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