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' <* --• - ^W^iSS. S*#s California . V : ' WILLIAM C. WEIR - HIUBIN AIM CALIFORNI Experimen E x t e Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of California, Davis Libraries http://archive.org/details/californiasheepp16weir California SHEEP Production WILLIAM C. WEIR - REUBEN ALBAUGH UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Experiment Station and Extension Service LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS CONTENTS Distribution, breeding, and selection 1 History of their introduction into the state 1 Sheep population 2 Present distribution in the state 2 The four general groups 4 Breeding replacement ewes How to select breeding stock 8 Keeping records of performance 10 Sheep raising as a business 13 The pros and cons 13 Five types of sheep operations 13 How to start a sheep enterprise 14 Handling sheep 15 Predator and dog control 15 Marketing lambs 16 Production costs 16 Sheep prices compared to cattle prices 19 Equipment for sheep production 19 Develop an over-all plan 19 List of available plans 19 The loading chute 19 Scales 20 The feed yard 20 Sheep dogs 24 Feeding sheep in California 25 Requirements 25 Total feed 25 Digestible protein 25 Total digestible nutrients 28 Minerals 28 Vitamins 30 Composition of feeds 36 Supplemental feeding 36 Calendar of operations 39 Breeding season 39 Shearing, branding, and hoof-trimming 42 Care of ewes from breeding to lambing 44 Care of the ewe at lambing time 45 Care of ewes after lambing 47 Care of lambs 47 Culling the breeding ewes 54 Water 54 Shade " 54 Marketing 55 Fattening feeder lambs 56 Feeding lambs on pasture as a soiling crop 58 Stilbestrol implants 58 Reference reading 59 ,r - &!£r£*. ' --v. ." * * Sift- HEPHERDING is one of the oldest professions known to man- kind. Dating back to biblical times, the care of sheep is often used in song and story as a symbol of the simple life. But the sheep business as it exists today in California is a complex enterprise. This manual will acquaint you with the principal aspects of sheep production—the breeds raised in the state; sheep as a business; equipment you will need; feeding sheep; and a cal- endar of operations for a typical year. There is also a list of reference books, in case you wish to read further on any particular phase of sheep raising. This manual replaces Extension Circular 49. THE AUTHORS: William C. Weir is Assistant Professor of Animal Husbandry and Assistant Animal Husbandman in the Experiment Station, Davis; Reuben Albaugh is Extension Animal Husbandman, University of California, Davis. OCTOBER, 1954 California SHEEP Production WILLIAM C. WEIR - REUBEN ALBAUGH DISTRIBUTION, BREEDING, and SELECTION for wool production or for meat A brief history of their introduction With the discovery of gold in Cali- into the state fornia in 1848 and the influx of fortune- Domestic sheep were first introduced seekers from all parts of the country, into California in 1769. They were there was a great demand for fresh meat. brought here by the Franciscan fathers, Lambs brought $12 and wethers $15 per who were then establishing their chain of head. Large numbers of sheep were missions along El Camino Real. These slaughtered, and by 1850 only 17,514 sheep, of Spanish origin, were low-grade, head of sheep remained—less than 1 per of the coarse-wool type. They were used cent of the number roaming the ranges by the mission fathers as a teaching aid of California 25 years before. During the in missionary work with the natives. The period of 1852-1857, because of the de- men were taught the care and manage- mand for meat 551,000 sheep were im- ment of the flocks, and the women ported into California by the trail route learned the art of making clothing from from New Mexico. the wool. Sheep also supplied food and Following the gold-rush days many fiber to the colonists. enterprising and progressive sheepmen In 1825 about one million head of began to improve their flocks. They im- sheep were kept by the seventeen mis- ported purebred sheep from Vermont, sions, and a like number were owned by New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. ranchers. This indicates that in the early Spanish Merinos were first brought to days the coastal district of California California by Curtis and McConnell of was a great sheep-producing region. Be- Sacramento. Besides importations from sides clothing and blankets made by the other states, large numbers of high- women of the mission, large numbers of priced sheep were brought into Cali- pelts and quantities of tallow processed fornia from Australia. It is reported that and sold to trading ships were economi- during the period of 1856-1860 as many cally important. as 200 purebred sheep were exhibited at During the period of 1832-1848 the fairs as a single exhibit. disposal of livestock was placed in the The first California sheep and wool hands of Government officers. By their growers association was organized on ruling much of the livestock property was September 24, 1860, its purpose being to sold to interests outside the missions. foster and promote sheep breeding and [i] wool growing in all its branches and to Sheep population in take steps to prevent a monopoly on the California is now on wool market of the state. The California the increase Woolgrowers Association is the state's Sheep numbers in the state from 1920 oldest agricultural organization. to 1944 fluctuated from slightly over Sheep numbers increased rapidly from 2,000,000 head to about 3,500,000 head, 1860 to 1876. Over 6 million head were the peak year coming in 1934. From reported in the state in producing 1876, a 1944 to 1950 the numbers showed a wool clip of 56,550,970 pounds. During gradual decrease, reaching a low point the period 1880-1890 there was a grad- in 1950 of only 1,756,000; but by the ual decrease in sheep numbers, due beginning of 1954 there were again mainly to the low price of wool the and 2,034,000 sheep in California. competition for grazing lands from other Several factors are responsible for the agricultural industries. According to E. decline from the 1934 peak of produc- J. Wickson in a book entitled "Rural tion. Lands formerly used for sheep have California," over 225,000 sheep were gone into other crops. More profit has trailed eastward in 1881. During the been realized from other enterprises. nineties sheep numbers still continued to Skilled sheep labor has been difficult to decline, and the farm value reached an secure. Wool prices have been relatively all-time low of $1.50 per head. low. Grazing allotments have been re- In the decade 1900-1910 conditions duced. Predatory animals and uncon- for raising sheep remained adverse. In trolled dogs have been a problem. There 1906 the U.S.D.A. placed a grazing fee has been increased competition by wild- on domestic livestock grazed on the Na- life, especially deer, for range forage. tional Forests. Public policy appeared to Brush encroachment has reduced the be against the wool producer. forage available to sheep in the range New interest was awakened in mutton area. sheep with the outbreak of the World It is generally agreed that if sheep War in 1914, and sheep values increased. numbers are to be materially increased In spite of this, during 1914- the period more farm flocks must be established. 1920 numbers did not expand. After the war a national depression was experi- How the present sheep enced, and many believe that the sheep population is distributed business withstood this economic disor- Before entering the sheep-production der better than did some other industries. business, make a careful study of your During these different periods in the area to determine if it is suitable for sheep industry, a gradual change took such an enterprise. Although sheep rais- place in breeding, feeding, management, ing is carried on in most sections of the and marketing. Four- to six-months-old state, the largest population is found in milk-fat lambs of good breeding replaced the great interior valleys—Sacramento the aged wether, which had been kept and San Joaquin. mainly for its wool. With the aid of On January 1, 1953, the Sacramento scientific data sheepmen began selective Valley area had 671,000 sheep. The San breeding for wool and lamb production. Joaquin Valley section reported the same Although the American people do not year 321,500 head. favor mutton, they like lamb. The de- Commercial and farm flocks make up mand for lambs is such that about 65 per the largest percentage of sheep popula- cent of the sheepman's income in Cali- tion in California. However, in some fornia is from this source, while 35 per areas the purebred business is highly cent is from wool. developed. 12] WHERE SHEEP ARE RAISED IN CALIFORNIA \" f • • • SHEEP DISTRIBUTION IN CALIFORNIA 1 • • 1953 J • * * • • • • • *j • • represents approximately 10,000 head "^ + represents approximately 5,000 head \ • MTvi •" represents less than 5,000 head 1 • •••>|V.W( •• / • •^ r +V / * * • ) V • vvvL • • • • • • • THE TEN LEADING COUNTIES IN 1953: Glenn 150,300 Kern 116,700 Humboldt 140,500 Colusa 98,000 Mendocino 133,000 Tehama 88,600 Sonoma 134,300 Fresno 61,100 Solano 130,800 Yolo 61,000 [3] — Most breeds fall into four general groups These are fine wools, long wools, medium wool dual-purpose, and medium wool mutton breeds. Instead of discus- sing each breed in detail, this section gives the principal use, advantages, and disadvantages of each group. The fine wools were selected from the original Spanish Merino and have been the basic breed for range-sheep production. Their advantages and dis- advantages are contrasted below. Advantages. 1) They are rugged can stand extremes of heat and cold and can exist under unfavorable feed condi- tions. 2) They produce a desirable clip of wool. Fine wool normally sells for the highest price per pound on a clean basis. 3) They possess herding instinct—will band together under range-herding con- ditions. 4) They breed early—will breed in April, May, June, and July to lamb in the fall. This is important under Cali- fornia conditions. 5) They are long-lived. Many ewes will live to be 10 to 12 years of age. Disadvantages. 1) Fine-wool sheep lack mutton conformation. With more and more emphasis on the income from lamb, the importance of mutton confor- mation increases. 2) Ewes are not such good milk producers as ewes of the other groups, and in consequence do not pro- duce such rapidly growing or high grad- ing lambs. 3) Fine-wool sheep are more subject to fly-strike (maggots resulting from fly eggs) because of the wrinkles and wool close to the anus and vulva. 4) Some of the wool is too short in staple to bring the best price. 5) Shrinkage is relatively high. The long-wool breeds of sheep were developed in England under cool, moist RAMS . . . of these breeds are used for producing cross- bred fat lambs. Top to bottom: Shropshire, Hampshire, Southdown, Suffolk. . EWES . . of these breeds are used to produce commer- cial lambs. Left, top to bottom: Australasian Merino, Columbia, Corriedale, Rambouillet. Below: Targhee, Romeldale and Romney. Breeds of Sheep Grouped Accord ing to Wool and Mutton Type (Bi eeds most common in California in italics) Medium wool Medium wool Fine wools Long wools dual-purpose mutton breeds Rambouillet Romney Columbia Hampshire Merino Lincoln Corriedale Suffolk Cotswold Romeldale Shropshire Leicester Targhee Southdown Border Leicester Panama Dorset Cheviot Oxford conditions, where feed supplies are fa- eliminate as many of the bad points as vorable. They are not well adapted to possible. All these breeds except the Tar- most California conditions. ghee are essentially half long-wool and Advantages. 1) The largest sheep half fine-wool breeding. The Targhee is belong to long-wool breeds. 2) The sheep approximately three fourths fine wool are rapid-growing (but late-maturing). and one fourth long wool. The bulk of 3) Long-wool breeds, particularly the the commercial ewes in California are Lincoln, cross well with fine-wool breeds some mixture of the fine-, medium-, and to produce intermediate or dual-purpose long-wool whiteface breeds. sheep. 4) Ewes are good milk producers. Advantages. 1) Mutton conforma- 5) Long-wool breeds can stand wet tion and milk production are improved weather, and the claim is made that the over the fine-wool breeds; as a result, Romney breed is more resistant to foot- lambs produced by these medium-wool rot than other breeds. 6) They produce ewes reach market weight at a younger a heavy clip of wool, low shrinking and age and are more desirable from the coarse in texture. standpoint of conformation and carcass. Disadvantages. 1) They are not 2) The length of staple and the clean adapted to hot, dry climate. This limits weight of wool clip are increased over the their usefulness to only a small section of fine-wool breeds, but the wool is still fine the North Coast area of California. 2) enough to receive a good price per They must have an adequate feed supply, pound. 3) Wool produced is free of black and are not so rugged as fine-wool sheep. fibers and has desirable quality. 4) These 3) They do not produce such a desirable breeds maintain the herding instinct of carcass as mutton breeds. 4) Their wool fine-wool sheep. sells for a lower price because coarse Disadvantages. 1) They are less wool is not in such demand as fine wool rugged than fine-wool sheep. 2) They are (but the increased yield may compensate generally smaller than long-wool sheep. for the lower selling price) . 5) They lack 3) They will not usually breed so early the herding instinct. as fine-wool breeds. The medium-wool dual-purpose The mutton breeds were developed breeds have been developed by crossing primarily for their lamb-producing abil- the long-wool breeds with the fine-wool ity. Their principal use under California breeds in an attempt to combine the de- conditions is to furnish sires for the pro- sirable characters of both groups and duction of market lambs. [61 : — Tests conducted at this station have Here are the reasons some sheepmen shown that Hampshire and Suffolk rams have taken to producing their own breed- sire lambs that weigh more at marketing ing ewes: and return the greatest income per ewe The flock can be improved by a selec- bred. Southdown rams produce lambs of tive breeding program under the direct the highest carcass quality, but the lambs supervision of the sheepman. are small. Lambs sired by the Shrop- Records can be kept on the sheep and shire rams are intermediate in size and replacements saved from only the most quality. Romney-sired and Rambouillet- productive lines. The sheepman can se- sired lambs are inferior in carcass qual- lect for twins, good milkers, desirable ity to lambs sired by the mutton-type fleece, etc. rams. See also "Cross-breeding Investi- Breeding ewes are acclimated; that is, gations" by R. F. Miller, referred to they will be producing, in the same en- among Source Books, on page 59. vironment in which they were born and Because of the increased size of the reared. lambs produced, most commercial lambs Breeding ewes are lambing at the same in California are sired by Hampshire or season in which they themselves were Suffolk rams. born, whereas a ewe from the Rocky Advantages, 1) Lambs of excellent Mountain area born in April may be ex- quality and grade can be produced. 2) pected in California to lamb in No- Ewes are prolific, good milkers, and good vember. mothers. By not bringing new sheep onto the Disadvantages, 1) Ewes breed late. ranch each year, the sheepman can avoid Very few lambs are born in the fall. Most the possibility of introducing diseases or lambs will be born from December parasites. through March. 2) Ewes are short-lived. California-bred replacement ewes can 3) Wool clip is light in weight and may be bred as lambs under good manage- be contaminated with black fiber. 4) ment and feed conditions. Mutton breeds will not herd; they do not On the other hand there are good rea- have the banding instinct. sons why some sheepmen prefer not to For these reasons it is not recommend- produce their own breeding ewes ed that mutton-breed ewes or mutton- The sheepman must use two kinds of breed crossbred ewes be used as commer- rams, whiteface rams of the desired breed cial breeding ewes. to produce his replacement ewes and blackface rams to produce market lambs. Shall the sheepman The best ewes should be bred to the breed his own replacement whiteface rams. ewes or buy them? Lambs marketed are of two types As most commercial ewes are bred to whiteface wethers and blackface ewes mutton-breed rams, all the lambs, both and wethers. Most sheepmen agree the ewes and wethers, should be sent to mar- whiteface wethers will weigh slightly less ket. The sheepman must then replace his than the blackface wethers, but reliable breeding ewes from some other source. data are not available on this difference. Historically California sheepmen have Replacement ewe lambs should be found it economical to buy replacement cared for in a separate group from the ewes from out-of-state breeders. Recent- main breeding band. (The breeding of ly, as good replacement ewes become ewe lambs will be discussed on page 42.) harder to find, considerable interest is The cost of breeding replacements on being shown in raising their own replace- the ranch is probably greater than that ment stock. of buying them. [7] How to select Aged ewes, sometimes called "broken- your breeding stock mouthed" ewes (with some teeth miss- ing), can often be bought cheaply, but Ewes. Breeding ewes, irrespective of they will require extra care and attention breed, should be large and deep-bodied, in order to raise another lamb crop. standing on straight legs with ample bone Since a rather high death rate is to be ex- and showing some femininity and breedi- pected among them, it is risky for a be- ness. Ewes should be free of wool around ginner to start in the sheep business with the eyes to avoid wool-blindness. Wool such ewes. should be characteristic of the breed, Rams should be purebreds of the dense, long staple, and moderately fine. breed desired. Each should be medium- Age of ewes should be determined by to-large for the breed, with ample bone, examination of the teeth. At the same time "overshot" and "undershot" mouths sound feet and legs, wide chest, straight can be detected. This is a condition where back, and thick hindquarters, and should the incisors fail to meet the dental pad at show masculinity (indicated by a thick, the correct place. Ewes that have pre- muscular neck, a broad muzzle, and a viously lambed should be checked for bright, alert eye). The wool of rams to sound udders; those showing pendulous sire replacement ewes should be care- udders or udders with hard spots may fully examined. It should be typical of not be able to raise another lamb. the breed (rams' wool may be slightly How to determine age of sheep by their teeth. 1.— lamb shows four pairs of incisors; 2.—one-year- old shows one pair of permanent incisors; 3.— two-year-old shows two pairs of permanent incisors; 4.— three-year-old shows three pairs of permanent incisors; 5.—four-year-old shows four pairs of permanent incisors; 6.—teeth have all dropped out. This usually happens at seven to twelve years of age and the animal is then known as a "gummer." [8] . CHOOSE YOUR BREEDING STOCK CAREFULLY Photo at right shows a desirable and an undesirable ewe. m 5, Photo at left shows a sheep with an overshot jaw—a condition to be avoided. ..:. m i Aged ewes, such as those shown above, no longer able to "rough it" on the range, will usually produce another crop or two of lambs under the more favorable conditions of farm flocks. [9] more coarse than ewes'), and should conformation and wool, the guide affords show length, density, and uniformity of the owner an opportunity to keep accu- diameter (fineness) over the entire body. rate records on the production of each The wool on mutton-breed rams is of individual ewe and ram. Fleece weights, little concern to the sheepman because birth weights, and weaning weights of all the lambs produced by these rams will lambs may be recorded. With data of this be marketed as fat or feeder lambs. kind available, it is possible for a sheep- man to cull his flock more effectively. Keep records of Here are the things necessary in con- performance and grading ducting such a program: 1) A suitable Sheepmen interested in practical, sys- scale for weighing sheep. 2) An accurate tematic methods for improving the pro- breeding and lambing record. 3) A flock duction and quality of their flock should book with separate record sheet for each ask their local farm advisor for an Ex- ewe (Ask your farm advisor) . 4) A uni- tension Circular entitled "A Guide for form system of grading each animal. 5) Sheep Improvement Programs" (See Standard record forms to assure uni- Source Books listed on page 59). formity. This guide discusses the grading sys- The owner must have an interest in the tem used by University of California spe- program and a willingness to keep rec- cialists in evaluating sheep for confor- ords in cooperation with the farm ad- mation, type, quality, and character. The visor. The best time to start a record of grading program also considers quality, performance and a grading project is in density, and staple length of fleece. Its the spring, usually before shearing. main purpose is to evaluate sheep uni- On pages 11 and 12 are score cards formly in comparison to the sheep popu- and grading guides for grading sheep in lation as a whole. It is very similar to the California. These score cards are not system used for grading feeder and fat those of any particular breed, but they lambs and to the grading method em- are believed by the authors to be a rea- ployed in beef-cattle improvement work. sonable guide for selecting good sheep of In addition to evaluating the sheep for any breed. [10] SCORE CARDS USED IN GRADING SHEEP WHITEFACED DUAL-PURPOSE SHEEP CONFORMATION, 65 PER CENT Weight for age and scale 10 General appearance and breed type 8 Head and mouth 5 Shoulders, chest, and spring of ribs 8 Back and loin 8 Twist and leg of mutton 8 Rump 5 Feet and legs 7 Natural fleshing 5 Scrotum or udder 1 FLEECE, 35 PER CENT Density 8 Length of staple 12 Spinning count (breed considered) and uniformity (all parts of body) 10 Character (crimp, color of secretions, freedom from hair) 5 100 BLACKFACED MUTTON SHEEP CONFORMATION, 90 PER CENT Weight for age and scale 10 General appearance and breed type 10 Head and mouth 8 Shoulders, chest, and spring of ribs 10 Back and loin 10 Twist and leg of mutton 10 Rump 5 Feet and legs 15 Natural fleshing 10 Scrotum or udder 2 FLEECE, 10 PER CENT Density 2 Length of staple 4 Freedom from black fiber 2 Belly wool 2 100 [11] 1- 0) -*- a> 0) _* l. o ^ 1/) ha U U -a "D o l_ '6 'o o o c u o E O L. LL. _C _C o O c ^ u y u _3 E u # ^3 _0 Q. 'o £ E -c M- O : 5 o E co 1— —i *8*3 c I. £ U U **- k o r^ ^f •— 00 lO CN >0 CO Q. ^_ o O o <— o O a 00 CO CO N N K hs «• 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 00 lO CN Cv O (*) o r^ ^t 00 hx > Os t> O CO 00 00 CO N N ?v o »o k ™ c > > > > .O) "D 1 u o + o 1 + D + O I + o 1 r— " "" ^ w o r CN CN CN CO CO CO ^t ^ ^ CL 4) i t 0) T3 -ft _* O) c u o "5^0 o o to **= o -" > u a o "to lO C c c £ g _>« to to _y | 10 "5 " *fe -c "0 a -* o . O to u £ co 3 c to -a o O Q. +- M— 3 m 3 U G3 O i- C o -Q _£ C 3 CO "D _ . 3 13 >^ to SHEEP RAISING AS A BUSINESS ... some things the beginner should know or consider Before you begin, Sheep can aid in a weed-control pro- study the pros and cons gram and reduce the fire hazard on the ranch or farm. Sheep perform the primary function the other hand, there are certain of converting grass and other products On adverse considerations: of the plant world—largely of no use to Sheep are naturally defenseless, and so man in such form—into food and fiber protect against their ene- for human use. You should clearly under- man must them mies. Severe losses will otherwise occur stand how they differ from other live- stray predatory animals, stock before you go into the business of from dogs and such as coyotes, bobcats, and bear. raising sheep. You will want to study the costs of production (See pages 16 to Furthermore, sheep are subject to both 18) and the possible income on farm external and internal parasites. The shep- flocks and range flocks. herd must be alert and watchful to pre- Consider also these points on the credit vent losses from these dangers. side of sheep-raising as a business: Sheep must either be watched contin- Sheep produce two crops each year ually by a herder or pastured in fields lamb and wool. that are fenced "sheep-tight" (with a Returns come relatively rapidly. Ewe woven-wire fence, which is expensive to lambs can be bred to lamb as yearlings. construct). Lambs are marketed young—at four to Foot troubles will occur if sheep are seven months. forced to stay on muddy, wet ground. Sheep utilize roughages as their pri- In general, they require more atten- mary feed supply. They do not need large tion and labor than do cattle. amounts of purchased feeds. In California there are five Lambs will fatten on good pasture types of sheep operations. alone, without any supplemental feed. Sheep are easily handled and moved. 1. Range commercial sheep Equipment and shelter can be rela- herded. Sheep are operated in bands of tively simple and inexpensive. from 500 to 2,000 and are constantly Photos before and after pasturing sheep on an irrigation ditch. The sheep not only save expense in keeping the ditch clean, but keep the banks well trampled so that gophers are less troublesome. ^^I^^^^v^ssn*- -\ -i amm — "Sheep-tight" fences such as that shown above should be made of woven wire, with barbed wire above to protect the woven wire. under the care of a sheep herder. They on a farm. In this case sheep are usually utilize desert and mountain ranges and only one source of income. Thirty to may pasture alfalfa, irrigated pasture, forty breeding ewes is considered a mini- grain fields, and beet tops. Available mum economic unit. range is nearly all utilized by present 5. Fattening feeder lambs. Most operators. feeder lambs are fattened on irrigated (This is a specialized business requir- pastures in the Sacramento, San Joaquin, ing experience and skilful management.) and Imperial Valleys. This operation will 2. Range commercial sheep be discussed under lamb fattening, on fenced pastures. Sheep are grazed in pages 56-58. A smaller number of lambs fenced fields of varying size. The land is are fattened in feed lots on dry feeds. owned or on long-term lease. This opera- How to start tion requires large initial investment, but a sheep enterprise a comparatively lower cost of operation. 3. Purebred sheep. The primary First answer the following questions: source of income from a purebred flock 1. Is a source of feed available for ev- is through the sale of rams to commercial ery month of the year? sheepmen. This enterprise requires the 2. Are fences "sheep-tight"? ability to select desirable breeding stock 3. Are there facilities for caring for and facilities, particularly feed supply, sheep at lambing? At shearing? and to keep animals in desirable condi- 4. Can the sheep be kept out of mud tion at all times. Commercial sheepmen during wet weather? demand high-quality, well-grown rams. 5. Are dogs and predators likely to be A beginner should not start in the pure- a serious menace? bred business. It is much better to gain you like sheep? experience first with commercial sheep. 6. Do 4. The farm flock. This may vary 7. Have you had adequate sheep expe- from a few head to a few hundred sheep rience [14] You can establish a farm flock in sev- Once the sheep is caught, it can be eral ways. From a start with bummer held by placing one hand under the jaw lambs (young orphans) from some rec- near the mouth and the other hand be- ognized breeder, it is possible to begin hind the head or on the rump just above with a very small investment. Fair-sized the dock. If the sheep tries to go forward, enterprises have eventually developed lift up on the chin and place your knee in from bummer lambs used in projects by front of the brisket. If it tries to back up, 4-H Club and FFA members. The care put pressure on the end of the dock. and feeding of these is discussed in Sec- Never under any circumstance pull on tion 5. the wool! This results in pain to the Healthy, thrifty, well-bred, broken- sheep and will only cause it to fight more. mouth ewes can also be used to start a farm flock. Ewes of this kind, culled Predator and dog control from range bands, are sometimes avail- Agencies responsible for controlling able on the market at reasonable prices. predatory animals and sheep-killing dogs If given proper feed and care, such ewes are numerous in California. For example, will often raise another lamb crop or two. a large number of counties have coopera- Care should be taken not to buy ewes tive predatory-animal agreements with that are too old, because the death loss the United States Fish and Wild Life is apt to be high. Service and the State Department of Ag- A small flock of well-bred ewe lambs, riculture. A check in 1953 showed that yearlings, or two-year-old grade will ewes 41 California counties were operating need less care and attention than the under this cooperative agreement with above groups. The initial cost will be these two agencies. greater, but in the long run they may be In a few counties, predatory-animal the cheapest buy. control is handled directly by the county Handling sheep government through the Board of Super- visors. In other areas the work is under Whenever it is necessary to handle in- the direction of the County Agricultural dividual sheep, the flock or band should Commissioner. Some counties do not be enclosed in a small corral. A beginner work under a paid hunter and trapper often makes the mistake of placing a few system. In these counties funds are ap- sheep in a big enclosure. This is hard on propriated on a county basis for the pay- both the sheep and the sheepman. ment of bounties on predators. Do not catch individual sheep by the Where sheep losses have occurred from hind leg. The animal will fight in this sheep-killing dogs, a few counties have position, and there is real danger of crip- organized strong, workable dog ordi- pling it by pulling the hip out of the nances. Under this control system an effi- socket. It should be caught by grasping cient, alert poundmaster is employed. the rear flank just in front of the stifle His job is to see that all dogs are licensed joint. By lifting slightly, you can immo- each year, to impound unlicensed dogs, bilize the animal without any great strug- and to determine the ownership of dogs gle. The other correct way is to catch the sheep by the head. that are found worrying, wounding, or A sheep hook or shepherd's crook may killing sheep. be used in large bands for catching ewes The headquarters of the poundmaster on the open range. It should be used only vary. Some work out of the county sher- when absolutely necessary, as there is iff's office, others with the agricultural danger of crippling the sheep by careless commissioner. Some have their own of- handling. fices within the county government. [15] ' California has a fine dog law, and all ally in short supply at this season, the sheepmen should be familiar with its pro- price is generally higher than after visions. A copy of this law can be had July 1. by writing to the California Wool Grow- During these spring months, Califor- ers Association, 151 Mission Street, San nia lambs are exported to eastern mar- Francisco. kets to relieve the surplus. A total of Besides the state and county govern- 285,000 head were shipped in 1952. Dur- ment program for predatory-animal con- ing the remainder of the year, California trol, individual sheepmen may hire ca- is a deficit area, and large numbers of pable hunters and trappers. In some lambs are shipped into the state, both for areas several sheepmen employ hunters immediate slaughter and for fattening and trappers cooperatively. Other sheep- before slaughter. In 1953, 1,180,000 head men may pay bounties to hunters for ani- were shipped in from out of state. mals that kill sheep. Still others do their own hunting and trapping. Production costs If you suspect sheep losses to be from Since sheep return two incomes per predatory animals or dogs, get in touch year (wool and lamb) many people may with your local trapper, hunter, or pound- become overenthusiastic about the profit master. In case you do not know how to in sheep raising. Before investing in the reach these agents, you can contact your sheep business, you had better become local farm advisor or local wool growers familiar with certain costs of production association for information. and expected returns. Marketing your lambs Successful sheep raising is largely de- sound, progressive manage- California is in a favorable position pendent on for marketing her lamb crop. Because of ment such as correct breeding, feeding, mild winters, growers are able to finish and marketing practices. The chief profit- and market lambs during the months of determining factors are: 1) quality and April, May, and June. As lambs are usu- quantity of lambs and wool;. 2) prices California spring lambs such as these are usually marketed in April, May, and June. « \ iv*. Mil, ' &S $ m& : received for lambs and wool; and 3) an- outlined below has been developed by nual costs per sheep. A. D. Reed, Extension Economist, at the Since the cost of production and the University of California at Berkeley, and returns from a sheep operation both can be used as a guide (using current vary, not only within each sheep-produc- and local prices) when figuring costs, in- ing area but also from ranch to ranch, comes, and investments. If an income it is difficult to present definite cost-and- falls below these estimates, then a careful return data. analysis of the management should be The information on costs and income made. TABLE 1 —Farm Sheep Flocks Production Data Ewes—5 per cent mortality, 15 per cent culled Lambs—100 per cent raised Rams—One per 25-50 ewes. Purchase replacements as necessary. SAMPLE INCOME AND EXPENSE PER 100 EWES Income Lambs sold, 80 head @ 90 lb.—7,200 lb. @ 20 cents $1,440 Ewes sold, 15 head @ 120 lb.— 1,800 lb. @ 10 cents 180 Buck sold, 1 head @ 150 lb.—150 lb. @ 10 cents 15 Wool, 1,0001b. @ 50 cents 500 $2,135 Expense Replacement buck, one 100 Pasture Natural range 50 acres—400 hd. mo $ 240 Irrigated pasture 15 acres—500 hd. mo 600 Stubble 25 acres—200 hd. mo 80 Total pasture $ 920 Hay, 60 days @ 3 lb.—9.0 tons @ $20 180 Grain for lambs, 30 days @ Al lb.—750 lb. @ $3.50 26 Salt and mineral, 600 lb. @ $0.02 12 Totalfeed $1,138 Shearing and wool bags, 103 hd. @ $0.60 62 Taxes and miscellaneous 50 Labor, 300 hr. @ $1.00 300 Investment and Depreciation Original cost Depreciation Buildings and fences $ 800 40 Equipment 300 30 Stock—100 ewes and 3 rams 2,300 Land for corrals and sheds 500 — 70 Interest, 5 per cent on $3,350 168 Total cost 1,888 Net profit $ 247 [17] In studying the "input" and "output" is labor. On the other hand, the largest statement you can readily see that the big income is from lamb, followed by wool, cost item is feed, which includes both Therefore, if net income is to be mate- raised and purchased. Next largest cost rially increased, effort should be made to TABLE 2—Range Sheep Flock Production Data Ewes—7 per cent mortality, 13 per cent culled Lambs—80 per cent raised Rams—one per 30 ewes SAMPLE INCOME AND EXPENSE PER 1,000 EWES Income Lambs sold, 600 head @ 80 lb.—48,000 lb. @ 20 cents $ 9,600 Ewes sold, 130 head @ 110 lb.— 14,300 lb. @ 10 cents 1,430 Bucks sold, 6 head @ 135 lb.—810 lb. @ 10 cents 81 Wool, 10,000 lb. @ 50 cents 5,000 16,111 Expense Replacement bucks, 7 @ $75 525 Feed: Range, 3,000 acres— 10,000 hd. mo. @ $0.60 $ 6,000 Stubble, 250 acres—2,000 hd. mo. @ $0.40 800 Hay, 30 days @ 3 lb.—45 tons @ $20 900 Cake, 90 days @ \i lb.—11.5 tons @ $100 1,150 Grain for rams, 30 days @ Al lb.—500 lb. @ $3.50 cwt 18 Salt and mineral, 3 tons (a>, $35 105 Total feed 8,973 Horses, 2 @ $100 200 Dogs, 2 % $15 30 Truck, 2,000 miles @ 7 cents 140 Taxes and miscellaneous 500 Spraying, 1,030 hd. @ 8 cents 82 Shearing and wool bags, 1,030 hd. @ $0.60 618 Labor, 2,500 hours @ $1 2,500 Investment and Depreciation Original cost Depreciation Buildings $ 5,000 $ 250 Equipment 2,000 200 Stock : Ewes, 1,000 (5 $20 20,000 Bucks, 33 @ $75 2,475 Land for corrals 1,000 450 Interest (a 5 per cent on $26,975 1,349 Total expense $15,367 Net profit 744 5 per cent interest is based on ' 2- of original cost of buildings and equipment and on original costs of other items. IK] I keep feed and labor costs as low as pos- also produce at least 32 pounds of wool. sible, at the same time increasing the This would be, according to present-day quality and quantity of lamb and wool estimates, equivalent in value to 80 produced. pounds of lamb. Therefore, while 1 steer produces 300 pounds gain, How do sheep prices compare 4 ewes produce 440 pounds gain. with those for cattle? At present, prices of grass-fed cattle Prices are favorable for sheep produc- and lamb are about the same. According tion, as compared to cattle. For example, to a cost study prepared by Arthur Shul- it is usually assumed that a beef steer tis, Extension Economist of the Univer- will put on 300 pounds of gain during a sity of California at Berkeley, it costs pasture season. If at least four ewes can 16.3^* to produce a pound live weight of be managed on the same amount of pas- beef and 12.4^ to produce a pound live ture as one steer, the four ewes on good weight of lamb under average California feed comparable to the feed producing conditions—based on probable "in-line" 300 pounds of beef should produce four long-time average costs. (See The Rela- 90-pound lambs, or 360 pounds of meat. tive Economy of Meat Production in Cal- There is another factor that must not ifornia by Several Types of Farm Ani- be overlooked. These four ewes should mals, referred to on page 59.) EQUIPMENT FOR SHEEP PRODUCTION . . . some of it is easy to build from available plans Develop an over-all movement of stock. The area should be sheep-handling plan well drained and the soil of sandy tex- ture. Well-planned sheep equipment such as In building sheep structures and corrals and other handling devices saves equipment, plans and blueprint details labor, cuts shrinkage to a minimum, and must be followed closely. Equipment is among the best investments a sheep- built from plans discussed below has man can make. No one plan is suitable been found workable and practical. for all ranches. However, certain features and construction details might be usable Plans are available on any ranch. The Agricultural Engineering and Ani- good, practical set of corrals and A mal Husbandry Departments have devel- should make it possible to equipment oped the plans and specifications which sort, brand, mark, load, unload, weigh, are listed on page 20. Ask your farm ad- spray, shear, and treat sheep. Drinking visor for any that are of interest to you, water should be in or near the corrals. or write to Agricultural Publications, 22 Shade and weather shelters are desirable Giannini Hall, University of California, in some areas. Valuable equipment Berkeley 4, California. should be strongly built, and painted to "preserve the material. The loading chute Corrals and structures should not only It is important that this be located so be arranged for convenience but should that large trucks and trailers can reach also be laid out and planned for economy it easily at any time of year. After you and serviceability. In selecting a site for have selected the site for the loading corrals and equipment, choose a location, chute, the corral and other equipment if possible, in the center of the ranch op- can be built around it. For ease in work- eration. This will reduce the distance of ing sheep through chutes, they should if r i9i PLANS DEVELOPED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PLAN NUMBER PRICE 50 Salt feeder for sheep. Self feeder type, 4' long, 2' wide. Salt pro- tected from weather $.15 72 Portable self-feeder for sheep. Eight feet long; capacity about 28 cu. ft. Suitable for feeding salt-concentrate mixtures 25 73 Wool sacking windlass. For installation on sacking stand or in wool loft. One man operation 25 74 Sheep parting chutes. Two types 15 75 Loading chute for sheep 15 112 Barn. 2 units. 2-story. 32' x 42'. 1 -story shed attached 30' x 48'. Shed part has eight 12' x 12' pens. Mow over 2-story section 1.00 114 Lambing panel, hinged near center 05 115 Trough for grain, portable. 12' long. Similar to 117, except one end of trough is hinged for easy cleaning, and a piece 1" x 6" prevents sheep from climbing in trough 15 116 Hay rack. On skids. Suitable for feeding long hay in feed lot 15 117 Trough for grain, portable. 12' long. Widespread legs to prevent tipping 15 118 Feed rack. Combination hay and grain. 12' long. Troughs both sides .15 177 Sheep drafting yards. Two types. Indicates all chutes, parting gates, and pens 25 185 Feeder for range sheep. Chopped hay. Feed section 10' x 48'. Gable roof extends over feed troughs on each side to protect both feed and sheep 25 191 Shearing shed. 8 men 1.00 192 Creep feed equipment for lambs. 3 types of feed troughs; 2 types of hay mangers; 2 types of feeding panels 25 198 Shearing shed. 4 men. 24' x 32'. Gable roof. Includes sacking pit and wool platform; 4 catching pens; wool storage area 75 199 Sheep barn, 48' x 56'. Capacity 150 ewes. Center section for hay, 20' x 40' 25 5019 Shed. Enclosed. 16' x 24'. Height to eaves 6'. Gable roof 25 5025 Shed. Open. 16' x 24'. Open on one side. Shed roof 25 possible face the north and run up hill. they are being weighed. The scale pen Sheep do not drive well toward the sun. should be slightly smaller and attached to Scales the weighing platform. Scales are essential for many sheep The feed yard ranches. Operators say they pay for them- The feed yard should provide labor selves the first year. A good pit-type scale efficiency, good drainage, and protection can be installed for ahout $700. for both feed and animals from weather. Locate scales so that movement of Gates should be large enough to allow sheep is cut to a minimum. Arrange the the use of mechanized equipment for plan in such a way that sheep can he feeding animals, and for cleaning cor- worked in adjoining corrals without rals and equipment. Allow 20 square feet passing over the scales. The only time of corral space and one foot of manger animals Bhould cross the scales is when space for each lamb. [20] * " The parting chute (lower right in photo above) can be used to cut sheep into four groups. The shearing shed (below) was built from University of California Plan 191. It is an 8-man shed. ' ' ' •- t *{ * > > *; * "•« "mgmmrytwm p fmuft f t tun |W"i'» w t 111 ^fe. [21] . 4-6" 3'- 6"- T !/' ^ I\lNGE _L <0 _i_ -h-- ill : ii/ „~ El l"^4" Wl Material This hinged panel can be used for making a lambing jail. Details are given in Plan 1 14. HANDY SHEEP EQUIPMENT . . /|"*6"E>«£.ce, i^2<-lO ^yiDE LlEVA.TION -28 i\6 f*6" 6k^ce \ 0) This combination hay and grain rack may be conveniently set across <0 l'<6 pens in a barn to serve as a partition. It can be made from Plan 1 18. i-ft U^ \*4 ^\qyA r II Lnd Elelvatiow'f 22 v* A simple grain trough for sheep. End Elevat-ion ...YOU CAN BUILD FOR YOURSELF I «-6 2** -4' UpiyGivpr »> This hay rack for sheep may be built with or without a floor. It is set on 2 x 6" skids for easy moving. It can be *6" E>oa.r3?^ built from Plan 116. —_ BuTT- - __ — End Elevation T' [23] Left: Plan 72; a self-feeder for feeding salt mixes. Right: Plan 185; hay storage and feeding shed for supplementing sheep on pasture. When sheep need supplemental feed, feed doors are lifted; overhanging roof provides protection from weather. Sheep dogs buying a well-bred pup of any of the rec- One of the most important single items ognized breeds of sheep dogs. At present, of equipment on a sheep ranch is a well- the Border Collie seems to be the most trained dog. It is difficult to operate a popular. However, many breeds and sheep enterprise of any appreciable size types are used in the sheep business. without such help. When moving a flock In training the pup, patience plus some of woollies, a dog well schooled in the knowledge of dog training are essential; fundamentals of working and handling observing experienced trainers in action sheep is more valuable than several men. may also be helpful. If you do not have On the other hand, a poorly trained dog, the time or knowledge required for train- one that will not respond to commands, ing a dog, employ a good trainer. It is or one that lacks the natural ability for also possible to buy a dog already working sheep, is useless and can cause schooled in handling sheep. much damage and loss to the flock. Treat the dog with kindness, yet insist Training sheep dogs is a highly skilled that he obey commands. When he does a profession. Several books available on good job reward him. A little petting at the subject are listed in the Source Books. the proper time will keep the dog inter- There are several ways of acquiring ested in his work, and he will respond ownership of a good sheep dog. Start by more readily to commands. A Border Collie—an excellent sheep dog. FEEDING SHEEP IN CALIFORNIA . . . what sheep require and how to make sure they get it Sheep depend almost entirely upon the as a guide as to how much feed to allow plant world for their feed. Among our each animal per day. This figure may be farm and range animals the sheep is out- regarded as a "governor" to regulate the standing in its ability to produce effi- bulkiness of the daily feed. For example, ciently upon cheap feeds such as grass, the other requirements given in the table legumes, browse, and hay. For greatest for a breeding ewe might be met by feed- efficiency, however, the sheep re- must ing her one pound of barley and one ceive all of the nutrients it requires. Not pound of cottonseed meal per day. How- only must these feed constituents be ade- ever, the ewe would go off feed unless quate, but the animal will use the various she had access to some bulky feed such as nutrients to better advantage if they are hay or straw. On the other hand, the re- available in the proper balance. quirements of a fattening lamb might be Since sheep receive much of their feed met by feeding him 4 or 5 pounds of al- in the form of pasture or range feeds, the falfa hay. As the lamb would not have sheepman must be the judge of the feed the room in his digestive tract to handle value they are obtaining from this vege- this much bulk, he would not eat all of tation. If you understand the fundamen- this hay. He would grow, but he would tal requirements for the proper nutrition fatten suitable of your animals, you can much more in- not to market condition. telligently assess their need for supple- By following the recommendations of the mental feed. It is especially important to table, we find that in order to stay within know when to use it and how much you the limitations for dry matter and yet can use and still operate soundly from an furnish enough energy (TDN) we must economic standpoint. feed the lamb a fairly large proportion of a concentrated feed such as barley or Requirements corn. The nutritive requirements shown in Tables A and B were prepared by the Digestible protein subcommittee on sheep nutrition of the This refers to that portion of the pro- National Research Council. In these ta- tein furnished by the feed that is actually bles the needs are grouped as follows: digested and available in the body proper total feed, digestible protein, total diges- for use by the animal. Protein is the part tible nutrients, calcium, phosphorus, salt, of the feed that contains nitrogen. It is and carotene. Table A gives the require- essential to the sheep for growth, for ment per animal daily, while Table B body maintenance and repair, and for gives the requirements in terms of the wool development; to the pregnant ewe percentage composition needed in the for proper development of her unborn total feed of the animal. This latter table lamb ; and to the lactating ewe for secret- is particularly valuable when computing ing milk. The animal must have an ade- feed mixtures or in comparing the feed- qute supply of protein in order to use ing value of a specific feed to the need of efficiently the other nutrients provided a particular class of sheep. An explana- by the feed. A deficiency of protein will tion of the various parts of the tables is result in reduced body and wool growth, given below. poor development, and inefficient use of Total feed the feed. The figures given for the various Animals such as pigs and poultry are classes and weights of sheep may be used very exacting in the kind as well as the [25] O tOCN 00 tO CN 00 ^ O OHCO^Ht- OOOOiH iH 10 as cn to O tO CN CN *»o bX) ^1J 1 to to t> t> to t> t> 00 OS tO t- t- 00 OS OS CO 10 to t- Tj* IO to 00 OS CO CO ^ ^ 10 o05 CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CN CN CO CO CN CO CO CO CO CN CN CN CN CN +» "3 0000 00000 000000 OOOO OOOOO OOOOO jQ CO 0000 00000 000000 OOOO OOOOO <6<6<6<6<6 CO M o tj< xa IO 4 J3 UD tO t- t- cm co to tO t-00 OS O t- t>00l> E Pi • mm c < 1m a 0) 3 (NCNCO^ CO »o t- 00 iH CN ^ IO tO 00 OONrl 000 to t- t- 10 to OS OS t- •»* J ^ a ^3" ^3^ ^^^ Q. bo CO CO COCO '^J* ^J* to to to to to to CO CO CO CO CO ^ CO CO CO CN CN CNCN CN u0) c s * V CO "35 a CB'rt a) t»oooo *H CM CO ^ lO 10 to t-00 oso 00 a> a* iH CO ^ tO tO • mm k *- — 3.S t-oooso iH CN CO "^ IO t-00 00OOH CNCNOO ^ ^ *3* CO CO t-OOOSOO 3 tH i-H iH CN CN CN COCO CO tH tH tH ^ tZa © , CM CN CN CN E T3 «'3 " C3 CM CM CM iO lO iO lO iO OOOOOO wooo 10 O Ui O O 10 O 10 10 10 *» 5> 01 iH u 0*0 . tH iH tH t-I 10 10 10 > ho 0000 OOOOO OOOOOO OOOO OOOOO £ OHNM i-H CM CO ^ lO O iH CN CO "^ IO t- OS iH CO t»ONWt- 10 to t- 00 OS - tH tH tH tH rlHrlrHrl tH tH iH t-I tH tH iH iH i-H iH y-i y-4 to CO efl iH a CU *dO O •0 T3 1 "3 tH cog. a a 4* O to g§ CO °fl Mo to CO efl 6 cC O 31 ** Jfl 1«cj B a bo ^2 Pi J? (=1 i>£ S1-. •p*d 7^ 1 *-4 o> CU O 1 12 •a 2 **-' co —. *> _• CO co ™ efl as TJ ««_ T3 CD 6 cu cu O) **» M M p g» efl efl PQ M H H H Ph *-> v . t- 00 O o CO t> CO OJ o eo m co t> oo o> CN CO t- O CN ^ C Oi tH ^i «o m ^ oo U t~ bprt M V o. CO 4-> .. B c » •u a CD CD CD to oo oo co 00 t- CO CN tH oo t- 2 «"S 4) oo oo oo oo CN _ O q> ""3 3 ^^1 ^^^ 'Hi -^ ooo o °^J^ °^J^ OOOO OO CN tH o 00 ^ CN o O 00 co m cn o « s a NNN(N CN CN CN CN CN CO CO CO CO CO CO CN CN CN tH CN CN CN tH tH CN CN CN CN CN M OOO O OO OO O oooooo oooo OOOOO OOOOO Q. V Ml 3 Q) *• to _ U a c .£? 2 S OOO o CO "«^ ^ W in 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 -^ -^ OOOOO 00 t> o co m co Q OJ3 2 in m m w io io m io io m m o io in to in m m m in CD CD CD m m co co co co "3 2 c o -2 o Eh 3* V to 3 oj C c o cn t-j t-j CO t>- CO oq co t-j tH oq t> 03 "E^ 0) o q q q q O q q q 60 o q q q q q q q q -S "S td id id id id id id id id co co co co co co t> co in id cd co* cd' id id 00 t> t> CO CO* utri T3gK (-c oun A 4a O Z a Eh "8 S 8 * O lO CO t- 00 i-l CN COtF co c- oo CN W 00 w co tH CO t> c i « h 22 O m oo O o o m o o ^i 1 1 1 1 1 1 2) +> O OOO OOOOO oooooo oooo m o m o m OOOOO 0} OHNM tH CM CO ^ m OHNM^W t> O tH CO t> o cn m t> in co t* oo o XJ tH tH tH tH tH tH CO >• 13 CO CO 13 fcm bo 1 n PJ CO a 1 'S >> |a| a e3 M o3 o3 co M T3 CD CO o CO a O o O tH to *> d to o 03 03 CO d CO _q CO o CO u cd o £> S o s s o3 si .03 bo c8 £* d 1 7 •iH 1 CO O 1 bo *-* CO *a _ CO CO CO CO CO 4> CO o a 4a ^ !* 03 o3 pq pq H H H fe — amount of protein they require. For ex- are "losing condition." Unless sheep are ample, pigs should have a source of ani- on very poor feed, the wool will continue mal protein such as skimmilk or meat to grow. As a result an inexperienced scraps in their ration. Such proteins are sheepman may not notice that the sheep referred to as good-quality protein. are losing condition, because the wool Sheep, however, are fortunate in that if will cover some of this loss. If an energy they are provided with enough protein deficiency continues long enough, the of any kind, the bacteria and protozoa sheep will become weak and eventually (microorganisms) that live in the rumen die of starvation. or paunch will convert this protein into a Minerals form that can be utilized by the sheep. Thus our main concern about protein Those known to be essential for ani- in sheep feeding is that the animal re- mal life are calcium, phosphorus, so- ceive an adequate supply. Growing lambs dium, chlorine, iodine, iron, copper, co- and pregnant and nursing ewes have a balt, manganese, zinc, potassium, sul- relatively high protein requirement. phur, and magnesium. Some of these elements (such as potassium, magnesium, Total digestible nutrients and zinc) are always present in such This unit (often abbreviated TDN) is large quantities that we need not give used to describe the energy value of a them any consideration. Others such as feed. It is useful in that it gives the com- sodium and chlorine must always be pro- parative value for the different feedstuffs. vided, while the remainder are usually For example, corn has a TDN value of present in adequate amounts but may be 80.0, while oat straw has a TDN of only limited in certain soil areas or in some 44.7. This means that one pound of corn combinations of feeds. will furnish almost twice as much energy Calcium and phosphorus are the to an animal as will one pound of oat main minerals found in bones. Young, straw. growing lambs and pregnant and milk- The total digestible nutrients (or en- ing ewes have a high calcium and phos- ergy) are the fuel upon which the animal phorus requirement. In general, rough- body functions, just as gasoline is the ages, especially alfalfa, have a high cal- fuel that furnishes the energy for an au- cium content. Sheep usually receive tomobile. Sheep need energy to maintain enough roughage so that there is little the body functions, grow wool, and store likelihood of their suffering from a cal- fat; and in the case of the ewe, to nourish cium deficiency. Concentrates—that is, the unborn lamb or produce milk for the grains and especially the high-protein suckling lamb. concentrates such as cottonseed meal A lack of energy is probably the most are high in phosphorus. Roughages, how- common deficiency encountered in sheep ever, may be low in phosphorus, espe- production. Sheep often do not get cially when grown on soils that are low enough to eat, or the feed they do eat or borderline in this mineral. As sheep does not contain enough energy to meet depend primarily on roughages for their their needs. When sheep are on good feed supply, a phosphorus deficiency is feed and receiving more energy than they much more likely than a deficiency of require, some of this excess energy is calcium. Phosphorus is likely to be de- stored in the form of fat. When the feed ficient in dry range feed. This may be is poor and the energy needs are not be- indicated by slow growth, unthrifty ap- ing met, the sheep will draw upon fat pearance, or listlessness. In extreme cases stores to make up for the energy de- sheep may have a depraved appetite; that ficiency. The sheepman says his sheep is, they will chew on bones, fences, or [28 1 rocks. Lambs on a phosphorus-deficient ration may develop crooked legs. A deficiency of certain minerals will Sodium and chlorine must be fur- cause trouble: nished sheep as ordinary salt. Salt should phosphorus—depraved appetite; be available to sheep at all times. If they poor gains do not have it, they will crave it and will sodium and chlorine (supplied in eat less feed and use what they do eat to salt) —reduced gains poor advantage. Salt is ordinarily sup- iodine—goiter; weak and dead plied sheep as half-ground salt or block lambs salt. In addition to the requirements copper—swayback and steely listed in the table, other nutrients dis- wool cussed below may be of importance in cobalt—loss of condition and ap- sheep feeding. petite; eventual death Iodine is needed in the animal body sulphur—poor appetite; reduced for the proper functioning of the thyroid gains animal receive gland. When an does not An excess of these minerals will enough iodine the thyroid gland enlarges cause trouble: and is commonly known as goiter. If fluorine—differential wear of sheep are deficient in iodine, lambs will teeth be born with a characteristic enlarge- molybdenum—scouring, gray or ment of the throat. These lambs are usu- white wool in black sheep ally born dead or die soon after birth. selenium—sloughed hoofs and An iodine deficiency has been observed stiff joints in a few localities in California but is not widespread. Iodine may be most eco- nomically and safely furnished to sheep by feeding iodized salt. Although this Cobalt, although needed in only mi- salt contains only 0.0076 per cent iodine, nute amounts, is essential for the produc- it will furnish adequate iodine for the tion of thrifty sheep. Cobalt-deficient sheep. areas have been found in many parts of Iron is necessary for proper blood the world, including Australia, Scotland, formation in the animal body. An iron and some areas of the United States. To deficiency has never been demonstrated date, no cobalt-deficient areas have been in sheep. Therefore it can be assumed detected in California. Sheep suffering that they ordinarily receive plenty of from a lack of cobalt go off feed, lose iron in their feed. condition, become weak and anemic, and Copper is needed for normal wool eventually die. It has been shown that growth and for the prevention of a con- cobalt must be present for the micro- dition of Iambs referred to as "sway- organisms in the rumen to produce vita- back" of "enzootic ataxia." In a copper min B 12 , which is essential to the sheep. deficiency the wool loses its crimp and is Sulphur deficiency in sheep has re- referred to as "steely" wool. When sheep cently been demonstrated at the Univer- are suffering from a low copper intake sity of Illinois. Investigations currently the Iambs are born weak, lack muscular under way at the California Experiment coordination, and soon die. This condi- Station indicate that on certain soils the tion has never been observed in the forage produced is low in sulphur. Fer- United States, but is of considerable im- tilizing such areas with gypsum will portance in Australia. It appears unlikely generally increase plant growth and also that sheep in California ever lack copper increase the sulphur content of the unless the area is high in molybdenum. forage- [29] Manganese, zinc, potassium, and by buying supplemental feed to correct magnesium deficiencies have never the more fundamental deficiencies of been demonstrated in practical sheep energy and protein encountered in range feeding; hence we need not consider sheep. these elements in planning our sheep- The vitamins feeding program. Fluorine may cause poisoning if it is Carotene-vitamin A is the most im- present in large amounts. Raw rock phos- portant vitamin for sheep production. phate should never be used as a phos- Sheep obtain vitamin A from carotene phorus supplement because it carries present in green plants. Certain yellow enough fluorine to be toxic to sheep. feeds such as yellow corn, carrots, and Molybdenum is another chemical sweet potatoes also furnish carotene. The element that is important because an ex- degree of green color is a practical guide cess is poisonous. In some areas of Cali- to the carotene content of roughages. fornia sheep and cattle will scour because Sheep may suffer a vitamin A deficiency of an excess of molybdenum in the for- when they are kept on dry, mature, and age. Sheep receiving a high molybdenum weathered forage for long periods. Preg- ration will scour and lose weight. Wool nant ewes low in vitamin A will give that is normally black will grow in gray birth to weak or dead lambs. Lambs are or white if the feed contains a high level always born with too small a storage of of molybdenum. If copper is fed in addi- vitamin A; therefore it is essential that tion to the molybdenum, the wool will they receive colostrum milk from the grow in black again. This problem is not ewe, which is rich in this vitamin. completely understood, but if you suspect Vitamin D is normally obtained by molybdenum poisoning, consult your sheep through the action of sunlight on local Farm Advisor. a substance present in the sheep's skin. Selenium is another element that If sheep do not receive sunlight, lambs causes poisoning when it is present in may develop rickets from a lack of vita- excess. The most characteristic symptom min D. Under usual farm and range con- is the soreness and sloughing of the hoofs ditions of California, there is no evidence and stiffness of the joints. This condition to indicate that sheep ever lack vita- has been found in South Dakota and min D. Wyoming. There is no evidence that it The vitamin B complex is not be- occurs in California. lieved to be of importance in a sheep diet. It has been shown that mature sheep Mineral mixtures for sheep are able to synthesize these factors in the Although sheep are known to require rumen. Young lambs require the B vita- the several essential mineral elements, mins in their feed, but these are normally feeds commonly available will furnish supplied in the ewes' milk. these minerals except in unusual cases. Vitamin E is important in prevention Other than in the case of iodized salt, the of muscular dystrophy or white muscle California Experiment Station has no evi- disease in suckling lambs. Lambs suffer- dence of a need for the feeding of com- ing from this disease become stiff and plex mineral mixtures to sheep. If there unable to rise to nurse. They will eventu- is any question of a phosphorus defi- ally die of starvation. As the colostrum ciency, steamed bone meal or other phos- milk is high in vitamin E, this is another phorus supplements can be provided reason for making sure that the newborn quite economically. It appears that lamb gets a good fill of it. 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OS Digestible CO CO ^ • * protein, q lb. ; : oZ d d d do . © o" d© © §1! u> n O w U 4- CO c c Total CO © 9 "> o feed, lb. c o ^ O \ C «* ^ a> O O ^3 (A cB e w >{ "^ bo a9 (V a> bo 0) Ti k 03 £ 1 C r li a) x C3 • • • tM qtN 0) 1 = 0) to sa CO -tf w x; bo (N 'S1 c o E CO CO Ph oT bo- O L c 03O «-, aV la OS CD rH CD .2 bo W iH CO CO a £ I £ o OS * i-5 ; tA • p* tH 4-» eSu 03 > o = O S .£3 * tf efl 43 c °- •— r e— digestible H IO ^ • O fl) o «r lb. *": "^ • "2 ! « nutrients, ^ a> £ 1.7 •l (D 3 Total M- *- Q digestible lb. www w 5 E • protein HOO • 'fee 0.19 © c o o Total co Oaj T3 HI PI o ft oI basis, u feed, o I a 1b. » < ! +» ^ t> co ° 1 t- 03 ill 3 03 o3 O o3 ^3 a co CM -h» go a a 0) 03 03 03 XJ O o O O o3 hi hi hi t- ho T3 03 03 03 03 As sheep spend most of the year on place in range forage as it matures and range or pasture, it is important to esti- dries. Of importance nutritionally is the mate the nutrients the animal is able to fact that the protein, phosphorus, and Table F. Using Table B, the computation is simplified, particularly for formulating more complex mixtures. Recommended Nutrient Allowance in Per Cent or Per Pound of Feed Total Total Total feed, Phos- digestible digestible Calcium, Carotene, Requirements for 70-pound lamb, air dry phorus, protein, nutrients, 0.24 1.5 expected daily gain 0.35 lb. basis, 0.20 7.0 63 per cent mg. /lb. per cent lb. per cent per cent Formula for mixed feed Alfalfa hay 51.5% 5.56 26.0 0.78 0.11 5.9 Barley 26.0 2.03 20.3 0.01 0.10 Molasses dried beet pulp 22.0 1.69 16.3 0.13 0.02 Salt 0.5 100.0% 2.7 9.28 62.6 0.92 0.23 5.9 * Obtained from Table B. 36 [ | :: : . Table G. Effect of the Dry-Matter Content of Pasture Forage on the Amount Needed for a Ewe to Balance Her Ration Total feed, Total Total Calcium, Phos- Recommended nutrient allowance for a air- dry digestible digestible 6.4 phorus, 120-pound ewe nursing a lamb basis, protein, nutrients, gm. 4.7 gm. 4.6 1b. 0.28 lb. 2.7 1b. One pound of rye grass containing 10 per cent dry matter would furnish .1 .008 0.05 To balance her ration a ewe would have to eat 54 pounds of grass per day, which would furnish 5.4 0.43 2.7 In contrast, one pound of bur clover at the seed stage would furnish .9 .118 .562 3.9 1.4 Therefore to balance her ration the ewe would need to eat only 4.9 pounds, which would furnish 4.4 .58 2.75 16.2 3.0 Table H. Seasonal Changes in the Composition of Representative Annual Forage Species* Nitrogen- Crude free Crude Total Phos- Forage species Calcium protein extract fiber minerals t phorus and fat Bur clover Early green stage 32.9 44.7 12.8 9.7 1.1 0.45 Bloom stage .... 24.2 49.2 18.2 8.4 1.5 .40 Seed stage 22.8 47.5 22.2 7.4 1.2 .32 Mature, dry 16.7 46.4 30.7 7.1 1.5 .24 Soft chess Bloom stage .... 13.6 53.6 28.2 4.6 0.35 .37 Seed stage 11.5 59.1 26.1 3.3 0.31 .33 Mature dry 7.7 60.9 28.0 3.4 0.35 .26 Dry, leached .... 6.9 60.5 30.1 2.5 0.41 .14 Broad-leaf filaree Early green stage 25.0 52.1 12.1 10.8 1.7 .39 Bloom stage .... 14.6 55.1 22.1 8.2 1.4 .35 Seed stage 11.2 54.0 27.0 7.9 1.4 .32 Mature dry 6.4 57.2 28.3 7.9 1.7 .13 Dry, leached. . . 5.9 58.6 30.0 5.9 1.9 0.08 * All figures are expressed on the basis of moisture-free samples. f Total minerals represent silica-free ash. Reference: Guilbert, H. R., and G. H. Hart, California Beef Production, California Agricultural Experi- ment Station and Extension Service Manual 2, p. 17, section III. [37] carotene decrease and the fiber increases. the fiber increases, the digestibility • As • e CC 1 CC bo and thus the feeding value of the feed £ CC cc decreases. Bur-clover is one of the best ua range plants in that it contains a high level of protein and phosphorus. It re- tains a relatively high level of these nu- CC CC • CO ^j= c c • o trients when dry and mature, whereas W c d : d most dry range plants are very low in these nutrients. The table on this page shows the deficiencies a ewe would be CO a subject to during the summer and fall o . CC ec lO §1 CM CC c4 months, when grazing on a range consist- o J3 ing of annual grasses such as soft chess Ph CD and fescue that are mature and dry. One- c half pound per day of 43 per cent pro- ec a lO tein cottonseed meal will balance all of ^^ •2 s cs °! m D CC ^* d the deficiencies except that of carotene. u_ "0 Fortunately the sheep is able to store C quite a large supply of vitamin A in the (9 3 liver, which will carry it through rea- k 4J CO 0) CD C 38 | cottonseed meal and 0.024 pounds of salt of feeder space per five sheep or less. All to 0.347 pounds of cottonseed meal and the sheep do not have to be at the feed- 0.116 pounds of salt. By varying the per- ing grounds at feeding time to get their centage of salt in the mix the intake of share of the supplemental feed. Little supplemental feed can be controlled. feed is wasted as there is little crowding From observations of this method of around the feeder. feeding, the following advantages and Disadvantages: Sheep may not be disadvantages have been noted. seen so often as is usually considered Advantages: Sheep do not need to be good management. There is the addi- fed every day. Each sheep has an oppor- tional cost of the salt and the cost of tunity to take as much supplement as it providing covered self-feeders. Water desires. Sheep can increase their intake must be plentiful. Range sheep may need as the supply of other feed decreases. some training before they will eat from Less feeder space is required—one foot a self-feeder. CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS . . . during a typical year certain things happen with regularity To aid novice sheepmen in organizing breed. Where early fall lambs are de- their work, this section will carry a group sired, it is especially important that the of sheep through a complete yearly cycle. ewes carry some fine-wool blood. Dorset Horn ewes also commonly breed early. Breeding season Number of rams needed. Under The date that rams are placed with range-breeding conditions, three rams ewes will depend, naturally, upon when are commonly used per hundred ewes the lambing season is desired. The gesta- bred. Under pasture conditions, one year- tion period of the ewe is approximately ling ram may settle up to 50 ewes. Be- 147 days, varying from 142 to 152 yond two years of age, rams are usually (about 5 months). Choose the lambing not so active. Ram lambs, if well grown, season after considering several factors. may be bred to as many as 20 ewes. It is usually most important to have the Care of ewes before breeding. lambs born early so that they are old Usually the previous crop of lambs will enough to utilize the spring growth of be weaned a few weeks before the breed- natural feed and be sold as "fats" before ing season. After the lambs are removed, the feed dries. Other considerations are it is a good plan to hold the ewes on dry (1) marketing the lambs early in spring feed until a few days before turning in to receive the higher price usually paid the rams. Ewes should not be overly fat before July 1; (2) weather during lamb- when placed with rams. ing; (3) feed available for lambing; (4) Drenching the ewes to reduce the shelter for ewes at lambing time; and load of internal parasites should be done (5) the pressure of other work. at this time. ( The parasites will have in- The normal breeding season of sheep creased during the green-feed season, is autumn, but in California it is usually and if their number is reduced by desirable to breed ewes in late spring and drenching at the beginning of the dry- summer. Since the ewes are breeding out feed season, the ewes will probably not of season, the rams must be left with be reinfected while on dry feed.) them for at least three months, and even Phenothiazine should be kept in the then there may be some ewes that will not salt (1 part phenothiazine to 9 parts salt [39] by weight) and provided the sheep turned in with the ewes and should be throughout the year. well fed during this period. Rams lacking Dipping. If the sheep are infested in condition may be fed as much as a with any external parasites, such as ticks pound of grain per day for about a or lice, they should be sprayed or dipped month. at this time. mixture of rotenone, A If the rams are carrying much wool, it D.D.T., and benzene hexachloride has is desirable to shear them before turning been found effective. This spraying will them in with the ewes. Some sheepmen also reduce for a few weeks the danger shear only the belly and scrotum before from fly strike. the breeding season. Flushing the ewe. This is the prac- Care of rams during breeding tice of feeding the ewe so that she is season. Active rams running with a gaining weight at the time she is bred. It large number of ewes over a long period is normally accomplished by keeping the condition. One way to insure ewe on poor feed from the time the lamb will lose that they are well cared for is to turn is weaned until just before breeding. only at night, Then the breeding ewes are placed on the rams in with ewes the best feed available so that they are separate them in the morning, and keep gaining rapidly when exposed to the the rams in a corral on a good feed of ram. This practice is generally believed hay and grain during the day. This sys- to increase the number of eggs shed by tem is only practical where the sheep can the ewe, resulting in an increased num- be brought to a separating corral every ber of twins at lambing time. night and morning. Care of rams before breeding Another practice, more applicable to season. Rams should be bought well in most sheep ranches, is to turn in only advance. If possible, they should be on half the rams at one time. After a week the ranch for a few weeks before being or two these rams can be removed, rested, Ewe at right-center has recently been bred by a ram with a painted brisket. 40 I 1 and fed well while the other half of the The use of hormones. The repro- rams are in with the ewes. By rotating ductive processes of sheep are known to the rams it is possible to keep fresh, well- be controlled by hormones secreted by conditioned rams in with the ewes during the ductless glands. Much research work the entire breeding season. has been done on these substances in re- Check fertility of the ram. In pure- cent years. bred flocks and in one-ram flocks, it is Possible uses of hormones are (1) to essential that the ram used be fertile; breed ewes out of season earlv in the otherwise a complete lamb-crop failure summer; (2) to produce two lamb crops may result. The most common method of per year; and (3) to increase the per- checking on the fertility of the ram is centage of twin births. to use a ewe-marking harness or paint To breed ewes early in summer. the brisket of the ram with a solution of The use of hormones for this purpose has paint pigment in a non-drying oil. Then been studied for many years by the Uni- when the ram breeds the ewe, he will versity of California Department of Ani- leave a colored mark on her rump. The mal Husbandry, under the leadership of color of the paint (or of the crayon in Dr. H. H. Cole. Occasionally a high de- the ewe-marking harness) should be gree of success was obtained by injecting changed every 15 days. It is well to start gonadotrophin, a hormone that stimu- with a light-colored paint or crayon and lates the ovaries. This is obtained from change to darker colors as the breeding the pituitary gland located at the base of season progresses. the brain. In most instances, however, re- If all or most of the ewes that are sults were unsatisfactory. On the aver- marked during the first period are age, no more than 10 per cent of the marked again during the second period, treated ewes became pregnant following it means that the ewes were not settled at breeding. the first mating; this throws the fertility Recentlv sensational results have been of the ram in doubt. Even with highly reported from the use of ECP I Estradiol fertile rams a few ewes may return to cyclopentylpropionate) . This is one of a service; but if a large proportion have group of chemically related substances not conceived, the ram should be re- called estrogens. ECP has been reported placed. to be almost 100 per cent effective in If facilities are available, some sterile bringing ewes into heat shortly after in- rams mav be detected earlv bv examining jection; furthermore, the ewes were re- the semen under a microscope. After the ported to become pregnant after breed- ram is bred to a ewe, tip the ewe up on ing. her tail and, using a small, smooth These reports were received with skep- spatula, take a drop or two of the semen ticism bv experts in this field because from the vagina and place it on a slide. previous experiments had shown that es- Examine the slide immediately under a trogens inhibit rather than stimulate the microscope. There should be large num- ovaries. To test the effectiveness of this bers of active, normally-shaped sperm. new material, field tests have been con- Artificial insemination. Although ducted by farm advisors supervised by the techniques of practicing artificial in- Dr. Cole. In one such test, 50 Columbia semination in sheep have been carefullv x Rambouillet ewes were injected with developed, so much labor is involved that 2 milligrams of ECP. Forty-eight of these under farm or ranch conditions it is not ewes had come in heat and bred by the practical. One of the major problems is fifth day after treatment. L nfortunately. that estrus or heat can be detected in the however, not one became pregnant to the ewe only by a ram. early mating following the injection. Five [41] and one half months after injection, none return received from the ewe during her of these ewes had lambed. Results in first year is her wool clip. other trials have been similar. Our con- Where a good feed supply is available clusion is that ECP is entirely valueless for the ewe lambs, they can be bred at 9 to 11 months of age, to lamb when they in- stimulating the breeding of ewes dur- are 14 to 16 months. For example, a ewe ing early summer. In fact, its use may in might well be detrimental because the rams are lamb born November, 1952, be bred in August, September, or October, overworked breeding ewes that do not or conceive. 1953, to lamb in January, February, To produce two lamb crops per March, 1954. Size is a better criterion than age in deciding when to breed a ewe year. Wide publicity has attended the lamb. She should weigh a minimum of use of hormones for this purpose. Unfor- 80 pounds when bred, preferably 90. tunately, the workers who issued the These lambs should be well fed continu- original report have not to date disclosed ously to insure steady growth during the hormones used nor the amounts in- pregnancy. As lactation is a more severe jected. Unless it can be clearly demon- drain on the ewe than is pregnancy, the strated by controlled experiments con- yearling ewes should be kept on excellent ducted by scientists that such a hormone feed while nursing the lambs. If good will consistently produce two lamb crops pasture is not available, the ewes should per year, sheepmen should not attempt to receive a grain supplement. use such any system. The lambs produced by these young To increase the percentage of ewes should be weaned young—usually twins born, English research workers by 3 months—to allow the ewe to regain have clearly shown that it is possible to condition for the following breeding sea- increase the number of eggs shed by the son. That is, in the above example, lambs ewe at breeding time by injecting one of should all be weaned by June 15, 1954, the hormone preparations (pregnant- so that the ewes can be rebred, to lamb mare serum, PMS). The difficulty from early in the season they are two years of the practical standpoint, however, is that age. too many eggs may be shed, resulting in This practice of breeding ewe lambs is the production of as many as five or gaining in popularity in sections of Cali- more lambs. Such lambs are of no prac- fornia where a good supply of summer tical value, as they are too small and feed is available, particularly in irri- weak to survive after birth. gated-pasture areas. Records kept by the Hormones are not recommended. Extension Service of cooperative tests It appears at this time that there is no with sheepmen involving more than advantage of treating sheep with hor- 13,000 ewes indicate that a lamb crop of mones to improve their reproductive from 60 to 85 per cent has been obtained ability. Early lambs can best be obtained using this system of breeding, and the by using a breed of sheep that normally average return per ewe bred was $16.60 breeds early and then selecting within (1951-52). This practice is not recom- the flock for the ewes that consistently mended to sheepmen who do not have a drop early lambs. plentiful supply of feed for the ewes dur- Breeding ewe lambs. The common ing the entire season. practice among sheepmen is to breed Shearing, branding, ewes for the first time when they are 18 and hoof-trimming to 19 months, to give birth to their first lamb when they are approximately two Shear in the spring, late enough so that years of age. Under this system the only there is little danger of a cold storm. (For 42 1 a detailed description of wool and shear- of the wool is reduced. The fall clip hav- ing, see "California Wool Production" ing been grown for only 4 to 5 months by J. F. Wilson, listed among Source will be too short to comb and will sell for Books on page 59.) In California this a reduced price. The spring clip grown period will vary from February in the for 7 to 8 months will also sell for less extreme south to July in the mountain per pound than a 12-month clip. areas. You will want to weigh these consider- Shearing is generally done by profes- ations against the advantages of shearing sional shearers, who furnish their own twice before coming to your decision: tools and power supply. Usually the 1 ) Ewes that are shorn will thrive better sheep owner must provide facilities for through the winter. 2) Fewer ewes are penning the sheep, as well as a shearing lost from getting down on their backs floor and a sacking stand for the wool; and being unable to get up. A ewe with but some crews will also provide the a long fleece is forced when wet to carry pens. Shearing-shed plans are available considerable additional weight. 3) Less as discussed on page 20 in Section 3 on trouble is encountered with fly strike. Equipment. The ewe that has been summer-shorn is Carefully tie the fleeces with paper less likely to get dirty around the rear twine and pack them in regular wool quarters. If ewes are not summer-shorn, bags, which will hold 20 to 40 fleeces they should be tagged before lambing. with a weight of 250 to 350 pounds. Tags 4) The spring clip will be cleaner. (See p. 45), black wool, and buck wool Through late spring and summer sheep should be sacked separate from the ewe will pick up bur clover, foxtail, and other fleeces. Keep dung locks out of the wool weed seeds that cling to the wool. These bag. seeds irritate the skin and cause discom- Sheep, other than ewes nursing lambs, fort to the sheep. Summer shearing re- should be kept off feed for a few hours moves these seeds, relieves the sheep of before shearing. Sheep full of lush feed irritation, and results in a spring clip when shorn are hard to shear, and some free of seed defect. 5) The heat load of losses may occur. the ewes is relieved. By summer shearing Summer shearing. In most of Cali- in early August, discomfort due to high fornia the usual time for shearing is temperatures is reduced. Some sheepmen March or April, but it may vary, as believe that ewes breed better after the stated above, from February to July. wool is removed. Some sheepmen, particularly in Yolo, Branding. Sheep are commonly Solano, and Sonoma counties, shear branded with the owner's brand. Such a again in late summer or early fall. This brand is essential for separating sheep, shearing must be done before the nights in case of a mixup with others. Only become too cold in the fall, or trouble branding fluid that will scour out of the with pneumonia may be encountered. wool should be used. The brand may be Experimental results show that there carved out of wood or made of heavy is little difference in the actual weight of wire or metal that will hold its shape. It clean wool produced in twelve months should be not over 6 inches in diameter. when shearing once or twice a year. The Larger brands will become so large as to chief disadvantage of this summer-shear- prove unreadable as the wool grows. The ing program is the increased cost. Shear- brand should be placed on the back of the ing costs will be doubled since the price sheep so that it is easily seen by the oper- per head for each shearing is the same ator of a parting gate in a chute. whether the ewes are shorn once or twice Hoof trimming. LTnless sheep are a year. Furthermore, the length of staple traveling over rocky and gravelly terrain, [43] Care of ewes from breeding to lambing After the ewes are bred, they are usu- ally put on whatever pasture is available. Grain stubble and other crop aftermath is good for such ewes. If they are kept continually on irrigated pasture they may become overly fat. On the other hand, ewes pastured on native ranges may be- come too thin. In general, pregnant ewes should not be allowed to lose weight but should gain enough to be in good condi- I tion at lambing time. i Beginners may be misled about the Sheep with long, ill-shaped feet due to neglect. condition of ewes at this time of year, The front feet were trimmed before photo was because as the wool grows longer they taken. appear to be gaining weight. Their actual condition can be readily determined by catching a few ewes and feeling through the feet should be trimmed at least once the wool along the back and ribs to de- each year. If the feet are not trimmed the termine the fat covering. toes grow very long and the wall of the Feed well for health. One good rea- hoof turns in, producing deformed feet. son for feeding the ewes well before Such untrimmed feet may produce lame- lambing is to avoid the disorder known ness and even permanent weakness and variously as "pregnancy paralysis," crooked legs and pasterns. Neglected feet "twinning disease," "lambing paralysis," often break unevenly and are subject to and "pregnancy toxemia." This ailment foot rot and foot abscess. A good practice mainly occurs in ewes far advanced in is to trim the feet of all sheep every fall. pregnancy that are carrying twin or trip- The hoofs will be softer after the ground let lambs. An affected ewe will appear is damp following the first fall rains. Grain stubble provides an important source of feed for breeding flocks in California. The sheep will clean up weeds, remaining grain, and some straw but should not be forced to eat all of the latter. w m+ dull and listless, refuse to eat, eventually lambing. This difference is striking, even become blind and unable to rise, and will though the ewes are fed the same after finally die. lambing. It is generally believed that the condi- Tagging. This is the term applied to tion is caused by a lack of readily avail- shearing the wool from the inside of the able carbohydrate in the ration of the hind legs, the udder, and around the anus ewe. In order to meet the demands of her and vulva. This operation is particularly body and of the unborn lambs, the ewe is desirable a few weeks before lambing. forced to draw upon her fat stores for The udder is then easily observed, and energy. As a result a toxic condition, thus some indication is given as to how known as "ketosis," occurs. Sheepmen soon the ewe will lamb. Furthermore, the who have encountered this trouble have teats are easily found by the newborn found that it could usually be avoided by lamb, whereas if the ewe is not tagged the following program: the lamb may attempt to suck a lock of 1) Feed the ewes a generous ration wool. Tagging also reduces the danger of before lambing. 2) Feed regularly. 3) fly strike as the rear end of the ewe re- Make sure every ewe gets her share of the mains cleaner. feed every day. Adequate rack space is Sorting the ewes before lambing. essential. 4) Force the ewes to get some Where the lambing facilities are limited, exercise every day. it is often desirable to separate out the Molasses fed to pregnant ewes has group of ewes that is expected to lamb been found particularly effective in early in the season and to give these spe- avoiding lambing paralysis. It may be cial attention. This is commonly called necessary to thin the molasses with water "bagging out the heavies." In other and pour it over the hay for a few days words, the ewes that have a wT ell-devel- to get the sheep accustomed to it. It may oped udder are judged to be those that then be safely fed free-choice from a will lamb within a few days. The develop- trough. ment of the udder is not always an accu- If a ewe is noticed in the early stages rate means of predicting lambing date, of the disorder, drenching with a cup of however; hence the main flock should molasses or concentrated sugar solution always be watched for unexpected ar- twice daily will sometimes be helpful. rivals. Veterinarians have recently been success- Care of the drop band. The ewes ful in saving affected ewes by removing expected to lamb soon are run in a sepa- the unborn lambs by Caesarean opera- rate group referred to as the "drop tion if the operation is performed early band." These ewes should be kept in a in the disease. convenient field or pasture during the Increase feed six weeks before daytime and in a corral near the barn at lambing. (For rations for pregnant and night. An open shed to provide some lactating ewes see page 34 in Section shelter is desirable in this corral. It is 4 on Feeding Sheep.) It is very im- best not to confine the ewes in an en- portant that the ewes be well fed the last closed barn except in bad weather. six weeks of pregnancy, when the lambs Care of the ewe are developing rapidly as is also the ud- at lambing time der. British workers have clearly shown that ewes on a high plane of nutrition Lambing is the harvest time for the during the last six weeks of pregnancy sheepman. All the other care, feeding, will give birth to stronger lambs and pro- and breeding are largely wasted if the duce more milk than will ewes that have ewe loses her lamb or lambs. The per- been on a low plane of nutrition before centage of lambs saved will largely deter- [45] Breeding ewes on irrigated pasture (left). Center ewe has recently been tagged to reduce danger of fly strike. Photo at right shows a good type of lambing shed for use in California. mine the success or failure of a sheep should be exerted on both the front legs. operation. After the lamb is delivered, make sure Ewes are lambed with all degrees of that it starts breathing immediately. The care depending on the type of operation. membrane should be wiped from the nos- Some ewes are pasture- or range-lambed tril. If the lamb does not start to breathe, without any help from man. Others are pat the ribs gently for artificial respira- watched by men night and day through tion. Rubbing the lamb vigorously, blow- the lambing season. Usually the percent- ing into the mouth, and swinging the age of lambs saved will be directly pro- lamb like a pendulum by the hind legs portional to the time, effort, and skill of (to clear fluid from the throat) are other a shepherd at lambing time. This section treatments that sometimes help to start covers some of the basic operations car- breathing. After the lamb is breathing, ried out where ewes are lambed through place it near the ewe's head so that she a barn. will begin licking it. Just before lambing, the ewe seems A strong, vigorous lamb will usually restless and appears sunken in front of stand up and nurse in 15 or 20 minutes. the hips. She should be given every op- Weak lambs must sometimes be helped to portunity to deliver the lamb unassisted; nurse the first time. The seal on the teats but if she has been straining for one hour should be broken for these weak lambs or more, the shepherd should then assist. by milking a few drops from each teat. The normal presentation of a lamb at This also serves as a check on the milk birth is with the forelegs extended, the available for the lamb. Watch the udder head resting between them. Usually a carefully for a few days to make sure that lamb in this position will be born without the lamb is nursing from both sides. If assistance. If the lamb is not in proper one side becomes swollen, it should be position, the shepherd must correct it by milked out until the lamb starts nursing inserting his hand and arm into the birth from that side also. canal and straightening out the lamb. Be- An occasional ewe will have such ab- fore entering the ewe, however, the shep- normally large teats that the lamb has herd should thoroughly cleanse his hands trouble nursing. A ewe unable to nurse with soap and water, then lubricate his her lanib for any reason should be hand and arm with mineral oil or vase- marked at lambing time so that she can line. In delivering the lamb a gentle pull be culled from the flock. [46] Care of ewes after lambing sure that both lambs are strong enough Udder troubles. Occasionally a ewe to keep up with the ewe. will develop mastitis, with a resulting When lambing through a barn, there swollen udder, and the milk may become is always some danger of navel ill—that stringy or bloody. In severe cases the is, an infection getting in through the udder will become caked and hard and navel cord of the newborn lamb. Disin- turn blue. This condition is commonly fect the navel soon after birth by dipping spoken of as "bluebag." Injury to the the cord into a bottle of tincture of iodine teat by the lamb or some mechanical in- and then tipping the bottle against the jury may be responsible. Mastitis is pre- abdomen. sumably caused by a bacterial infection. Weak and chilled lambs. Newborn variety of organisms have been found A lambs are easily chilled, and weak lambs to be present in affected udders. will often die unless artificially warmed. If this infection is caught in the early They may be warmed near a stove, put in stages, some of the antibiotics have hot water for a short time and then dried, proved effective in clearing it up. A vet- or placed on a covered hot-water bottle. erinarian should be called to treat the The most effective warmer, however, is a ewes, as mortality is otherwise likely to lamb brooder in the corner of the jail. be high. Ewes that recover from severe The light bulb provides a constant source infections should be culled because it is of heat, and the lamb will be able to re- unlikely the affected portion of the udder turn and nurse the ewe at will. will ever become functional again. Feeding ewes after lambing. Lar- Pair branding. A very helpful device iating ewes should be liberally fed, but for the shepherd is to brand both the ewe feed grain sparingly for a few days after and the lamb with the same number. The lambing. In addition to a generous feed- ewes with single lambs may be branded ing of good alfalfa hay, the ewe may be with black paint or on the left side, and fed up to one pound of grain per day the ewes with twins with red paint or on side. it during the suckling period. If possible, the right This makes easy to separate the ewes raising twins and feed identify the ewe with her lamb or lambs them more grain than the ewes raising after they are turned out of the small single lambs. Pasture or other succulent pens. feed such as silage are excellent for milk- Colostrum milk. The colostrum, the ing ewes. first milk of the ewe, contains antibodies, large quantities of vitamin A, and other Care of lambs substances that help the newborn lamb to The ewe and her newborn lamb or get a good start. Consequently, every lambs are placed in a small pen often lamb should be given at least one feeding called a "jail" or a "jug." Pens may be of colostrum milk. This may be accom- of a permanent nature or may be made plished by milking a few ewes with large by placing hinged panels along the walls quantities of milk and freezing the ex- of a barn (See illustration on page 22 in cess. The milk can be obtained by milk- Section 3). The ewe should have water ing one teat of ewes that have large ud- available and should be fed hay. ders and only single lambs. Excess milk Ewes with strong single lambs do not may be frozen, then thawed and used as need to stay in these small pens more needed for lambs born to ewes that do than a few hours to insure that the ewe not have milk at lambing or for orphan has claimed the lamb. In the case of lambs. If the colostrum is in short sup- twins, it is well to keep the ewe penned ply, as little as a tablespoon per lamb for a day or two until the shepherd is mixed with cows' milk or canned milk [47] A portable lamb brooder (shown above) may be placed in the pen with the lamb and ewe to pro- vide a protected corner for the lamb. Heat is provided by an electric light bulb. will furnish the lamb with the necessary skin from the eyelid with clean scissors antibodies. or sheep shears. In healing, the lid con- Inverted eyelids—Entropion. The tracts and the eyelid becomes normal. eyes of young lambs should be checked Orphans. Ewes will occasionally re- for inverted eyelids (where the eyelid fuse to claim their lambs. In some cases turns in so that the eyelash irritates the simply drawing a little of the ewe's milk eyeball). If this condition is neglected, and sprinkling it over the lamb, particu- the cornea will turn white, and perma- larly over the rump, will be sufficient. If nent blindness may result. It may be the ewe still refuses, tie her up reason- treated by removing an elliptical piece of ably short in the small pen for a few Ewe and lamb with the same number. Such branding aids in checking progress of lambs. [48] 1 days, and hold her while the lamb it is difficult to suggest definite amounts nurses; then she will usually accept it. of milk because of variation in size and Ewes that continue to fight their lambs vigor, the following schedule is generally should be marked for culling. satisfactory. Transferring lambs. Most shepherds The first two days, feed 2 to 3 try to have every ewe leave the barns ounces at least four times a day. with at least one lamb. When a ewe loses The second two days, increase the her lamb, she is given an orphan lamb or feeding by 1 or 2 ounces, fed four times a twin from another ewe (this is called a day. grafting the lamb). If she refuses to The nexf week, feed 4 to 6 ounces adopt it, her own dead lamb should be four times a day. skinned and the skin fastened on the The week after that, feed 6 to 8 lamb to be adopted. The ewe will usually ounces four times a day. accept the new lamb from the scent of the Then gradually change the lamb skin. In a day or two the skin may be over to three feedings a day, of one pint taken off. If the ewe does not claim the per feeding. As it grows older, it may lamb, she may be treated as described safely take two quarts a day given in two above for the disowned lamb. or three feedings. Lambs will vary in Raising orphan lambs. Lambs for their milk consumption, and the attend- which no ewe is available may be fed on ant must be the judge. cows' milk or a milk substitute. They are After six weeks, skim milk may, if easily taught to drink from a nursing necessary, be substituted for the whole bottle with a lamb nipple, or they may milk, but the lambs will gain better on be taught to drink from a pan. Warm the the whole milk. They should be fed milk milk to body temperature while the lamb until they are at least three months old. is small. Milk should be clean and all Lambs will soon begin to eat hay and utensils carefully cleaned and sterilized grain (at two to three weeks of age). A to prevent digestive upsets. small amount of bright alfalfa hay should Ewes' milk is more concentrated than be kept before them at all times. The cow's milk. It contains about 19.2 per grain mixture may consist of any of the cent dry matter, as compared to about common farm grains. Calf meals are 12.8 per cent dry matter in cows' milk. often used with very good results. While lambs will grow on cows' milk, Give the lambs free access to pasture they grow faster if the milk is fortified at an early age. with 5 per cent sugar to give the lamb Docking and castrating lambs. a more concentrated feed. If cows' milk Tails and testicles may be removed from is not available, dilute ordinary canned the ram lambs by any one of several milk and use it to feed orphan lambs. methods. Dock and castrate lambs on a Powdered milk may be reconstituted for bright, sunny day, after the lambs are this purpose. old enough and strong enough to with- Keep orphan lambs in a dry, clean stand the shock. In general, the older a place. A lamb brooder (described above lamb is at marking time, the more seri- for chilled lambs) will help get such ously the operation will affect him. If it is lambs started during cold weather. They available, place the lambs on clean pas- should be given an opportunity to get ture after marking. exercise and sunshine as they grow older. As in all surgery, sanitation is essen- One of the commonest difficulties in tial. Clean all instruments at the begin- rearing orphan lambs is death due to ning and dip them in disinfectant ( overfeeding. Young lambs should be kept tablespoon lysol to 1 pint of water) after hungry for the first few days. Although each use. [49] 1 . Prepare dead lamb for skinning by cutting off 2. Open the skin across the inside of front legs; legs at knees and hocks. Cut off head near the across brisket, and down the inside of the other ears. leg. TRANSFERRING THE PELT FROM A DEAD 4. Hold neck with foot; pull skin off the carcass. 5. Slip pelt over hind legs of orphan. Cut open- Sometimes skin at the brisket must be loosened ing for tail and for fecal outlet. For a ram, cut with a knife. hole for urine elimination. Docking. Cut off the tail about one inch from the body or between the second and third joints from the root of the tail. A convenient index is where the two folds of skin on either side of the anus leave the tail. Four methods of docking are in use. The tail may be removed by simply cutting it off with a sharp knife. This method is quick and simple, and no spe- cial equipment is needed. The wound will heal rather quickly. The main disadvan- tage is that the lamb will lose a con- siderable amount of blood from the main artery of the tail. Occasionally a lamb will bleed to death. The older and heavier the lamb the greater is this danger. 3. Starting at knife cut, loosen skin on forward portion of brisket; peel neck out of collar. Collar Another method of removing the tail must remain intact. is to cut it with a dull, hot iron. The lamb's tail should be slipped under a .AMB TO AN ORPHAN board covered with tin so that the lamb will not the iron. 6. When pelt is adjusted to rear quarters, turn be burned by hot Heat head sharply and slip collar of pelt over head the iron to a dark red color. If too hot, it of the orphan. will cut through too quickly to sear the artery. The reason for the hot iron is that searing the tail will stop most of the blood loss. The disadvantages of this method are the facts that ( 1 ) it is neces- sary to provide a means of heating the iron at docking time, and (2) a burn heals slowly. A third method of docking is to crush the tail with a burdizzo. The tail is then cut off by passing a knife inside the closed blades. The crushing effect of the burdizzo will stop some of the blood loss sustained when the tail is cut off with a knife. A comparatively new method is to place on the tail a special rubber band, which shuts off the circulation. As a result, the tail will drop off within a couple of weeks. The advantages of this method are that there is no blood loss to the lamb, and it can be handled as a one-man operation. On the other hand, tetanus infection has been encountered on several farms where sheep are kept around corrals after the rings are ap- plied. DOCKING. Upper left: Docking with a knife— note method of holding lamb. Upper right: Docking with a hot iron. Lower left to right: Docking with a burdizzo; rubber band being placed on tail. CASTRATING. Left: Using a burdizzo. Special care is needed to make sure cords are severed, clamping off one cord at a time. Right: Placing rubber band on scrotum of lamb. Castrating. The ram lambs may be burdizzo is used too high, the urethra emasculated by several methods, includ- may be crushed and the lamb will die. ing surgery, whereby the lower half of If flies are a problem when lambs are the scrotum is cut off and the testicles docked or castrated, a fly repellent should pulled out without cutting the cords. The be placed on and around the wound and testicles may be pulled out by the shep- the lambs closely watched for fly strike. herd's gripping them with his teeth, by Creep-feeding the lambs. Lambs grasping them with his thumb and fore- will start eating hay and grain at two to finger, or by the use of special castrating three weeks of age. Their gain will be shears, which have a serrated edge for increased if they have an opportunity to grasping the testicles. When a tool or obtain grain in addition to the ewe's the fingers are used, they should be dis- milk. A "creep" is an area fenced so that infected frequently. The main disadvan- the lambs can enter but the ewes cannot. tage of the surgical method is that lambs The openings in a creep panel are usually will occasionally die from hemorrhage or about 8 inches wide and about 15 to 18 infection. inches high. It is well to place hay as Two types of bloodless castration may well as grain in the creep as the lambs be used. In the first type, rubber bands will be attracted to the hay at an early are applied with a special instrument. Be age. Once the lambs have learned to eat careful that both testicles are below the from the creep they will make regular band. In this case the scrotum and testi- visits to get the grain. Older lambs are cles both atrophy and drop ofT. harder to start on a creep than lambs less The second bloodless method is the use than one month of age. of the burdizzo to crush the cord above Creep-feeding is desirable for maxi- the testicle without cutting into the mum gains. Under range conditions it is scrotum. If properly crushed, the testicle especially good when pasture feed is will resorb but the scrotum is intact. The short. Where twins are operated as a main objection to this method is that separate band, creep-feeding will aid in occasionally the shepherd will miss one producing a uniform group of lambs. of the cords and the testicle will con- A portable creep that will load on a tinue to develop. There is also danger of truck or trailer may be used on the crushing too low, leaving testicular tissue range—being moved as the sheep are that will continue to develop. When the moved to fresh range. An ideal arrangement for creep feeders. short period, the milk flow will cease in a few days without any other treatment. Culling the breeding ewes Soon after weaning time, the sheepman should carefully go through the ewes and cull out those that have previously been marked as having a spoiled udder or as being unable for any other reason to raise a lamb. It is also desirable to cull the ewes that did not lamb; those that have not raised a lamb for two seasons should certainly be sold. Check the mouth and teeth of each ewe. Ewes with undershot or overshot jaws or with broken mouths should be A foxtail in the eye of a lamb. sold. Where possible, it is desirable to notch the ear of each crop of ewe lambs Any of the common grains is satis- with a different notch. In this way the factory for feeding in the creep. Whole age of each ewe is known. An ideal milo grain is popular as a creep feed be- program is to sell all ewes by the time cause the lambs relish it and start eating they have produced five crops of lambs it sooner than other feeds. and are approximately 6% years of age. Eye trouble from foxtails. As the Although some ewes will show little effect native feed begins to dry, lambs are of age up to 10 years, most ewes will likely to pick up the awns of grasses begin to decline in wool production and (particularly foxtails) in their eyes. vigor after 6 to 7 years. Sheep of the Lambs having wool around their eyes are mutton breeds will show the effect of age especially in this respect. bad The awn earlier than will sheep of the fine-wool must be removed by rolling back the eye- breeds. lid and plucking out the beard; otherwise the lamb will become blind. Any lamb Water with a draining eye should be caught and Under most California conditions the eye examined for foreign material. sheep should have access to fresh, clean Injured eyes may be treated with medi- water daily. During cool, moist weather, cine obtained from a veterinarian. when there is dew on the feed in the are sold the Weaning. Many lambs at mornings, the sheep need to be watered time they are taken from the ewes. Others less often —depending on the amount of such as ewe lambs kept for replacements, dew. Daily water consumption per sheep purebred lambs, and feeder lambs should varies from one quart to over a gallon. be weaned at 4% to 5 months. Ram lambs, particularly of the whiteface Shade breeds, may have to be weaned earlier to Sheep will use shade during warm avoid some of the ewes' being bred out weather wherever it is available. Most of season. Ewe lambs and ram lambs sheepmen attempt to provide adequate should be separated at 4 to 5 months. shade for breeding stock during the After weaning, give the lambs the best warm season. Shade is usually not pro- feed available to keep them growing. If vided, however, for lambs being fattened the ewes are placed on scant feed for a on irrigated pasture. Most pasture feeders [54] believe that the lambs eat more and there zations, 3) shipped to stockyards such as is less trouble with bloat and fly strike South San Francisco, Los Angeles, and when shade is not available. Stockton, to be sold by a marketing or- ganization or a commission firm, or 4) Marketing sold through livestock auctions located Most sheep producers in California sell throughout the state. For a more detailed or wean their lambs when the majority discussion, see "Trade in Western Live- weigh 90 pounds or more and are ready stock at Auctions," 1954, by Edwin C. for slaughter, or when the feed available Voorhies, listed in the Source Books on becomes too dry for them to continue page 59. putting on good gains. Which of these Many lambs are contracted for in ad- two situations arises first will depend on vance of delivery by the buyers. Such the locality and the weather during the contracts specify the conditions of pur- particular season. Lambs that are not chase : that is, a "fat contract" means that fat "off the ewe" may be sold as feeders, the buyer takes only lambs he considers or the owner may place them on irrigated ready for immediate slaughter. Other pasture if he has it. contracts agree to take all lambs over a The bulk of the California spring certain weight (for example, 60 pounds) lambs are marketed in April and May. on a certain date, or to take so many Fat lambs may be disposed of in several head of lambs on a certain date. ways: 1) sold, direct to local butchers, When only part of the lambs are fat, 2) sold to country buyers representing the seller may sell only the "fats" and packers and livestock-marketing organi- keep the feeders to sell separately, but Water, salt, and shade should be provided for breeding ewes on dry, summer pasture. This wind- mill has a storage tank to take care of windless days. [55] more commonly he will sell all the lambs methods are used in feeding lambs. Hand to a buyer or dealer. Then the buyer sorts feeding—where the hay and grain are the lambs, sending the "fats" to market, fed separately at each feeding—has the and places the feeders on irrigated pas- advantage because the feeder can vary ture or in a feedlot until they are fat the amount and proportion of hay and enough to kill. grain according to the appetite and ap- When the sheepman has quite a num- pearance of the lambs. However, the ber of feeder lambs, he may either sell feeder must exercise considerable skill in them to a sheep feeder or place them on feeding the lambs; also with handfeed- irrigated pasture on a "gain basis." By ing, labor costs are higher. It is wise, this is meant that the sheepman retains therefore, to adopt a program of self- ownership of the sheep, and the pasture feeding—where the grain and hay are owner gets a variable percentage of the mixed and the lambs eat all of the mix- gain. ture they will consume—and a standard Fattening feeder lambs mix can be fed once the lambs are on Feed-lot fattening. Feeder lambs are full feed. Sample feed-lot rations for lambs are on 35 and 36. fattened either in a feed lot or on irri- shown pages gated pasture. Those to be fattened in a Depending on the feeds used and the feed lot should be started on feed with a relative proportion of grain and hay fed, ration consisting mainly of good hay. lambs will require from 8 to 12 pounds The grain mixture is gradually increased of feed to produce a pound of gain. The until the lambs are on full feed. Lamb- average daily gain is usually about one fattening rations are usually about half third of a pound per day but may vary grain and half hay (See page 35 in sec- from .2 to .4 pound per lamb per day. tion on Feeding Sheep). A series of The feeds most commonly used for tests at Kansas State College showed that fattening lambs in the feed lot in Cali- the gains were largest and the feed was fornia are barley, molasses, dried beet utilized most efficiently when the ration pulp, oats, corn, cottonseed meal, and was 45 per cent concentrates and 55 per alfalfa hay. Barley as the only concen- cent roughage. When rapid gains are de- trate is not entirely satisfactory for lambs sired, the concentrates may be fed up to in that they have a tendency to "go off as much as 60 per cent of the ration. You feed." A mixture containing about one must use care in giving such highly con- third beet pulp or oats is easier to feed. centrated feeds. Wooled lambs are generally shorn Lambs fed large amounts of grain in when placed in the feed lot, especially in the feed lot are subject to overeating dis- warm weather, and when the lambs will ease, also known an enterotoxemia. Al- be on feed for any length of time. though this may be prevented by limiting Fattening on pasture. Although the amount of concentrated feed, the some feeder lambs are fattened on beet gains are thereby also lessened. A vaccine tops and other types of pasture, most against this disorder is available. The feeder lambs in California are fattened bacterin should be used as a preventive, on irrigated pastures. The principal pas- and the antisera employed to stop an out- ture plants are ladino clover and birds- break in a group of lambs on feed. These foot trefoil. Alfalfa, Sudan grass, straw- should be used only under the supervi- berry clover, and various grass mixtures sion of a veterinarian. Enterotoxemia are also used for irrigated pastures. may also be encountered in lambs and Sheep prefer legumes to grass as feed; even in ewes on excellent pastures. and since bloat is not so serious a prob- Both hand-feeding and self-feeding lem with sheep as with cattle, it is not [56] Feeder lambs ready to go on pasture for fattening. Feeder lambs being fattened on sugar beet tops. Even though fields look bare after beets are dug, leaves and some beet crowns furnish excellent fattening feed. [57] recommended that any grass be included Supplementing on pasture. Lambs in pasture mixes planted for fattening will reach choice slaughter grade when lambs. grazing on good irrigated pasture with- Feeder lambs shipped in, either by out receiving any supplemental feed. truck or train, should be watered, given Hay as a supplement to pasture will a feed of dry hay, and allowed to rest reduce the incidence of scouring, par- ticularly before being turned in to irrigated pas- early in the season, when the pasture forage is watery and low in dry ture. If there is any possibility that the matter. Trials conducted on the use of lambs may be carrying many internal grain to supplement good irrigated pas- parasites, they should be drenched be- ture have shown that, while the gains may fore being turned into the fresh pasture be increased slightly, it is generally not (See page 39). A salt and phenothiazine economical to supplement lambs on pas- mixture—9 parts salt to one part pheno- ture. Later in the season it may be thiazine—should be available to the profitable to supplement them in order lambs while on irrigated pasture. This to get them to the desired slaughter mixture will aid in reducing the parasite weight before the pasture is exhausted. problem. The irrigated pastures should be sub- Feeding lambs on pasture divided into small fields so that the as a soiling crop lambs may be moved to fresh feed every Some interest is developing in cutting few days. Lambs will make faster gains the pasture crop with a forage harvester and pastures will produce more feed if and hauling it green to lambs in a dry lot. each pasture is given a minimum of three This practice is still in the experimental weeks' growing period between grazings. stage and has not been sufficiently tested For more details on the use of irrigated to be recommended at this time. pastures, see "Irrigated Pastures in Cali- Stilbestrol implants for lambs fornia," by Jones and Brown, revised by on irrigated pasture Miller and Booher (listed among Source Books on page 59). Two recently conducted trials have The average daily gain of lambs on shown that the gains of lambs can be irrigated pasture will vary from 0.2 to increased by implanting a pellet of stil- .45 pound per lamb per day. Good bestrol—a female sex hormone—in the feeder lambs on desirable irrigated pas- ear of each lamb. In both trials, however, ture will usually gain at least 0.3 pound the treated lambs did not produce such per day. The carrying capacity of the desirable carcasses as the untreated pastures will vary widely with the season. lambs. Until this practice is approved by During the growing season a good pas- the Pure Food and Drug Administration ture should carry at least ten lambs to it cannot be recommended for general the acre. use. [58 1 . . SOURCE BOOKS REFERRED TO IN THIS MANUAL Belsghner, H. S., Sheep Management and Diseases, Second Edition Revised, The Blakiston Com- pany, Philadelphia, Pa. Cameron, H. S., Sheep Diseases, Calif. Agr. Ext. Service Circ. 130, July, 1945 (out of prints Ensminger, M. E., Sheep Husbandry, Washington State College, The Interstate Printers and Publishers, Danville, 111., 1952. $4.00. Jones & Brown, Irrigated Pastures in California, Calif. Agr. Ext. Circ. 125, 1949. Kammlade, W. G., Sheep Science, University of Illinois, J. B. Lippincott Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1947. $6.00. Miller, R. F., Crossbreeding Investigation in the Production of California Spring Lambs, Calif. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 598, 1935 (out of print). Newsome, I. E., Sheep Diseases, Colorado A & M, Williams and Wilkins Co., Baltimore, 1952. Shultis, Arthur, The Relative Economy of Meat Production in California by Several Types of Farm Animals, Calif. Agr. Ext. Service, 1949. Voorhies, E. C, Trade in Western Livestock at Auctions, Calif. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 740, April, 1954. Voorhies, E. C. & R. W. Rudd, Sheep and Wool Situation in California, 1950, Calif. Agr. Exp. Sta. Circ. 399, Oct., 1950 (out of print). Weir, W. C. & Reuben Albaugh, A Guide for Sheep-Improvement Programs, Agr. Ext. Service Multilith, Feb., 1952. Wilson, J. F., California Wool Production, Calif. Agr. Ext. Circ. 171, April, 1951. BOOKS ON SHEEP DOGS American Kennel Club, The Complete Dog Book, Garden City Publishing Co., Garden City, New York, 1949. Hartley, C. W. G., The Shepherd's Dog, Whitcombe and Tombs, Christchurch, New Zealand. Kelley, Ralph B., Sheep Dogs, 3rd Edition, Australian Agricultural and Livestock Series, Sidney, Angus and Robertson, 1949. REFERENCE PERIODICALS California Livestock News, published by California Wool Growers Association, 151 Mission Street, San Francisco 5, Calif. National Woolgrowers, The, 414 Pacific National Life Building, Salt Lake City 1, Utah. Monthly ($5.00). Sheep and Goat Raiser, San Angelo, Texas. Monthly ($1.00) Sheep Breeder, 801 Elm Street, Columbia, Missouri. Monthly ($2.00). Sheepmans Magazine, 125 West 3rd Street, Lexington, Kentucky. Monthly ($2.00). [59] THIS MANUAL is one of a series published by the University of California College of Agri- culture and sold for a charge which is based on returning only a portion of the production cost. By this means it is possible to make available publications which due to relatively high cost of production or limited audience would otherwise be beyond the scope of the College publishing program.. ' >. .i|,it«iivp Extension «oil< In Agriculture and Horn* Economic!, College <>f Agriculture, University "f California, and United stairs Department <>f Agriculture co-operating Dl frlbuted "i furtherance of the Acts ol Congress «l May n, and June 80, 1014 > Karl Coke, Director, California Agricultural Extension Service. , 1^ LOwi L0, 54< 1972 I \ \ ^canis* > »»/••» Here is a complete handbook on the raising of sh under California conditions—as valuable to sheepmei 7 Manual 2, "California Beef Production/ is for cattlei Net price 50c