Sheep Quiz

Study Notes

Sheep Production

Sheep production is divided into two types: lowland and mountain/hill.
The biggest exporters of sheep meat are France, the UK, and Sweden.
Donegal has the largest flock in Ireland with approximately 488,143 sheep.
The average flock size is 108 sheep.

Sheep Breeds

Blackface Mountain:
- Mountain/hill breed.
- Extremely hardy.
- Black face and horns.
- Long wool.
- Relatively small in size.
Wicklow Cheviot:
- Medium size.
- Hardy breed.
- White face.
- Known for being good mothers.
Border Leicester:
- Large breed.
- Long wool.
- Upright ears.
- Produces good offspring.
Bluefaced Leicester:
- Large breed.
- White body and face.
- Dark blue eyes.
Suffolk:
- Good conformation.
- Fast growth rate.
- Black face.
- Early maturing.
- Reaches slaughter weight in 14 weeks.
- Ideal for the Easter market.
Texel:
- Wide white face.
- Short ears.
- No wool on head or legs.
- Good conformation.
- Muscly and lean.
- Slower growth rate.
Charollais:
- French breed.
- Medium size.
- Heavy sheep.
- Good muscle development.
- Fast-growing lambs.
- Good terminal sires (used for meat production).
Beltex:
- White-faced sheep.
- Medium wool.
- Double muscle breed.
- High kill-out percentage (meat yield).

Lamb Production

Oestrus Cycle:
- Occurs every 17 days.
- Breeding season for ewes is September to February.
- Sheep are short-day breeders, meaning they come into heat as daylight hours shorten.
Lambing:
- Early Lambs:
  - Born December-January.
  - Higher feed costs, concentrates are required.
  - Higher prices for Easter lambs.
- Mid-Season Lambs:
  - Born March-April.
  - Lower feed costs, more grass is available.
  - Lower prices.
Flushing:
- Moving ewes from low nutrition (rough grazing) to high nutrition (good grass) before mating.
- Increases ovulation rate, resulting in more eggs being released and larger litter sizes.
- Body Condition Score (BCS) should be 3.5 before mating.
Synchronised Breeding:
- Using sponges soaked in progesterone to bring all ewes into heat at the same time.
- Sponges are left in the ewe's vagina for 12-16 days.
- When removed, all ewes are mated.
Mating:
- Natural mating ratio: 1 ram to 40 ewes.
- Synchronised mating ratio: 1 ram to 10 ewes.
- Mating season should last 6-8 weeks.
Pregnancy:
- 75% of fetal growth occurs in the last 6-8 weeks of pregnancy.
- Ewes are fed a high-nutrition diet during this period, known as "steaming up," to prevent twin lamb disease.
- Lambing dates can be predicted from mating dates.
Lambing:
- Lambs are typically 3-5 kg at birth.
- Lambing should be done indoors to prevent chilling, as temperature is critical for newborn lambs.
- Allowing ewes to clean off their lambs stimulates blood circulation and strengthens bonding.
- Naval dips are used to prevent navel ill.
- Colostrum should be given immediately after birth.
Weaning:
- Occurs in June/July.
- Ewes are fed low-quality grass to dry off.
- Lambs should reach a target weight of 40 kg.
- Replacement ewes are selected during this period.
- Old ewes are removed due to poor teeth, toes, fertility issues, and age.

Target Weights

Birth weight: 4 kg
Slaughter/weaning weight: 35-40 kg
Adult ewe weight: 60-85 kg
Adult ram weight: 70-130 kg

General Husbandry

Vaccinations:
- Given to fight against clostridial diseases and orf.
Dosing:
- Used to prevent the buildup of stomach worms, liver fluke, and other internal parasites.
Tail Docking:
- Putting a ring around the lamb's tail.
- Prevents feces buildup on the wool, which attracts flies and can lead to fly-strike.
Dipping:
- Done twice a year, in summer to prevent fly-strike and in winter to prevent sheep scab.