University of Kentucky UKnowledge

Agriculture and Natural Resources Publications Cooperative Extension Service

12-2014 An Introduction to Sheep Debra K. Aaron University of Kentucky, [email protected]

Donald G. Ely University of Kentucky, [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits oy u.

Follow this and additional works at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/anr_reports Part of the Commons, and the Environmental Sciences Commons

Repository Citation Aaron, Debra K. and Ely, Donald G., "An Introduction to Sheep" (2014). Agriculture and Natural Resources Publications. 151. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/anr_reports/151

This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Cooperative Extension Service at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Agriculture and Natural Resources Publications by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT, LEXINGTON, KY, 40546 ASC-219 An Introduction to Sheep Debra K. Aaron and Donald G. Ely, and Food Sciences Sheep Facts Sheep were domesticated approxi- mately 10,000 years ago in Central Asia. Raising sheep is the oldest organized industry in the world. There are over 1 billion sheep in the world. has more sheep than any other country in the world. There are approximately 5 million sheep in the United States. The top ten U.S. sheep states are: Texas, California, Colorado, Wyoming, , South Dakota, Idaho, Montana, and Iowa. There are over 50 breeds of sheep in Table 1. Normal vital signs for sheep the U.S. and as many as 900 different he information in this fact sheet was breeds around the world. developed to provide a quick refer- Trait Range Average enceT to the most frequently asked ques- Rectal temp, °F 102 - 103 102.5 Adult female sheep are known as ewes. tions about sheep and sheep production. Heart rate, beats/min 70 - 90 75 Adult intact male sheep are called rams Respiratory rate, 10 - 20 20 or bucks. breaths/min “Normal” Sheep Male sheep castrated before puberty All “normal” (healthy) sheep share are known as wethers. certain characteristics and behaviors Sheep less than a year old are called regardless of their breed or production Table 2. Production characteristics of lambs. sheep environment. Table 1 shows some nor- The act of parturition (giving birth) is mal vital signs for sheep. Vital signs are Trait Range called lambing. Birth weight, lb 5 - 12 measures of various physiological statis- A group of sheep is called a flock. tics. They can help determine if the sheep Mature weight, lb is sick or stressed. Table 2 lists normal Rams 105 - 400 Ewes of many breeds are seasonal breed- Ewes 75 - 250 ers, which means they successfully mate ranges for some important production only during certain times of the year. characteristics of sheep. Weaning age, days 60 - 120 Life expectancy, years 10 - 12 continued Types of Sheep Operations Age at puberty, months 6 - 8 Length of , days 16 - 17 There are two types of sheep opera- Length of estrous period (heat), 20 - 42 tions: (seedstock) and commercial hours superior , or breeding value, to (crossbred). Before getting started in Time of ovulation, hours before 12 - 24 other purebred producers. In addition, the sheep business, prospective sheep end of heat purebred operations are the primary producers have to decide which of these Length of gestation (pregnan- 143 - 150 source of high quality breeding production types best fit their resources cy), days* for commercial flocks, particularly for Lambing rate (lambs born per 1.5 (experience, time, management tech- ewe) crossing with commercial ewes. Gen- niques, labor, land, facilities and feed Number of ewes a ram can service** erally, it is more expensive to start a resources). Mature rams 30 - 40 purebred operation than a commercial Purebreeding is the mating of rams Ram lambs 20 - 25 one. Purebred sheep are more expensive and ewes of the same breed. In purebred Semen volume/ejaculate, cc 0.7 - 3.0 to produce, and additional expenses are involved in advertising and marketing. sheep operations, purebred animals *Average: 147 days are kept to generate breeding stock or **35 d breeding season Raising purebred animals can be chal- “seedstock.” Purebred producers market lenging because of the competition to

Agriculture and Natural Resources • Family and Consumer Sciences • 4-H Youth Development • Community and Economic Development EXTENSION raise superior animals. Records and Specialized sire (ram) breeds are gen- Sheep Facts, continued performance testing are a must to help erally black-faced and are referred to as Sheep have a field of vision of almost the producer identify the most produc- -type breeds. They have medium 360 degrees, which allows them to see tive sheep in the flock. Enrollment in a . They are raised primarily to pro- behind themselves without having to performance record keeping program duce rams for crossing with ewes from turn their heads. or NSIP (National Sheep Improvement specialized dam breeds. Specialized sire Sheep have eight incisor teeth at the Program) is a necessary requirement. breeds are noted for rapid early growth, front of the lower jaw and none in the Crossbreeding is the systematic mating superior muscling and desirable carcass upper jaw. Instead, they have a hard of ewes and rams of different breeds. characteristics. upper dental pad. Commercial (crossbred) sheep opera- Hair sheep, unlike the wool sheep Sheep are , like and tions emphasize market lambs, therefore described above, have coats consisting , meaning they have four com- partments to their stomach and they most commercial producers utilize cross- predominantly of hair fibers as opposed chew their . They are often referred breeding. This practice gives their sheep to wool fibers. True hair breeds are more to as small ruminants because of their the advantage of heterosis. Heterosis, or resistant to internal parasites than wool size. vigor, is the ability of crossbred breeds, and they require no shearing. Sheep raised for wool production are offspring to increase in productivity over They are adapted to warmer, more hu- shorn once a year. mid regions, are prolific and are known the average of the breeds that went into The wool from one sheep is called a the cross. This means, for example, that for lambing ease and mothering ability. fleece; the wool from a flock is called a a crossbred lamb could grow faster than However, they are small at maturity and clip. either of its parents. produce lighter weight carcasses than Fleece weights vary by breed, genet- are preferred by U.S. packers. In mating ics, nutrition and shearing interval. The Breeds of Sheep systems, they would be used primarily average fleece weight for sheep in the Sheep are bred for two major purposes: as specialized dam breeds. Composite U.S. is about 7 pounds. The average (improved) hair breeds are derived from paid for wool sold in the U.S. in production of high quality or specialty 2013 was $1.45 per pound. wool and production of high quality lean hair × wool crosses. They are relatively wool free and generally do not require is the world’s leading wool meat (lamb). In addition, some sheep are producer. specifically bred for milk production. The shearing. They are larger (improved) in various breeds of sheep are a result of sev- mature size than the true hair breeds. In Not all sheep produce wool. Hair sheep have more hair fibers than wool fibers. eral decades or, in some cases, centuries of addition, composite hair breeds are gen- erally more parasite resistant than wool They do not require shearing because selection for these purposes. Sheep breeds they shed their coats annually. can be classified as general purpose breeds, breeds, and they do well in hot, humid climates. Common ways to identify sheep specialized dam breeds, specialized sire include ear tags, tattoos and paint breeds or breeds. In addition, the Sheep Production Basics branding. type of fiber they produce, wool or hair, Depending on the market, lambs are classifies sheep. Table 3 lists several com- Below are some considerations for usually sold when they weigh between mon breeds, their classification, average prospective sheep producers. Some basic 90 and 130 pounds. weights and outstanding characteristics. requirements for sheep production are Sheep are that eat vegetation General purpose breeds provide a bal- summarized in Table 4. such as grass. ance between wool and meat. They can Lambing Season Sheep are considered grazers, which be used as either sire breeds or dam means they prefer to eat grasses and breeds in mating systems. General pur- Lambing seasons (that is, when lamb- low to the ground. pose breeds are adaptable to a wide range ing occurs) vary based on the producer’s Sheep are more susceptible to internal of environmental conditions. These goals and objectives, resources (feed parasites than cattle but less suscep- breeds are the best choice for small flocks availability, facilities for housing) and tible than goats. where crossbreeding is not feasible. marketing opportunities. Breed is also The - for sheep Specialized dam (ewe) breeds are usu- a consideration. Sheep are referred to in Kentucky is generally two to three ally white-faced and have fine, medium or as short day breeders, meaning their ewes and their lambs per acre. long wool. They are noted for reproduc- normal breeding season occurs from Sheep are gregarious, which means they tive efficiency, mothering ability, fleece August through January. Some breeds like to stay close to others in a flock. weight and quality and longevity. They will breed at times other than the nor- This behavior makes them easier to are adaptable to difficult environments. mal season (for example, Rambouillet, move together as a group. In crossbreeding systems, ewes from spe- , Dorset). These are called out-of- Sheep prefer to walk into the and cialized dam breeds are mated to rams season breeders. Breeds that do not breed uphill rather than downhill and with the wind. from specialized sire breeds to produce outside the normal breeding season are market lambs. Ewes of these breeds are of called seasonal breeders. adequate size to produce lambs of desired continued carcass weights.

2 There are three typical lambing sea- April. Ewes lambing in April are bred in higher. The biggest disadvantage to April sons in Kentucky: winter (January, Febru- November; thus, any breed of sheep can lambing is that internal parasites can be ary), April and fall (September, October). be used. With April lambing, sheep pro- a significant problem. Winter. Ewes lambing in January and duction is matched with forage produc- Fall. Ewes lambing in September and February are bred in August and Septem- tion, allowing maximum use of spring October are bred in April and May. Only ber. Winter lambing is advantageous for grasses. Feed costs, labor and housing out-of-season sheep breeds can be used producers who full-time because costs are lower than during the winter. for fall lambing. Fall lambing is ideal labor is more readily available in winter April lambing also coincides with the because fall forage growth corresponds than spring when fieldwork begins. natural breeding season; thus, breeding with late gestation and lactation, the Lambs born during the winter can be and lambing seasons tend to be shorter periods when ewe nutrient demands are marketed in the spring, taking advantage because ewes are most fertile during highest. Weather conditions are good of historically high lamb during a November mating season and many for pasture lambing, and there are fewer the Easter season. However, winter lamb- will conceive during their first estrous problems with internal parasites. ing has high overhead costs in terms of period of the breeding season. Another housing and feed requirements. advantage is that lambing rate is usually

Table 3. Some common breeds of sheep in the U.S. Table 4. Basic production requirements for sheep in confine- Mature Weight (lb) Outstanding ment Breed Rams Ewes Characteristic Requirement Recommendation General Purpose Breeds Daily feed (per animal) Columbia 250 - 350 150 - 210 Wool quantity Ewe (150 lb) (lb) Grain (lb) Dorset 200 - 250 130 - 180 Out-of-season Maintenance 2.5 - 4.0 breeding Breeding 2.5 - 4.0 0.5 - 1.0 Montadale 250 - 300 140 - 190 Carcass quality Early gestation 2.5 - 4.0 0.5 Specialized Dam Breeds Late gestation 2.5 - 4.6 0.5 - 1.0 Fine Wool Lactation 5.0 - 6.0 2.0 - 2.5 Merino 175 - 225 120 - 160 Wool quality Ram 4.0 - 6.0 Rambouillet 200 - 300 140 - 190 Wool quality Feeder lambs 0.5 - 1.0 2.5 - 4.0 Targhee 200 - 300 135 - 190 Wool quality Daily supplementation 0.3 - 0.5 oz of a Medium Wool (per animal) complete mineral 175 - 275 135 - 180 Wool quantity mix for sheep Polypay 200 - 250 130 - 180 Mothering ability Feeder space (per animal, hand fed) Space (in) Long Wool Rams 18 - 20 175 - 300 140 - 195 Staple length Dry ewes 16 - 20 Finn 150 - 200 110 - 150 Prolificacy Ewes with lambs 16 - 20 Romanov 150 - 180 115 - 155 Prolficacy Lambs (weaning to 130 lb) 9 - 12 Romney 225 - 275 130 - 180 Adaptability Creep space (per lamb) 2.0 Specialized Sire Breeds Daily water Water (gal) Heavy Weight Adult sheep 1 - 2 Hampshire 250 - 350 160 - 220 Growth rate Lactating ewes 2 - 3 Oxford 200 - 300 150 - 210 Growth rate Feeder lambs 1 - 2 Suffolk 275 - 400 170 - 250 Carcass cutability Baby lambs 0.1 - 0.3 Medium Weight Waterer space Shropshire 225 - 275 150 - 195 Carcass cutability Open tank Animals/ft Texel 225 - 295 130 - 190 Muscling Ewes with/without lambs 15 - 25 Light Weight Feeder lambs 24 - 40 Cheviot 160 - 200 115 - 155 Hardiness Automatic bowl Animals/bowl Southdown 180 - 230 120 - 160 Carcass quality Ewes with/without lambs 40 - 50 Dairy Breeds Feeder lambs 50 - 75 East Friesian 150 - 200 140 - 185 ability Lacaune 150 - 200 150 - 165 Milking ability Hair Breeds True Barbados Blackbelly 105 - 125 75 - 120 Parasite resistance St Croix 125 - 200 100 - 140 Parasite resistance Composite /White Dorper 220 - 250 170 - 200 Muscling Katahdin 180 - 250 110 - 160 Parasite resistance

3 Feed Supply range from trace mineral salt with sele- Sheep Facts, continued nium to complete mineral mixes. Sheep Forages can supply up to 90 percent Contrary to popular misconception, cannot tolerate excess in their of the total feed in a sheep operation. sheep are intelligent animals. They are diets. Therefore, they should never be Under Kentucky conditions, ewes require considered to have a similar IQ level to fed mineral supplements that have been cattle and are nearly as clever as pigs. approximately 0.3 ton of hay and 0.5 ton formulated for other because of pasture dry matter per head annually. Sheep make different vocalizations to they contain copper. communicate different emotions. The quality of forage needed for sheep is as important as the amount. The quality Water Requirements Milk from sheep has higher levels of fat, is related to the flock’s stage of produc- protein, riboflavin, , zinc, niacin The exact amount of clean, fresh water and thiamine than milk from cows and tion. Nutrient requirements are highest goats. for ewes in late gestation and early lacta- required by sheep varies depending on The majority of income from a sheep tion. Winter lambing ewes need high ambient temperature or season of the year, stage of production (for example, operation will come from the lambs quality hay, corn, corn , produced each year unless the pro- haylage and/or wheat pasture, - gestation, lactation, growth, mainte- ducer has developed a niche market for grass or bluegrass forage for from nance), size of the animal, wool cover- wool. mid-December to April. Ewes that lamb ing, and the amount and type of feed in April need similar diets from March consumed. Water should be maintained to July. An equivalent feeding period for above 35°F in winter and below 55°F in summer. ewes that lamb in the fall extends from control internal parasites. Overuse and August to mid-December. Daily feed Facilities and Equipment unselective use of these drugs resulted requirements for sheep in confinement in internal parasites that are resistant Housing needs for sheep vary by are shown in Table 4. to them. As a result, producers have lambing season (for example, winter Sometimes it is necessary to feed con- had to develop integrated programs for lambing typically requires better hous- centrates (for example, corn, oats, wheat control. These programs include pasture ing than April and fall lambing) and or milo) in addition to forage in to management (including pasture rotation management preferences (highly versus meet the sheep’s nutrient requirements, with adequate pasture rest and proper minimally intensive). Sheep can eas- particularly for ewes during late gestation stocking rates), nutritional management ily be housed in unused tobacco barns and lactation. In addition, creep feed- and selective deworming according the (Figure 1) or similar structures. Often, ing and supplemental feeding of lambs FAMACHA© system (a system devel- hoop barns (Quonset™-shaped struc- on pasture has been shown to increase oped in that uses eyelid tures with hooped, tarp roofs) are used. weight gains and time to market. color to determine severity of parasite Inexpensive feeders, a water source and infection as evidenced by anemia). Selec- Creep Feeding some small gates are all that are needed tion for animals that are more parasite as basic equipment. As they lamb, ewes Providing lambs additional feed from resistant is probably the most important are separated into 4 ft x 4 ft lambing pens that provided to the ewe and in an area tool producers can use against internal for 2 to 3 days after lambing. From these constructed so lambs can enter but ewes parasites in sheep. Regardless of the pens they can be moved to a nursery pen cannot is called creep feeding. A creep-fed breed, culling ewes that are persistently for a few days and then moved to larger diet is usually all grain or concentrate. “wormy” can improve health. Lambs should be started on a creep diet mixing pens. by 7 days of age. By the time they are Basic fencing requirements can be Predators a month old, they will have consumed met by using conventional woven wire or multi-strand high tensile electric wire In Kentucky, and dogs are about 1 pound each. Daily creep feed the primary predators of sheep. The key intake increases dramatically during the for boundary (or perimeter) fencing and for cross or interior spaces. to preventing sheep losses due to preda- next month, so by weaning at 60 days of tors is to use management practices that age, lambs will be consuming about 1 Boundary fences are the first line of de- fense against predators. Interior fences keep sheep and predators apart. This pound per head daily. Lambs creep fed can be done by fencing (for example, from birth to weaning will reach market may be permanent or temporary but need to be good enough to keep sheep multi-strand high-tensile electric wire) weights of 100 to 130 pounds earlier than or use of guardian animals (for example, lambs that receive no creep feed. separated (for example, weaned lambs from their dams or rams from ewes). dogs, donkeys or lamas). Guardian dogs Mineral Supplementation are the most popular choice with sheep Internal Parasite Control producers. The most popular breeds Sheep, like all other livestock, have are the Great , and In most areas of the U.S., internal their own specific requirements for Anatolian. These large breeds have been parasites (primarily stomach ) are . Requirements are generally selectively developed to protect livestock, the biggest health concern with sheep. based on the animal’s total diet. Com- but the dog must be handled and trained In the past, anthelmintics (dewormers mercial mineral supplements for sheep properly to be effective. or anti-parasitic drugs) were used to

4 Figure 1. Sheep in a converted tobacco barn

best enable them to meet their marketing Mention or display of a trademark, propri- Summary etary product or firm in text or figures does objectives. Because not all breeds will not constitute an endorsement and does Starting a successful sheep enterprise breed outside the normal breeding sea- not imply approval to the exclusion of other requires knowledge of basic sheep biol- son, choice of lambing season may be de- suitable products or firms. ogy and an understanding of likely pro- termined by choice of breed, or vice versa. duction systems. Before getting into the Finally, prospective sheep producers sheep business, prospective producers must appreciate the basic requirements should decide whether purebred or com- for feed, water, housing, equipment and mercial (crossbred) production best fits parasite control. Learning as much as their resources (experience, time, labor, possible about sheep and sheep produc- facilities, feed resources, etc.). Then, they tion before beginning a sheep enterprise must determine which sheep breed (or will help ensure profitability. breeds) and which lambing season will

Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. Issued in furtherance of Co- operative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Nancy M. Cox, Director, Land Grant Programs, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Lexington, and Kentucky State University, Frankfort. Copyright © 2014 for materials developed by University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. This publication may be reproduced in portions or its entirety for educational or nonprofit purposes only. Permitted users shall give credit to the author(s) and include this copyright notice. Publications are also available on the World Wide Web at www.ca.uky.edu. Issued 12-2014