is sick).

Head and ears drooped, gets up but doesn’t stretch, isolated from the flock, not eating, unthrifty appearance.

Please list and describe what a sheep barn might need, including utilities, space, and equipment you might need.

Utilities: Electric, Running water, Hot water heater, washing facilities, Warm room

Space: 12-15 ft² for ewe, 2 waterers for every 30 head of sheep, 12 inches per lamb of feeder space.

Equipment: trimming stand, cradle, foot bath, sheering area, pens for lambing jugs, creep feeders.

True or False: Reproduction traits are lowly heritable.

True

If we put great emphasis (heavily select for) on reproductive traits, how easy is it to make genetic progress of reproductive traits? Please explain.

Even putting great selection emphasis on reproductive traits, we make very little genetic progress. Reproduction traits are lowly heritable, no matter how much selecting emphasis we put on them, it’s extremely difficult to improve them.

Please compare and contrast breeding ewe lambs to lamb for the first time at one year of age, versus breeding them to lamb for the first time at two years of age.

Ewe lambs:

• Newest/best genetics

• Get more lamb crop in their lifetime

• Fewer twin births

• More dystocia

• More lamb rejection issue

• More difficult to breed

Yearling ewes:

• More twins

• less dystocia

• Ewes are about fully grown

• more fertile, easier toAI

• Fewer lamb rejection issues

You have an outstanding flock of Rambouillet's. How many days is their estrus cycle?

17 days

Do the ewes of most sheep breeds cycle year-round? What term do we use to describe their reproductive pattern?

No, seasonally polyestrous

How many days is the typical gestation of your Rambouilet ewes?

150