Animal, Plant & Soil Science Lesson C7-9 Feeding and Managing Sheep and Goats

Interest Approach  Bring in a variety of the products listed in Objective 1 of this lesson. Ask students what materials are used in manufacturing these items. Discuss with students how animal byproducts are important in manufacturing and creating new materials for everyday use.

Objectives  List and describe the food and non- food products produced by sheep and goats.  Describe the types of production systems for sheep and goats.  Examine production practices involved in the reproductive management of sheep and goats.

Objectives  Analyze production practices involved in the care of lambs and kids from birth to weaning.  Describe the nutritional requirements of sheep and goats and analyze the types of feedstuffs they are fed.

Terms  cabrito  chevon  chevre  colostrum  confinement  docking  easter kid  farm flock method  kidding  lamb  lamb feeding  lambing  lanolin  mutton  purebred flock  range band method

What food and non-food products are produced by sheep and goats?  Sheep and goats are very versatile and offer many products for human use.  These animals provide both food and non- food products.  Many of the non-food products are used in the manufacturing of items that are used every day.  For example, baseballs are stuffed with wool and sewn with wool thread, the rubber lining is prepared from stearic acid, and the center cork contains processed blood.

What food and non-food products are produced by sheep and goats?  A. Meat that comes from a sheep under one year old (young sheep) is referred to as lamb. Mutton is meat from a sheep that is over one year old. Mutton has a very different taste than lamb. Lamb is considered a delicacy. Mutton has a strong flavor and is not as popular as lamb. Meat from goats is referred to as chevon, depending on the age of the animal.

What food and non-food products are produced by sheep and goats?  B. The hide of sheep is used for leather. The wool is used for clothing and other products, such as rugs, insulation, and artist brushes. The wool also contains lanolin. Lanolin is the grease found in the wool and is used in ointments and cosmetics.

What food and non-food products are produced by sheep and goats?  1. The fats and fatty acids from the carcass are used in products such as floor wax, candles, crayons, brake fluid, tanning lotion, cosmetics, and glycerol that helps asphalt stick.  2. The manure from sheep and goats can be used as fertilizer and contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other various minerals.

What food and non-food products are produced by sheep and goats?  3. The horns, hooves, and bones are used in a wide variety of products, such as shampoos/ conditioners, bone china, marshmallows, piano keys, and gelatin desserts.  4. The products manufactured from the intestines can be the casings for foods such as sausages and hot dogs. The intestines also provide materials used to make instrument strings.

What food and non-food products are produced by sheep and goats?  C. Goat milk can be used to make a cheese known as chevre. Dairy goat producers market their products primarily through direct markets, farmers’ markets, Internet sales, or direct to retail stores and restaurants. Goat cheese is one of the fastest-growing cheeses in the specialty cheese market. It is considered a gourmet food, and restaurants use it in dishes such as pizza, salads, and desserts.

What food and non-food products are produced by sheep and goats?  D. Meat goats are marketed through slaughter facilities, auctions, or on-farm sites to private buyers.  Meat goats are sold based on their size and age.  1. An easter kid is a meat goat weighing 16 to 40 pounds. It should not be castrated and is usually sold seasonally to ethnic markets.  2. A cabrito is the meat from a milk-raised kid that weighs 25 to 40 pounds and is not castrated. Chevon is the meat from goats of any age or size. Generally, chevon meat is from goats weighing over 60 pounds.  3. The price of goats is typically higher before major ethnic holidays. There is an increasing interest in goat meat in gourmet restaurants. Goat meat is often found on the menu and usually comes with a high price tag.

What different types of production systems are used for sheep and goats?  Goats and sheep can be raised together.  They complement each other’s eating likes and dislikes.  There are five types of sheep production systems.  Goats can be raised in similar situations.

What different types of production systems are used for sheep and goats?  A. The farm flock method of sheep production describes the farm flocks that can have one sheep or thousands of sheep. The farms are located in the midwestern, eastern, and southern United States. The purpose of farm flocks is to produce market lambs and wool. Many dairy goats are also raised with this type of production method and are popular throughout the country.

What different types of production systems are used for sheep and goats?  B. A purebred flock is one that sells rams and ewes of an ideal type. The management requirements are high, and knowledge of genetics is helpful. Many people starting a 4-H or FFA project will go to a purebred flock for their first purchases. Many dairy and meat goat breeds are raised in a purebred flock. These flocks express highly valuable genetics and are seen in the show ring.

What different types of production systems are used for sheep and goats?  C. The range band method of sheep production involves large bands of sheep (between 1,000 and 1,500) that are managed over a large area by a herder. In high vegetation areas, sheep are used for meat. In low vegetation areas, sheep are used for wool because the feed is not suitable to produce a market-quality lamb.

What different types of production systems are used for sheep and goats?  D. Some producers use confinement methods. Confinement means raising animals completely indoors. This method is popular because of the need for less land, fewer parasite problems, the increased ability to monitor animals, and the success of raising other animals in confinement. Some disadvantages include increased building costs, higher feed costs, and the increased need for intense management.  E. Lamb feeding production involves weaning lambs and selling them to feedlots where the lambs are fed out to slaughter weight. Meat goats are commonly raised in this type of situation.

What production practices are involved in the reproductive management of sheep and goats?  All types of producers must maintain efficient production practices to raise sheep and goats in a healthy and productive environment.  These production practices start with well-managed breeding management systems.  A. Kidding is the process of a goat giving birth. Lambing is the process of a sheep giving birth. The gestation period for goats is about five months. The gestation period for a sheep is about 150 days. The gestation period can vary in both sheep and goat breeds.

What production practices are involved in the reproductive management of sheep and goats?  B. Sheep and goats are both seasonal breeders. They are typically bred in late summer and early winter. Meat goat breeding season depends on the decreasing of daylight. There are no true signs of estrus other than acceptance of a ram/buck. The estrus cycle of a ewe will occur every 16 to 17 days, while that of a goat will occur every 18 to 21 days.

What production practices are involved in the reproductive management of sheep and goats?  C. The number of lambs or kids a female may have will vary among breeds. It is common for dairy goats to have twins or triples. Twins or multiples are common in some sheep breeds. A good production practice in sheep is to calculate the percent lamb crop. The higher the percent lamb crop the more that will be ready for market. Another important production practice is to maintain the mortality rate below 25 percent.

What production practices are involved in the reproductive management of sheep and goats?  D. The rams and/or bucks are kept separate from ewes until breeding season. Rams should have access to water, pasture, and exercise. Rams will require some additional grain feed during breeding and cold temperatures. It is important to maintain a ram in good condition with low body fat.

What production practices are involved in the reproductive management of sheep and goats?  E. A bred ewe or doe will require high-quality hay, pasture, feed, water, shelter, and exercise. Supplemental grains are used to maintain health and condition during pregnancy. The ewe or doe should be observed very closely as parturition time occurs.  1. It is common to shear the ewe’s wool around the dock, flank, and udder. The ewe is also directed to a dry, sheltered pen. Once the ewe enters an individual pen, grain should be reduced.

What production practices are involved in the reproductive management of sheep and goats?  2. There are many complications that could occur at lambing or kidding time. It is very important to observe and help ewes/does during the delivery. It is a good production practice to make sure the young lamb/kid is in the right position. It is also a good practice to make sure the ewe/doe accepts the young animal and allows nursing to begin.

What production practices are involved in the care of lambs and kids from birth to weaning?  Several production practices are involved in the care of newborn lambs and kids.  A. Newborn lambs and kids should receive colostrum. Colostrum is the first milk given by the mother. It contains important nutrients for the newborn. Mothers that deliver multiples can show acceptance to either one or none. A common practice is to put a little bit of salt on the newborn lamb, allowing the ewe to lick and accept the baby. If the mother has had complications during delivery, it is important for the producer to have supplemental nursing equipment ready.

What production practices are involved in the care of lambs and kids from birth to weaning?  B. The navel on newborn lambs and kids should be dipped with iodine as soon as possible, and the newborn should be kept in a clean stall or pen.  C. The newborn should be identified as soon as possible. Applying ear tags is a common method of identification for sheep and goats. It is important to maintain good recordkeeping practices.  D. Lambs and kids should enter immediately into the flock’s vaccination schedule. Lambs should be wormed and vaccinated for overeating at an older age.

What production practices are involved in the care of lambs and kids from birth to weaning?  E. Lambs should be docked as soon as possible. Docking is the removal or cutting off of part of the tail. Docking is important because later, as the lamb grows, it prevents manure from accumulating and parasite infestation of the tail. Lambs are typically docked from 3 to 10 days old. Docking can be accomplished with the use of an elastic bank or electric docker. Goats are not docked.  F. Castration of lambs should be conducted during the first month. The equipment used is similar to docking.

What are the nutritional requirements of sheep and goats?  Sheep and goats are good grazers, and some do well in a range environment.  These animals are known for their scavenging ability.  Sheep and goats are efficient eaters of forage compared to beef animals.  Sheep will eat short grass and some broadleaf plants.  Goats will eat leaves off woody and broadleaf plants.

What are the nutritional requirements of sheep and goats?  A. Sheep and goats require carbohydrates and fats that are used for energy. These substances are mainly supplied through pasture and hay. Grain is used before and during lambing season, as well as during drought, overgrazing, and in snow-covered pastures. Grains commonly used in a sheep/goat ration are corn, oats, wheat, and grain sorghums.

What are the nutritional requirements of sheep and goats?  B. Sheep and goats also require high levels of protein. Protein levels are important due to the production of wool. Legume grasses and plants found in a pasture setting contain good sources of protein for sheep and goats. High-quality hay, containing alfalfa and clover, is also a good source of protein during the winter months. Protein supplements may be used. Sheep and goats raised in a range situation may develop a protein deficiency. The producer should provide supplemental protein to prevent and/or control this problem.

What are the nutritional requirements of sheep and goats?  C. Sheep and goats need minerals and vitamins in their rations. Salt and mineral mixtures are common supplements given to these animals. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are important and should be maintained in the diet or fed by free choice.  D. Water is the final component of the sheep and goat diet. The average mature sheep will consume up to one gallon of water per day. It is important to offer fresh, clean water to sheep and goats. However, these animals can find water from other sources, such as snow, dew, and lush, green pastures.

Review  What food and non-food products are produced by sheep and goats?  What different types of production systems are used for sheep and goats?  What production practices are involved in the reproductive management of sheep and goats?

Review  What production practices are involved in the care of lambs and kids from birth to weaning?  What are the nutritional requirements of sheep and goats?