Ovis aries

General Information

• Ovine

• Male = ram

• Female = ewe

• Young = lamb

• Castrated male = wether

• Act of giving birth = lambing

Anatomy

• Ruminant

• Dental pad

• Even-toed ungulate

• Polled or horned

• Acute sense of smell and hearing

• Wool producer

Statistics

• Average Temperature 101 – 103 F

• Heart rate 70 – 80 bpm

• Respiration 12 – 20

Breeding

• Seasonally polyestrus

• Gestation 150 days

• Puberty 8 months

• Birth care: Doc tails,

dip umbilical cord

Behavior

• Not smart!

• Creatures of habit

• Panic Easily

• Flocking instinct

• Like quiet

• Not generally aggressive

Housing Needs

• Protection from Rain/cold

• Need shade

• Well drained pasture

• Protection from predators

• Fencing

Nutritional Needs

• Grazers

• Good pasture

• Good quality hay

• Grain

• Fresh water

Handling

• Approach quietly

• Moving

• Hand under chin

• Hind leg

• Set up on rump/turn head

Breeds

• Over 800 breeds

• Classified as: MeatWoolDual

Capra hircus

General Information

• Caprine

• Male = buck

• Female = doe

• Young = kid

• Castrated male = wether

• Act if giving birth = kidding

Stastics

• Temperature 101 – 104 F

• Heart rate 80 – 120 kids

70 – 80 Adults

• Respiration 12 – 20

• Rumen contractions 1 – 3/ min

Anatomy

• Ruminant

• Even-toed ungulate

• Dental Pad

• Horned or polled

• Scent glands in males

Breeding

• Seasonally polyestrus

• Gestation 150 days

• Puberty 7 to 10 months

• Multiple births common

Behavior

• Intelligent

• Curious

• Aggressive/playful

• Clean

• Pecking Order

Housing & Nutrition

• Similar to Sheep

• Browsers

• Hate to Get Wet

• Fresh water

Handling

• Resist Heavy Restraint

• Agile

• Climbers/ Jump

• Catch by chest, chin, horns

• Halter

• Stanchion

Breeds

• Over 40

• Dairy

• Meat

• Pack

• Pets/companions

Health ConcernsSheep and Goats

• Bloat: Serious buildup of gas in digestive tract. Frothy bloat or dry bloat

• Enterotoxemia: (overeaters disease) Symptoms: Diarrhea, circling, convulsions and sudden death. Vaccine available

• Foot rot: Fungus. Lameness usually first sign. NUMBER 1 problem with sheep

• CAE (goats) Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus transmitted through mother’s milk. No treatment or vaccine

• Pneumonia (especially in sheep) Caused by several bacteria or viruses. Symptoms – off feed, fever, death!

Tetanus

Caused by organism in soil (Clostridium tetani)

Grows in absence of 02. Puncture wound

Signs: Stiffness in hind end, unable to swallow, bloat

80% fatal

Mange

• Lice burrowing under skin

• Highly contagious

• Reportable disease, includes quarantine

• High economic losses

Scours

• Usually a problem in lambs 1 to 3 weeks of age – especially if bottle fed.

• Milk irritating to intestines – too much cause rawness of lining leading to diarrhea

Worms

• Big problem with sheep because of grazing habits.

• Worm with broad spectrum wormer minimum of twice a year.