1. Sheep Management Introduction to Agriculture March 1999

2. Vocabulary n Ewe – female sheep n Ram – male used for breeding n Wether – castrated male

3. Vocabulary - cont. n Fleece – wool n Wool blindness – condition of wool covering face

4. Sheep Information n Puberty -- reached at 5 - 7 mos. n Estrus period -- 30 - 35 hrs. n Estrus cycle -- 16 days n Gestation -- 150 days

5. Sheep Management n Breed as yearling n 5-6 years breeding life

6. Breeding Season & Management n Shorter days & cooler weather n Flushing -- increase protein to stimulate ovulation n Shear dock

7. Care of Ram n Marking Harness -- change every 16 days n Shear all over -- belly & chest n 1 ram / 20-30 ewes

8. Lambing Management n Signs of Lambing – vulva swells – udder swells - milk 12 - 24 hours – Sink in hips 24 - 48 hours n Lambing Pen – Clean – Draft free – Watch closely

9. Lambing Management n Born -- Lamb n Dry lamb n Remove mucus n Colostrum n Cut cord n Heat lamp

10. Processing Lambs n 3 days of age n Dock tail n Injections – Iron – Vitamin E -- prevent white muscle n Castrate ~ 1 week