Unit 7 Te Sheep Industry

OBJECTIVES KEY WORDS ¾ Discuss the history of the sheep closed-faced shearing industry and its role today. crimp staple length ewe wether ¾ Identify major breeds of sheep and fiber diameter worsted their characteristics. fleece wool ¾ Locate the parts of a sheep. lamb yield ¾ Identify consumer products derived lanolin from sheep. mutton open-faced ¾ Recall facts about wool composition ovine and quality. pelt ram

89 90 Introduction to Agriscience became apriority. that fiber. were Sheep breeds gavebecame finer developed wool evidence Archeological the centuries,Over wool of the production Mouflon. and Europe called Asia sheep of wild from domestic sheep are descended Modern sheep’s 20,000years ago. as long as wool were evidence thatis using even some people 10,000 years ago. Teredomesticated about history. Sheep are thought to have been and meatsource fiber for much of human of picture, theyeconomic haveasignificant been cattle swine or intoday’s as important as not domesticated Although by humans. they are Sheep were the among first animals ofthe Industry Sheep History inthelambs United States. to Today, 8.4million. hadlambs declined there are approximately sheep and of head 5.8million at in1942.By head 56.2million peaked sheep andsheep of and lamb 1996,the population number inthe According the United to sheep industry States decline. towool, began the USDA, the U.S. enterprise. the In latter the of 20th century synthetic part that as were replaced fibers developed existing of and assessment pastureland make can aprofitable sheep production and buildings stock breeding of systems. to production of selection Careful but they avariety are adaptable also and meat, fiber they only do produceboth Sheep have Not many alivestock advantages species. as theof Navajo tribe’s the culture. Navajo name for sheep translates fact, In “that as by live.” which we World. Spanish missionaries introduced sheep to inMexico. Indiantribes Sheep are still amajor part and otherColumbus European sheep with explorers them carried their on to voyages the New the demand for20 years, Merino sheep swept across the United Northeastern States. to England in1793.Within sheep were New years ago. the Tefirst following Merino imported wool todaysheep of breeds originated more with than the Spanish 1,200 developed Merino, which was that 6,000years ago. suggests sheep werein Iran bred wool Tefine selectively for their being wool Futures Career Career Bright Bright Agricultural Inspectors Farm Managers and Ranch Agricultural Technicians Agricultural Teachers, Sciences Postsecondary For more information visit, O*Net Online www.onetonline.org O*Net Online Tinkstock Photos First-Line Animal of Supervisors Veterinary Technologists and Workers and Animal Care Husbandry Technicians Unit 7 Te Sheep Industry 91

market. Raise for sheep breeding, or show SAE IDEA Entrepreneurship . breeds, which means they do have wool breeds, do they have on means which breeds, which indicate they have no wool breeds, have they on their indicate which ovine e Hampshire has a mild disposition Te Hampshire War. post-Civil best production the is show for and of known club lambs. also and Te breed rapid noted for is growth characterized are Hampshires feedconversion. efcient wool-free face legs a dark, and by large relatively with ears, a wool along with cap wool and legs. on the Southdown Downs of the Sussex from County, Originating Southdown small-sized a medium- the England, is to than Southdown American larger breed, the though is Te Southdown has been actually traditional. usedthe the breeds including of development other in the olk. Suf and a Southdowns Shropshire are Hampshire, polled, medium-wool breed its for raised meat. mostly good breed, ewes and have maturing early an Tey are milk production.lambing ability Tey are average and colored wool, light by a mousy- characterized with color face on the legs.brown and Southdowns also nostrils. dark and ears small have Hampshire medium-wool a large, is Te Hampshire breed that Most of England. the County, in Hampshire originated imported were today States United in the Hampshires closed-faced open-faced e general Latin term for all sheep is is sheep all for face. Latin term their e general T face, while other breeds are considered considered face, breeds are while other American Hampshire Sheep Association Photo Association Sheep Hampshire American Photo Courtesy of American Southdown Breeders’ Association Breeders’ Southdown of American Courtesy Photo Sheep are raised wool for primarily Sheep are meat, and some though sheep cheese-making. milk for dairies provide can Breeds be classified by typethe of wool fine wool, produce. they are Te classifications medium wool, long wool, crossbred various breeds. the separate For that characteristics distinctive are wool, Tere sheep. hair and example, some considered breeds are 60 percent of the sheep population. A purebred breed is one that has one that breed is population. sheep A purebred of the 60 percent breeds. other Many with its no crossing breed lines to with true stayed developed a distinct breeds were two crossing breeds until by or more breed began. Major Breeds of Sheep world breeds of in the today, sheep as 1,000 distinct as many are Tere of many about in North 50 breedswith found America. However, In of extinction. risk at even some and rare, are quite these breeds are popularolk most Suf breed States, nearly is the comprising United the 92 Introduction to Agriscience Banner Sheep MagazinePhoto Jupiter Images Jupiter Images short, were introducedshort, into the United States in Shropshires, Shrops or breeds. for and Cotswold Leicester, Southdown, acrossin England between as originated Tey production. and dairy wool, meat, for Te Shropshire suitable breed is amulti-purpose Shropshire that mostly is meat. raised for its breed polled It is ears. amedium-wool, semi-droopy and large, legs wool-free distinguishedbe black, by its also can Tebreed with head a black aRoman nose. inthecommon sheep breed country. havef Su olks States inthe late 1800sand is now the most broughtin England, the was f Su toolk the United Originating developed. the was f Su olk ewes, Horned rams and Norfolk With Southdown of the use olk f Su lambs atlambs any time the of year. giving out season of breed milkers, and can and good is mothersvariety more are common. Teewes good though the polled either polled, or be horned can the breed, Dorset medium-wool amedium-sized, As are pigment and hooves free. membranes, eye nose, are predominantly Te white face. with awool-free that actually Dorsets dates Ages. to back the Middle English is the breed of one breeds oldest Te Dorset Dorset jaw with and cap small ears. legs, Shrops arebreeds. their on characterized by wool the producers medium-wool heaviest among wool that of sheep and one are time. Tey amedium-sized 1855 and were the of one most at commonbreeds Unit 7 Te Sheep Industry 93 of wool quality, fertility, and meat production. meat Te and fertility, of wool quality, Montadale a medium-wool, is dual-purpose breed. producing for noted high-quality carcassesTey are Due very wool is in color. white that excellent and rarely are breed, there of the head size small the to arise. birthing that issues Dorper Te Dorper in South Africa breed originated when were Dorsetthe Horn Blackhead Persian the and be due sheep to to a hair crossed. considered is It wool. than Tere fibers produces hair rather it the black is which two Dorperare Dorper, breeds – the white is which Dorper, headed, White the and headed. Te Dorper its for known fat tail is and rainfall. little with warm climates ability withstand to Rambouillet descends and Te Rambouillet France in originated produces old an Merino, breed that Spanish the from wool. finest Some distinguishing some world’s of the include a wool-free facecharacteristics below the eyes forward-facing, and ears. Te downward-tilting Rambouillet has good is and carcass characteristics a dual-purposeconsidered breed. Tey adapt well susceptible to are they however, climates; most to maggots fleece, they in their why living is which humid in damp, climates. found too often aren’t Montadale Developed Missouri, the Kansas near City, Montadale began as between a cross ram a Cheviot E.H. Mattingly, ewe. a Columbia and Te breeder, was looking combined qualities the a breed for that USDA-ARS Photo USDA-ARS Montadale Sheep Breeders Association Breeders Sheep Montadale Jupiter Images Jupiter 94 Introduction to Agriscience Tinkstock Photos Tinkstock Photos http://www.albc-usa.org the genetic at visit the all livestock, diversity of American Livestock Breeds Conservancy Tosuch farm. maintaining of heritage and breeds the importance preserving about learn acommercially as or the breed; Web viable site them raise who for their use own from people of extinction through saved thebe f e orts hardy these of one of and ancient is breeds the Damara Fat-Tailed Sheep. Such can breeds their unique characteristicsdeveloped without any intervention An by humans. example climate. heritage are breeds production Some considered they “natural because breeds” were at time one heritage but have breeds, popular intoday’s outfavor of fallen called lesser-known But these of hundreds other of breeds, sheep exist. breeds Some purpose. to today that breeds belong Most sheep raised bred have selectively for acommercial been A HERITAGE BREED HERITAGE —A SHEEP DAMARA . demand for lean,fast-growing sheep. Face the meet not market’s sheep do Speckled tofSu olk producemarket Purebred for lambs meat. are with often other crossed the such breeds as around and black Ewes the and ears. eyes muzzle ablack has It also with is black. whiteface speckled originated inWales.Speckled-Face) wool-free Its the Face known Beulah as (also breed Te Speckled Face Speckled http://www.damaras.com shows one shows one Unit 7 Te Sheep Industry 95 sheep. Exploratory they are shearing shearing are they during a time when when during a time Visit a sheep rancher rancher a sheep Visit SAE IDEA is male sheep that has been is which castrated, that sheep male is wether is a female sheep of any age and is distinguished from a ram by certain a ram by from body distinguished is and age of sheep any a female is ewe is a male sheep that has not been castrated. A ram will have a sheath and testicles, testicles, and a sheath has not been A ram have will that sheep a male castrated. is ram , a grease-like substance that naturally coats the sheep’s wool, sheep’s coats the naturally that substance , a grease-like parts. A glue, soap, fertilizer, and cosmetics. and glue, soap, fertilizer, is a common ingredient in lotions and moisturizers. Slaughtered Slaughtered moisturizers. and in lotions ingredient a common is by-products, other many for as such materials raw the provide sheep while a ewe will have neither of these parts. neither while a ewe have will A is also specialtyis used make cheeses. to livestock, other confined Like valuable used is when that as a fertilizer. manure produce sheep Lanolin Consumer ProductsConsumer wool. and productsTe major meat sheep Milk are from sheep from PartsSheep of a between parts males erences dif important of studying animals, anatomical is it the When know to females.and A typically raised done market. for lambs are when 96 Introduction to Agriscience covers. mattress and carseat slippers, such as pads, for products used be condition, it it on and is can clean and ingood inch wool new of 25 pounds per person each year. person per 25 pounds countries People inthose consume over Arabia. and Saudi year, which is than much less countries Australia such as eachaverage capita Americans per than eat less pound one consumption is most frequent On inarestaurant setting. the In to United eat lamb States, aweekly basis. lamb on and Australiancentral their of tend diets, families part and GreekEastern cultures consider mutton lamb or a other countries and cultures Middle regard astaple. it as While neither meat inthe is United widely popular States, wool taken a from sheep is one called wool from sheep that are than older year is one called the United most well Western as as States, countries. Meat Wool Wool lamb Te meat from sheep younger than is called year old one Meat Friesian. the East is indairies called sheep most of oftenTe breed used more common inEuropean countries than inthe United States. with aslightly sweeter taste than is cow’s Sheepdairying milk. which is nutritious considered and digestible avery easily product frommade sheep’s drinksheep’s also people Some milk. milk, cheeses of the are of more well-known some and Roquefort types Most sheep’s Pecorino Romano, Feta, is milk into made cheeses. Milk a it attached, is called the wool When taken the hide from aslaughtered sheep lamb still or has Pelts weaving, provides a small but popular market. provides asmallweaving, but popular and knitting, hand such interested spinning, as to people arts, fleeces infiber Selling a few examples. Wool ways. of inavariety and batting sweaters blankets, for futons areused quilts or and suits, just sheep, than However, it profitable is less meat even that or milk. product is is still an wool important with most is often spun it intoelastic, which to allows the associated product be yarn. Whilewool is taken the fiber from the sheep by and is the type of sheep meat of most often and is eaten the type in pelt . If the pelt has less than less the has . If one pelt fleece shearing . Wool and warm strong is avery fiber, but it is also mutton (shaving from clipping) or the sheep’s skin. Te . Tinkstock Photos Tinkstock Photos Unit 7 Te Sheep Industry 97 for sales.for 41 - + producer that that producer Placement Work for a sheep a sheep for Work prepares show lambs show prepares SAE IDEA 34 - 40 Carpets is an average of the fibers of the in a fleece. average an On is any 31 - 33 Bedding Blankets Upholstery fiber diameter 28 - 30 Machine Knitting Yarn Fiber Diameter in Microns 25 - 27 Woolen Fabrics Woolen Hand Knitting Yarn Worsted Fabrics Worsted 17 - 24 fabrics, processed while woolen fibers shorter are into worsted the spinning count, the finer the fiber the diameter. finer spinning count, the the sheep, fibers shouldersheep, be will on the finest, coarsest. the while the hind leg fibers the from A good are variation. fleece much not will have wool. coarser a fine in microns, fleece for the the can Te average be measurement the as Te larger a coarse for be fleece 45 microns. fiber 40 to may diameter microns, 15 low as while average to 14 the higher the system, In this count.” called is “spinning fiber diameter of determining olderAn system or coarseness wool of the primary one fibers of the is factors that type the determine of product made. Fiber length also is important. in length inches least can three be at processed are fibersFine that into Wool Composition andWool Quality used is fiber a versatile in a variety that is of ways, from Wool carpets, fabrics insulation, knitted and to woven rugs, felt. It and meets needs the of these all uses because soft, strong, is it warm, fineness durable. and Te relative fire-resistant, water-repellent, high-quality garments such as suits. Woolen yarns have more bulk more high-quality as have garments such yarns suits. Woolen coats. used and softnessand are and as garments for such sweaters occurs once normally which sheep, the wool from fleece the taken doneEvaluating is quality is after Several Te evaluated. factors are a year. fabrics. Worsted yarns produce a lighter, finer fabric and are used fabric finer are and for a lighter, produce yarns fabrics. Worsted 98 Introduction to Agriscience even inamostly considered Any means it white will fleece. be acolored fibers, colored fleece, fibers. most commercial buyers because want with awhite colored no fleece iscrimp. Tecolor important be processed into yarn. It produces a fabric called felt or boiled wool. felt boiled or into called yarn. It afabric processed produces be When intentionally, done felting that fibers Felting the is cannot short away wool. uses processing of normally withfwashed ille ects. no is news that manufacturers fabric good now have treating of methods that it allow to wool be togethery, and Te the unfortunate size it oncef was. flu wearable garment is longer no the soft, only it get can normal length, smaller and smaller. Ultimately, all are the tightly fibers compressed createTe tiny to instead able stretch scales aratcheting being of the on fiber; f e ect to back its neighbor, catch to on each and hold other. scales the microscopic Tis means directions. end inopposite that uppointing individual fibers rubs nextto each fiber as its direction (towardsame the tip). is But removed the once the from wool the sheep and processed, are When growing it. is on the the on fiber scales sheep, inthe all these scales microscopic has fiber fiber’s the of wool structure.from to expanding Tis their length. happens wool because full Each together fibers to inaway the Felting felt. wool the that wool locks prevents causes them drying doesn’t wool “shrink.” exactly fact, In Instead, the moisture, and heat and from washing rubbing, Te Jupiter Images crimp is Usually, the waviness the of with fibers. asmaller diameter fiber wool will have more these conditionsthese are undesirable. of broken Both break it is at length, called the wool. same unevenly, it is considered tender. all in the If the tuft fibers it If breaks and easily from the fleece. tuft wool of sample strengthTe fiber is tested ends a of both by on pulling 50percent. ayield of cleaning has thata clean fleece weighs halfwhat of to it prior did plant matter. apercentage. It as is For instance, expressed the and of anyor lanolin cleaned after dirt it been has throughout Te the fleece. for. consistent fairly be should the of fibers Telength Staple length lead to a laundry disaster. tolead alaundry isn’tgarments it the but doing wrongcult, f di way can sweater favorite Tecare woolen woolen of to doll-size. and accidentally a shrinks the laundry does who person heard has the theEveryone well-meaning joke about WHY DOES WOOL SHRINK? WOOL DOES WHY will determine what the wool can be used used will determine be can what the wool yield is the weight the of fleece Unit 7 Te Sheep Industry 99 http://www.ncwga.org. “NATURAL” WOOL “NATURAL” been colored wool. dyed. No one In particular fact, breed of gives naturally sheep colored wool breed of because sheep any almost can from come can it be color, for selectively bred brown, wool asjust white gray, of red, has been. colors array in an come Tese natural of site colored wool,blonde, Web the about visit black. and naturally information more For Association Growers at Wool Colored Natural the Naturally colored wool is growing in popularity, particularly among people particularly in popularity, colored wool do to growing who like is Naturally wool white so can prefer they buyers own spinning weaving. and their commercial Most colored wool has not that naturally for a market is color want, there but they any it dye Why doesWhy wool shrink? erence between a wether? a ram and erence di f the is What product sheep moisturizers? and in lotions common is What between woolerence di f the a pelt? and is What products finished five Name sheep. made from woolIs increases? coarser as fiber or finer the diameter Describe of wool. staple length, crimp and in terms yield, Where are modern decedents sheep are domestic from? Where primary the is purposeWhat sheep? raising for between open-faced an erence di f the is a closed-faced and What breed? breeds. sheep of four characteristics distinguishing the Outline year? of the time breed can lambs any birthWhich give to Why did the need did the wool for Why century? decline 20th in the

13. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Unit Review 1. consumers, we benefit from sheep by the clothes we wear, hygiene products hygiene we use, food and we we eat. wear, clothes we benefitconsumers, the by sheep from fibers can beWool used clothing, for blankets, bedding, or carpets depending on a variety of factors staple uses declined length, the Although crimp. and the of over have sheep assuch fiber diameter, valuable products. many us with provide years, still they Unit Summary beneficial products many provided humans.As animals, domesticated to have sheep first one of the fiber wool and with economy being U.S. in the played meat, a role milk and production have all Fiber, desires. important. most Somethe a variety of is breeds raised dependant on Tere a producer’s focus on wool may others production. As where meat more provide breeds that breeders prefer 100

Introduction to Agriscience