1. Breeds of Sheep
Mr. Smith

2. Sheep Facts 5 month gestation Dual purpose breed
Meat, wool
Docking, castration, vaccinating
Wool grading
Micron, length, crimp
Lambs born in spring, shearing in spring
Range operations
Micron- individual fibers are accurately measured 1micron = 1/25,000, diameter
Crimp- How close together is it, number of bends in fiber
Length- how long?

3. Wool

4. Wool Crimp

5. Pros of Sheep Production
1. Eat a variety of forages including weeds and brush
2. Eat grain lost at harvest
3. Very versatile: can graze in various environments
4. Frequently have multiple births
5. Can be raised on limited acreage
6. Low initial investment
7. Yields many useful by-products
8. Provides healthful meat a. More digestible than other red meats b. Lower cholesterol because it does not marbleize c. Provides protein d. High in B vitamins, niacin, zinc, and iron
Can graze from steep mountain to colder regions most common with wool breeds
Meat is more digestible than other red meats, low in cholesterol because it does not marbleize, provides protein, high in B vitamins, niacin, zinc, and iron

6. Cons of Sheep Industry 1. Low consumer consumption rate
2. Fluctuation in meat processing and marketing
structure
3. Low wool prices
4. Easy prey for predators
5. Susceptible to disease and injuries
6. Susceptible to a variety of external and internal
parasites
7. Must be carefully managed
8. High labor cost to manage sheep

7. Columbia Developed by the US Department of Ag
Developed to thrive on Western ranges
Produce medium wool and large amounts of meat
Rams of long wool breeds and crossed them with a Rambouillet = large ewes with increased wool and meat production. Create true breed to eliminate range cross breeds
Used on range and raised on farms
lb ewes and lb rams

8. Corriedale Developed in New Zealand & Australia Dual purpose breed
Produces bulky, high density wool
Most popular breed in South America
Second most significant breed below Merino
Mature ewe 10-17lbs of fleece

9. Dorset Originated in Europe
Medium-sized breed with high quality, white wool
Most popular white-faced breed in the United States
Horned and polled varieties exist
Polled varieties came to existence in North Carolina, genetic mutation
#1 white face breed
#2 breed in USA second to Suffolk

10. Hampshire Originated in Hampshire, England Black face and legs
Mild demeanor
Unbroken wool cap should extend from the neck over the forehead
Rams 275lbs, ewes 200lbs 6-10lb fleece

11. Lincoln Originated in England The largest breed of sheep
Long-wooled breed
White faces
Pronounced forelock between the ears
lb male rams
lb ewes
Large lean, well muscled carcass

12. Merino Originated in Australia Primarily a wool breed White-faced
Most popular breed in Australia
High quality wool used in the textile industry
20-22 microns

13. Rambouillet Originated in Spain Shipped to France in 1801
White in color

14. Southdown Developed in England Well suited to farm flock production
Gray face with white body
Adapted to wet conditions
Early maturing, good lambing ability, and average milk production

15. Suffolk Originated in England Most popular breed in the US today
Produce large amounts of meat
White with black faces and legs
Southdown rams with Norfolk horned ewes
University of Idaho played a great role and continues to play a role in their advancement in the western United States

16. BY Products Project
In groups of three or four will create collage/ poster of a certain topics of animal by products
Will have a rubric for what is expected
Each person will choose
Sheep Hide and Wool, Sheep fats and fatty acid, Sheep bones horns hooves
Goat By-Products
Beef By-Products
Horse By-Products
Pig By-Products
Llama/alpaca By-Products