SHEEPS & GOATS

Sheep Industry

1. Globally important species

• U.S. not large contributor

2. Total U.S Sheep inventory around 5 million (2024)

Main purposes of sheep in US

• Meat

• Wool

Geographic sheep distribution

1. Generally, sheep are raised in the Western states-marginal land

2. Can consume poor quality grasses, live on rugged terrain

Where does Virginia rank?

19th (pretty low in ranking but it is growing)

Which state is #1

Texas

Purposes of goats

• Mohair

• Milk

• Meat

Is the goat industry smaller in Virginia?

Yes

#1 in goat industry which lead US in the meat goat production?

Texas

What is the ranking in Virginia?

21st for goats

Genus (sheep):

Ovis

Lamb (sheep):

Young sheep (<1 yr.)

Ewe lamb (sheep)

female

Ram lamb (sheep):

Male

Ewe (sheep):

adult female sheep

Ram (sheep):

intact male sheep

Whether (sheep):

castrated male sheep

Lambing (sheep):

act of giving birth

Mutton (sheep):

meat from a adult sheep (>1 yr of age)

Lamb (sheep):

meat from a young sheep (<1 year of age)

Flock or band (sheep):

group of sheep

Genus (goat):

Capra

Kid (goat):

young goat (<1 yr)

Doeling (goat):

female

Buckling (goat):

male

Doe (goat):

adult female goat

Buck (goat):

intact male goat

Whether (goat):

castrated male goat

Kidding (goat):

act of giving birth

Chevon (goat):

meat from goats

Flock or herd (goat):

group of goats

Suffolk

• Terminal breed – meat production

• Black face, white body

• No wool on face and legs

• England

• Large, lean

(most popular; on campus)

Dorset

• Dual purpose breed – meat production

• All white, horned or polled

• England

• Good milk, carcass quality

• Year-round breeding

Typically can only breed in the fall, that is the exception

On campus

Hampshire

• Terminal breed – meat production

• White with wool cap and black face

• England

• Fast growing, heavily muscled

Rambouillet:

• Dual purpose or maternal – wool production

• Fine wool

• All white, wool on legs

• France

• Low prolificacy

Polypay:

• Maternal (ewe) breed

• Wool production

• Composite of 4 breeds

• USDA - created in U.S.

• Very prolific

• Hardy

Katahdin

most popular haired sheep

• Maternal breed - meat production

• “Hair breed”

• USA

• Parasite resistant

• Heat tolerant

• Prolific

Boer (goat)

• Meat goat

• White with dark head

• South Africa

• Muscle, growth

• Not seasonal breeders

Angora

• Fiber producing – mohair

• White

• Turkey

• Hair grows 1 in/month

• Produce 6.5 lbs twice per year

used for scarfs, hats & sweaters

Nubian

• Dairy – most common dairy breed

• Various colors

• England

• Short hair, heat tolerant

• High milk fat

Sheep & Goat Industry Structure

Seedstock → Commercial → Feed → Packing plant

Housing

• Generally pastured

• Can graze poor quality forage

• Fencing matters – adept at escaping

• Barns

• Winter months

• Lambing/kidding

• Feedlots

• Outdoors in western states

• Indoors in Midwest and East