Sheep Notes Mrs. Reeves Ms. Fleming

2 types of sheep production: purebred – concerned about breed improved commercial – produce meat and wool

Further classification: fall – born before Dec 25th marketed in the spring early spring – born early Jan and Feb late spring – born March, April, May accelerated lambing – produces 3 lamb crops in 2 years; use synchronized breeding

Breeding: Ewes are bred to lamb at 2 years of age Gestation period: 5 months When breeding on pasture, young ram can breed 15 ewes Yearling ram can breed ewes Aged ram can breed ewes

Marketing and Grading Sheep: Sheep markets: -terminal -local pools -sale barns -direct to packer – largest -electronic marketing – newest

Producer’s choice of market depends on: location prices paid # of lambs to be sold transportation available

Classification of sheep: age use sex weight

Grades of Sheep: Prime Choice Good Utility Cull

Cuts Cutability: the yield of closely trimmed, boneless retail cuts which come from the major wholesale cuts Wholesale cuts: leg, loin, rib, shoulder Yield grades:1-5 Measure cutability at the thickness of the carcass. Cutability is the % of boneless and bone on carcass

Cuts

Wool markets: local buyers wool pools cooperatives warehouse operators direct sale to wool mills

Grade wool by: fineness staple length color cleanness

Definitions Grease: the presence of impurities in the fleece Grease wool: fleece before it is cleaned Shrinkage: amount of weight lost when the impurities are cleaned out of the fleece

Wool grades: diameter of the fiber density (determine the weight of fleece) Length

Mohair Industry Mohair: 95% in US is in Texas graded on fineness