Sheep and GoatsSheep and Goats

Sheep & Goat OverviewSheep & Goat Overview

• • Both originated in Europe and the cooler regions Both originated in Europe and the cooler regions on Asia.on Asia.

• • Both are important ruminants in temperate and Both are important ruminants in temperate and tropical agriculture.tropical agriculture.

• • Provide fibers, milk, meat, and hides.Provide fibers, milk, meat, and hides.• • Versatile and efficient, especially forVersatile and efficient, especially for developing countries.developing countries.• • Sheep Sheep – numbers have declined in the– numbers have declined in theU.S. (less than 0.2% of total farm revenue in U.S.)U.S. (less than 0.2% of total farm revenue in U.S.)

Ovis ariesOvis aries: Sheep: Sheep

• • New Zealand, Australia, and New Zealand, Australia, and Saudi Arabia - highest per Saudi Arabia - highest per capita consumption of lamb, capita consumption of lamb, and goat meat.and goat meat.

• • U.S. consumes < 1 lb./person of U.S. consumes < 1 lb./person of lamb (boneless wt. basis).lamb (boneless wt. basis).

• • China, Australia, India, Iran and China, Australia, India, Iran and Sudan – leading sheep Sudan – leading sheep producing countries.producing countries.

Suffolk Suffolk

Sheep and Goats

Sheep – Ovis aries– Tail down– Grazers close to soil

(short tender grasses and clovers)

– Distant and aloof– Distinct philtrum– Curved horns

Goats – Carpa Hircus– Tail up (unless sick)– Natural browsers on

top of plants (twigs, vine, shrubs)

– Curious and independent

– Distinct odor as they mature

– Straight horns

GrazingGrazingCattle, sheep, & goats are often Cattle, sheep, & goats are often

grazed together because grazed together because they utilize different plantsthey utilize different plants

– – Goats graze browse (tenderGoats graze browse (tender

twigs & leaves from brush &twigs & leaves from brush &

trees) and some forbstrees) and some forbs

(broad-leafed plants)(broad-leafed plants)

– – Sheep graze short grassesSheep graze short grasses

and some forbsand some forbs

– – Cattle graze tall grasses andCattle graze tall grasses and

some forbssome forbs

DorsetDorsetCheviot

U. S. Sheep IndustryU. S. Sheep Industry• • 56 mil. in 1942; ~ 6 mil. in 200456 mil. in 1942; ~ 6 mil. in 2004• • U. S. relies on imports to U. S. relies on imports to

supply limited demand for supply limited demand for lamb.lamb.

• • Most U. S. sheep growers Most U. S. sheep growers have small flocks (50 or have small flocks (50 or fewer) and raise sheep as a fewer) and raise sheep as a secondary enterprise.secondary enterprise.

• • About 23% of sheep born in About 23% of sheep born in western U.S. are lost before western U.S. are lost before they are marketed (predators they are marketed (predators and weather are main and weather are main problems).problems).

Reasons for Decline in SheepReasons for Decline in SheepIndustryIndustry

• • Less demand for wool.Less demand for wool.• • Declining demand for lamb in consumerDeclining demand for lamb in consumerdiets.diets.• • Increased difficulty in obtaining/keepingIncreased difficulty in obtaining/keepingreliable herders to manage flocks.reliable herders to manage flocks.• • Increased competition for public-ownedIncreased competition for public-ownedrangeland.rangeland.• • Predators.Predators.

Attributes of Sheep (Ewe) Milk

Sheep milk is highly nutritious, more than cow

milk. Vitamins A, B, and E, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium Sheep milk: $ almost four times the price of cow milkSpecialized dairy breeds: 400-1,100 lbs milk/ lactation.Ewes are milked once or twice per day.

Sheep Cheese

Most of the sheep milk produced in the world is made into cheese.– Feta (Greece, Italy, and

France), Ricotta and Pecorino Romano (Italy) and Roquefort (France)

The U.S. annually imports 75 million pounds of cheese

made from sheep milk.

Fresh sheep milk is rarely consumed

Sheep BreedsSheep Breeds

• • Meat Breeds or Medium woolMeat Breeds or Medium wool– – Mainly used for meat productionMainly used for meat production– – Are predominant in the U.S.Are predominant in the U.S.– – Include Include Dorset, , Suffolk, and, and

Hampshire

• • Fine Wool BreedsFine Wool Breeds– – Highest quality Merino from Highest quality Merino from

Spain and Spain and Rambouillet from from France, predominant breed in France, predominant breed in Australia is the Australia is the MerinoMerino

• • Long woolLong wool• • Hair breedsHair breeds

Sheep ReproductionSheep Reproduction

• • Breeding season occurs mainly in Breeding season occurs mainly in the fall.the fall.

• • Estrous cycle: 16 to 17 daysEstrous cycle: 16 to 17 days• • Gestation length = ~147 days Gestation length = ~147 days

(varies).(varies).• • Recommended breeding age: 1 yr.Recommended breeding age: 1 yr.• • Multiple births are highly desirable Multiple births are highly desirable

(twinning).(twinning).• • Weaned at ~ 3 to 4 monthsWeaned at ~ 3 to 4 months• • Other important economic traits Other important economic traits

include growth rate, wool include growth rate, wool production, and carcass merit production, and carcass merit (quality grade and yield grade).(quality grade and yield grade).

Jaw Defects are Highly HeritableJaw Defects are Highly Heritable

Brachygnathism: parrot mouth

*Sheep Management**Sheep Management*

Clostridium diseases (vaccines)Clostridium diseases (vaccines)– Enterotoxemia (Type D) (Overeating Disease/ pulpy kidney disease) - Enterotoxemia (Type D) (Overeating Disease/ pulpy kidney disease) -

Clostridium perfringinsClostridium perfringins type D type D Vaccine: Type CD - T toxoid: vaccinate ewes 1 month before lambing and 6, 10 wks : Type CD - T toxoid: vaccinate ewes 1 month before lambing and 6, 10 wks lambslambs

– Hemorrhagic enteritis, bloody scours - Hemorrhagic enteritis, bloody scours - Clostridium perfringinsClostridium perfringins type C type C – Tetanus - Tetanus - Clostridium tetaniClostridium tetani : vaccinate ewes 1 month before lambing/ tx with : vaccinate ewes 1 month before lambing/ tx with

antitoxin during castration and tail dockingantitoxin during castration and tail docking• • Scours (E. coli) – ‘watery mouth’ in 2-4 day old lamb (Hygiene)Scours (E. coli) – ‘watery mouth’ in 2-4 day old lamb (Hygiene)– Prevention: Lambing barn sanitation and creating a clean, dry environment for Prevention: Lambing barn sanitation and creating a clean, dry environment for

newborn lambsnewborn lambs • • Footrot – Footrot – Bacteroides nodosus (Bacteroides nodosus (animal's hoof); and animal's hoof); and Fusobacterium Fusobacterium necrophorum (necrophorum (normal inhabitant of soil manure)normal inhabitant of soil manure) – hoof trimming, vaccination, foot bathing and soaking. Zinc sulfate is considered hoof trimming, vaccination, foot bathing and soaking. Zinc sulfate is considered

to be the most effective foot rot treatment. Footrot is highly contagious. to be the most effective foot rot treatment. Footrot is highly contagious. • • Soremouth (lambs) – contagious ecthyma, scabby mouth, pustular (lambs) – contagious ecthyma, scabby mouth, pustular dermatitis, orfdermatitis, orf (most common skin disease in sheep and goats), zoonotic– Pox virus, vaccine (previously exposed herd)Pox virus, vaccine (previously exposed herd)

• • ParasitesParasites

*Sheep Management**Sheep Management*

Management. PracticesManagement. Practices::– FeedingFeeding

Extra feed before lambing: 0.5-1.0 lb (per fetus) Extra feed before lambing: 0.5-1.0 lb (per fetus) grain/daygrain/day

Creep feeding: introduce young lambs to solidsCreep feeding: introduce young lambs to solids

– – – Tail docking, castration of malesTail docking, castration of males– Elastrator (pg 493): 3 -7 days oldElastrator (pg 493): 3 -7 days old

GoatsGoats Capra hircusCapra hircus

• • ConcentratedConcentrated

primarily in India, andprimarily in India, and

China (other contributingChina (other contributing

countries include Pakistan,countries include Pakistan,

Sudan, and Bangladesh).Sudan, and Bangladesh).

• • Texas ranks 2ndTexas ranks 2nd

in the U.S. for totalin the U.S. for total

number of goats.number of goats.

Toggenburg)

Goat milk Goat milk

• • Goat milk is alsoGoat milk is alsoused to feed manyused to feed manyother animals (most mammalsother animals (most mammalsincluding wild animals) usuallyincluding wild animals) usuallythey are bottle feed.they are bottle feed.• • Goats will fairly easily adoptGoats will fairly easily adoptlambs and a goat will even jumplambs and a goat will even jumpup on bale of hay to allow a foalup on bale of hay to allow a foalto nurse.to nurse.

Importance of Goat IndustryImportance of Goat Industry

• • Most are found in Most are found in developing countriesdeveloping countries

• • Supply meat and milkSupply meat and milk

• • Major by-product – skinsMajor by-product – skins

• • Almost all of the dairyAlmost all of the dairy

goats in the U.S. are foundgoats in the U.S. are found

in small herdsin small herds

Goat Reproduction Goat Reproduction CharacteristicsCharacteristics

• • Gestation Length – 150 daysGestation Length – 150 days• • Estrous cycle – 17 to 21 daysEstrous cycle – 17 to 21 days• • Age at puberty – 120 days to Age at puberty – 120 days to

over 1 yr.over 1 yr.• • Breeding age ~ 9 monthsBreeding age ~ 9 months• • Breeding season – late summer, Breeding season – late summer,

early fall, or winterearly fall, or winter• • Adult size:Adult size:– – 130 lb avg. for Does130 lb avg. for Does– – 160 lb avg. for Bucks160 lb avg. for Bucks

Meat GoatsMeat Goats

• • Origin: South Africa, Origin: South Africa, Middle East, andMiddle East, andAustralia.Australia.

• • Boer goat: superior Boer goat: superior growth rate and leangrowth rate and leanmeat yield.meat yield.

• • Ethnic consumer market Ethnic consumer market has the highesthas the highestdemand for goat meatdemand for goat meat

GoatsGoats

• • Meat Breeds: Meat Breeds: Boer Boer GoatGoat– – White with brown head fromWhite with brown head fromSouth AfricaSouth Africa• • Milk breeds: Nubian,Milk breeds: Nubian,ToggenburgToggenburg, Saanen,, Saanen,Oberhasli, Lamanche,Oberhasli, Lamanche,AlpineAlpine– – Heavy milk producers perHeavy milk producers perbody size vs. cattlebody size vs. cattleproduction per body sizeproduction per body size• • Hair breeds for MohairHair breeds for Mohair((AngoraAngora) and Cashmere) and Cashmere