Average 5-8 years

but can live to be 10+

By the number of perminent teeth on the lower front jaw

(they have no teeth on thier front top jaw)

5-8 months of age

(smaller breeds mature first)

True or False

Only male sheep have horns?

Texas

(1,090,000)

In the west

(9 out of 10 leading states here)

Texas, California, Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Montana, Utah, Idaho, Iowa, Oregon

Produced in the west

consumed in the North East

• utilize forages that would generaly go to waste
• raise on land that cannot be farmed
• raised on land that may not be suitable to raise cattle on  (seven sheep can survive on food for one cow)
  
• utilized in multi-species grazing with cattle and goats

Spanish (Western)

and

European (Eastern)

Spanish system of raising sheep

• Ranching
• (Territory states) move through Mexico and head to California (drier Western climates)
  
• large numbers with little individual attention
• Unfenced areas and watched by herders
• produces wool comparable to Austrailian wool (soft, high quality)
• Based on Merino sheep with Fine wool production being first and meat as a sideline
  

• Farming (East, wetter states)
• but can be found in any state, fenced with smaller numbers
  
• Originated in Britain and Dutch breeds moved west with settlers
• originally kept in backyards then communal pastures herded by shepherds
• ID by ear noches, cuts and paint brands
• Medium wool and meat
  
• Less Rambouillet(fine wool) and more black-faced ewes

Where is the sheep industry in the U.S.?

Statistics?

Western states (11 total)

• 66% total ewe numbers
• 8 out of 10 leading states
• 71% of U.S. wool produced
• Wool sells for 79 cents vs 44 cents

True or False

Lambs can be born in any month of the year?

winter and spring

(January to May)

This is when farmers had time to take care of the animals, they were not taking care of crops

(April to May)

This is when the grass begins to grow and is ready for consumption

Born tail and hind legs first

(correct points of toes up, incorrect points of toes down)

• stand quietly why the baby nurse
• lick the baby for encouragment, bonding and increase blood flow

• Clip navel of lamb (so doesnt drag in bedding)
• Dip navel in iodine to dry it up
• Strip teats of ewe to be sure she has and can deliver milk
• Sip, make sure lamb gets a drink of milk

32

12 are molars on top and bottom jaw

Lamb till its two center immature teeth fall out

Since it is no longer a lamb its value per pound is reduced.

How many breeds of sheep are there?

How many are of commercial importance?

450+ breeds

50 with commercial importance

• Type of wool
• Color of faces
• Fact they don't have wool
• Primary use in each contry

• Ewe or Mother Breeds
• Maternal
• Gregarious
• high quality wool
• live long
• Rambouillet blood

• Sire or Ram Breeds
• fast growing
• weight more
• larger mature size

• Speckle
• Brockel
• Smut faced
• Regardless they all have Hybred Vigor

• Rambouillet
• Columbia
• Ploy Pay
• Targhee
• Corriedale
• Dorset

• Suffolk
• Hampshire
• Shropshire
• Oxford

• Wool
• Meat
• Milk
• Skin (Pelts)

• china (132.6 Million)
• Australia (121.9 Million)
• Iran (50 Million)
• New Zealand (47.3 Million)
• India (45.6 Million)
• UK (41.5 Million)
• Turkey (33 Million)
• Pakistan (31 Million)

in Microns and staple length

(staple length from part to end of wool)

Produced in the Southern Hemishpere

Consumed in the Northern Hemishere

• Coarse/ Carpet ... Carpets and Upholstery
• Medium ... Tweeds, Velours, Yarns, Sheltands
• Fine ... Apparels and Fabrics

• Australia (683,944 million tons)
• China (300,000 million tons)
• New Zealand (266,700 million tons)
• United Kingdom (84,947 million tons)
• Uruguay (70,000 million tons)

• Less than a lb per person per year
• Highest in Northeast (Boston-Washington and also Miami, Atlanta and Los Angeles)
• More ethnic than other meats

New Zealand and Australia

(have more consistancy in breeds making them more uniform for the meat industry)

• 100 million sheep are milked in the world
• Industry concentrated around Mediterranean Basin
• Majority of milk goes into cheese and yogurt products
• International Dairy Federation lists 127 cheeses made from sheep's milk

• China (1,140,000MT)
• Turkey (921,660)
• Italy (700,000)
• Greece (630,000)
• Sudan (510,000)

• U.S. imports 300 million lbs of sheep cheese annually
• 150 producers in the U.S. now

True or False

most milk is harvested by hand under extnsive and unhygienic conditions?

True

(in some areas of the world the milk of the ewe is shared by her lambs and people)

• Pecorino
• Romano
• Manchego
• Feta
• Ricotta
• Roquefort

a by-product of the animals harvested for meat

(they are not slaughtered just for thier skin in the U.S.)

• Tents
• Water holders
• Bag Pipes
• Saddles-Saddle pads
• Clothing
• can be eaten in cooked or pickled form in protein poor countries

• Exhibition-show
• Pets
• Religious
• Bride Price
• Sport Fighting