Sheep & The Many Ways We Use Them Animal Science

What do we use sheep for? Meat Wool Dairy

Meat Most sheep in the U.S. are raised for meat. Lamb ◦ Less than one year of age. ◦ ~200 million pounds are sold annually in U.S. Mutton ◦ Over one year of age.

Wool The original “primary use” for sheep in the U.S. ◦ Demand has declined since the 1940’s due to synthetic fibers. Each sheep yields approximately 5-15 lbs. per shearing.

Wool cont. Greasy Wool ◦ Raw wool before being processed. Clean Wool ◦ Wool after it has been processed. In 2011 there were approximately 30 million pounds of greasy wool produced. This was processed into approximately 16 million pounds of clean wool.

Dairy Makes up 1.3% of world dairy production. One dairy ewe can produce 400-1,100 pounds annually. 6-8% Fat Content (Important for Cheese) Used for cheese, yogurt, & butter. ◦ Some of these cheeses can sell for up to $50/lbs.

Breeds of Sheep

Certain breeds are better at certain things than others. ◦ Meat  Hair ◦ Wool ◦ Dairy Every breed falls into at least one of these categories.

Meat These breeds are used primarily for meat production. Certain meat breeds fall into the hair sheep category because they have hair instead of wool.

Suffolk Developed in Britain; introduced to U.S. in Largest sheep in U.S. Mature Weights ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewes: lbs.

Hampshire Developed in Hampshire County England; officially introduced to the U.S. in Mature Weight ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewe: lbs. Known for large head.

Oxford Developed in England; introduced to U.S. in Mature Weights ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewe: lbs.

Dorset (Horned & Polled) Originated in southern England; introduced to U.S. in Polled breed was developed in North Carolina in Mature Weight ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewe: lbs.

Southdown Originated in England; introduced to the U.S. in One of the oldest breeds. Mature Weight ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewe: lbs.

Shropshire Originated in England; introduced to the U.S. in “Farm flock” sheep. Mature Weight ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewe: lbs.

Cheviot Developed in Scotland; introduced to U.S. in Known for ruggedness. Mutton Breed Mature Weight ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewe: lbs.

Hair Sheep This is a sub-category of the meat category. Hair sheep were developed for lamb and mutton production in tropical areas. Very popular in the sheep industry; especially in the South and Carribean. These sheep are year around breeders.

Dorper Developed in South Africa; introduced to U.S. within the past 30 years. Black Head & White Mature Weight ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewe: lbs. Popular meat breed.

Barbados & American Blackbelly Originated in Barbados from West African sheep; introduced to U.S. in American Blackbelly was developed in Texas. Mature Weight ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewe: lbs.

Katahdin Developed in Maine; perfected during the 1970’s. Largest hair breed. Mature Weight ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewe: lbs.

Wool These breeds are used primarily for wool production. Most farms that raise sheep for their wool are located in the northern & western parts of the U.S.

Rambouillet Developed in France & Germany; introduced to U.S. in mid-1800’s. Largest of Fine Wool breeds. Foundation of U.S. Range Flock. Can be used for meat. Mature Weight ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewe: lbs. Grease Fleece Weight ◦ lbs.

Delaine-Merino Developed in Spain and brought to America through colonization. Unbroken line of breeding for 1,200 years. Mature Weight ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewe: lbs. Grease Fleece Weight ◦ 9-14 lbs.

Columbia Developed in the U.S. in 1912; first U.S. breed. Increasing in use as a terminal sire. Mature Weight ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewe: lbs. Greace Fleece Weight ◦ lbs.

Romney Developed in England; introduce to the U.S. in Mature Weight ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewe: lbs. Grease Fleece Weight ◦ lbs.

Corriedale Developed in New Zealand; introduced to the U.S. in Mature Weight ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewe: lbs. Grease Fleece Weight ◦ lbs.

Targhee Developed in the U.S. in Primarily in intermountain & northern states. Mature Weight ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewe: lbs. Grease Fleece Weight ◦ lbs.

Gulf Coast Developed in the South; descendants of colonial sheep. Tolerant of parasites and heat. Wool & Meat Mature Weight ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewe: lbs. Grease Fleece Weight ◦ 4-6 lbs.

Dairy These breeds are used primarily for dairy production. There are several dairy breeds worldwide but only a few in the U.S.

East Friesian Developed in Germany and Netherlands; introduced to the U.S. in Highest milk producing breed. Mature Weight ◦ Ram: lbs. ◦ Ewe: lbs.

Types of Sheep Producers

Purebred Breeder Raises sheep for breeding stock. Provides the ewes and rams that will be used to produce commercial lambs.

Commercial Slaughter Lamb Producer Raises the lambs from birth to when they are sold for slaughter. Main goal is to produce well finished, heavy lambs by weaning. Weaned lambs typically weigh 60 lbs. Lambs are penned & fed with a target weight of 120 lbs.

Commercial Feeder Lamb Producers Lambs are not fully fed out. Option for farmers that do not have good pasture. Lambs are sold to a commercial feedlot. Lambs weigh around lbs. when sold.

Commercial Feedlot Operator Lambs are bought from commercial feeder lamb producers. Lambs are treated for internal parasites and diseases. Lambs should gain about lb. per day. Target weight of 130 lbs.