goat and sheep behavior

what is typical sheep behavior

Sheep are docile and non-aggressive A very brave sheep may stamp its hoof and charge - but sheep aren't brave, in general Horn size is a factor in the flock hierarchy Sheep become stressed when separated Ensuring that sheep always have visual contact with other sheep will prevent excess stress when moving or handling them Sheep will form groups within the flock, usually related sheep, especially a ewe and her direct descendants Sheep can recognize and remember both a human or ovine face for years Within mixed breed flocks, sheep of the same breeds tend to separate themselves out, forming groups Sheep IQ slightly lower than pigs but equivalent to cattle Sheep can remember faces, and can differentiate emotional states from facial expressions Sheep can learn their names and can be halter trained Sheep are *extremely* food oriented The sheep's strong flocking tendency makes it easier for humans to move them

sheep nutrition should look like

Sheep are grazers Sheep feed from dawn to dusk, stopping off and on throughout the day to ruminate Ideal food includes: grasses, legumes, forbs, and hay (primarily in the winter) Some common toxic plants include (but not limited to): Oak, acorns, tomato, yew, rhubarb, potato, and rhododendron Sheep in particular need to be supplemented with copper and selenium but you must be sure to use a sheep-specific supplement as too much can cause toxicity

what is common procedures in sheep

Sheep are not typically disbudded or dehorned Besides castration, tail docking is second most common procedure performed on sheep Docking prevents fecal matter from accumulating on the tail and hindquarters of sheep and lambs. Research has shown that tail docking greatly reduces fly strike Most commonly done with an Elastrator banding system - same tool used to castrate

what do we need to know about before restraining sheep

Sheep will try to go through or climb fencing Sheep will cause injury, exhaustion, and hyperthermia while trying to escape capture and/ or restraint Sheep can become hyperthermic VERY easily - Remember they are wearing wool coats Individual sheep need to be separated from the rest of the flock - this usually needs to be done by more than 1 person Once caught, sheep will continue to try to escape during the procedure

what are the stages of labor for goats/sheep

Stage 1 usually lasts 3 to 4 hours but can last up to 12 hours Stage 2 the lamb/kid is born, usually completed w/ in 2 hours Stage 3 is complete w/ in 6 hours (4 hours for goats) Sheep & Goats often consume the placenta

what are other issues in sheep with birth

include vaginal and uterine prolapse C-sections are commonly performed in sheep through the left flank w/ the female in right lateral recumbency Retained fetal membranes are common in sheep Ovine and caprine placenta is cotyledonary - like Bovine placenta it has "buttons"

what is a sheeps reproductive cycle like

most ewes are seasonally polyestrous (Oct-Nov), however there are some breeds that cycle year-round Ewes and rams reach sexual maturity around the ages of 6-9 months The age of puberty in ewes is influenced by breed, genetic selection, body size, nutrition, and season of birth Ovine Estrus cycle lasts on average 17 days Gestation is on average 150 days

what are signs in labming and kidding

swelling of the vulva mucoid vulvar discharge heavy breathing enlarged udder

what are signs of heat in ewes

swollen vulva increased vocalization frequent urination restlessness allowing other ewes to mount

What is pregnancy toxemia?

- characterized by energy demand > energy available, resulting in hypoglycemia and hyperketonemia (ketosis). Result is a hypoglycemic encephalopathy. 90% of untreated ewes die.

how do we evaluate if the sheep or goat can reproduce

A breeding soundness exam is typically performed yearly on all breeding animals - typically before the start of breeding season Rams/Bucks are examined physically and their semen evaluated Ewes/Does are examined physically - teats are palpated Artificial Insemination is possible with sheep/goats, but not common in the U.S.

how common is tail docking in sheep

All lambs should be docked by the time they are 2 weeks old, regardless of the method used. Older lambs and mature sheep should be docked by a veterinarian using general anesthesia. Though banded lambs are most vulnerable, tetanus vaccination is recommended for all docking methods.

how can we tail dock

An electric docking iron cuts and cauterizes the tail simultaneously and is probably the most humane method of tail docking. It can be used on older lambs. An emasculator can be used for docking; crushes vessels to lessen bleeding as it cuts A Burdizzo can also be used with a knife to cut off the tail (inside the Burdizzo). Tails can also be cut off using a knife; however, this technique is not recommended because it can cause excessive bleeding.

what is banding

Banding is a bloodless method of tail docking The band cuts off the blood supply to the tail, and the tail falls off in 7 to 10 days Some producers cut the "dead" tail off before it falls off Docking by banding can be painful to the lamb Lambs should be at least 24 hours old before bands are applied, and bands should only be applied during the lamb's first week of life If it is practical, the use of a local anesthetic, such as lidocaine, can be used to reduce the pain felt by the lamb, prior to the band being placed

how can we dehorn in goats

Barnes Surgical Surgical saw Gigli wire General anesthesia

how can bucks behavior differ

Bucks can become very aggressive during rut Dominance & the right to breed are established head to head fighting Goats display aggression by head butting Alarmed goats display piloerection, stamp their front feet, and make a sneezing/ snorting noise

how is castration in small ruminants

Castration is the most common reproductive surgical procedure performed in ruminants Castration methods are selected on the basis of species, age, management, and environmental factors Status of dam's or patient's tetanus vaccination history should be checked and boosted if necessary before performing a castration Castration is usually performed during the first week of life unless the animal is being kept long term It is advisable to castrate these animals around 5-6 months of age It is believed that early castration may retard the full development of the penile urethra Methods of castration include: surgical knife castration, elastrator, and emasculatome

what is a goats reproductive cycle like

Does are typically seasonally polyestrus, however will cycle year round in tropical climates Caprine Estrus cycle lasts on average 22 days Gestation is on average 150 days Signs of heat include: "flagging", hanging around the buck, increased vocalization, and a decrease in appetite and milk production

what is dystocia like in goats and sheep

Dystocia is fairly common in sheep Contributing factors to dystocia include: breed of the sire breed of the dam age of the dam number of fetuses bodyweight of the dam

what happens after the lambs are born

Dystocia = If labor takes over an hour for mature ewes and over 2 hours for ewe lambs, assistance may be required In sheep, the placenta should be passed 2 to 6 hours after delivery is finished In multiple births, there are separate afterbirths for each lamb After the lamb is born, the ewe will lick and nuzzle it to begin the bonding process

how can we capture sheep

Easiest way to capture a sheep is to corner it, using hands to capture head and knees to prevent backing up Once caught, sheep are restrained by cradling the neck in one arm & encircling the rump w/ the other Sheep should NEVER be captured by grabbing the lower legs, wool, or horns Legs can be easily broken, wool can be pulled out or damaged ( costing the producer money), and horns can break off

how do lambs mature

Ewe lambs will tend to reach puberty their first fall For this reason, spring-born ewe lambs tend to exhibit puberty earlier than fall-born ewe lambs Lambs born early in the season reach puberty earlier than those born late in the season, due to their increased age and body weight

goat nutrition should look like

Goats are browsers They prefer to browse the tips of woody shrubs and trees, and occasionally broad-leaved plants Their diet has a wide variety including some plants that are toxic to another species Goats will eat cracked or ground corn, oats, hay, grass, and formulated pellet chow Goats also need mineral and vitamin supplementation, but not very susceptible to toxicity

how can goats be restrained

Goats can be handled by their beards Handling cannot be too rough Goats can even be gently led by their beards If horned, a goat can be gently restrained by grasping the horns close to the base Some goats may resent this Goats can be haltered and tied like cattle Goats do not like to be handled by their ears An effective means of restraint is to corner the goat against a wall or back it into a corner Straddling goats is another option Goats are not set up like sheep Goats are alternatively placed into lateral recumbency Standing along side the goat and cradling its head is another option Lifting one of the goat's leg can be used, however the leg must be kept in a comfortable position Kids are restrained similar to lambs Kids are usually held on the restrainers lap

how intelligent can goats be

Goats can learn their name Goats can be halter or collar trained Goats are prey animals Goat communicate vocally and through body language Goats investigate everything using their upper lip & tongue, giving the impression that goats eat everything

what is reproduction like for goats and sheep

Hermaphrodites occur in goats more frequently than in sheep Twins are common in both Does have been known to give birth to triplets, quads, quints, and even sextuplets, whereas ewes typically twin Single births are uncommon for either

what is typical goat behavior

Inquisitive, social, active, independent Herd animals Avid climbers and jumpers (> 5 feet) Avoidance when uncooperative Goats are intelligent Environment can influence behavior Respond to human touch and companionship Flocking instinct not as strong as sheep Goats tend to scatter when frightened Social hierarchy - herd will follow if the dominant goat captured Every herd has a dominant female - she leads the herd and her children are "royalty" In mixed herds, goats will tend to separate themselves out by breed! The herds typically are extended family groups

what should lambs and kids be feed

Lambs and kids, like all ruminants, are monogastric for the first several weeks of life until their rumen begins to develop and should be offered high-quality creep feed at 2 weeks of age

what do we need to do during late gestation

Late gestation (last 4 to 6 weeks) is a critical period for goat & sheep reproduction. This is when the majority of fetal growth is occurring, placing increasing nutritional demands on the doe/ewe. Dams consuming inadequate diets are prone to pregnancy toxemia and milk fever Nutrition in late-pregnancy affects the size and vigor of kids/lambs and the milk producing ability of the dam.

how can rams behavior differ

Rams can be very aggressive, have caused serious injuries, even death A ram should never be trusted, even if it is friendly or was raised as a pet It is important to always know where the ram is and to never turn your back on him Children should be restricted access to rams during the breeding season

how can we disbud in goats

Recommended Must do first 2 - 3 days old Heat cautery Must use caution - can cause brain damage if not done appropriately Kid box Paste Caustic Not recommended

how can we restrain sheep

The back end can be further restrained by placing the rear arm over the back and grasping the skin fold on the opposite flank An effective method of restraint is to corner the animal and then to straddle the animal between the restrainer's legs applying pressure to the animal's shoulders while keeping hold of the head Keep the hind end towards the corner to prevent escape Another common method is "setting up" or "rumping" or "tipping" sheep The head is turned into the body (shoulder), forcing the animal to sit on its back legs or lie down The sheep is taken off its feet and placed on it's rump by grasping the outside forelimb and rotating the front of the body over the hind end The sheep's body is leaned against the restrainer's legs The animal can easily be transitioned into lateral or dorsal recumbency from this position

what length should we dock to in sheep

The tail stub (dock) should be left long enough to cover the ewe's vulva and ram's anus No shorter than the distal end of the caudal tail fold Tails docked shorter than this may result in an increased incidence of rectal prolapses among lambs. This is because short-tail docking damages the nerves used by the lamb's anus.

what are some devices to restrain a sheep

shepherds hook sheep chair halters gambrel