Sheep Production

Why choose sheep? n Sheep can survive where cows can’t n Sheep will eat problem weeds like Leafy Spurge n Profit per acre is the same for sheep and cows, and usually higher for sheep n Easier to get started due to less equipment needed

Breed Categories n Wool Type: white wool only, better quality n Meat Type: any black wool n Dual Purpose: white wool, but better meat than wool types

Feeding Sheep n Mostly roughages, concentrates for finishing n Average adult eats about 4 lbs..... dry feed per day n Overfat ewes - problems conceiving & delivering

Feeding Sheep n If sheep can eat all their feed in 1/2 hour, increase amount n If food left at next feeding, decrease amount n Average lamb weighs 7-9 lbs..... and will gain 1/2 LB per day n Flush ewes 17 days prior to breeding (increased level of nutrition )

Feeding Sheep n Increase nutrition 6 weeks prior to lambing until 1-2 months after lambing n Increase quality of feed not quantity –stomachs shrink when pregnant due to lambs in uterus n Males - increase nutrition 6 weeks prior to breeding to build strength

Sheep Reproduction n Seasonal breeders - only breed in spring and fall n Ewe lambs must be 100 lbs..... to breed n Ram can service ewes as a lamb, and up to 100 as a yearling n Most common = 3 rams / 100 ewes n Usually not kept after 6 yrs

Sheep Reproduction n Marking harness - ram marks back of ewe with a crayon when mating n Change crayon colors every couple of weeks, if ewes are rebred, the first time was not successful –may have a bad ram or ewe

Lambing n Many lambs are lost in the first 24 hrs n Twins - first born gets separated while second is being born n Assist difficult lambings n Disinfect hands, gently pull front legs n Give ewe antibiotics after n Disinfect lambs navel with iodine

Lambing n Lamb should nurse within minutes, especially if cold weather n Strip teats to remove a mucous plug that seals the teat, lamb may not be strong enough to suck the plug out and not get any milk, if he fails, he will quit trying and die

Lambing n Colostrum: mothers first milk (antibiotics) n Keep ewe and lamb together for first 24 hours or more if the ewe doesn’t want to claim the lamb n Grafting: adopting lambs (triplets) onto other ewes (with singles or dead lambs) –cam be difficult to get ewe to claim lamb

Management n Identification: mark lambs with paint brands, or ear tags or tattoo ears (purebreds) n Docking: cut off tails –tails are a bother –between 1st and 2nd vertebrae of tail –Elastrator: rubber band cuts off circulation –Hot Iron: electric, heated knife stops bleeding

Management n Castration: remove testicles –Elastrator –Cut with a knife –Burdizzo crushes cords n Dock & Castrate before 6 weeks old n Wean at 4-6 months or 100 lbs..... n Shear at least once per year, before lambing (20-40% of income)

Management n Culling: choosing animals not to keep for breeding purposes n Aging Sheep: less than 1 yr.. = milk teeth –1-2 yrs = middle two teeth replaced by 2 larger teeth –each year to 4 yrs = another set replaced –6-7 yrs = begin to lose teeth (broken mouth)

Sheep Terms n What do you call an adult male? Ram or Buck n What do you call an adult female? Ewe n What do you call the act of giving birth? Lambing

Sheep Terms n What do you call a castrated male? Wether n What is the gestation for sheep? 147 days n What do you call a young female? Ewe Lamb

Cheviot

Columbia

Dorset

Finn

Hampshire

Lincoln

Merino

Polypay

Rambouilette

Romanov

Southdown

Suffolk

Targhee

Texel