Sheep and Goat production

female sheep

ewe

male sheep

ram

castrated male sheep

wether

sheep offspring

lamb

immature ewe or ram

ewe lamb or ram lamb

a group of sheep

flock

how long is the estrous cycle in sheep

17 days

how long is gestation in sheep

147 days

sheep genus and species

ovis aries

goat genus, species and subspecies

capra aegagrus hircus

which province has the most sheep

Ontario with 30.65% (322,508)

what age do sheep reach puberty

Around 7 months of age when they are typically ready to breed.

semi confinement lamb production

• lambing december - april

• high labour housing requirement during lambing

• quality feed during winter

• pasture and fence for summer

• more lambs marketed per ewe

grass based lambing production model

• lambing may and june

• lower labour requirements

• uses natural pasture

• more land required

• lower number of lambs marketed per ewe

intensive accelerated lambing

• 3 lambing in 2 years

• high labour and housing requirements

• low pasture and fencing needs

• required intensive management

• nutrition is important

• more lambs marketed per ewe

sheep meat breeds

• suffold

• hampshire

• canadian arcott

• dorset

sheep wool breed

merino

sheep hair breeds

• katahdin

• dorper

sheep milk breed

east friesian dairy

sheep dual purpose meat and wool breeds

• rambouillet

• romney

• columbia

sheep dual purpose meat and milk

rideau arcott

dressing percentage is affected by what

• pelt weight

• heavily muscled lambs

• fatness - visceral fat

properties of wool

• water repelling

• moisture retaining

• insulating

• fire resistant

• retains die colour

what is the only commercial wool purchaser in Canada

canadian cooperative wool growers

what is wool grade based on

• fibre diameter

• staple length

• staple strength

female goat

doe (nanny)

male goat

buck (billy)

castrated goat

wether

goat offspring

kids

what is a buckling

young male goat that isn’t castrated

doeling

a doe until breeding age

what is a group of goats called

herd or trip

how long is the estrous cycle in goats

17 days

how long is the gestation period in goats

147 days

what is cabrito

goat meat from a milk-raised kid

chevon

young goats from the 6-9 months of age

what is canada’s second most common meat and dairy breed of goat

boer

what are the top three goat milk producing countries

1. India

2. Bangladesh

3. Sudan

why milk goats or sheep over dairy?

Goat and sheep milk have higher protein and fat %