ANS 41L Final Addition

ADG of weaned lamb on feed

0.5 lb/day Range = 0.4 - 0.6 lb/head/day (up to 0.8 lb) Begin feeding at: 60 lb → requires 4 months to finish to 110 lb 70 lb → requires 3 months to finish to 110 lb On green pasture → gains are only 0.3 - 0.4 lb/day

After weaning, ADG is expected to be

0.75 to 1.75 lb/day depending on the breed

Lambing%

100 to 110% (range 85 to 120%), Lambing% often depends on where the ewes are bred (temperature) (kern better than fresno because cooler there)

Beef Time of Ovulation

12 hr. after end of estrus

Beef Age at Puberty

12 months

Bred as yearlings to lamb at

14 to 18 months of age on the average

Sheep Gestation (d)

148 days

Sheep Estrous cycle (d)

16 -17 days

Beef Estrus (period)

16 hours

California has __% of sheep/feedlots in US

17.3% (#1)

Pregnant Ewes Should gain weight during gestation

20 to 30 lb of gain Last trimester shows rapid fetal growth so energy & nutrient needs are increased

Lamb mortality rate

20-25% from birth → weaning, mostly in first 15 days of life

Beef Estrous Cycle

21 days

Beef Gestation Period

283 days

Sheep Estrus (h)

30 hrs

Winter Lamb Production Flock Size average number

300 to 5,000

Average for Fresno and fern county is

3000 to 5000 ewes

Puberty of ram lambs

4 to 6 months of age

Replacement heifers weigh

50 to 60% of their mature weight at breeding, and weigh 70 to 80% of their mature weight at first calving, After breeding, heifers should continue to gain weight (they are still growing), Many producers separate first-calf heifers from the cow herd because they are unable to compete with older cows for feed

Rams are productive to

6 or 8 years of age (generally do not live that long because rangeland does not support that life span)

Beef Weight at Puberty

600 lb.

California has __% of stock sheep in US

7.4% (#3)

Sheep Weaning%

90 to 100% Weaning is market time, can be from 3 to 6 months of age.

A good nutrition program is also important during the dry period

A dry pregnant cow in average body condition should gain weight sufficient to account for growth of the fetus (60 to 90 lb)

Range Band Method

About 70% of U.S. sheep are located in the western state range. Large numbers of animals that are moved across the land takes down forage and leave manure Relative emphasis on lamb and wool production in the range area varies according to the rainfall and vegetation. Arid & semiarid regions moisture difficient) of South West Semiarid & semi humid area (rains more) of the west

Health at Winter Lambing

April to July = De-worm all animals (internal parasites) Dip or spray sheep following Spring shearing for lice & ticks. Trim hooves & check for foot rot. Vaccinate ewes for abortion diseases such as vibriosis. Dec to Feb = vaccinate lambs at marking time for tetanus & clostridium perfringes type D.

Sheep Sold around

April to may 5-6 months of age when feed availability decreases to lamb does not loose too much weight (loose approx. 5-10% of lambs due to climate change)

Care of lamb at eweing

As lambing approaches, unsheared ewes should be tagged -cleanliness, Tagging or crutching - shear wool from around the dock, flanks + udder, Do not underfeed or overfeed the ewe

Profitability Commercial Production

Beef cow is expected to produce a 450 lb calf in 7 months (calf grows on milk and grass), Maintain a 365 day reproductive interval, Few dystocias, Low birth weights (low birth weight bulls), Adequate nutrition, High milking , Bulls need to be Fertile and Useful on range

Selection of rams Criteria

Breed: black face because superior meat quality Size + structure: long loin, good legs Palpate testicles: fertility check for epididymitis (hardening of testicular structure that can cause sperm to seep out of tubes)

Semen testing in Bulls

Bulls used are most commonly semen tested on a yearly basis and before purchase for breeding soundness , This includes examinations of the penis and testicles, measuring the scrotal circumference and accessory sex organs by rectal palpation, A semen sample is also collected usually by electroejaculation, Evaluated for motility morphology

Top Sheep Producing States

California (over 600,000), Texas, Colorado,

Difference between cattle and sheep grazing

Cattle rip off forage with tonged in large quantities while sheep use teeth to bite through and injest Roughage (%) Sheep/Goats 90 Beef Cattle 80 Swine 4 Concentrate (%) Sheep/Goats 10 Beef Cattle 20 Swine 96

Commercial Vs Purebred

Commercial : Live Calf, Extensive, Live Cover, No synchronization, Find bulls with the right EPDs, Sell calf when weaned Purebred : Live Calf, Intensive, AI, Synchronization, Make bulls with better EPDs, Sell bulls as yearlings

Disadvantage to lamb in fall

Conflict with normal breeding need a good reproductive management season and will have to supplement feed to get therm at the weight for weening

Overfeeding will also affect performance

Cows that are too fat show Increased dystocia, Decreased milk production, Decreased rebreeding ability

Factors affecting reproduction

Daylight, Environmental Temperature, Nutrition

Dirt vs Soil

Dirt is inorganic material with no nutrients while soil has microbial activity that can sequester carbon is rich in microbes incorporate nutrients

Predictors of profitability (EPD)

EPD (expected progeny differences) : Calculated numbers that indicate the genetic value of a specific animal compared to another animal within the breed, The combination of these values and visual appraisal allow producers to select bulls that will work best in their business, Purebred producers want their bulls and heifers to have the best EPDs

Health may vaccinate for

Enterotoxemia (Pulpy - kidney disease, Overeating Disease), Blue Tongue: some vaccinate while others spray sheep, Losses may be as high as 10 to 15% of the ewe flock, Ketosis (pregnancy disease, lambing paralysis, twin-lamb disease, pregnancy toxemia) may occur in flocks held on grain stubble until lambing.

Lactating Ewes

Ewes may yield from 1-4 qt/day Ewes' milk (in comparison to cows' milk) is richer in protein & fat and higher in ash (total mineral) and solids

Ewes and Ram breeds

Ewes: usually white faces + crosses (larger litters and better reproduction) Rams: usually black face (better meat)

Commercial

External management systems, Labor and resources are limited, Live fast growing calf, Few dystocias, good milking cows, Live cover, Bulls must be fertile, easy fleshing (desire to have a bull that is easy to maintain on a low forage input on the range and hold up body weight/stamina), and useful in range environments, No synchronization, Cows breed back naturally for a 365 day reproductive interval (have calf every year)

Normal presentation of lamb birth

Forelegs extended with head lying between them → dive position, Dip navel with a tincture of iodine (lambing pens vs. range lambing), Dry the lambs + allow the lamb to suckle the dam → colostrum feeding provides passive immunity -important before gut closure after 12 hours

Reasons for bummer lambs

Inadequate ewe nutrition →milk production low, Death of an ewe, Inflamed udder (mastitis or dry half), Insufficient maternal instinct -not using jugs/jail which allow ewe & lamb to bond

Pregnant Ewes Inadequate Nutrition

Inadequate nutrition during the last 6 weeks of gestation may cause problems

Purebred production

Intensive management system - Labor and resources are abundant, Bull calves are grown out to become herd sires for commercial operations, Heifers are grown out to become replacements in other purebred operations, Use primarily A.I. Semen from high quality bulls is available and used Females are synchronized (CIDR)

Lambing pens Advantage

Keep ewe + twin lambs together, Eliminate lambs wandering off, Eliminate trampling of lambs, ↓ disowned lambs

Lamb consumption

LA + SF, NY, Boston, Chicago (ethnic diversity consume high amounts of meat)

Beef Best Time to Breed

Late estrus

Commercial production

Live calf (finish and get to feed lot so are paid)

Purebred

Live calf, superior genetics, herd sires, and replacement heifers (specific genetics, herd sires to sell, etc.)

Purebred Profitability Production

Live calves Births can be assisted if necessary, High performance in calves, Calves are usually creep fed, Cows expected to maintain a 365 day reproductive interval, Usually synchronized, Increased genetic potential, Herd should always be improving, Maximum profitability comes from selling yearling bulls as herd sires

Pregnant Ewes Feeding supplements

May feed ≈ ½ to ¾ lb. grain/ewe/day Supplementing results in: stronger lambs + ↑ milk production of ewe → better lamb gains Use supplements? Issue of economics! Poor lamb prices, high grain cost → no supplement

Feeding

Most producers depend on range forage for most of their feed year around. Feed at lambing time = green grass pasture

Purebred Flocks

Normally small, generally in the central, southern & eastern U.S. However, there are some large purebred flocks in the range states and an increasing number of small purebred flocks.

Winter Lamb Production Area

Northern CA and the North Coast Area, In areas where late Fall and early Winter feed is not available

Underfeeding during last 1/3 of pregnancy results in

Nutrient stores within her body mobilized to support development of the fetus → could decrease her ability to rebreed, Cows with reduced body reserves will produce less milk during lactation → will decrease calf performance

Time spent on different fedstuff by season

Oct to Jan/Feb to alfalfa higher quality feed for milk production and increased lamb growth, Feb to April on green grass (Fresno and Kern), June to Oct: Focus on grazing stubble, Fresno: on the dry grain stubble along the west half of the valley, some on the dried grass in the foothills., Kern: sheep are moved to higher mountain elevations, grass pastures.

Commercial Flock

Often times they are large (western states) with the main objective to produce lamb (and wool) as efficient as possible under conditions available. Slightly less intensive management than the purebred flock Produce lambs under conditions given (marginal land) that sheep can make use of

Types of lambing

Open range lambing: lambing out on pasture Barn lambing: shelter, warm lambs, mother up

Orphan, Bummer or Motherless lamb use milk replacer

Purchase a replacer formulated for lambs. Gains of lambs fed whole cows' milk or calf milk replacer are inferior

Orphan, Bummer or Motherless Lamb Grafting -preferred method

Putting an orphan lamb onto a ewe that has just lambed -must make lamb acceptable to the ewe (take placenta and rub on hide of lamb mother now things lamb is hers)

Sheep breeds commonly crossed

Ramboulle and merino ewes and sufflox and Hampshire rams to get both good quality wool and meat

Fall lamb production Area

Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys and Southern CA (western riverside), Where feed is available in late fall early winter(alfalfa, winter wheat, barely, pasture)

Sheep Nutrition

Sheep are ruminants and therefore have the ability to utilize a wide variety of feedstuffs

Sheep reproduction type

Sheep are seasonally polyestrous (don't want to lamb when there is no feed for lambs)

Sell wool

Sheering price no major market for wool since wool quality in US is not as good as Australia

Shearing

Spring & Fall and before lambing tagging = around dock, utter, and flanks to keep areas clean and wagging = sheer ewe head only so the mother can feel the cold and seak shelther because her lamb will need protection)

Most sheep replacements are purchased as ewe lambs from

Texas, new Mexico, idaho and montana, preference hot climate born replacement, Replacements are purchased in fall so spring born lambs (age 6-12 months old), Produce crossbreds to a purebred ewe to create cross bred lamb

Needs to have enough reserves to carry body weight through the suckling period

Total gain should be ~ 100 to 150 lb during gestation or a rate of ~ ½ lb per day

Vaccinate -3 for lambs

White muscle disease -inject with selenium + vitamin E at birth, Enterotoxemia -inject with bacterin or toxoid. booster req. 2- 4 weeks later. Best given at 6 -8 weeks old, Tetanus -inject with tetanus antitoxin at birth

Sheep consume a higher proportion of their diet

as forages than any other class of livestock

Culling of breeding ewes Reasons

bad udder (mastitis) cannot feed young, ewes not lambing twins, mouth or teeth problems → gummers (no lower incisors) - cannot graze well unsoundness → structural problems Diseases Poor fleece Ewe not raising a lamb for 2 reasons → infertility/average 10% dry ewe Culling should be done shortly after weaning time

Weaning is market time

can be 3 to 6 months of age. Gains of lambs are dependent on the amount & quality of the range forage available. Feed affects (increase growth rate) milk yield of ewes

Docking tails -main reason

cleanliness of the animal (flystrike tail remains undocked remains long and is in contact with feces and urine caked together perfect moisture for flies to use as fly breeding ground and maggots hatch and move into the animal) use rubber band (numb no harm)

California sheep industry Advantages relative to US

climate is mild (moderate relatively dry), markets (population centers), transportation (railway), rangeland 36 million acres (24 private, 12 public), utilize crop residue/aftermath

Sheep Identification

ear tags, ear notch, ear tattoos(high value animals uysed for breeding)

Advantage of feeding in confinement

eliminates predators, ↓parasite load, no need for bedding (on slatted flours) + fencing

Milk replacer disadvantages

expensive, labor intensive

Winter Major benefit

feed available

Postpartum anestrous

first estrous after birth not viable

Purebred breeder

goal growing sheep that expresses growth potential

Disadvantage of feeding in confinement

high level of management, high cost of grain waste disposal

California sheep industry Disadvantages

higher real estate values in west (land for homes), cost of grain, waste disposal (feedlots)

Anestrous period (reproductive inactivity)

in April to June -do not demonstrate estrus

Breeding Ewes are bred

in late July, Aug & Sept (early in the breeding season)

Milk replacer advantages

know how much + what the lamb is eating

Primary growth production is

lamb meat (mutton is older sheep meat)

Stock-sheep producers

lamb producer who feed under pasture conditions until either lambs are finished or placed in feedlots

Major benefit to lamb in fall is

lambing on alfalfa good feed availability

Feeder lamb producers

lambs are first raised on forage until they are 60-80 lbs and then placed in feedlots to be fattened and finished for slaughter

Because net profit margins are small, fattening or feedlot lamb operations are

large → feeding ≈ 4,000 lambs or more a year

In the US Producers more interested in

meat production, wool is only 15-20% of producers income

California sheep are moving from

northern counties to southern counties why? Land speculation, climate, crop residue/aftermath, predators, markets, slaughter facilities, transportation, alternative crops

Lambing pens

often used only in bad weather (when pens are available) - jugs/jails -4'x 4' pen

Winter Major disadvantage

poor weather at lambing Winter season Dec to Feb poor weather

Purebred Flocks General objectives

provide males to other purebread flocks and males and ewes to commercial flocks to improve genetic merit of whole flock

Purebred General characteristics (compared to commercial range producer)

purebred flock have individual ids and info about animals, advertisement of animals, feed additional concentrate so they are in prime condition if forage is low quality (unlikely for commercial ranch)

Castrations

ram try to breed with any ewe causes a lot of stress in the flock, without castration have a very lean carcus

Almost all feeder lambs come off the range when

range feed is inadequate to produce finished lambs suitable for slaughter at market time or weaning time True for fall + winter lambing systems Market with 110 lb. ≈ 40% of range lambs are finished in feedlots

Rangeland

singles and twins are desirable, triplet births usually result in death

What influences cyclical biology/biological systems

temperature, sunlight, sleep and eating 24 hour cycle (diurnal), there is a periodicity of light, ruminant animals eat like clock work when sun goes up and down and right in between crepuscular feeding (eating on pasture at sun rise and sun set)

For a brood cow, ~ 50% of the fetal weight gains are made in

the last 1/3 of pregnancy:

Flushing

to increase ovulation rate since breeding early in the breeding season. increase number of twins (desirable twins not triplets)

Lambing in Sept, Oct & Nov Reason

to utilize feed ie alfalfa that is available

Lamb not breathing at birth

use straw to illicit sneezing to clear off nostrils of lamb to get it to sneeze and illicit breathing, dip head in cold water to shock, swing lamb around by hind legs

West

want 1 lamb/ewe

Midwest

want 1.5 lambs/ewe

Selection of replacement ewes Criteria

white face (good wool quality/quantity + out of season breeding), open face (not blocked with wool) fine wool (not main criteria side quality) teeth - good quality (really important grazing animal with teeth issues is death no food intake) good legs, structurally sound (hoofs very important need to walk long distances) out of season breeding

Winter time on feed

~ 4 to 6 months of excellent feed Winter: green grass Summer: dry forage (poor quality feed)

Average life span of the range ewe

~ 5 lamb crops/ewe and average life span 6 1/2 years of age

Total in U.S. sheep

~ 5,000,000

Beef calves usually weaned

~ 7 to 8 months of age, Calves utilize grass and mothers milk until weaning, On summer range (usually starting in July), Calves & yearlings (replacement heifers) should be supplemented (creep or licks), Allows growth of 1 to 2 lb/day

Lambing pens Disadvantage

↑ labor, Clean bedding, disease problems due to confinement; need well-ventilated barn (build up of gas such as ammonia)

Range produced lambs feeding

≈ 40% of all range-produced lambs receive additional feed after they are moved from range and prior to slaughter in CA Because it is difficult to predict the fat lamb market 2- 4 months in advance → lamb feeding is speculative → therefore requires excellent management abilities