Sheep Management
Introduction to Agriculture
March 1999
Vocabulary
Ewe
– female sheep
Ram
– male used for breeding
Wether
– castrated male
Vocabulary - cont.
Fleece
– wool
Wool blindness
– condition of wool covering face
Sheep Information
Puberty -- reached at 5 - 7 mos.
Estrus period -- 30 - 35 hrs.
Estrus cycle -- 16 days
Gestation -- 150 days
Sheep Management
Breed as yearling
5-6 years breeding life
Breeding Season & Management
Shorter days & cooler weather
Flushing -- increase protein to stimulate
ovulation
Shear dock
Care of Ram
Marking Harness -- change every 16 days
Shear all over -- belly & chest
1 ram / 20-30 ewes
Lambing Management
Signs of Lambing
– vulva swells
– udder swells - milk 12 - 24 hours
– Sink in hips 24 - 48 hours
Lambing Pen
– Clean
– Draft free
– Watch closely
Lambing Management
Born -- Lamb
Dry lamb
Remove mucus
Colostrum
Cut cord
Heat lamp
Processing Lambs
3 days of age
Dock tail
Injections
– Iron
– Vitamin E -- prevent white muscle
Castrate ~ 1 week