Sheep and goat terminology

Browse

Vegetation, such as brushy plants and young shoots, eaten by animals

Enterotoxemia

Over eating disease caused by Clostridium perfringens

Extensive

Production system using low inputs and management to minimize cost of production

Intensive

Production system using high inputs and close management to increase productivity

Forbs

broad leaf plants other than grass

Fleece

Wool from a single sheep

Lanolin

Natural oil extraceted from sheep's wool

Skirting

Removing stained, unusable, or undesirable portions of a fleece

Staple length

Length of the shorn wool fiber

Tender wool

Weak spots in the wool indicating a period of sickness or poor nutrition

Wool hank

560 yards of spun wool

Wool clip

Wool from shearing the entire flock

Wool crimp

Natural curl or waviness of the wool fiber

Woolen

spun yarn that has not been combed

Tag

Build up of manure in the wool. Considered a defect in the fleece

Worsted

Spun yarn that has been combed to align fibers and remove shorter fibers.

Wether

Castrated male sheep or goat