1. Co-Managing Sheep and Goats Important Considerations
Dr. Brian Faris
Extension 4-H Youth Livestock Specialist
Department of Animal Science
North Carolina State University

2. Introduction Born & Raised in Southwest Texas
Raised Rambouillet Sheep and Angora Goats and Showed Market Lambs
Worked for TAMU Sheep & Goat Center
Angelo State University Ranch
Came to North Carolina from New Mexico
Currently raising fullblood and percentage boers and some Southdown sheep

3. Topics Similarities and Differences between Raising Sheep and Goats
Nutrition
Reproduction
Management practices

4. Nutrition Similarities Both are small ruminants Stocking rate
CP and TDN requirements
Stocking rate
1 cow / 2 acres
1 cow ≈ 5 sheep
1 sheep ≈ 1 Boer or Boer cross goat

5. Small ruminants Stocking rates

6. Nutrition Similarities Differences Both are small ruminants
Stocking rate
Differences
Grazing habits
Sheep tend to graze from the bottom upward
Goats tend to graze from the top downward

7. Grazing Habits

8. Nutrition Similarities Differences Both are small ruminants
Stocking rate
Differences
Grazing habits
Grazing preferences

9. Grazing Preferences Sheep Goats Fairly Selective HAY Very Selective
Forbs
Grass
Browse
HAY
Alfalfa
Coastal Bermuda
Orchardgrass
Peanut
Goats
Very Selective
Forbs
Browse
Grass
HAY
Peanut
Orchardgrass
Alfalfa
Coastal Bermuda

10. Nutrition Similarities Differences Both are small ruminants
Stocking rate
Differences
Grazing habits
Grazing preferences
Specific nutrient requirements

11. Nutrient Requirements
Sheep
~2%BW Dry Matter
Very Sensitive to Cu
P requirements are similar to goats but do not appear to be as sensitive
Goats
~3%BW Dry Matter
Need 2-3x Cu level
Very Sensitive to P (Do not exceed 0.40% on the feed tag – 0.35% is ideal)

12. Nutrition Similarities Differences Both are small ruminants
Stocking rate
Differences
Grazing habits
Grazing preferences
Specific nutrient requirements
Fat deposition

13. Fat Deposition
Sheep
Goat

14. Nutrition Lambs Kids Self-feeder Pellet or Textured Feed 16-18% CP
% Fat
Kids
Self-feeder
Pelleted Feed
14-16% CP
% Fat

15. Reproduction Similarities Differences 5 month gestation (145-155 days)
Chromosome number
Estrous cycle length
Flushing rates / Birth rates
Teat structure
Out-of-Season breeders

16. Differences Sheep Goat Chromosomes Estrous Cycle Flushing Rates
Birth Rates
Teat Structure
Out-of-Season Breeders 54 60
17 days
21 days
8-12 embryos
16-24 embryos % %
2 functional
2-4 functional
No, with a few exceptions
Yes, with a few exceptions

17. Management Practices Health Facilities Miscellaneous Management
Guard animals

18. Health Sheep Goats Deworm Coccidiosis Overeating Tetanus CL Ketosis
Orphan Lambs
Soremouth
Goats
Deworm
Coccidiosis
Overeating
Tetanus CL
Ketosis
Orphan Kids
Soremouth
Floppy Kid
Silent Pneumonia

19. Facilities Sheep Goats Shelters Fencing Feed Troughs Working Pens
Electric Fence
Feed Troughs
Working Pens
Goats
Shelters
Fencing
Field Fence
Feed Troughs
Working Pens

20. Miscellaneous Management
Sheep
Less foot care
Some shearing except Hair breeds
Horns/No horns – Does not matter
Castrate lambs 30 days or less
Goats
More foot care
Require no shearing except for Angoras
May disbud kids (wethers)
Castrate kids at days

21. Guard Animals Llamas Dogs Donkeys Great Pyrenees Akbash Komondor
Anatolian Shepherd
Maremma
Donkeys

22. QUESTIONS