Introduction to Agriculture Ms. Tonnessen

SHEEP INDUSTRY

¡  Ovine—scientific species name for sheep ¡  Lamb—sheep under a year old ¡  Ewe—female sheep ¡  Ram—intact male sheep ¡ Weather—castrated male sheep ¡ Mutton—sheep over a year old ¡  Gestation length—145 days

TERMS TO KNOW

¡  Rambouillet §  Origin—France

§  Horned, polled, or scurred §  Can breed out of season §  Advantages

§  High quality wool §  Hardy §  Growth characteristics

§  Disadvantages §  Muscle quality

MAJOR BREEDS

¡  Columbia §  Origin—United States §  Cross of Rambouillet and Lincoln §  Polled §  Range condition §  Advantages

§  Large fleece §  Larger framed

§  Disadvantages §  Muscle quality

MAJOR BREEDS

¡  Dorset §  Origin—Whales §  Smaller breed §  Horned or polled §  Advantages

§  Fall lambing §  Prolific lambers §  Strong fleece and free of dark fibers §  High milk

§  Disadvantages §  Growth & size

MAJOR BREEDS

¡  Lincoln §  Origin—England §  Developed specifically for wool §  Advantages

§  Longest wool

§  Disadvantages §  Growth & muscle

MAJOR BREEDS

¡  Corriedale §  Origin—Australia and New Zealand §  Cross of Merino and Lincoln §  Advantages

§  Medium-Large fleece

§  Disadvantages §  Muscle & growth

MAJOR BREEDS

¡  Southdown §  Origin—Susix England §  Polled § White face §  Advantages

§  Adaptable §  Early maturing §  High lambing

§  Disadvantages §  Smaller sized

MAJOR BREEDS

¡  Suffolk §  Origin—England §  Norfolk horn ewes with Southdown rams §  Polled §  Black faced §  Advantages

§  Medium wool §  Rapid growth §  High quality muscle

§  Disadvantages §  Maternal characteristics §  Poor wool quality

MAJOR BREEDS

¡  Hampshire §  Origin—England § Wool cap §  Black faced §  Advantages

§  Large framed §  High quality muscle §  Freedom from unsoundness

§  Disadvantages §  Poor maternal characteristics §  Poor wool quality

MAJOR BREEDS

¡  Targhee §  Origin—United States §  Cross of Rambouillet, Columbia, and Corriedale §  Developed by the USDA §  Advantages

§  High quality wool §  Extremely hardy

§  Disadvantages §  Medium quality meat

MAJOR BREEDS

¡  Katahdin §  Origin—United States §  Cross of Suffolk and St. Croix §  Color varies §  Polled §  Advantages

§  Hair §  Maternal characteristics §  High milk §  Medium quality milk

§  Disadvantages §  Growth §  No wool

MAJOR BREEDS

¡  In groups of 4, using your notes, please pick two breeds of sheep that were just covered.

¡  One breed will hypothetically be used as your ewe. The other as your ram.

¡  Your goal is to create a cross-bred offspring who will be heavy muscled, fast growers, adequate wool production, and raised from good mothers.

¡  You will turn this in at the conclusion of class.

ACTIVITY