Chapter 10Sheep and Goat Production

Facts: Look similar Ruminants Goats have beards Sheep have foot glands Male goats have a strong smell Slight differences in horns and skeleton Goats are more intelligent, independent

and have a better ability to fight and protect themselves. Goats were first to be domesticated Goats skins were once used for bottles Sheep and goats are used for food and fiber Both were used to plant seed by trampling them into the ground.

The Sheep and Goat Industry: Raised for food and Clothing Goats domesticated 9000 years ago Sheep domesticated 8000 years ago Sheep originated in Asia and Europe Goats originated in Mediterranean area and Asia Brought to America 400 years ago Australia and New Zealand lead in producers of sheep New Zealand people consume around 60 pounds of sheep per

year. The world consumption is around 3 pounds per year China and India are the leading producers of Goats These two countries produce 460 million head North America only produces 2.5 million; numbers have

declined due to lower returns, predators, high risks, high wages, and uncertain prices.

Goat numbers have increased in the 2000’s USA ranks 27th in sheep numbers. The largest sheep numbers

are in Texas

PRODUCTS FROM SHEEP AND GOATS:Food

Lamb – meat from a young sheep less than one year old.Mutton – is meat from a sheep that is more than one year old. Mutton has a strong flavor – less desirable.Goat Meat – ChevronMilk – from goats (not common from sheep), has small particles known has globules.Milk products – cheese (Roquefort)

Products from Sheep and Goats: Clothing:

Wool – soft cloth of sheep

Mohair and Cashmere – from specific goats

Sheep yield 5-15 pounds per shearing

Hides are used for leather products called – Chammy

Advantages of Sheep and Goats: More suitable for range land Excellent scavengers Sheep more efficient in

converting feed to meat than cattle

Dual purpose animal producing meat and fiber

Yield fast returns – 8 months to raise

Sheep and goats can be pastured together

Goats eat browse (woody plants) Sheep graze on short grass and

some broadleaf plants Don’t have a huge waste

disposal problem Don’t need elaborate facilities

Disadvantages of Sheep and Goats:

Price of wool is low and unstable

Synthetic fibers has hurt the industry

Consumption of lamb is low

Susceptible to disease and parasites

Susceptible to attack from predators

Sheep and Goats as Organisms: Ruminants Cloven hoofs

(divided) Classified in the

Bovidae family Sheep are more

economically important than goats in the USA

Differences between Sheep and Goats:

Goats: Goats range from 20

(dwarf) to 150 pounds Goat height 1.5 -4 feet Goats live 8-10 years

Sheep: Sheep range from 100-

225 pounds Wool on a large sheep

weighs 15 pounds Sheep live 7-13 years

Age and Sexes: Lamb – young sheep or either

sex and less than one year old

Ewe – female sheep any age Ram – male sheep kept for

breeding not castrated Wether – castrated male

sheep or goat before maturity Nanny – doe or female goat Buck or Billy – male goat not

castrated Kid – young goat under a year

of age

Reproductive Traits: Breeding season for goats is regulated by the

climate and season. Hot climates – goats mate year round In climates away from the equator goats mate

typically in late summer and fall Goats (does) are breed to have their young at

two years of age Process of giving birth in goats – kidding Kids weigh around 5 pounds Goats typically have 2-3 kids per litter Gestation period for a goat is 151 days Gestation period for a sheep is 148 days Estrus cycle for goats are 18 – 19 days Estrus cycle for sheep is 16-17 days Heat period for sheep is 30 hours (no visible

signs) Goats require very little shelter

Conformation and Type:

If eaten should be muscular, health, strong and sound.

 

Breeds and Classes of Sheep:

Over 200 breeds of domestic sheep are in existence today. ¾ of the sheep raised come from these sheep listed - Suffolk, Dorset, Hampshire, Rambouillet, Polypay, and Columbia. North America includes – Oxford, Southdown, Corriedale, Montadale, Shropshire, Cheviot, and Katahdin.

Breeds and Classes of Goats:

Over 300 breeds of domestic goats are known. Domestic goats are in five groups.

Angora – Used for angora fiber Dairy – 1.8% of world supply of

milk. Average doe produces 5 pounds per day (for 10 months)

Meat – Spanish goat and boar goat – don’t compete for grass, but rather prefer browsing.

Cashmere – finest animal fiber used. 3 times the insulating value of wool.

Pygmy – used for research and pets

Sheep Selection and Production: 80 % Meat and 20 % Fiber

- Wool Selection – important for

production goals Production Systems:

Farm Flock – most popular method

Purebred Flock – Pure Blood lines, lots of labor

Range Band Method – a band of sheep with it’s own herder

Confinement Method – becoming popular. Less parasites, land needed, less death.

Breeding: Ewes reach puberty at 8-10

months Rams reach puberty at 5-7

months Ewes give birth at 24 months Giving birth in sheep is called

– lambing Ewe Management

Care at lambing / orphan lambs Docking – 3-10 days Castration – 3-10 days Nutritional needs – all six

nutrients Feeding – concentrates verse

roughages (do better on these)

Diseases and Parasites: Prevention key

to successful practices - Sanitation

Facility and Equipment Requirements:

Sheep need housing Fencing – woven wire Equipment – loading

chutes, crates Exercise tracks Showing animals –

Fitting and Showing Goats have a leash Sheep are shown

without equipment

The End