Animal, Plant

1
Animal, Plant Soil Science

• Lesson C7-9
• Feeding and Managing
• Sheep and Goats

2
Objectives

• List and describe the food and non-food products
  produced by sheep and goats.
• Describe the types of production systems for
  sheep and goats.
• Examine production practices involved in the
  reproductive management of sheep and goats.

3
Objectives

• Analyze production practices involved in the care
  of lambs and kids from birth to weaning.
• Describe the nutritional requirements of sheep
  and goats and analyze the types of feedstuffs
  they are fed.
• range band method

4
What food and non-food products are produced by
sheep and goats?

• Sheep and goats are very versatile and offer many
  products for human use.
• These animals provide both food and non-food
  products.
• Many of the non-food products are used in the
  manufacturing of items that are used every day.
• For example, baseballs are stuffed with wool and
  sewn with wool thread, the rubber lining is
  prepared from stearic acid, and the center cork
  contains processed blood.

5
What food and non-food products are produced by
sheep and goats?

• A. Meat that comes from a sheep under one year
  old (young sheep) is referred to as lamb.
• Mutton is meat from a sheep that is over one year
  old.
• Mutton has a very different taste than lamb.
• Lamb is considered a delicacy.
• Mutton has a strong flavor and is not as popular
  as lamb.
• Meat from goats is referred to as chevon,
  depending on the age of the animal.

6
What food and non-food products are produced by
sheep and goats?

• B. The hide of sheep is used for leather.
• The wool is used for clothing and other products,
  such as rugs, insulation, and artist brushes.
• The wool also contains lanolin.
• Lanolin is the grease found in the wool and is
  used in ointments and cosmetics.

7
What food and non-food products are produced by
sheep and goats?

• 1. The fats and fatty acids from
  the carcass are used in
  products
  such as floor wax,
  candles, crayons, brake fluid,
  tanning lotion, cosmetics, and
  glycerol that helps asphalt
  stick.
• 2. The manure from sheep and goats can be used as
  fertilizer and contains nitrogen, phosphorus,
  potassium, and other various minerals.

8
What food and non-food products are produced by
sheep and goats?

• 3. The horns, hooves, and bones
  are used in a wide variety of
  products, such as shampoos/
  conditioners, bone china,
  marshmallows, piano keys,
  and gelatin desserts.
• 4. The products manufactured from the intestines
  can be the casings for foods such as sausages and
  hot dogs.
• The intestines also provide materials used to
  make instrument strings.

9
What food and non-food products are produced by
sheep and goats?

• C. Goat milk can be used to make a cheese known
  as chevre.
• Dairy goat producers market
  their products primarily
  through direct
  markets,
  farmers markets,
  Internet sales, or direct
  to retail stores and
  restaurants.
• Goat cheese is one of the fastest-growing cheeses
  in the specialty cheese market.
• It is considered a gourmet food, and restaurants
  use it in dishes such as pizza, salads, and
  desserts.

10
What food and non-food products are produced by
sheep and goats?

• D. Meat goats are marketed through slaughter
  facilities, auctions, or on-farm sites to private
  buyers.
• Meat goats are sold based on their size and age.
• 1. An easter kid is a meat goat weighing 16 to 40
  pounds.
• It should not be castrated and is usually sold
  seasonally to ethnic markets.
• 2. A cabrito is the meat from a milk-raised kid
  that weighs 25 to 40 pounds and is not castrated.
  
• Chevon is the meat from goats of any age or size.
  
• Generally, chevon meat is from goats weighing
  over 60 pounds.
• 3. The price of goats is typically higher before
  major ethnic holidays.
• There is an increasing interest in goat meat in
  gourmet restaurants.
• Goat meat is often found on the menu and usually
  comes with a high price tag.

11
What different types of production systems are
used for sheep and goats?

• Goats and sheep can be raised together.
• They complement each others eating likes and
  dislikes.
• There are five types of sheep production systems.
  
• Goats can be raised in similar situations.

12
What different types of production systems are
used for sheep and goats?

• A. The farm flock
  method of sheep
  production
  describes
  the farm flocks that can
  
  have one sheep or
  thousands of sheep.
• The farms are located in the midwestern, eastern,
  and southern United States.
• The purpose of farm flocks is to produce market
  lambs and wool.
• Many dairy goats are also raised with this type
  of production method and are popular throughout
  the country.

13
What different types of production systems are
used for sheep and goats?

• B. A purebred flock is one that sells rams and
  ewes of an ideal type.
• The management requirements are high, and
  knowledge of genetics is helpful.
• Many people starting a 4-H or FFA project will go
  to a purebred flock for their first purchases.
• Many dairy and meat goat breeds are raised in a
  purebred flock.
• These flocks express highly valuable genetics and
  are seen in the show ring.

14
What different types of production systems are
used for sheep and goats?

• C. The range band
  method of sheep
  production involves
  large bands
  of
  sheep (between
  1,000 and 1,500)
  that are
  managed
  over a large area
  by a herder.
• In high vegetation areas, sheep are used for
  meat.
• In low vegetation areas, sheep are used for wool
  because the feed is not suitable to produce a
  market-quality lamb.

15
What different types of production systems are
used for sheep and goats?

• D. Some producers use
  confinement methods.
• Confinement means raising
  animals completely indoors.
• This method is popular because
  of the need
  for less land, fewer
  parasite problems, the increased
  ability to
  monitor animals, and the success of raising other
  animals in confinement.
• Some disadvantages include increased building
  costs, higher feed costs, and the increased need
  for intense management.
• E. Lamb feeding production involves weaning lambs
  and selling them to feedlots where the lambs are
  fed out to slaughter weight.
• Meat goats are commonly raised in this type of
  situation.

16
What production practices are involved in the
reproductive management of sheep and goats?

• All types of producers must
  maintain efficient production
  practices to raise
  sheep and
  goats in a healthy and
  productive environment.
• These production practices
  start with well-managed
  breeding management
  systems.
• A. Kidding is the process of a goat giving birth.
  
• Lambing is the process of a sheep giving birth.
• The gestation period for goats is about five
  months.
• The gestation period for a sheep is about 150
  days.
• The gestation period can vary in both sheep and
  goat breeds.

17
What production practices are involved in the
reproductive management of sheep and goats?

• B. Sheep and goats are both seasonal breeders.
• They are typically bred in late summer and early
  winter.
• Meat goat breeding season depends on the
  decreasing of daylight.
• There are no true signs of estrus other than
  acceptance of a ram/buck.
• The estrus cycle of a ewe will occur every 16 to
  17 days, while that of a goat will occur every 18
  to 21 days.

18
What production practices are involved in the
reproductive management of sheep and goats?

• C. The number of lambs or kids a
  female may have will vary among
  breeds.
• It is common for dairy goats to have
  twins or triples.
• Twins or multiples are common in
  some sheep breeds.
• A good production practice in sheep is to
  calculate the percent lamb crop.
• The higher the percent lamb crop the more that
  will be ready for market.
• Another important production practice is to
  maintain the mortality rate below 25 percent.

19
What production practices are involved in the
reproductive management of sheep and goats?

• D. The rams and/or bucks are kept separate from
  ewes until breeding season.
• Rams should have access to water, pasture, and
  exercise.
• Rams will require some additional grain feed
  during breeding and cold temperatures.
• It is important to maintain a ram in good
  condition with low body fat.

20
What production practices are involved in the
reproductive management of sheep and goats?

• E. A bred ewe or doe will require
  high-quality hay, pasture, feed,
  water, shelter, and exercise.
• Supplemental grains are used to
  maintain health and condition during
  pregnancy.
• The ewe or doe should be observed
  very closely as parturition time occurs.
• 1. It is common to shear the ewes wool around
  the dock, flank, and udder.
• The ewe is also directed to a dry, sheltered pen.
  
• Once the ewe enters an individual pen, grain
  should be reduced.

21
What production practices are involved in the
reproductive management of sheep and goats?

• 2. There are many complications that could occur
  at lambing or kidding time.
• It is very important to observe and help
  ewes/does during the delivery.
• It is a good production practice to make sure the
  young lamb/kid is in the right position.
• It is also a good practice to make sure the
  ewe/doe accepts the young animal and allows
  nursing to begin.

22
What production practices are involved in the
care of lambs and kids from birth to weaning?

• Several production practices are
  involved in the care of
  newborn
  lambs and kids.
• A. Newborn lambs and kids
  should receive colostrum.
• Colostrum is the first milk given by the mother.
• It contains important nutrients for the newborn.
• Mothers that deliver multiples can show
  acceptance to either one or none.
• A common practice is to put a little bit of salt
  on the newborn lamb, allowing the ewe to lick and
  accept the baby.
• If the mother has had complications during
  delivery, it is important for the
  producer to have supplemental nursing equipment
  ready.

23
What production practices are involved in the
care of lambs and kids from birth to weaning?

• B. The navel on newborn lambs
  and kids should be dipped
  with
  iodine as soon as possible, and
  the newborn should be
  kept in a clean
  stall or pen.
• C. The newborn should be identified as soon as
  possible.
• Applying ear tags is a common method of
  identification for sheep and goats.
• It is important to maintain good recordkeeping
  practices.
• D. Lambs and kids should enter immediately into
  the flocks vaccination schedule.
• Lambs should be wormed and vaccinated for
  overeating at an older age.

24
What production practices are involved in the
care of lambs and kids from birth to weaning?

• E. Lambs should be docked as soon as possible.
• Docking is the removal or cutting off of part of
  the tail.
• Docking is important because later, as the lamb
  grows, it prevents manure from accumulating and
  parasite infestation of the tail.
• Lambs are typically docked from 3 to 10 days old.
  
• Docking can be accomplished with the use of an
  elastic bank or electric docker.
• Goats are not docked.
• F. Castration of lambs should be conducted during
  the first month.
• The equipment used is similar to docking.

25
What are the nutritional requirements of sheep
and goats?

• Sheep and goats are good
  grazers, and some do well
  in a range environment.
• These animals are known
  for their scavenging ability.
• Sheep and goats are efficient eaters of forage
  compared to beef animals.
• Sheep will eat short grass and some broadleaf
  plants.
• Goats will eat leaves off woody and broadleaf
  plants.

26
What are the nutritional requirements of sheep
and goats?

• A. Sheep and goats require
  carbohydrates and fats that
  are used for energy.
• These substances are mainly
  supplied through pasture
  and hay.
• Grain is used before and during
  lambing season, as well as during drought,
  overgrazing, and in snow-covered pastures.
• Grains commonly used in a sheep/goat ration are
  corn, oats, wheat, and grain sorghums.

27
What are the nutritional requirements of sheep
and goats?

• B. Sheep and goats also require
  high levels of protein.
• Protein levels are important due to
  the production of wool.
• Legume grasses and plants found in
  a pasture setting contain good
  sources of
  protein for sheep and goats.
• High-quality hay, containing alfalfa and clover,
  is also a good source of protein during the
  winter months.
• Protein supplements may be used.
• Sheep and goats raised in a range situation may
  develop a protein deficiency.
• The producer should provide supplemental protein
  to prevent and/or control this problem.

28
What are the nutritional requirements of sheep
and goats?

• C. Sheep and goats need minerals
  and vitamins in their
  rations.
• Salt and mineral mixtures are common
  supplements given to these
  animals.
• Vitamins A, D, E, and K are important
  and should be maintained
  in the diet or fed by free choice.
• D. Water is the final component of the sheep and
  goat diet.
• The average mature sheep will consume up to one
  gallon of water per day.
• It is important to offer fresh, clean water to
  sheep and goats.
• However, these animals can find water from other
  sources, such as snow, dew, and lush, green
  pastures.

29
Review

• What food and non-food products are produced by
  sheep and goats?
• What different types of production systems are
  used for sheep and goats?
• What production practices are involved in the
  reproductive management of sheep and goats?

30
Review

• What production practices are involved in the
  care of lambs and kids from birth to weaning?
• What are the nutritional requirements of sheep
  and goats?