What is Carding
Opens the wool for further processing
What is combing the wool
When the sliver is pulled through a fine comb, leaving extra short fibers and any contamination behind, leaving pure, clean woo
Identify one major health issue affecting the respiratory system in sheep
pasturella, mycoplasma, chlamydia
Identify two common reproductive problems that affect sheep, particulary in ewes
abortion, dystocia, progenancy toxemia, mastitis, uterine prolapse
Describe one common skin disease in sheep and how to treat it
Soremouth = topical application of thiamine/B-vitamins
ringworm = fungicides
external parasites = insecticides
What is caseous lymphadenitis and how does it impact sheep health and productivity
Infection of the lymph glands caused by bacteria. Considered a wasting disease and whow weight loss and reduced productivity
What is scrapies and how is it tramsmitted and what are the main signs to look for in infected sheep
It is a fatal central nervous system disease. It is transmissible by an infected placenta and infected feed. Signs are intense itching, behavior changes, lack of coordination, gait abnormalities
List three carcass characterisics that influence lamb quality
Maturity
lean quality
muscularity
approximately what percentage of live weight results in carcass weight
just over 50%
What is the prupose of quality grading lamb carcasses and what are the primary factors used to determine lamb quality grades
Quality graxing is an indicatio of expected eating satisfaction and done to enusre consistency of overall eating quality
Primary factors include lean quality and carcass conformation traits as well as maturity
What are the 4 primary grades for lamb carcass
Primary, choice, good, utility
What branch of the USDA oversees inspection and labeling
Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS)
it is a federal inspection
What does yield grading indicate about lamb carcass
cutability
fat thickness
lean meat yield
superior carcass merit
What is meant by retail meat yeild
How is it estimated and why is it significant in lamb production and marketing
Retail meat yeild: combination of dressing percentage and premium american lamb cuts that can be sold
estimated by wool vs short lambs, trimness, muscularity, fram
significant because it estimates the amount of salable cuts
why are sanitary dressing methods important during lamb processing
List two procedures during processing that help achieve this goal
Sanitary methods are important to prevent meat contamination
Procedures during processing that help achieve this goal: dirty wool is pulled down away from the meat; rectum removal in a sanitary manner, sprayed with acetic acid before chill
what are two key benefits to implementing a sheep safety and quality assure program
responsibility to procide safe food products
ensure teh well being of sheep and alleviate animal wefare concerns
Name three quality criteria or SOPs that help ensure compliance with the SSQA program
administer/inject all products according to label directions
Intramuscular injections must be administered in the neck
prevent wool contaminiation with foreign material
According to the national lamb quality audi, what is the most prominent factor definiing lamb quality
Eating satisfaction (lamb flavor/taste, tenderness)
What are two factors that influence lamb flavor
composition of fat, age
What are two characteristics of the american lamb consumer
men are most likely to eat lamb
consumption linked to special occasions
What are a few top quality trait that drive lamb purchasing decisions in the retail sector
sheep raising practices
eating satisfaction
weight/size
appearence
Approximately what percentage of lamb carcasses recieve a quality grade of prime
7.6%
what method is used in research studies to measure lamb quality tenderness
Warner-Bratzler Shear Force
Name one challenge the lamb industry continues to face
Seasonality of lamb consumption
What primal/subprimal cut on a lamb carcass has the most balue
rack
What is the primary question to ask when selecting a breed for commercial production
What is your end goal
Why do you want to raise these animals
List three management considerations when selecting a sheep breed
production goal
temperment
reprodcutive traits
What are the tree primary purpose of sheep breeds
Meat
Fiber
Dairy
What is a popular ram or terminal sire breed in the US and why
Sullfolk and Hampshire
Used for fast growth rate, muscling ability, and carcass weight
What dual prupsoe breed is known for reducing the need for crossbreeding
Columbia
What is the significance of the ramboillet breed in breeding programs and what are the most significant traits
Founder of most western range breeds
large size, flocking ability, highly adaptable to ewe breed, good mothering and milking ability
What is spider syndrome
causes leg deformities
What is ectodermal dysplasia
affects the ectodermal layer of embryological development
What is the heritability of each main category
carcass: percent yield (40%)
fleece: staple length: (55%)
growth: 240d weight (40%)
reproduction: scrotal circumference (35%)
What is grazing management
how and when you control grazing habits of the animals on your pasture
what are the controlled grazing patterns
simple rotational
intensive rotational
List in order (by approximate percent of diet) the plant diet preference for sheep
grass: 60%
weeds: 30%
browse: 10%
how many hours does a sheep spend grazing per day
6-12 hours
what is the daily dry matter intake for a growing lamb
3-4% of BW
Name three basic grazing principles
adjust rest period because pasture growth rate changes
use short grazing periods
use highest stocking density, or largest herd sizw
Name the three variables needed to calcualte stocking rate
average size of animals
total forage production
size of pasture
what are grazing strategies that help control parasites
only graze 3-4 days at a time
leave at least 4" of length
allow 4-8 week growth period
What are common sheep marketing channels
selling directly to consumer
livestock auction
sale from farm
Ways lamb is marketed to nontraditional consumer groups
market to ethnic groups
farmers markets
True/false. Total sheep and lamb population/inventory has increased from around 5 million head in 2000 to over 8 million head in 2024.
false
What are the top 5 states that produce lamb
colorado
california
texas
wyoming
utah
True/false. From a profitability perspective, average returns were negative for lamb feeders in 2023.
True
what is the expectation for lamb production and lamb prices in 2025
decrease in production and prices
What are the four Ps in a sheep production marketing plan
production
place
price
promotion
List two pros and cons for seeling sheep through an auction market
pros: convient, no buyer negotiation
cons: comission fee, lower prices due to lack of buyers
What are important considerations when selling lamb directly to the consumer
requires time and skills for marketing, advertising, and meeting with customer
What factors affect nutritional requirements
age, production stage, sex, BW
What production stage is the highest nutrional requirements
Early lactation
What are the most important times to check eww body condition score
late gestation
at weaning
before breeding
how much weight would a 160lbs mature ewe have to gain/lose to increase/decrease one body condition score
13% of BW
21 lbs
True or False: roughage is considered a high energy feedstuff
false
what are the most important minerals when feeding sheep
calcium
phosphorus
copper
true or false: fill is the limiting factor when balancing a ration to meet ewe's nutrient requirements
true
management xonsiderations that can be implemented to help ensure nutrient requirements are being met
separate ewes at different production stages or body condition score
adjust feed to the average body weight of each group
provide adequate space and limit competition
characteristics of an ewe that make them a good candidate for flushing
thin (BCS less than 2.5), mature in age
True or false: protein is most likely the nutreint that is deficient in late gestation
False
Reasons why creep feeding may have value on a sheep operation
flocks with a bunch of multiple births or mulk production is limited
intensive systems that wean early
help develop the rumen
management practices to ensure low stress handling for the lamb during weaning
leave lamb in familiar surrounding and with the same group
keep lambs on the same diet
what is reproductive efficiency
percentage of offspring crop raised and marketed
what is the mature ram:ewe ration
1:35 to 1:50
What are components of a a breeding soundness exam
physical: eyes, feet and legs, mouth
semen: motility and morphology
what are causes of infertility
epididymitis and pizzle rot
cull or treat
how long is the estrous cycle
16-27 days
what are long season breeds
romanov, rambouillet, dorset
what are short season breeds
texel and shetland
what are two cautions to consider when using hormones to control breeding
adds cost
make sure enough rams available to breed when they are ovulating
does not increase fertility, only synchs ovulation
what are visual signs of estrus
seek out a ram and stand to be mounted
increased vocalization
raised tail
swollen vulva