Ovine and Caprine Husbandry: restraint and breed Dr. Dipa Brahmbhatt VMD MPH Chapter

Objectives Zoological classification of the species. Terminology associated with the species. Physiological data for the species Prominent anatomical or physiological properties of the species. ID and describe characteristics of common breeds. ID and know the uses of common instruments relevant to the species. Normal living environments and husbandry needs of the species. reproductive practices of the species. Specific nutritional requirements of the species.

Reading Assignment Chapter 14: Ovine and Caprine Husbandry and small ruminants terminology

Zoological Classification of Sheep and Goats Kingdom: Animal Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order : Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Genus and species – Ovis Aries – Capra Hircus

Terminology for Sheep Ewe: Adult female Ram: Adult male Wether: Castrated male Yearling ewe: Immature female Lamb: Neonate Wether lamb: Castrated neonate Ram lamb: Intact male neonate Ewe lamb: Female lamb Lambing: Act of parturition

Terminology for Goats Doe/nanny: Mature female Buck/billy: Mature male Wether: Castrated male Yearling doe: Immature female Kid: Neonate Buck kid: Male less than one year Doe kid: Female less than one year Kidding: Act of parturition

Sheep and Goats: Both family Bovidae Sheep – Ovis aries – Tail down – Grazers close to soil (short tender grasses and clovers) – Distant and aloof – Distinct philtrum – Curved horns Goats – Capra Hircus – Tail up (unless sick) – Natural browsers on top of plants (twigs, vine, shrubs) – Curious and independent – Distinct odor as they mature – Straight horns

Sheep & Goat Overview Originated: Europe and cooler regions on Asia. Important in temperate and tropical agriculture. Provide fibers, milk, meat, and hides. – Sheep Milk: more nutritious Cheese: Feta (Greece, Italy, and France), Ricotta and Pecorino Romano (Italy) and Roquefort (France) Fiber and meat – Goat: milk, meat, fiber Versatile and efficient: developing countries.

Sheep & Goat Overview Sheep – declined in the U.S. (less than 0.2% of total farm revenue in U.S.). Mostly import. Avg: 50/ farm – Less demand for wool. – Declining demand for lamb in consumer diets. – Difficulty in obtaining/keeping reliable herders – Competition for public-owned rangeland. – Predators ~ 23% lost before maturity

Basic Physical Examination Rectal Temperature Heart Rate Respiratory Rate range /min12-25/min range /min12-30/min

Anatomical Terms for Sheep

Anatomical Terms for Goats

Sheep breeds Fine wool breeds: FWB – Merino, Rambouillet Medium wool breeds: MWB – Cheviot, Corriedale, Dorset, Finnish Sheep, Hampshire, Montadale, Oxford, Polypay, Romanov, Shropshire, Southdown, Suffolk Long wool breeds: LWB – Cotswold, Leicester, Lincoln, Romney,

Sheep Breeds Meat Breeds or Medium wool – Mainly used for meat production – Are predominant in the U.S. – Include Dorset, Suffolk, andDorsetSuffolk Hampshire Fine Wool Breeds – Highest quality Merino from Spain and Rambouillet from France, predominant breed in Australia is the MerinoRambouillet Long wool Hair breeds

Jacob Origin: England Two, four, or six horns Black and white fleece Fleece is highly sought after Unimproved breed Rare breed

Barbado Originated in TX. Barbados Blackbelly sheep crossed with Rambouillet Hair: short hair - coarse wool with a large amount of kemp fibers.kemp Sex: Males – horns; females - polled Color: tan, tan with a pale or black belly or pied Hair (meat)

Cheviot

Cheviot: MWB Origin: Scotland Color: White-faced sheep, wool- free face and legs, pricked ears, black muzzle/nostrils and black hooves MWB: resilient and durable – Wool has a helical crimp Ease of lambing & strong mothering instinct, resistant to cold, windy climate Tend to be resistant to worms and footrot

DorsetDorset: MWB Origin:Southern England MWB Most popular white- faced breed in the United States (2 nd after Suffolk: black face) Horned and polled varieties exist Ewes breed out of season: fall lambs

Dorset White: ear, nose, face and legs, pink skin; Wool: head and legs, Polled and horned

Dorset (cont’d)

ColumbiaColumbia: MWB Developed by USDA: long wool breeds crossed with high quality RambouilletRambouillet Developed to thrive on Western ranges Produce medium wool and large amounts of meat

CorriedaleCorriedale: MWB Origin: New Zealand & Southern England – Most popular breed in South America White face, ear, legs and wool on head and legs meat and wool bulky, high density wool

Corriedale

Corriedale (cont’d)

Royal White hair breed, privately funded in Hermleigh, Texas (heat resistant) longer hair coat in the fall - shed spring. pure white. Ewes and rams are polled Scrapie resistant?

SouthdownSouthdown: MWB Origin: England suited to farm flock production Medium size: good conformation Polled Medium ears carried erect Light brown face and legs with wool on head and legs Adapted to wet conditions

Southdown

OxfordOxford: MWB Origin: England 2 nd largest sheep breed Brown/gray face and legs White with black ears and bridge of nose Meat-type breed forage for its own food

Oxford

HampshireHampshire: MWB Origin: Hampshire, England – Popular: Midwest Black face, legs, nose Mild demeanor Polled Unbroken wool cap Meat, multiple births (wool)

Hampshire

Suffolk Origin: England Most popular breed - US Large large amounts of meat White with black faces, ears and legs; droopy ears Polled Great market lambs

Suffolk

Merino: FWB Origin: Spain – Most popular breed in Australia wool breed: high quality White-faced and legs, white wool on head and legs. Skin: pale Rams: horned; ewes polled A, B, C American merinos: Wrinkled skin A > B C: Little wrinkle: Delaine Merinos, popular US

Merino

Rambouillet Origin: France – Developed from Spanish Merino White-faced and legs, white wool on head and legs Skin: pale Rams: horned/polled; ewes polled Large angular body Western states

Rambouillet

LincolnLincoln: LWB Origin: England largest breed of sheep Long-wool White faces and legs Polled Pronounced forelock between the ears, ringlets - wool Crossbreeding programs

Lincoln

Breeds of Goat Common meat breeds – Boer – Spanish – Pygmy Common dairy breeds – French Alpine – LaMancha – Nubian – Saanen – Toggenburg Common fiber breed – Angora – Cashmere

Goats Meat Breeds: Boer GoatBoer – White with brown head from South Africa Milk breeds: Nubian, Toggenburg, SaanenToggenburg, Saanen, OberhasliOberhasli, Lamanche,Lamanche Alpine – Heavy milk producers per body size vs. cattle production per body size Hair breeds for Mohair (Angora) and Cashmere

Major Breeds of Goats Toggenburg (Switzerland) Toggenburg UMedium in size UHair is short or medium in length UEars are Erect and Forward UFace may be straight or dished UColor is solid varying from UUsually polled light fawn to dark chocolate UDistinct white markings Uwhite ears with dark spot in middle Utwo white stripes down face from above each eye Uwhite legs below knee and hock Uwhite triangle on either side of the tail. Usome have wattles Oberhasli kid with wattles

Toggenburg

Major Breeds of Goats Alpine (French Alps) - Dairy Alpine (French Alps) UMedium to large sized Uonly breed with erect ears Uall colors and combinations of colors: Pure white, black; shades: fawn, brown, gray buff, red UHair is medium to short Ustraight face with roman nose UPolled and horned

French Alpine

Major Breeds Goats Golden Guernsey (Channel island: British) Golden Guernsey (Channel island: British) Ucolor varies from cream to brown Uusually polled Ulower in milk production than most Swiss breeds Uhigher in butter fat and protein %

Major Breeds of Goats Saanen (Switzerland) (NOT ROYAL WHITE) Saanen UUsually yields 3-4% milkfat: “Queen of dairy goats” Umedium to large in size Uwhite or light cream in color. UEars are erect and carried forward. UFace straight or dished Are popular in US with dairies due to the quantity of milk they produce. Large size, vitality, herd compatibility, great temperament

Saanen

Major Breeds Goats Nubian (Africa) ULarge framed, most polled Uface being convex between the eyes and muzzle Uears are long, wide and pendulous. They flare out in a bell shape. UAny color or colors, solid or patterned: black, gray, cream, white, tan and reddish brown Their milk tends to be higher in protein and butter fat than other breeds.

Nubian

Major Breeds Goats LaMancha (Oregon) UFace is straight UGopher ear - max one inch in length preferably non-existent cartilage or Elf ear-max. length of two inches with tip being turned up or down UThey have ears that are so small that it looks like they don't have ears (no cartilage) UAny color or combination is acceptable. UHair is short, fine and glossy Uhigh butterfat

LaMancha

Major Breeds Goats Angora (Asia Minor) or Mohair Angora UFrom Angora, Turkey UBoth sexes are horned: they are some that are polled UPronounced spiral to the horn UUtilized in Mohair Production (Mohair is a silky textile produced from the hair of the angora goat). UWhite in color UFiber: kid fleece is more valuable. 6-7 lb / year/ head to fiber

Goat Breeds and Selection Angora Goat Selection UIn selecting for fiber, one is interested in both quantity (weight) and quality of fiber (length, fineness, style, character, etc.). UIn addition to fiber, one must be concerned with traits that contribute to the survival or viability (soundness, fertility, etc.) of the individual.

Angora

Major Breeds Goats Boer (South Africa) Boer (South Africa) UAlso known as the Africander UEarly maturing UWhite color with red head and white blaze: breed standards UFertile UUsually horned ULarge UFertility high: kidding rate 200% so 3 kiddings every 2 years

Boer

Major Breeds of Goats Spanish (Spain) Spanish UFeral goat/ brush goat/ meat goat native to U.S. ULong horns, all colors accepted UDescended from the goats that were released or escaped from the early Spanish explorers UUtilized for meat and milk UFat content is less than beef UProlific: survive with little care: popular in TX

Spanish

Major Breeds Goats Nigerian Dwarf (West Africa) Nigerian Dwarf UMain colors are black, chocolate and gold with random white markings. UBreed year round UThey give 3-4# of milk per day at 6 to 10% butterfat UThey make great pets

Major Breeds of Goats Pygmy Goat (French cameroon, Africa) Pygmy Goat UFull coat of straight, medium-long hair. UAll colors are acceptable UPolled animals are NOT accepted by registry UFemales will not have beard or sparse/trimmed, males have beard UMuzzle, forehead, eyes and ears are accented in tones lighter than the dark portion of the body. UMake good pets UMeat and milk

Pygmy

Pygmy (cont’d)

References heviot/ heviot/ K Holtgrew-Bohling, Large Animal Clinical Procedures for Veterinary Technicians, 2nd Edition, Mosby, 2012, ISBN: K Holtgrew-Bohling