Sheep/Goats: EXAM #3

sheep in NC

32,000

meat goats in NC

45,000, down 90,000 in 2010

dairy goats in NC

8,500

t/f: ram bucks may be feisty during breeding season

true

t/f: animals know our body language, staring straight on means aggressive on our part

true

t/f: turn to the side if you want them to walk past us + no eye contact

true

grazers

sheep, prefer to eat pasture grasses and legumes

browsers

goats, prefer to eat leaves from bushes but will graze as well

t/f: ruminants have no upper incisors

true

t/f: sheep and goats have a split upper lip

true, can graze close to the ground and allows them to be very selective

t/f: you can graze sheep or goats with cattle

true

t/f: both sheep and goats are in the family “Bovidae”

true

ovis

sheep genus

capra

goat genus

t/f: goat tails point us, sheep tails point down

true

t/f: bucks are odiferous, rams or not

true

t/f: domestic sheep come from the wild sheep of europe and asia, called MOUFLONS

true

domestication of sheep

10,000 years ago, may be related to domestication of the dog

rocky mountain bighorn ram

US, are native, domestic sheep in the US did not descend from them

t/f: sheep were orginally from spain, columbus brought sheep to west indies and cortex brought merino sheep to mexico

true

t/f: first sheep imported into North America from Britain came 100 yrs later, imported to VA, and did not the highest quality wool

true

t/f: dogs that bit sheep were previously hanged

true

purebred producer

• sells breeding stock

• careful genetic selection

commerical producercommercial

• produced meat (lamb) and wool

• does not sell breeding stock

• may keep replacement females

• often purcahses registered rams

ewe breeds (sheep)

higher quality wool, good mothers

sire breeds (sheep)

higher quality of meat

sheep general purpose

meat and wool

hair sheep

• meat production, heat-tolerant

• evolved in warm climates

• heat tolerant

• don’t have to be shorn

• Katahdin and Barbados Blackbelly

dairy sheep breeds

milk for cheese

minor breeds

speciality wool, hobby, show

• Jacob sheep (colored wool w/ a pattern)

• 4 horns

• OG from England 350 years ago

ewe (dam) concepts

• hardy

• above average fleece weight and quality

• longevity

• milking + mothering

• white face, wool

t/f: wool sheep must be shorn every year

true

ram (sire) concepts

• used for terminal crosses

• meaty sheep; fast growth rate

• not fine-wool breeds

• black faces, some black fibers

• (suffolk) = wool does not cover poll or lower legs

• (hamsphire) = wool on poll

t/f: goats descended from the bezoar goat (capra aegagrus)

true

t/f: goats are used for meat, milk, and fiber (mohair) + mentioned 2,500 yrs. ago (angora goat from turkey)

true

t/f: imports to europe in the 1500 and 1700’s and were not successful in establishing mohair industry

true

t/f: spanish explorers brought goats over on ships

true, meat source, became feral

goats in North America

• mid 1500’s: goats in Texas area

• feral goats: short and agile, small udders

• became known as spanish or brush goats

• now describes any goat of unknown ancestry

dairy goat

high milk production, not selected for carcass characteristics

meat goat

selected for lean meat production (eaten more than any other red meat)

adult goat

chevon

young goat

cabrito

t/f: more than half the population drinks goat milk

boer goat

• originated in south africa

• meaty breed (fast gains in kids)

• kidding rate: 200% and common

• 3 kiddings every 2 years

t/f: pygmy goat and cameroon dwarf goat are popular for show, hobby, and pets

true

bleat

sheep distress sound, make few noises

snort

Goat aggressive sound, stamping one front leg is warning

head butting (goat)

agressive mpve

puberty

• occurs between 5-12 months of age

• breed and season of birth influence puberty age

breeding

• most are seasonal in nature

• some can be bred all year

• short day breeders (breed in fall)

• october usually

gestation

5 months

parnutriton

march occurence

lacatation

2-3 months then weaning

anestrus

does not cycle

dystocia

trouble giving birth

t/f: ewe may not accept lambs, especially when there is twins or triplets

true

t/f: if there are lambing problems with an ewe, try to get another ewe to nurse the lamb or trick her

true

slime graft

fetal fluids from graft ewe are rubbed on other ewes lamb (new lamb smells like hers)

wet graft

immerse lamb to be grafted and ewe’s own lamb in the same solution (smells the same)

t/f: rebreed at weaning if breeding year-round

true

main problems

• predators (need goof fencing and guard dogs)

• foot rot (trim feet and give foot baths)

• parasites (dewormers are losing effectiveness)