Sheep Production

Animal Science

Female Adult Sheep

Ewe

Adult male Sheep

Ram

Young sheep

Lamb

Castrated male

Wether

Sheep gestation

148 days

What is Merino known for?

Very fine wool

What is Rambouillet known for?

Fine wool and hardiness

What is Targhee made from?

Rambouillet + Corriedale + Lincoln

What is Suffolk known for?

Large, muscular, good meat

What is Dorper known for?

Fast growth and sheds its wool

What is Katahdin known for?

Meat, fertility, and parasite resistance

3 main types of sheep?

Wool, meat, hair

Examples of wool breeds?

Merino, Rambouillet, Columbia

Examples of meat breeds?

Suffolk, Hampshire, Dorset

What are hair sheep?

Sheep that shed their hair/wool and usually don't need shearing.

Where does most meat-breed income come from?

Lamb (80–90%)

Are sheep short-day or long-day breeders?

Short Day

Estrous cycle?

17 days

Goal for lambing crop?

200%

How are most sheep bred?

Natural mating

One ram can breed about how many ewes?

50-60

What is crutching?

Shearing the rear of the ewe

What is put on a newborn's navel?

Iodine

What does selenium prevent?

White muscle disease

When should an orphan lamb get colostrum?

Within 24 hours

When are lambs usually weaned?

8–14 weeks

Two main markets?

Traditional and ethnic

What happens in the traditional market?

Lambs go to a feedlot and are grain-fed.

What breed is common in the ethnic market?

Dorper

Why use guardian animals?

To protect sheep from predators.

Don't grab sheep by what?

Wool — it can cause bruising

What position is used for shearing?

Sitting

When are sheep usually sheared?

Spring

How long off feed before shearing?

6–12 hours

Should wool be wet or dry when shearing?

Dry