Sheep Industry - US and MichiganMichigan Sheep ProductionWhat’s happening in the industry?Useful Sheep Facts and FiguresSlide 5Slide 6Slide 7Slide 8Slide 9Slide 10Slide 11Production SystemsRange Flock ProductionRange Flock - cont’dFarm Flock ProductionFarm Flock Production - Cont’dBreeds of SheepSlide 18Management Calendar - Breeding FlockSlide 20Slide 21Slide 22Slide 23Slide 24Slide 25Management Calendar - Lamb FeedingSlide 27Lamb feedingSheep Industry - US and MichiganFall 2002Michigan Sheep ProductionPurebred production–Greatest proportion of the industry–Produce and sell seedstock–Youth projectsCommercial production–Greatest proportion of animals–Market animals for meat productionLamb feedingFall 2002What’s happening in the industry?Expanding / Shrinking?Good Markets / Poor Markets?–Meat–WoolWide use of technology / limited use?Imports / ExportsCommercial agricultural sector / hobby industry?Fall 2002Useful Sheep Facts and FiguresSex classifications:–Ewe - female, any age–Ewe lamb - female less than 1 year of age–Ram - intact male, any age–Ram lamb - intact male less than 1 year of age–Wether - castrated male any ageFall 2002Typical weights:–Birth - 8-15 lbs–90 day weights - 70 - 120 lbs–Mature weights - »Ewes - 100 - 200+ lbs»Rams - 120 - 275+ lbs–Market weight - 135 lbsUseful Sheep Facts and FiguresFall 2002Wool characteristics:–Fleece weight (grease) - 4 - 12 lbs–Staple length - 2- 6 inches–Fiber diameter - 19 - 40 m (microns)Useful Sheep Facts and FiguresFall 2002Reproductive characteristics:–Age at puberty - 5-6 months–Age at first lambing - 1 year–Estrous cycle - 17 days–Estrus (standing heat) - 30 hours–Gestation - 147 days–Lambing rate - 1-5 lambs born/ewe/year–Season breedersUseful Sheep Facts and FiguresFall 2002Seasonal breeders:–Seasonally anestrous - not cycling–Short day breeders–Some breeds much more seasonal than others–Most fertile - October, November–Both ewes and rams are seasonal breedersUseful Sheep Facts and FiguresFall 2002Economically important production traits: (commercial flock)–conception rate–lambing rate–age at puberty–pounds lamb weaned/ewe/year–pounds lamb sold/ewe/year–average daily gain–cost/pound of gainUseful Sheep Facts and FiguresFall 2002Marketing characteristics:–~90% of market lambs sold will grade choice or better–value at marketing - based on weight, fatness–Presently - value based marketing not available for most producers (carcass merit, grade and yield) –2 processing plants account for 40% of domestic harvest of lamb, next 6 plants account for another 44% (1999 USDA)Useful Sheep Facts and FiguresFall 2002Niche marketing opportunities exist:–Fiber–Freezer lambs–Ethnic markets–Replacement breeding stock–Dairy sheep–OthersUseful Sheep Facts and FiguresFall 2002Production SystemsRange ProductionFarm Flock ProductionCharacteristic differences between them–Location–Size of flocks–ManagementFall 2002Range Flock ProductionLambing ewes with or without attendant care in small pastures or unattended on rangelands.Typically found in western US, TX, etc.Large flock sizesLow facility investment Sheep - white faced ewes - RambouilletFall 2002Range Flock - cont’dLambing -–Range, shed or drift–Rates low (~100-150%)–Reduced disease problems–Predators a problemFeeding -–Native range, little supplementationRecord keeping difficultShearing - 1X yearSeeing shift to more emphasis on multiple births and meat productionFall 2002Farm Flock ProductionPrimary production in midwest and eastern USFlock sizes - –small in comparison to range production–vary from few to several hundred ewesFacility requirements:–barn, feeders, waters, fenced pasturesBreeds:–great diversity - purebred production–commercial production - crossbred ewes X meat breed ramsIntensive management compared to range productionPredatorsFall 2002Farm Flock Production - Cont’dLambing - –indoors - winter and/or spring most common; some pasture lambing being tried–lambing rates - 150 - 250%–supervised lambingFeeding - –pasture used during part of year, harvest forage also–supplementation during gestation and lactationRecord keeping varies - none to genetic evaluation programsShearing - usually 1X yearEmphasis for increased production levels, carcass qualityFall 2002Breeds of SheepMeat Breeds:–Known for growth rates and carcass quality.–Also known as sire breeds–Examples: Suffolk, Hampshire, DorsetEwe Breeds:–Known for maternal traits - prolificacy, milk production, mothering ability, wool–Examples: Rambouillet, crossbredsFall 2002Breeds of SheepOther Classifications:–Wool breeds»Long Wool - (larger fiber diameter), Romney, Lincoln»Fine Wool - (small fiber diameter), Merino, Rambouillet–Hair Sheep –Prolific –Natural Colored SheepFall 2002Management Calendar - Breeding FlockAnnual Ew e WeightChangeFrom Sheep Production Handbook, 1996Single-bearing EweFall 2002Management Calendar - Breeding FlockPrebreeding:–Ewes »Cull poor producers, unsound ewes»Provide health maintenance - prevent / treat internal parasites, vaccinations, »Flush ewes–Rams»Evaluate for breeding soundness»Observe recommended ram:ewe ratioram lambs 15 - 30mature rams 25 - 50Fall 2002Management Calendar - Breeding FlockBreeding:–Ewes »Moderate condition, gaining weight»Heat stress - negative impact; shearing in high heat and humidity may help–Rams»Moderate condition, monitor libido»Mark ram to monitor cyclic activity of ewesFall 2002Management Calendar - Breeding FlockEarly Gestation–Maintain ewes in moderate condition–During 1st 100 days - ewes should gain ~10 poundsLate Gestation–2/3 of fetal growth occurs during last 6 weeks–Adequate nutrition essential–Vaccinate ewes for enterotoxemia (overeating)–Shear ewesFall 2002Management Calendar - Breeding FlockLambing Management–Observe ewes frequently–Assist only when necessary–Iodine Navel–Open teats–Move ewe and lamb(s) to pen –Identify lambs–Collect data - birth weight, birth dates etc.Post-lambing Management–Dock tails–Castrate–Vaccinate–Start on creep feedFall 2002Management Calendar - Breeding FlockLactation–Highest nutrient requirements–Peak milk production - 21-28 days of lactation–Ewes
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