Sheep.docx

26.Sheep Sheep production is divided into two types lowland and mountain/hill. The biggest exports of sheep meat are France, the UK, and Sweden. Donegal las the largest flock in Ireland with around 488, 143 in flock. The average flock size is 108. Black face mountain Are a Mountain/hill breed with...

26.Sheep Sheep production is divided into two types lowland and mountain/hill. The biggest exports of sheep meat are France, the UK, and Sweden. Donegal las the largest flock in Ireland with around 488, 143 in flock. The average flock size is 108. Black face mountain Are a Mountain/hill breed with a black face mountain are extremely hardy breed, Black face and horn , Long wool And are quite small Wicklow Cheviot Medium size, Hardy breed, with a white face. They are very good mothers. Border Leicester Large, long wool, Upright ears, good offspring Blueface Leicester Large white, White face, Dark blue eyes Suffolk Good confirmation, Fast growth rate. Black face, Early maturing, Reaches slaughter weigh in 14 weeks. Ideal for easter market Texel Wide white face, short ears. No wool on head or legs, Good conformation, Muscle leanness Slower growth rate Charrollais French breed, medium size, Heavy sheep, good muscle, Fast growing lambs, Good terminal sires Beltex White faced sheep, Medium wool, Double muscle breed, High kill out percentage Lamb Production, Diseases and Husbandry  Oestrus Cycle occurs every 17 days September to February in ewes. They have a gestation period: 149 days (5 months) Ewes come into oestrous during a set time of year (Sept – Feb.) As are short day breeders they naturally come into heat as daylight or shorter days occur. Early lamb Mid-season lambs  Born December - January  Born march – April Higher feed costs, concentrates required  Lower cost feeds. More grass Cost of breeding out of season  Normal breeding cycle Higher prices for Easter lambs  Lower prices Flushing ewes are moved from a low nutrition (rough grazing) to a high nutrition (good grass) prior to mating. It increased ovulation rate, leads to more eggs being released in creasing litter size. BCS needs to be 3.5 before mating. Sponging is used to make sure all ewes come into heat at the same time this helps synchronised breeding. Sponges soaked in progesterone are placed the vagina of the ewes. They are left there for 12 – 16 days when removed all ewes are mated. Mating a Ram to ewe ratio is 1:40 is natural but 1:10 if synchronised. Mating season should last 6-8 weeks. Flushing should continue for 3-4 weeks to ensued best lamb health and rates. 75% of foetal growth happens in the last 6 – 8 weeks of pregnancy. Ewes are fed on a high nutrition this is known as steaming up it can help prevent twin lamb disease. Lambing dates can be predicted from mating dates. Lambs are 3-5 kgs at birth. Lambing should be done inside to prevent chill as temperature is critical to newborn lambs. Allowing the ewe to clean off the lamb stimulate blood circulation and increases bonding between the to. Like calves the naval should be dipped to prevent naval ill. Colostrum should be given straight away. Weaning takes place in June/July. Ewes are fed on low grass to dry off. Lambs should have a target weight of 40 kgs and replacement ewes should be selected during this time. Old ewes are removed due to poor teeth toes, fertility issues and age. Target weights  Birth 4 kg  Slaughter/weaning  35 - 40 kg.  Adult ewe  60 - 85 kg  Adult ram  70 - 130 kg  General Husbandry  Vaccinations for Sheep & lambs are given to fight against clostridial disease and orf.  Dosing sheep should be done to prevent the build-up of stomach worms, liver fluke and other internal parasites.  Tail docking is putting a ring around the tail while they are lambs.it prevents build-up of faeces on the wool by the tail which attracts flies. - This can lead to a condition known as fly-strike. Dipping sheep should be done twice a year In the summer to prevent fly-strike and In the winter to prevent sheep scab.