ANSC 102 Small Ruminants

Caprine

refers to animals in the goat family

ovine

refers to animals in the sheep family

kid

immautre goat

lamb

a sheep less than one year in age

wether

a castrated male goat or sheep

doe

a female goat

buck

a sexually mature intact male goat

ram

a sexually mature intact male sheep

Fecal egg count

a measure of internal parasite burden in ruminants

parasite resistance

the ability of parasites to survive and reproduce despite exposure to antithelminit ctreatments

shearing

the act of cutting the wool off

gestation of sheep

144-152 days

gestation of goats

147-155 days

lambing

lambs are born between january and may, typically mid-March

kidding

late february - early april

breeding

september - january

when are ewes first mated

7-19 months

when are goats first mated

6-9 months, 60-65% mature weight

weaning

60-90 days

post-weaning

30-50 days, ewes are sorted and market ewes culled, growing and finishing ration fed

market lambs

100-110 lbs

market goats

60-110 lbs

Origins of domesticated sheep

primary ancestor = mouflon, came with introduction of agro-pastroalism 6,000 years ago, first livestock species to be domesticated

How are sheep classified

by ratio of wool and hair, all domesticated sheep breeds have wool and hair

Dairy goats

Alpine, Nubian, LaMancha, Oberhasli, Toggenburg

Meat goats

Boer (most popular), Spanish, Myotonic (fainting goat), Savanna, Kiko

Which countries have the most sheep

China, India, Australia, UK

Which states have the most sheep

Texas, wyoming, utah

Top wool producers

China, UK/Britian

Top small ruminant meat producers

china, india, pakistan

Top sheep meat consumption countries

new zealand, australia, UK

What are the majority of goats raised for

meat

Why have we turned away from wool sheep

decrease in textile industry and increased labor related to shearing

How is lamb meat evaluated

yield grade based on backfat, quality grades - muscling

What are the different quality grades for lamb meat

prime (best), choice, good, utility (poor)

Lamb meat maturity

determined by the prescence of break/spool joint, young bones have soft growth plate

Grazers

sheep, eat mostly grass, legumes, and forages

Forbs

broad-leaf flowering plants other than grass, sheep prefer, highly nutritious

Grazing diet

60% grass, 30% forbs, 10% browze

Browsers

goats, preference for woody plants, weed and brush control, prefer browsing brush above shoulder-height

Browzing diet

20% grass, 20% forbs, 60% browse

Anatomy of browsers

prehensile lips, longer tounge, narrow muzle, larger liver for detoxifying plants

Anatomy of grazers

shorter, fatter, more blunt tounge, split upper lip

internal aprasites

barber's pole worm, coccidia

External aparsites

live, ticks, sheep keds, flies, biting midges, bot fly

Parasite life cycle

larvae develop from immature to mature in stomach/intestine, female lays eggs, eggs pass in feces, eggs hatch, larvae develop to infective stage and migrate to grass, grazing sheep ingest larvae

How long can it take for parasites to go from egg to infective stage

as little as 6 days

FAMCHA

created to identify anemic animals

anemia

resulting often from parasite burden

Indications of parasite load

anemia, weight loss, intake will go down, isolated stock, lethargic, decrease wool or meat production, decrease milk production, skinny/lethargic lambs

What is the biggest factor in dealing with parasites

management

Preventing parasites

graxing management (rotational, manure management), seasonal management, hay management

seasonal management

larva can survive 120 days (cool and moist), parasites die quickly when it is hot and dry

Hay management

harvesting pastures opens up areas to heat and sunlight which kills parasites, leave stands of grass less than 4 inches

treating parasites

deworming (ivermectin, safe-guard, cydectin, valbazen)

What causes resistence with parasites

over-utilizing dewormers, under-treating animals, superworms

4-6 weeks before lambing/kidding

vaccinate with CDT, check FAMACHA score (uses eyes), deworm (internal and external), copper bolus for goats, check feet/hoof

What happens 30 days prior to lambing/kidding

udder begins to drop

3-7 days before lambing/kidding

trim wool off rear end (crutching), check feet/hoof trim, move into individual housing

Sheep reproduction

seasonally polyestrous, 16-17 day cycle, in estrus for 30 hours

When should you breed sheep

12-18 hours after estrus

Why are dorsets unique when it comes to reproduction

they can lamb out of season

goat reproduction

seasonally polyestrous, 18-24 day cycle, in estrus for 36 hours

When to breed goats

12-36 hours after estrus onset

Seasonally polyestrus

shorter duration of daylight in fall months, melatonin drives estrus, peak fertility september to november

What type of seasonally polyestrus are sheep and goats

short day

What are ways to breed goats

hand mating, pen breeding, artifical insemination, out-of-season breeding

breeding sheep

ram bred, laparoscopic artifical insemination

Shearing

put sheep on rump, put thumb in mouth, pull wool tight, try to remove in one piece

Hair sheep

mouflon (shed annually), have improved parasite resistance

What is the single largest cost associated with raising small ruminants

feed (60%)

what does nutrition impact

reproduction, milk production, meat production, lamb/kid development

What will inadqueate nutrition lead to

animals that are more prone to disease, decreased parasite resistance, and failure to reach genetic potential

What is the most limiting nutrient

energy

What is the most expensive nutrient

protein

Why is fiber needed

to maintain a healthy rumen

What is the cheapest feed ingredient

water

Maintenance

energy needed to maintain body weight, basal metabolic function, and energy equilibrium - fluctate for individuals and based on environmental conditions

Breeding

ewes get 10% increase in nutrient requriements

early gestation

ewe nutrient requirements jump 43%

Late gestation

ewe experiences deficiencies in energy and calcium requirements double, SE and vit e are critical

lactation

requires the highest nutrient demands, high quality and yeilding forages

chronic Copper toxicosis

most common type in sheep, cu accumulates in the liver cauing heptic necrosis, and is released into bloodstream, red blood cell damage, kidney daage, degeneration of whtie matter in brain, death

acute copper toxicosis

oral exposure to cu, gi irritation, necrosis and mucosal erosion, overload of cu binding proteins, early death is due to hepatic insufficiency, alte death due to renal failure

Signs of copper toxicity in sheep

depression, weakness, anorexia, reddish brown/dark urine, excessive thirst, teeth grinding

treatment of copper toxicity

cu antagonists (Mo and S), fluid thrapy, blood transfusion - poor success rate

Foot/Hoof rot

caused by fusobacterium necrophorum, more severe in sheep

symptoms of foot/hoof rot

lameness, reduced weight gain, decreased milk, decreased reproduction

treatment and prevention of hoof rot

hoof trim, dry/sanitary bedding, foot baths in zinc sulfate, copper sulfate

Most absorbant bedding

hay

produciton system for small ruminants

traditional and pole and open-sided barn (expensive), hoop house/carport shelter/wind breaks/port-a-hut (cheaper)

Factors affecting housing

location, accessibility, ventlation

How does location impact housing

elevated, well-draining, wind protection

hwo does accesibility impact housing

manure management, trucking, deliveries, electricity access, water access

how does ventiliation impact housing

air flow, ammonia smell, cold tolerant

pros and cons of housing

higher lamb % in confinement, lower nutrutional demand, higher respiratory complications

Keepign sheep outside year round

have increased ventilation and exercise, cleaner fleece, decreased feeding costs, no barn upkeep

Where are Merino sheep primarily located?

Australia, South Africa, South America, US

When was the Merino sheep breed introduced?

12th century

What type of wool do Merino sheep produce?

Fine wool