Sheep

Sheep are uniquely able to produce two marketable products:

lamb and wool

Due to their hardiness and ruminant digestive system, they are able to utilize forage produced on

rough, arid lands that otherwise would not be used

The number of sheep has decreased dramatically since WWII because:

Creation of synthetic fibers

Elimination of wool subsidies

Fewer sheepers

Decreasing consumption and high land prices have

hurt demand for meat

Increasing problems with predators have caused the

US to lose ⅙ of its annual land crop

Currently the US has only 7 million heads of sheep and

it continues to slowly decrease

There are still over 65,000 sheep productions in the US, and

sheep remain very popular for 4-H and FFA products

ram (buck)

intact (uncastrated) male sheep, any age

ram lamb

intact male sheep less than 1 year of age

ewe

female sheep, any age

ewe lamb

female sheep less than 1 year of age

lamb

offspring of sheep of either sex, less than about 1 year of age, also the meat from lambs

wether

a male sheep castrated before reaching sexual maturity

ovine

refers to sheep; species name

wool

fibers produced by sheep

fleece

wool produced from one sheep

flock

a group of sheep

dock

to remove the tail of sheep; also the area around the tail of a sheep

mutton

meat obtained from a mature sheep greater than 1 year of age, has a much stronger flavor than lamb

lanolin

an oily substance obtained from wool that is used in cosmetics and ointments

what are the economically important traits of sheep

adaptability, prolificacy, growth rate, carcass merit, fleece traits

define adaptability in sheep

Must be able to produce under conditions in which they are raised. The fine-wool and medium-wool breeds are more productive under range conditions because of their hardiness, longevity, and flocking instincts. The meat type breeds are more productive under farm flock conditions because of their prolificacy and desirable growth rate

define prolificacy in sheep

Number of lambs born per ewe. Select for multiple births and / or number of lambs raised (weaned). Cull dry or barren ewes. Fertility and fleece weight are negatively correlated - as fertility increases, fleece weight decreases

define growth rate in sheep

Faster growing lambs can be marketed at younger ages; therefore, a shorter feeding period, improved feed efficiency and less risk of death loss result. To measure growth rate, weigh the lamb at weaning and during a post weaning feeding period

define carcass merit in sheep

Difficult to measure on a live animal. The best ways to select for carcass merit are to select for rate of (weight) gain or to participate in central ram testing stations and organized testing programs. However, the rate of gain and fatness tend to be positively correlated in farm animals

define fleece traits in sheep

Grease fleece weight, clean fleece weight, staple length and grade (fitness or diameter) are the most important. These traits are highly heritable (40%-50%); therefore, great progress can be made through selection of breeding herb replacements with desirable fleece weights

what are the different types of sheep operations

range flock, farm flock, show lamb, purebreds, feedlots

define a range flock operation

primarily wool type sheep

Found in the Western states and Texas; large flocks of 1,000 ewes or more; generally run on public lands by herders because the land isn't fenced; usually the sole source of income for the owners. Low input, self sufficient, tough

define a farm flock operation

mostly black-faced sheep

Found in the Midwest states. Flocks of a few to 1,000 head, generally run on fenced pastures, usually used as a source of additional income to a farming operation. Smaller numbers per flock. More productive breeds managed more intensely

define a show lamb operation

Raised in farm flock conditions and productivity is less important

define a purebred operation

mostly farm flocks

Registered sheep; found throughout the US, provide rams for commercial producers

define a feedlot operation

Feedler lambs are fed in drylot to slaughter weights of about 100-140 pounds; most lamb feedlots have a capacity of 20,000-30,000 head. Texas has the most ewes and Colorado has the most lambs on feed

what are the different classification of breeds

fine-wool breeds (primarily for wool production), long-wool breeds, crossbred or medium-wool breeds, meat type or medium-wool breeds, hair sheep and shedding breeds, dairy sheep, and other

define sheep: Fine-wool breeds (primarily for wool production)

Characteristics - white in color; very fine silky hair on face, ears, and legs; wool is very fine with ewes producing 8 to 10 pounds per year; ewes are polled, rams can either be horned or polled.

Advantages - wool quality and quantity, hardiness, adaptability to range conditions, longevity; flocking instinct (gregariousness), out of season breeding

Disadvantages - wool blindness, body wrinkles, poorly muscled carcasses, slow growth rate, mature slowly, low lambing percentage. We want ewes to have two lambs, not three, because of the environmental conditions in which they live

what are the different Fine-wool breeds?

Rambouillet, Merino (Delaine), Debouillet

define the Rambouillet

France; largest, horned or polled rams, polled ewes, dominate in numbers in the US - 90% to 95% of range flocks, and range flocks are about 90% of total sheep

define the Merino (delaine)

Spain; major breed in Australia and New Zealand, finest wool, good staple length, heavy grease weight, but poor carcasses

Define the Debouillet

developed by A. D. Jones, Tatum, NM; Rambouillet x Merino, good growth rate and staple length

explain and define the long-wool breeds

Originated in England

Characteristics - white in color, very long, coarse wool; both rams and ewes are polled

Advantages - very large size has been useful in crossbreeding programs; heavy fleeces, 14 to 16 pounds per sheep per year; long staple, high-yielding fleeces; milking ability

Disadvantages - very coarse wool that can be used only in the carpet industry, not the apparel industry; coarse, low quality carcasses with excessive external fat; average prolificacy

what are the different long-wool breeds

Lincoln, Cotswold, Leicester, Romney

identify the Lincoln sheep

identify the Cotswold sheep

identify the Leicester sheep

identify the Romney sheep

define the crossbred or medium-wool breeds

Established by crossing a fine-wool breed with a long wool breed

Characteristics - white in color, Corriedale has black nostrils and black hooves, both rams and ewes are polled

Advantages - large size, heavy fleeces, good performers under range conditions

Disadvantages - wool is coarser than fine-wool breeds; carcasses are acceptable, but not very muscular

identify the Colombia sheep

originated in Wyoming by crossing Lincoln rams with Rambouillet ewes

identify the Corriedale sheep

originated in New Zealand by crossing Lincoln rams with Merino ewes

identify the Targhee sheep

originated in Idaho by crossing Rambouillet rams with Columbia ewes

identify the Panama sheep

originated in Idaho by crossing Rambouillet rams with Lincoln ewes

define the meat type or medium-wool breads

Most breeds originated in England except for the Montadale and Texel

Characteristics - both ewes and rams are polled except the Dorset in which the ewes and rams can either be horned or polled

Advantages - fast-growing, excellent carcasses, prolificacy

Disadvantages - coarse, light weight fleeces; lack flocking instinct; not good under range conditions; black fibers are a problem in breeds with dark markings

what are the different Crossbred or medium-wool breeds

Columbia, Corriedale, Targhee, and Panama

identify the Suffolk sheep

the largest of meat type breeds; black head, ears and legs with no wool on head and legs

identify the Hampshire sheep

black head, ears and legs with wool on head and legs

identify the Dorset sheep

white head, ears and legs with wool on head and legs. Breed out of season

identify the Oxford sheep

medium brown to dark gray nose, ears and feet with wool on head and legs

identify the Shropshire sheep

dark brown to black head, ears and legs with wool on head and legs

identify the Southdown sheep

smallest of meat breeds, dark gray to light brown head, ears and legs with wool on head and legs

identify the Cheviot sheep

white head, ears and legs with no wool on head and legs, erect ears, black hooves and nostrils

identify the Montadale sheep

white head, ears and legs with no wool on head and legs; black hooves and nostrils. Originated in the US by crossing Cheviot rams with Columbia ewes

Identify the Texel sheep

originated in Holland; white head, ears and legs with no wool on head or legs; black nose

Advantages - excellent carcasses

Disadvantages - poor wool quality and small size

what are the meat type or medium wool breeds

Suffolk, Hampshire, Dorset, Oxford, Shropshire, Southdown, Cheviot, Montadale, Texel

what are the other breeds that are highly prolific

Finnish Landrace (Finnsheep), Polypay, Booroola-Merino, Romanov

identify the Finnish Landrace (Finnsheep) sheep

originated in Finland; white head, ears and legs with no wool on heads and legs; ewes and rams are polled

Advantages - very prolific, averaging 4.5 lambs per lambing with excellent milking and mothering ability

Disadvantages - small, light-muscled carcasses, coarse, light weight fleeces

identify the Polypay sheep

originated in US by cross Rambouillet, Dorset, Targhee, and Finnish Landrace; white in color; ewes and rams are polled; have many of desirable characteristics of the four parent breeds such as: prolificacy, out-of-season breeding, flocking instinct, hardiness, acceptable wool and adequate carcasses

identify the Booroola-Merino sheep

originated in New Zealand; breed characteristics and size same at the Delaine-Merino

Advantages - very prolific, averaging 3 lambs per lambing; fine fleeces

Disadvantages - small, wrinkles, greasy fleeces

identify the Romanov sheep

originated in Russia; light gray to black in color; some may have white blazes in their faces

what are some qualities of the hair sheep and shedding breeds

Advantages: adapted to hot, humid environments, have genetic parasite resistance, shed wool, bred out of season, better than average prolificacy, young age at puberty, good under range conditions. These sheep are well suited to the needs of many ethic group that continue to buy more lambs in the US market

Disadvantages: slow growth rate, small, light muscled carcasses

identify the Hair Sheep and Shedding Breeds:

Dorper, St. Croix, Royal White (Dorpcroix), Katadhin, Barbados Blackbelly, Peilbuay, Texas Dahl

identify the Dorper sheep

originated in South Africa by crossing Dorset and Persian Blackhead breeds; white body and legs with a black head. Also has pure white strain; is the most muscular of all shedding breeds; not a true hair sheep, most expensive of this breed group

identify the St. Croix sheep

Virgin Islands; white breed, fairly prolific, hardy breeds while lactating

identify the Royal White (Dorpcroix)

cross between the Dorper and the St. Croix; very useful white breed

identify the Katadhin sheep

developed in Maine by crossing Caribbean hair sheep with Wiltshire Horn and Suffolk sheep that were selected for their shedding ability; mostly white and typically polled

identify the Barbados Blackbelly sheep

from Barbados. One of the original hair breeds in the US; true Black Belly is polled; was crossed with Rambouillet and Mouflon breeds to form the American Barbado which is a horned breed that was developed for wild game purposes

identify the Peilbuay

most popular Mexican breed of hair sheep; many colors

Identify the Texas Dahl

white, horned breed; essentially a white Barbado

what are attributes of the dairy sheep

Mostly Freshian crosses, Finnsheep and Dorset crosses.

Sheep are selected for milk production, out of season breeding and prolificacy.

Most of this industry is located in the Great Lakes area and the Northeast US

Milk is primarily used for cheese

what are the four most important traits of fleece

weight, yield, staple length, and average fiber diameter

what are the minor traits of fleece

character, uniformity

what is spider lamb syndrome

a genetic disease, causes deformities (defective protein-prions)