Small Ruminants

sheep & goats

What are the reasons there has been increased interest in goats / sheep in NC?

• keeping small ruminants in the backyard

• local meat/milk production

• very popular for children to show

On average, how many sheep are in NC?

29,000 sheep in NC (has been declining in recent times)

On average, how many meat / dairy goats are there in NC

Meat goats: 45,000 (declining rate since 2010) 90,000

Dairy goats: 7,500 (holding steady)

Sheep adult intact male

ram

Sheep castrated male

wether

Sheep adult female

ewe

Sheep immature female

ewe lamb

Sheep parturition term

lambing

Sheep gestation length

5 months

Sheep newborn animal

lamb

Sheep term of reference

ovine

goat adult intact male

buck

goat castrated male

wether goat

goat adult female

doe

goat immature female

doe kid

goat parturition term

kidding

goat newborn animal

kid

goat gestation length

5 months

goat term of reference

caprine

What is a sheep “herd” referred to?

flock of sheep

what is the main aggressive behavior from sheep & goats?

head butting

When working with animals how should our body language be portrayed?

• turn our side to them, do not make eye contact

• *Staring straight on comes across as aggressive to them

When do sheep & goats mostly portray aggressive behaviors?

• rams/bucks during breeding season

• protecting their young

What are the eating behaviors of sheep?

grazers; prefer to eat pasture, grasses & legumes

what are the eating behaviors of goats?

browsers: prefer to eat the leaves from bushes but will also graze if there are no trees present.

What is important to note about sheep and goats’ teeth?

since they are ruminants, they have no incisors on their upper palate

what is important to not about sheep & goats lips?

they have a split upper lip that allows them to:

• graze close to the ground

• be very selective

what is a goats “special talent” and why?

goats are excellent climbers, they originated from mountains / steep areas

what family are sheep and goats classified in?

Bovidae

what are sheep / goat genus?

sheep: ovis

goat: capra

what are some different characteristics between sheep and goats?

• goats’ tails point up, sheep point down

• goat bucks are odiferous(smelly), rams are not

what are the main behavioral characteristics of sheep?

• timid

• strong flock / maternal instincts

Where and what breed did domestic sheep come from?

the wild sheep of europe and asia (mouflons)

• brought from west indies by Columbus

what sheep was native in the US?

Big Horn Sheep (Rocky Mountain Sheep)

After domestication, what was the sheep importation process in North America?

• first sheep imported from Britian (100 yr later) into Virginia, with not high quality wool

*when New England breed sheep they did not select fineness of wool

In past times, what would happen to dogs that harmed the sheep?

• if a dog bit a sheep or hurt a sheep they died

purebred producer

• sells breeding stock

• careful genetic selection

commercial producer

• producers’ meat (lamb) & wool

• does not sell breeding stock (may keep replacement females)

what do you call the wool after it has been shorn off of a sheep?

fleece

Where is the dock on a sheep?

their tail, the tails are docked in order to prevent manure getting stuck in the wool

Why would you want to set a sheep up like she is “sitting”?

it is a good position for trimming hooves and shearing wools since their feet are not on the floor

what are the qualities of ewe breeds?

• higher quality wool

• hardy

• longevity

• milking & mothering ability

• white face wool

what are the qualities of sire breed?

• higher quality of meat

• used for terminal crosses

• not fine-wool breeds

• may have black faces, some black fibers

what are hair sheep, dairy breeds, and minor breeds used for?

hair: meat production, they are heat tolerant

dairy: milk for cheese

minor: specialty wool, hobby, showing

How often do sheep need to be shorn each year?

every year

Suffolk characteristics?

ram / sire breed

• wool does not cover poll or lower legs

hampshire characteristics

ram / sire breed

• black face, wool on top of head

hair sheep characteristics

• evolved in warm climates

• heat tolerant

• more parasite-resistant

• do not have to be shorn

kinds of hair sheep

• katahdin

• barbados blackbelly

jacob sheep

• colored wool

• 4 horns

• originated in England

what is the choice of sheep breed based on?

the producers goals and preferences of their flock

which species did the goats descend from?

Capra aegagrus

In the past, what were goats used for?

• meat

• milk

• fibers (mohair)

How were goats introduced to north america?

the Spanish explorers brough goats over on ships as a meat source and the became feral

what are the characteristics of Spanish / Brush goats?

• short, agile, with small udders

how does a goat classify as a “brush” goat?

if the goat is from any unknown ancestry

In recent history how were goats bred?

• bred for high milk production OR meaty carcass

T/F: worldwide goat meat is eaten more then any other red meat

TRUE

meat from adult goat

chevon

meat from young goat

cabrito

Modern Spanish goat characteristics

• meat goat selected for a higher meat production

Boer goat characteristics

meat goat

• kidding rate of 200% (3 kiddings every 2 years)

which type of pygmy goat is present in the US?

Cameroon Dwarf Goat, popular for show / hobby or as a pet

What types of vocalizations / behaviors are used by sheep & goats?

bleat: distressed noise

snort: aggressive noise

head butting: aggressive move

When does puberty occur for small ruminants?

between 5 and 12 months of age

How does breeding differ in certain types of sheep/goat breeds?

• most breeds are seasonal in nature

• some can be bred all year

• sheep & goats evolved as short day breeders (in the fall)

How long before lambing/kidding should a ewe/doe be vaccinated?

one month out to allow the vaccination to work

dystocia

lambing problem; trouble with giving birth

what could possibly be an issue when lambing occurs?

the ewe may not accept the lambs, especially if twins or triplets are born

describe the grafting process

when an ewe doesn’t accept the lamb / lamb isn’t receiving enough milk:

• try to get another ewe to burse the lamb by tricking it into accepting the lamb

slime graft

grafting technique used by placing fetal fluid from graft (adoptive) ewe onto another ewes lamb

wet graft

grafting technique used by immersing lamb being grafted & ewe original lamb into the same solution so they smell the same

what lactation management practice is used depending on the number of newborn, and why?

ewe/does nursing single lambs are separated from ewes/does nursing twins to minimize feed costs and ensure that the ewe/doe with twins gets proper nutrition.

at what age are lambs weaned?

2-3 months of age

if the ewe/doe is kidding/lambing year round at what time should they be rebred?

rebreeding should occur when lamb/kids are being weaned

What are the main issues encountered when managing sheep/goats?

• predators (solved by guard dog presense)

• foot rot (solved by feet trimming & foot baths)

• parasites (dewormers)

careers with sheep/goats?

• farm owner

• pharmaceutical companies

• feed sales

• veterinarian

1) cloven hoof

2) foreleg

3) knee

4) shoulder

5) muzzle

6) poll

7) neck

8)withers

9) loin

10) hock

11) dew claw

4) foreleg

5) knee (where the leg bends)

6) shoulder

1) hock

2) dew claw

3) cloved hoof

7) muzzle

8)poll

9) neck

10) withers

11) loin

suffolk sire

hampshire sire

barbados black belly

• hair sheep

Katahdin

angora goat

• first goat imported to Europe from US for mohair but it didnt catch on

boer meat goat

saanean dairy goat

nubian dairy goat

if a sheep/goat isn’t held on a local on farm sales, where do they go?

to the feed lot