Look Inside
This book provides a foundation for understanding what breed of sheep to raise, and how to raise it. There are many thousands of known breeds of sheep but many are old, threatened with extinction or already extinct, or perhaps not even registered. By contrast other breeds are well-managed, well maintained, and registered.
Breeds are often classified according to the purpose they are primarily used for. This may be for wool, meat or dairy. Most sheep are relatively good for more than one purpose (often meat and wool); but few excel at all three.
ISBN: 978-0-6483232-8-0
Pages: 85
Contributors
John Mason
Dip.Hort.Sc.
Jade Sciacia
B.Sc.(Biol)
Kara Wight
BSc (Zool), HND (Animal Care)
Peta Jinnath Abdul
B.Sc.
Dr Maria L. Schmitz Fontes
PhD, MSc, BA Hons
Jacinda Cole
B.Sc., M.Psych.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Domesticated Sheep in Human History
Types of Sheep
Ovis aries
Ovis canedensis
Ovis dalli
Ovis ammon
Ovis nivicola
Sheep in History
Science in Sheep Farming
Sheep Farming is No Easy Feat
Wool
Hides
Milk
Meat
Types of Domestic Breeds
Breeds for Fine Wool
Breeds for Long Wool
Breeds for Meat
Dairy Breeds
Chapter 2 Biology & Behaviour
Sheep Biology & Appearance
Sheep Behaviour
Chapter 3 Husbandry Practices
Introduction
1) General Daily Care
2) Scheduled Practices
Drenching (as required)
Injecting (as required – often twice annually)
Dipping (once a month – depending on seasonal and climatic conditions)
Hoof trimming (once annually)
Shearing and crutching (once a year)
Tail docking (soon after birth)
Castration of lambs
3) Responding to Problems
Ewes and lambs that don’t pair-up after birth
Weeds in the pasture and poisonous plants
Pests and diseases
Breech births and problems during lambing
Administering first aid
Chapter 4 Breeds & Breeding
Breed Types
More about Breed Categories
Breeds for Smaller Properties
Meat and Wool Sheep
Mini Breeds
Milk Sheep
Feeding Sheep
Chapter 5 Overview of Breeds
Further reading and study
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