Found a good "Sheep Ranching" link? Let Us Know!

Sheep Some sheep breeds are better raised for meat; others for wool. Suffolk fleece is not a good quality wool, but the meat is the best! Topics include Why raising Sheep is fun, What sound do sheep make, Sheep Statistics, Basic care, Preventative health care, Labor and Delivery, Care of newborn Sheep, Sheep Supplies, Cost of raising a Market Lamb, and How do sheep differ from goats?

Sustainable Sheep Production This publication introduces concerns and practices specifically related to sustainable sheep production. Topics covered include breed selection, controlled grazing, pasture lambing, alternative health management, and innovative marketing of meat and wool products. Four enclosures and a list of further resources are also included.

Applied Sheep Behavior Sheep have evolved a unique and fascinating array of behavioral characteristics which have contributed to their survival and proliferation in a unique environmental niche. The successful sheep producer learns to understand sheep behavior, and applies this knowledge to practically all facets of flock management.

Better Farming Series 12 - Sheep and Goat Breeding (FAO - INADES, 1977, 51 p.) This is an FAO manual intended for African farmers. As such, it is pretty simplistic, though surprisingly broad in scope. These make it an excellent starter manual, though experienced farmers/ranchers will probably get nothing out of it...

UNDERSTANDING SHEEP PRODUCTION By Claudia S. Ingham. This paper is one of a series published by Volunteers in Technical Assistance to provide an introduction to specific state-of-the-art technologies of interest to people in developing countries. The papers are intended to be used as guidelines to help people choose technologies that are suitable to their situations. They are not intended to provide construction or implementation details.

Raising Sheep A sort of online manual which may or may not have been culled from various other sources on the internet.

Thinking of Raising Sheep With changes in New England agriculture, many New England farmers and rural residents with land or other available resources are thinking of raising sheep. A lot of things need to be considered before you invest in a sheep enterprise. This fact sheet will help answer some of your questions and help you make a decision. See also: Animal Sciences Research and Reviews, Special Circular 156

Blackbelly Barbados Sheep Blackbelly Barbados meat is unsurpassed by other red meats. It is low in fat and cholesterol but high in protein, which makes it a very healthful choice. There is no muttony taste, even in 2-year-old rams. Unlike meat from most wooled breeds of lamb, Blackbelly meat is very mild flavored and lean, like venison. It is a favorite among ethnic groups, who prefer it over beef.

Creep Feeding Lambs Creep feeding is a management practice of making supplemental feed available only to nursing lambs. Creep feeding is desirable because: (1) lambs gain as much as a third to half a pound per day more when their milk diet is supplemented with grain, (2) the lambs are ready for market 1 to 2 months earlier, thus earlier marketing is adapted to a higher market for spring lambs, and (3) the lambs are not allowed to go to spring pasture, thus permitting more ewes on the same pasture and reducing internal parasites in the lambs.

Rearing Lambs on Milk Replacers Orphan lambs can be an extra profit to the farm flock. As much as $40/lamb can be paid to labor if time is available. A warm room (in the winter) and some basic equipment are all that are necessary.

Feeding Guides for the Ewes The major problem in nutrition is the definition of the desired animal function. Maintenance of the ewe, for example, is generally thought of in terms of the dry ewe. Yet maintenance of productive functions is a constant cost in ewe nutrition, whether she is pregnant, lactating, dry, or in the process of being bred for another year.

Testing Livestock Feeds - For Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, Sheep and Horses Livestock are most productive when fed a ration balanced according to their nutrient needs. Unfortunately, many rations are balanced using average values for each feedstuff. These so-called "book values" often result in over- or under-feeding certain nutrients. More economical and better balanced rations can be formulated using nutrient concentrations determined from feed analysis.

Supplemental Pastures for Sheep Feed costs account for approximately 80 percent of all costs in many dry lot feeding programs for sheep. These costs can be reduced to 50 percent in the total cost with effective pasture programs.

Feeding Ewes [PDF FILE]

Supplemental Pastures for Sheep Feed costs of the ewe and her lambs constitutes 60-70 percent of total lamb production costs. The ewes' yearly feed represents about two-thirds of those costs or 50 percent of all costs of production. Producers can do little about feed costs per ton, but several practices can reduce daily ewe feed costs. Ewe cost per day and feed costs per ton are related, but they are not the same.

Reproductive Problems in Rams The importance of using only highly fertile, healthy rams in breeding programs cannot be overemphasized. This is especially true in the case of small producers where only one ram is required. The ram represents an often neglected part of sheep production.

Using Ram Lambs for Breeding A ram lamb at five months can usually settle a few ewes, but he will be a much more aggressive breeder at seven months. A January-born lamb is ready for breeding in August; therefore as the breeding season progresses, February and March-born lambs come of age for September to November breeding.

Sheep Space Allotments Many sheep producers are converting old farmstead buildings to livestock facilities, or are interested in building new units for sheep. A producer planning his sheep facilities needs to know the optimum spacing required for different classes of sheep. This NebGuide is designed to help make these decisions.

Sheep Diseases [PDF FILE]

Yield Grades and Quality Grades for Lamb Carcasses Lamb carcass grades when applied by a USDA meat grader must consist of a yield grade and a quality grade. Yield grades estimate the percentage of closely trimmed, boneless retail cuts from the leg, loin, rib and shoulder. Quality grades indicate the palatability or eating characteristics of lamb. Evaluating lamb carcasses for USDA Yield and Quality Grades recognizes carcasses with traits that influence live animal and carcass value, and identifies breeding animals that produce lambs of superior carcass merit.

Topical Footrot Treatment

Use of Alfalfa Pasture for Finishing Lambs Small sheep producers often finish lambs for sale on local niche markets, as this provides a premium price per carcass, and shipping expenses are reduced. Finishing programs for these lambs should provide a predictable carcass quality, and should minimize feeding cost. Because of their small scale, the price to these producers of grain-based lamb finishing rations is quite high, often in excess of $200/ton. In an attempt to decrease costs, there has been recent interest in finishing lambs on home grown forages, rather than on purchased grains. This article will discuss the results of the second year of a trial conducted to investigate finishing lambs by grazing on alfalfa.

How to buy your first sheep (without getting shorn) Before you put down your hard-earned money for a trio of auction ewes, you must have a clear picture of what you intend to do with sheep. Want to raise a few lambs to supplement the freezer? Produce quality wool garments? Sell butcher lambs? Your vision of what sheep can offer your farm is going to make a tremendous difference in the breed or crossbreed you buy.

Llamas guarding sheep- Not such a far-fetched idea It seems that farmers always need an extra pair of hands, but finding the money to pay the extra help is often impossible. You need the help to make money, but you need money to pay the help. Faced with this problem when they added a few head of sheep to their operation, Joy and Brent Crawford, a Montana ranching couple, found a unique solution.

"Sheep Resources" Virtual library of links re: Sheep with extensive article links. Too many to weed out myself – HELP!!!

Lambing FAQ. Awesome HTML workup on lambing – very excellent & comprehensive. No Frames version available, too!

"Lambing FAQ" Pretty good article on general lambing questions.

"Lambing FAQ" Much more extensive than previous FAQ - more than twice the size.

Where to Dock Lambs A self-explanatory picture.

Vaccinations for Sheep and Goat Flocks Vaccinations are an integral part of a flock health management program. They provide cheap insurance against diseases that commonly affect sheep and goats.

White Muscle Disease  White muscle disease (WMD) is a degenerative muscle disease found in all large animals. It is caused by a deficiency of selenium and/or vitamin E. Generally, it is not known which. Selenium (Se) deficiency is associated with selenium deficient soils and the inadequate uptake of selenium by forages grown on these soils. Certain areas of the U.S., including the Northeast, are considered low in selenium levels. Selenium deficiency occurs when the soil contains less than 0.5 mg Se/kg of soil and locally harvested feeds contain less than 0.1 mg Se/kg of feed.

Maryland Sheep & Goat Producer newsletter Published quarterly by University of Maryland Cooperative Extension

National Sheep & Goat Directory SheepGoatMarketing.info originated from the North East Sheep & Goat Marketing Project, a USDA-funded project to improve the marketing infrastructure for sheep and goat producers in the twelve northeastern states. This web site was redesigned as a national information resource for sheep and goat marketing, with special focus on the marketing of lamb and goat to the ethnic and religious markets.

Sheep 101 - an educational site about sheep and sheep raising a web site to teach students, teachers, 4-H and FFA members, beginning shepherds . . . and the general public . . . about sheep and shepherding.

Maryland Sheep & Goat Producer Newsletter Main Page The Maryland Sheep & Goat Producer Newsletter is published quarterly by the Western Maryland Research & Education Center/Maryland Cooperative Extension. It is written and edited by Susan Schoenian, Sheep and Goat Specialist. The newsletter can be accessed for FREE from the Internet at www.sheepandgoat.com/news/Index.html and may be viewed as either an HTML or PDF document.  

Mad Cow and Foot-and-Mouth This article was written in 2000. In December 2003, the first case of mad cow disease was found in the U.S. The sick animal came from a farm in Washington State. A second case was confirmed in June 2005. BSE was NEVER confirmed in the Vermont sheep that were seized by USDA in 2000. As of October 29, 2005, 151 people have died from new variant CJD, far short of the epidemic predicted by the scientific community. Click HERE to learn about alternative theories about the origin of BSE.

Composting Dead Sheep Since renderers no longer pick up and dispose of sheep, producers have few options in the disposal of sheep and sheep products. Because of the concerns over groundwater pollution, burying sheep is not practical or recommended in most cases. Incineration is the best alternative, but is very costly, therefore not very practical for small and mid-size sheep producers.

Copper Toxicity Recently, I visited a sheep farm where copper (Cu) toxicity was suspected. Several lambs appeared lethargic and anemic. The producer had purchased feeder lambs from a farm that had been feeding poultry litter (manure).

Disease Image Gallery

Enterotoxemia Enterotoxemia is one of the most common and costly disease problems in the U.S. sheep industry and worldwide. Preventative measures are generally recommended to prevent unnecessary losses.

General Health Care of Sheep and Goats There are many disease conditions for which sheep and goats may be vaccinated. All flocks should be vaccinated for clostridial diseases, specifically enterotoxemia (type C and D) and tetanus. Other diseases that flock owners may consider vaccinating for are sore mouth, caseous lymphadentitis (CLA), abortions (e.g. vibrio, chlamidia), and rabies, but only if these disease conditions have been diagnosed (by necropsy) in a flock or where the risk is deemed high. Extreme care must be used when administering the sore mouth vaccine, as it is a live vaccine and soremouth (orf) is contagious (and painful) to humans.

Infectious Causes of Abortion in Ewes There are many things than can disrupt a healthy pregnancy in a ewe. While it is common for about 25% of embryos to die or be reabsorbed the first three weeks of pregnancy up to the time of implantation, these are the most crucial in establishing healthy pregnancies. The nutritional requirements of ewes during early gestation is only slightly more than maintenance requirements, but it is essential that the flock not be exposed to any undue stresses.

Integrated Parasite Management (IPM) in Small Ruminants Internal parasites are the #1 health problem affecting small ruminants. Sheep and goats are more susceptible to internal parasites than other livestock, due to their grazing behavior and poor immunity. In the past, producers relied heavily on anti-parasitic drugs, called "anthelmintics" to control internal parasites in their goat herds.

Mastitis Mastitis is one of the more common health problems affecting sheep and goats. Severe cases can result in death of the ewe, but more often it takes its toll in the form of treatment costs, premature culling, and reduced performance of lambs and kids.

Milk Fever Strikes Recently, I had my first case of milk fever (hypocalcemia), my first instance in over twenty years of sheep raising. The ewes were two to three weeks from lambing. I had gone out of town for a few days and asked a neighbor to feed for me. My ewes are small to medium sized -- purebred Katahdins bred to a 3/4 Dorper ram. They were receiving 2 lbs. of whole barley per day, plus 2 lbs. of a mixed grass/clover hay, split into two feedings. They also had free choice access to a trace mineral mix, which they had been consuming like gang busters.

Vaccinating for Overeating Disease Recently, my biggest and best Katahdin ewe lamb died, most likely from overeating disease. She was about 10 months old. It was my fault. I had bought her from another farm when she was about 6 months old and had neglected to vaccinate her. Since the start of the breeding season, she had receiving grain to support her continued growth during pregnancy.

What's New in Parasite Research? Recently, an intra-ruminal controlled-release capsule delivering ivermectin was developed for use in sheep. There are two formulations: one for sheep weighing 20-40 kg/44-88 lbs. (lamb capsule), designed to deliver ivermectin at 0.8 mg/day for 100 days and the other for sheep weighing 40-80 kg/88-176 lbs. (adult sheep capsule), designed to deliver ivermectin 1.6 mg/day for 100 days. Field trials were conducted in Germany, Slovakia and UK to determine the efficacy and productivity responses attributable to treatment of lambs with the controlled-release capsules.

Raising lambs and kids artificially One of the problems with having a high lambing/kidding percentage (greater than 200%) is that you may end up with some lambs/kids that you have to raise artificially. This happened to me this year. I had many sets of triplets born, as well as a set of quadruplets. While most ewes/does should be able to raise triplets, sometimes it is best to remove a lamb/kid from large litters in order to obtain more satisfactory weight gains.

Introduction to Feeding Small Ruminants Feed is the single largest cost associated with raising small ruminants, typically accounting for 60% or more of total production costs. It goes without saying that nutrition exerts a very large influence on flock reproduction, milk production, and lamb and kid growth. Late-gestation and lactation are the most critical periods for ewe and doe nutrition, with lactation placing the highest nutritional demands on ewes/does. Nutrition level largely determines growth rate in lambs and kids. Lambs and kids with higher growth potential have higher nutritional needs, especially with regards to protein. Animals receiving inadequate diets are more prone to disease and will fail to reach their genetic potential.

Economical feedstuffs for on-farm meat goat diets (research abstract) Eighteen intact male crossbred Boer meat goats born in March were used to determine if barley could be used as the primary feedstuff in an economical on-farm meat goat diet.

A Cornucopia of Sheep Breeds: Which One Do I Pick? While only a dozen or so breeds of sheep are commercially important, there are over 35 breeds of sheep in the United States. Each breed is valuable and adds to the genetic diversity of the sheep industry. 

How a Wool Pool Works (Maryland Wool Pool) The Maryland Wool Pool was organized over 40 years ago to provide local sheep producers with a way to market their wool.

Producing and Selling Sheep to the Ethnic/Religious Meat Markets  The per capita consumption of sheep meat (lamb and mutton) in the United States is less than one pound per person. Americans (or immigrants) of Northern European descent traditionally do not consume much lamb; however, lamb holds a significant meaning in the observances of many religions and is a dietary staple in many countries. In the U.S., the largest consumers of lamb are Middle Easterners, Greeks, and Hispanics. Population demographics and immigration patterns favor an increase in demand for lamb and goat.

Optimal Slaughter Weight for Lambs

An Update on Hair Sheep in the U.S. (December 2002) Three and a half years ago, Maryland hosted the National Hair Sheep Symposium. Much has happen since with regards to hair sheep, or "meat sheep," as I like to call them (who sells hair?!). Hair sheep numbers have increased and interest continues to grow, as shearers grow scarcer and there remains little money to be made selling wool (as a commodity).

Maryland Hair Sheep Resources

List of Katahdin Breeders in the Southeast (Maryland to Florida)

Perhaps, You Should Consider Hair Sheep On April 16, 1999, the state of Maryland hosted a National Hair Sheep Symposium at the state fairgrounds in Timonium. The symposium was organized by the U.S. Sheep Seedstock Alliance and brought together hair sheep experts from across the United States and producers from many states.

Anthrax in Animals Anthrax has historically been an important disease in cattle and sheep in the US. Effective control methods have decreased significantly the number of cases of anthrax in domestic animals so that it has become a rare disease in most areas of the US. Currently South Dakota, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and California have the highest incidence of the disease in livestock.

Control, Treatment, and Elimination of Foot Rot from Sheep Ovine foot rot was first reported in 1869. It is an infectious, contagious disease of sheep that causes severe lameness and economic loss from decreased flock production. In a Virginia survey, approximately 21 percent of the producers considered foot rot to be a serious health problem in their flocks. With current understanding of the disease, and aided by drugs and vaccines, control and elimination of the disease should be the goal of all sheep producers.

Foot and Mouth Disease The recent Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak that began in the United Kingdom and spread to the European continent has stirred a lot of concern not only in Europe but throughout the world. Although there seems to be a hysteria about this disease, this disease has plagued mankind for centuries. Likewise, FMD is not that rare on a global scale.

Genetics of Scrapie What is scrapie? Scrapie is a slowly progressive infectious disease of sheep and goats, which causes degeneration of the central nervous system. Early symptoms of scrapie include anxiousness and excitability, with head/neck tremors and uncoordinated movement. Advanced stages of the disease are characterized by progressive weight loss, and intense rubbing and scraping against anything to relieve itching of the skin, as well as uncoordinated movement and violent shaking.

Resistance to Internal Parasites in Lambs of Hair Sheep Composite Breeds A comparison of resistance to infection by barber-pole worms (Haemonchus contortus) in straightbred Katahdin, Dorper crossbred, Dorset crossbred, and Caribbean hair sheep crossbred lambs revealed that resistance levels were consistently higher for Katahdins than for Dorper crosses or Dorset crosses.

Scrapie Eradication Program As part of the National Scrapie Eradication Program, USDA-APHIS has instituted specific identification requirements for the interstate movement of sheep and goats. The purpose of this mandatory individual identification is to allow for diseased and exposed animals to be traced back to their flock/herd of origin so that the spread of scrapie can be prevented.

Sheep Notes

Sheep: Internal Parasite Control Internal parasite control continues to be one of the biggest health problems with sheep flocks in Virginia. Internal parasites cause costly reductions in individual lamb performance, and when left unattended, death of the animal. We know a lot more about internal parasite control now than five years ago. However, to be successful, producers must understand the dynamics of internal parasite control, and most importantly the value of proper timing.

Tips for Successful Internal Parasite Control Internal parasites are a potential source of economic losses for sheep producers during the spring and summer months. Parasitic infestation can result in decreased production of ewes and lambs on pasture through reduced milk production and poor weight gains, and even mortality in extreme cases. The two most significant parasite impacting sheep in Virginia is Haemonchus contortus.

Sheep Update: Control of Internal Parasites Internal parasites are perhaps the most significant source of economic losses for sheep producers during the spring and summer months. Parasitic infestation can result in decreased production of ewes and lambs on pasture through reduced milk production and poor weight gains, and even death may occur in extreme cases. The two most significant parasites impacting sheep in Virginia are the barber pole worm and the brown stomach worm.

Sheep Update: Feeding Strategies for the Sheep Flock in Drought Conditions A lack of precipitation throughout Virginia has resulted in poor pasture as well as decreased hay yields. Sheep producers are challenged with providing the ewe flock adequate nutrition heading into the breeding season, yet minimizing supplemental feed costs during this maintenance portion of the production cycle. The following management considerations may be useful for flocks with low pasture reserves...

Sheep Working Pens Are A Necessity Timely management practices such as vaccinations, foot trimming, and internal parasite control are more likely to happen when working pens are a on the farm. Otherwise, there is a tendency to delay or avoid getting the work done.

Sheep-Genetics: Hair Breed Crosses Make Good Commercial Ewes A study comparing the performance of crosses of hair and wool breeds of sheep was conducted at the University of Illinois Dixon Springs Agricultural Center located in southern Illinois.

Spring Lamb Management Lamb management practices during the spring months will largely be dictated by the intended marketing date. Early winter born lambs (January and February) are often managed to maximize growth in an effort to reach acceptable market weights during the spring. Under this scenario, creep feeding young lambs while still nursing the ewe can provide valuable supplemental weight gain. This added weight gain has the most economic value for lambs managed in an intensive, early weaning production system where lambs will be maintained in a dry-lot and fed for rapid gains until marketed.

Standards of Performance for Livestock Projects: Market Lambs The sheep industry is a miniature version of what it used to be. Although there are some people who eat a lot of lamb, there are many who consume none at all. The average consumption of lamb per person in the United States is less than 2 pounds. Producers are challenged by such things as predators and imports.

Winter Ewe Management Tips Lambing season is fast approaching for many Virginia shepherds. Management of the flock around lambing time is critical to ensure a health, vigorous lamb crop. The following are some important considerations as lambing season commences...

Breeding Season Management for Rams and Ewes A diligent amount of time spent studying performance information, pedigrees and other pertinent information is warranted as ram selection is the most important tool for making genetic progress in the flock. Of equal importance is the care and management of the newly acquired ram. Proper management and nutrition are essential for the ram to perform satisfactorily during the breeding season. With ram lambs, management prior, during, and after the first breeding season is particularly important.

Ewe Management Tips: Mid and Late Gestation Proper management and nutrition of the ewe flock during mid and early lactation are critical for optimizing flock productivity and profitability. Balanced nutrition, coupled with proper management during gestation is important for fetal development, lamb vigor and survival at birth. Additionally, proper nutrition during gestation is important to prevent nutritional disorders which may impact the health and performance of the ewe and her lambs, and influences milk production of the ewe.

High Tensile Smooth Wire Fence For Pasture Subdivision And Predator Control When constructing new fence or modifying existing fence, the value of the fence for both improved pasture management and predator control should always be considered. Subdividing large grazing boundaries into smaller units provides more flexibility for altering grazing management and increasing hay production. The importance of properly constructed fence cannot be overstated as a tool for protecting livestock from dog and coyote predation.

Lambing Management Tips, February 1997

Lambing Time Management Dystocia has been shown to be a significant cause of lamb mortality. Losses due to stillbirths and dystocia can be reduced by frequent visits to the lambing barn and timely assistance of ewes. Pregnant ewes should be checked every 3-4 hours. If ewes are checked at 11 p.m. or midnight it is not necessary to check again before 5 or 6 a.m. Ewes that will lamb between these times usually show signs at the late night observation.

Management and Nutrition of the Lactating Ewe and Young Lambs Growth rate of lambs from birth to weaning is largely determined by milk production of the ewe, which emphasizes the importance of good nutritional management during this period. Lactation is also a period in which there is opportunity to control feed costs by feeding ewes according to the number of lambs nursing. During lactation, the ewe's nutritional requirements for both energy and protein are at the highest level of the whole production cycle of the ewe. Therefore, the highest quality hays should be utilized during this time.

Newborn Lamb Management At no other time during the year are the investment of time and sound management practices more important for a sheep producer than during lambing. The financial success of a sheep operation largely depends upon maximizing the pounds of lamb weaned per ewe exposed while minimizing costs of production. In turn, pounds of lamb weaned per ewe depend on saving the lambs that are born. The largest percentage of lamb deaths occurs at or shortly after birth.

Preparing the Flock for the Breeding Season With the hot and dry weather recorded throughout much of the state, several management practices are critical for sheep producers for the upcoming breeding season.

Replacement Ewe Lamb Production Ewe lambs born in March and April are excellent candidates to be used as replacement ewes in spring-lambing flocks. With proper feeding and breeding management, spring-born ewe lambs should be in production by the time they are 12 to 14 months of age. Ewes lambing first as yearlings have a higher lifetime production than ewes lambing first as two-year olds.

Replacement Ewe Lambs Development -- Sheep Update For commercial flocks, crossbred ewes should be retained due to advantages in reproduction and maternal traits compared to purebreds. Available records should be utilized in selecting replacements. Although lambing rate is lowly heritable, and effort should be made to keep twin and triplet born ewe lambs. Ewe lambs born earlier in the lambing season generally are more desirable as replacements as they are larger and older at breeding.

Sheep Management Schedule Profitable sheep production requires the application of certain well-timed management practices to ensure the overall well-being of the flock. Advances in breeding, lambing, feeding, and health management have given producers the tools to increase both the number and weight of lambs marketed annually.

Sheep Production in Virginia Sheep possess an exceptional ability to convert a wide variety of noncompetitive feedstuffs (forage and crop residues) into high quality meat and fiber products for human use. Sheep enhance environmental quality and provide a sustainable means of production for millions of people throughout the world. Compared with beef cows, which may produce 60 to 70 percent of their live weight in offspring annually, ewes may produce 100 percent or more.

Diversify With Sheep for Increased Profitability Because sheep and cattle complement each other rather than compete for the same farm resources, one ewe can be added per existing cow unit without increasing the forage resources already committed to the cattle. Historically, most farms in Virginia with sheep have also had cattle.

Key Considerations in Developing Livestock Ordinances Several Virginia counties in the southside region are in the process of establishing or changing local ordinances that govern livestock feeding operations on agriculturally zoned properties. Local citizen input to planning commissions and supervisor boards is vital to such a process. When making this input it is important to understand the purpose and effects that certain ordinances will have on the use of farmland in agricultural zones within the county.

Lambfeed$ -- Lamb Feeding Break-even Spreadsheet The spreadsheet allows the user to input his estimates into each cell that is underlined. The spreadsheet does not serve as a ration balancer or performance predictor. Lambfeed$ can serve as a feeder lamb buying guide because projects either a breakeven sale price at a range of purchase prices. The program also allows the user to input his finished lamb price projection on then estimate the returns across various feeder lamb purchase prices.

Profitable Sheep Production Through Spring Lambing Lambing in the spring capitalizes on the reproductive efficiency of a spring-lambing flock and takes advantage of spring, summer, and fall forages for lamb production. Spring lambing reduces the capital outlay required for labor, facilities, and purchased feeds. Studies comparing fall-lambing, winter-lambing, and spring-lambing production systems found spring lambing to consistently be the most profitable production system of the three. The higher profitability of spring lambing is attributed primarily to improvements in ewe fertility and prolificacy. Because of the seasonality of breeding inherent in most breeds of sheep, fewer ewes lamb in the fall and winter, with fewer lambs born per ewe lambing.

Feeding Sheep Nutrition plays a major role in the overall productivity, health, and well-being of the sheep flock. Because feed costs account for approximately two-thirds of the total cost of production on most Virginia sheep farms, it is important that producers consider nutrition management a top priority. Nutrient requirements of sheep vary with differences in age, body weight, and stage of production.

Packing House By-products as Livestock Feeds The practice of feeding protein products derived from animals to other animals is soon to be much more tightly controlled. The new regulations, which go into effect August 4, 1997 will be most noticeable on the labels of certain manufactured feeds. These regulations are being put into place as a precaution to maintain the United States free of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). This disease was first found in cattle in the United Kingdom in the 1980's. This disease creates lesions in the central nervous system of cattle.

Seed Dwarf Pearl Millet By May 15 Every summer, many of Virginia's permanent pastures, consisting of cool season grasses, decline in quantity and quality of production. A summer annual that has proven to be high yielding, high quality, and safe for ewes and lambs to graze is dwarf pearl millet. Dwarf pearl millet is kin to sudangrass but does not contain prussic acid and only reaches mature heights of 36 to 48 inches. It should be seeded between May 10 and 20 at a rate of 25 pounds per acre.

Sheep Grazing Management Forages constitute 75 to 90 percent of the total diet for sheep. Sheep are excellent converters of forage to meat and fiber and are capable of producing a USDA Choice carcass from forage alone. Sheep consume a wide variety of forages, and selectively graze numerous weeds and other pasture menaces such as multiflora rose and blackberry. Companion grazing of sheep with other species of livestock, such as cattle or goats, results in greater pasture utilization and higher quality pastures than when a single species is grazed alone. Sheep prefer to graze hillsides and steep slopes and provide a means for improving forage utilization and fertility on areas not accessible to farm equipment.

Sheep Update: Creep Feeding Lambs Creep feeding young lambs while still nursing the ewe can provide valuable supplemental weight gain. This added weight gain has the most economic value for lambs managed in an intensive, early weaning production system where lambs will be maintained in a dry-lot. Conversely, for lambs that will be developed on pasture throughout the spring and summer, creep feeding would be of less value due to the relative expense of this early weight gain. Creep feeding also is beneficial for flocks with a high number of multiple births, or flocks with ewes having limited milk production.

The Value Of Alternative Grains For Sheep Production When additional energy and protein are required, corn and soybean meal commonly form the basis of the grain portion of most sheep diets. However, when justified by supply or price, other grains may replace all or part of the corn and soybean meal in a diet.

Whole-Grain Diets For Finishing Lambs Whole-grain feeding of lambs improves feed efficiency, increases average daily gain, and lowers overall feed costs per pound of gain. It is the most profitable feeding program that can be used for grain-based finishing of feedlot lambs. Whole-grain diets consist of whole (unprocessed) grains, such as shelled corn or barley, mixed with a pelleted protein-vitamin-mineral supplement

Lamb Artificial Rearing Checklist Artificial rearing of lambs does not have to be labor intensive or accompanied by high levels of lamb death loss. With 1996 average lamb prices in excess of $.91 per pound, every lamb saved results in increased profitability for the producer. Advances in the production of high quality commercial lamb milk replacers, techniques that reduce labor through the use of self-feeding equipment, the use of early weaning, and the application of certain well-timed management practices make artificial rearing a practical and profitable alternative.

Management Strategies for Improved Fall-Lambing Of the three major lambing seasons, fall lambing (September to November) is the most difficult to accomplish because of the inability of most breeds of sheep to cycle and breed in the spring and early summer.

Profitable Artificial Rearing of Lambs Many producers find it difficult to justify artificial rearing of orphan or bonus lambs because of the relatively high cost of lamb milk replacer, the increased labor requirement associated with artificial rearing, and past bad experiences with high mortality rates of artificially reared lambs. However, advances in the production of high quality commercial lamb milk replacers, techniques that reduce labor through the use of self-feeding equipment, the use of early weaning, and the application of certain well-timed management practices make artificial rearing a practical and profitable alternative. The purpose of this publication is to describe the management and economics of raising lambs artificially.

Profitable Sheep Production Through Spring Lambing Spring lambing occurs during the months of March, April, and May. Lambs graze with their dams in the spring and throughout most of the summer. After weaning, lambs remain on pasture until marketed as slaughter lambs or feeder lambs in the late summer and fall. Grazing management, internal parasite control, predator control, and lamb marketing strategies are key elements essential to a successful spring-lambing program. The purpose of this publication is to describe the management and marketing practices that are used to enhance the general well-being and overall profitability of a sheep flock on a spring-lambing program.

Replacement Ewe Lamb Production Ewe lambs born in March and April are excellent candidates to be used as replacement ewes in spring-lambing flocks. With proper feeding and breeding management, spring-born ewe lambs should be in production by the time they are 12 to 14 months of age. Ewes lambing first as yearlings have a higher lifetime production than ewes lambing first as two-year olds.

Sheep Production in Virginia Sheep possess an exceptional ability to convert a wide variety of noncompetitive feedstuffs (forage and crop residues) into high quality meat and fiber products for human use. Sheep enhance environmental quality and provide a sustainable means of production for millions of people throughout the world. Compared with beef cows, which may produce 60 to 70 percent of their live weight in offspring annually, ewes may produce 100 percent or more.

Topical Footrot Treatment Many youth have their lamb projects for the fall show season or will have them very soon. Due to the climate of North Carolina and wet pens, footrot can become a problem for some 4-H'ers.

Use of Alfalfa Pasture for Finishing Lambs Small sheep producers often finish lambs for sale on local niche markets, as this provides a premium price per carcass, and shipping expenses are reduced. Finishing programs for these lambs should provide a predictable carcass quality, and should minimize feeding cost. Because of their small scale, the price to these producers of grain-based lamb finishing rations is quite high, often in excess of $200/ton. In an attempt to decrease costs, there has been recent interest in finishing lambs on home grown forages, rather than on purchased grains. This article will discuss the results of the second year of a trial conducted to investigate finishing lambs by grazing on alfalfa.

G2610 - Sheep Pregnancy Checking by Ultrasonic Sound Ultrasonic sound waves of about 2 million cycles per second can pass through living tissue. Used to determine sheep pregnancy, these sound waves are painless and have no harmful after-effects to the ewe or fetus.

G2910 - Heritability and its Use in Animal Breeding How much advantage for a particular trait do superior animals transmit to their offspring? Heritability estimates help us answer this important question. This publication explains the meaning of heritability estimates, how they are calculated and their influence in changing livestock performance.

F-3801 A Breeding Program for a Fall Lambing Program The purpose of this fact sheet is to suggest a breeding and lambing schedule and a flock management plan that incorporates successful management practices.

CR-3802 Flock Improvement through Ram Selection In a purebred or commercial flock where replacement females are produced, ram selection is critical and can account for 80 to 90 percent or more of the flock improvement.

CR-3803 Fertility Testing Rams Increases Profits With the problems that sheep producers face due to epididymitis and infertility in rams it is essential to have a Breeding Soundness Examination (BSE) done on every breeding ram in the flock.

Tips on Managing Ewe Flocks with Reduced Feed Resources Drought situations place significant pressure on the feed and water resources available for livestock. Producers need to plan for the most effectively management and conservation of their resources. Early planning and decisions regarding the management of the livestock are most critical. Every operation may have different options based on stocking rates, production status of the animals, total available feed resources and the financial position and cash flow situation of the operation.

F-3854 Feeding and Managing Lambs from Birth to Market  Under most management situations, market lambs and replacement ewe lambs can be fed and handled together until the lambs reach 100 to 110 pounds in weight. In this guide, when we refer to lambs, the instructions will apply to both market lambs and replacement ewe lambs, unless otherwise designated.

F-3855 Electric Fencing for Sheep This fact sheet discusses the use of electric fencing for sheep.

F-3856 Starting a Sheep Enterprise This fact sheet discusses considerations in starting a sheep operation.

F-3858 Internal Parasite Control in Sheep in Oklahoma Parasites could easily be ranked as the number one health problem in Oklahoma sheep production. If the sheep producers of Oklahoma will apply the principles presented in this fact sheet, they can decrease losses caused by parasites in their flocks.

F-3999 Livestock Disease – Cause and Control The purpose of this fact sheet is to acquaint livestock producers with some basic facts about diseases, their spread, and ways to minimize losses.

F-570 Slaughter Lamb Marketing and Price Differences This fact sheet briefly discusses price determination and price discovery.

 F-9116 Gossypol Toxicity in Livestock Gossypol is a toxic compound found in the cotton plant. This fact sheet discusses the effects of gossypol in livestock.

F-3860 Sheep Health and Management The key to any successful livestock health and management program is planning. The guidelines in this fact sheet were developed for your use with this concept in mind.

F-3861 A Planning Calendar for Sheep Herd Health and Management This calendar is designed to handle the management phases of pre-breeding, breeding, pre-lambing, lambing, and pre-weaning /lactation and post-weaning.

The National Sheep Improvement Program [PDF] A nationally organized sheep improvement program for sheep producers in the United States was implemented in 1987 under the name of the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP). This program completed a 3-yr Phase I project on February 16, 1990, that involved the definition of a uniform set of performance guidelines, development of an NSIP records processing center with associated performance recording materials and computer software, and the enrollment of both purebred and commercial flocks.

Foot Rot Control Ovine foot rot was first reported in 1869. It is an infectious, contagious disease of sheep that causes severe lameness and economic loss from decreased flock production. In a Virginia survey, approximately 21 percent of the producers considered foot rot to be a serious health problem in their flocks. With current understanding of the disease, and aided by drugs and vaccines, control and elimination of the disease should be the goal of all sheep producers.

Spider Syndrome Spider lamb syndrome or hereditary chondrodysplasia is a condition found primarily in blackface sheep, most commonly Suffolk (75%) and Hampshire (25%). The first reported occurrence of a "spider lamb" (a phrase picked up from Southern Minnesota sheep ranchers) was in 1980. Within the next five years there was a dramatic increase in the incidence of spider lambs. Lambs may be born without any detectable abnormalities, but by four to six weeks of age deformities of the legs and spine can be noted. Due to these deformities, these lambs have difficulty nursing and seldom survive.

Considerations in Wool Marketing What is the potential of this overlooked and underutilized product?  Wool, a natural fiber that "breathes" and insulates the body in hot or cold weather, helps conserve heating and air conditioning fuels.  Wool seldom catches fire and, if it should flame, will usually extinguish itself before much damage is done. It will not drip, melt, or reburn in other areas.

Sheep and Goat Insect Management Most of the insects that infest sheep also infest goats, but some of the goat lice species are specific for goats. Very few insecticides are approved for lactating goats. For listings of insecticides for control of insect pests of sheep see EC1550, Nebraska Management Guide for Arthropod Pests of Livestock and Horses. John Lloyd, University of Wyoming, has provided much of the information used here on sheep parasites. See also: Sheep and Goat Insect Controls

Sheep Pocket Guide This pocket guide on sheep production is designed as an aid to basic sheep management practices in today's sheep business. It would be impossible to design a guide to meet every producer's operation; however, the recommendations and guidelines suggested should address most producers' questions and concerns on running a profitable sheep enterprise.

Determining Pasture Rental Rates The purpose of this publication is to help landowners and tenants determine and compare rental rates for pasture by the acre and AUM, and help develop contracts that maintain landowner control of his or her lands. Although this publication should be helpful in determining rental rates and showing the conversions between different rental rate methods, rate may still vary with water, pasture type, developments, availability and access to land, and fencing maintenance needs.

Controlling Leafy Spurge Using Goats and Sheep Goats and sheep have long been used for weed control. Their use has increased in recent years because of the need for biological control agents in environmentally sensitive areas. Sheep mostly graze forbs (flowering plants) while goats generally consume shrubs. Sheep and goats became popular biological control agents to control leafy spurge in the northern Great Plains region in the mid 1980s and the 1990s. Ironically, sheep were proven to be effective for controlling leafy spurge in the 1930s while goats were first used in the 1980s.

Sheep on Shares The sheep industry is undergoing major fundamental structural changes. The American Sheep Industry Association predicts that expanded sheep production will move into the farm belt of the upper great plains. As this happens, the potential exists for new producers to enter the business. One of the entry methods may be to use leased or rented ewes. Investors are expressing interest in owning sheep, and working farmers and ranchers are looking for alternative ways to finance sheep flock expansion. A sheep lease arrangement may provide a vehicle for a retiring sheep producers to help the next generation get started and also provide a method for deferring capital gains on the flock.

Feeding Barley to Sheep Barley is an energy-rich feed grain grown in the temperate climates of North America and Europe. Sheep operations in these areas, as well as others throughout the world, rely on barley as a source of energy and protein in lamb and ewe diets. This report is intended to review the recent scientific literature related to the use of barley in sheep diets and to give recommendations for its successful use in sheep diets.

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