Sheep Husbandry: Feeding and Management

• Sheep husbandry involves raising and caring for sheep, mainly for their wool, meat (lamb and mutton), and milk
• It includes breeding, feeding, health management, and predator protection
• Sheep are ruminants, with a four-compartment stomach that allows them to digest grasses and fibrous plant material

Feeding Management

• Sheep graze primarily on pasture, consuming grasses, legumes, and forbs
• Pasture management is crucial for adequate forage availability and quality
• Rotational grazing, where sheep are moved between different pasture sections, improves pasture health and productivity
• Hay, silage, and preserved forages supplement grazing, especially in winter or during droughts
• Supplemental feeding with grains and concentrates is necessary for ewes during pregnancy and lactation, and for rapidly growing lambs
• Mineral and vitamin supplementation addresses potential dietary deficiencies
• Salt licks should always be available for sheep
• Clean, fresh water must be accessible at all times; water intake varies with environmental temperature, physiological state, and diet moisture content

Sheep Reproduction

• Sheep are seasonal breeders, with most breeds showing estrous cycles in the fall as day length decreases
• The estrous cycle length is about 17 days
• Ewes typically reach puberty at 6-8 months, depending on breed and nutrition
• Rams reach puberty at 5-7 months
• Breeding soundness exams are important to assess ram fertility
• Pregnancy lasts about 147 days
• Ewes typically give birth to 1-3 lambs per pregnancy
• Lambing usually occurs in the spring
• Proper management during pregnancy is crucial for healthy lambs and to reduce the risk of pregnancy toxemia (ketosis) in ewes
• Lambs should receive colostrum within hours of birth for passive immunity
• Weaning typically occurs at 2-4 months
• Artificial insemination and embryo transfer are reproductive technologies that can enhance genetics
• Lambing percentages range from 100-200%, depending on breed, nutrition, and management practices

Breeds of Sheep

• There are numerous breeds of sheep with unique characteristics and adaptations
• Breeds are often classified based on their primary use, such as wool, meat, or milk production
• Merino is a fine-wool breed known for its high-quality wool
• Dorset is a meat breed known for its ability to breed out of season
• Suffolk is a meat breed known for its rapid growth rate and lean carcass
• Rambouillet is a dual-purpose breed, producing both wool and meat
• Katahdin is a hair sheep breed that does not require shearing
• Gulf Coast Native are known for their parasite resistance and heat tolerance
• Selection within breeds for specific traits can improve productivity and profitability

Health Care Practices

• Regular health checks are essential for early detection of potential health problems
• Vaccination programs are used to protect animals from common diseases
• Deworming controls internal parasites, which can reduce growth rates and productivity
• Foot trimming helps prevent foot rot and lameness
• Fly control is important to prevent fly strike, where flies lay eggs in wounds or soiled wool
• Predator control measures like fencing, guard animals, and night penning can reduce predator-related losses
• Quarantine new animals before introducing them to the flock to prevent disease spread
• Proper sanitation and hygiene minimize the risk of disease outbreaks
• Consult with a veterinarian to develop a comprehensive health management plan tailored to your flock and region
• Coccidiosis is a common parasitic disease in young lambs, preventable through management practices and medication
• Caseous lymphadenitis (CL) is a chronic bacterial infection causing abscesses in lymph nodes and internal organs
• Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats