Sheep and Goat Production - Exam 3

what is the scientific name for sheep

ovis aries

what is the scientific name for goats

capra hircus

how do you distinguish between sheep and goats

• goats have 30 pairs of chromosomes while sheep have 27 pairs

• goats have a tail that sticks up while sheep have one that is down

• goats have horns that grow curled behind their head while sheep’s grow on the side

what are 3 primary uses for sheep

1. meat

2. wool

3. dairy

what are 3 primary uses for goats

1. meat

2. dairy

3. fiber

what do you call a young female sheep vs. goat

• sheep: ewe lamb

• goat: doe kid

what do you call a mature male sheep vs. goat

• sheep: ram

• goat: billy

what do you call a newborn sheep vs. goat

• sheep: lamb

• goat: kid

how many sheep are there in the US

~ 5.2 million

how many goats are in the US

~ 2.6 million (mostly meat goats)

which state produces the most sheep and goat

Texas

how much lamb does the average american eat per year

less than 1lb/person

which arkansas counties have the most sheep and goats

NWA:

1. washington

2. fulton

3. benton

how much revenue do farms make from sheep

0.14% of farm revenue

which countries produce the most dairy goats

1. india

2. bangladesh

3. sudan

which countries produce the most goat milk

1. india

2. sudan

3. bangladesh

what is the most popular way goats are milked in the us?

1. by hand

2. when fed to kids

what is the number one reason for raising goats

for brush control

what are the benefits of owning sheep and goats

• better for small farms (5-7 goats/sheep are kept on the same amount of feed as 1 cow)

• smaller carcasses are consumed more rapidly and are less likely to spoil

• can graze rugged areas that larger livestock can’t access

why do sheep & goats cograze with cattle

• they pick up weeds that cows leave behind

• cows help protect sheep & goats against predators

when were sheep and goats first domesticated

9000-11000 years ago

where were goats and sheep first domesticated

central asia & southern iran

what is the histroy of sheep and goats

9000-11000 BC: first domestication

8000 BC: sheep & wool industry begins in asia

7000 BC: domestic sheep used for meat wool, milk, skins

41-54 AD: wool industry spreads to england

1493: colombus brings sheep to the west indies

1662: first US wool mill built

1700s: Robert Bakewell advances selective breeding

1880-1910: range wars between cattlemen + sheep producers

WW1 (1918-1919): Sheep braze on the White house lawn to support the war effort

what are the 2 main types of sheep production in the US

farm flocks and range flocks

where are farm flocks located

mostly eastern and midwestern states

how many head of ewes do farm flocks contain

30-40 heads

what is the main product of farm flocks

lambs for meat

where are range flocks located

western states with large acres of land

how many head of ewes do range flocks contain

thousands

what is the main product of range flocks

wool production

whats the average lamb crop (offspring production) in farm flocks 

150-200%

whats the average lamb crop (offspring production) in range flocks

90-100%

what is the purpose of lamb feedlots

to fatten lambs to the market weight for best sales

what is lanolin

the natural oil in wool

what is yield

the % of clean wool from a fleece

what is staple

the length of wool

what is crimp

the natural waviness in wool

what is natural

dark or “naturally dyed” wool

which sheep are dual purpose

• dorset

• colombia

• polypay

• texel

what are ewe breeds (female)good for

good for wool production

what are ram breeds (muscular males) good for

good for growth and meat production

what are the 3 wool grading systems

1. American (blood system): based on % merino breeding

2. Bradford (english system): based on lengths of yarn spun from 1 pound of wool

3. Micron count system: based on actual size of fiber

how are goats produced

• raised largely in farm-type organizations

• not much feeding in feedlots

what is an example of a dairy goat breed

LaMancha

what is an example of a meat goat breed

boer

what is an example of a dual purpose goat breed

nubian

what is an example of a goat breed with good fiber

• angora (hair is clipped off)

• cashmere goats (hair is combed)

what breed of goat are pets

pygamy

what type of breeding do sheep and goats go through

seasonally polyestrous breeding (only breed in late summer - fall)

what is the estrous cycle length for sheep

16-17 days

what is the estrous cycle length for goats

21 days

what is the gestation length for sheep and goats

~ 150 days

how is sheep breeding in farm flocks different than in range flocks

farm flocks:

• ewes kept in small pens 2-5 days after lambing

• offspring are warmed with heat lamps and fed as early as 10 days old

range flocks:

• ewes lamb out in field or in large barns with no extra care other than that of the mother

what are some important goat adaptations

• progesterone is produced in the corpus luteus (not placenta) so they are more prone to stress-induced abortions

• there are sweat glands located next to the horns of bucks and they stimulate estrus

  • very stinky

what are the 3 important nutritional times in the life of an ewe/doe

1. 2 weeks before breeding (flushing occurs)

2. last trimester

3. first 6 weeks of lactation

what is flushing

increasing the feed of females immediately before breeding to improve fertility

what are the major health concerns of sheep and goats

1. parasites

2. contagious ecthyma

3. caseous lymphadenitis (CL)

explain parasites as a health concern for sheep and goats

• most common parasite: nemotodes (worms)

• symptoms: weight loss, poor growth, diarrhea, anemia, bottle jaw

• how to diagnose: with FAMACHA scores

  • it scored anemia to identify the parasite load in the body

• how to prevent: good husbandry, move animals away from infected spaces, sulfa drugs

what is contagious ectyma

• what is it: cold sores on mouth and nose

  • can cause some sores on udders

• treatment: vaccine to prevent it but no treatment once contracted

what is caseous lymphadenitis (CL)

goats: external abscesses that bust and spread like bacteria

sheep: internal abscesses

prevention: sanitation + isolation of affected animals

what are non-animal predator control methods

• good fences

• good neighbors

• night penning

• indoor lambing

what are guardian animal predator control methods

• dogs

• donkeys

• llamas

• co-grazing with cattle