200 pt

300 pt

400 pt

500 pt

100 pt

200 pt

300 pt

400 pt

500 pt

100 pt

200pt

300 pt

400 pt

500 pt

100 pt

200 pt

300 pt

400 pt

500 pt

100 pt

200 pt

300 pt

400 pt

100 pt

Sheep and goat facts

Grazing management

fencingAnimal health nutrition

500 pt

How long gestation is for sheep or goats.

What is 150 What is 150 days? days?

(approximately)(approximately)

The main type of feed to be provided to sheep or goats

for good health.

What is forages? (pasture, browse,

grass, hay)

The time of the year when most breeds of sheep or goats will be

cycling (able to reproduce).

What is fall? (they

respond to shorter

daylength)

A major challenge in raising sheep or goats.

What is fencing, internal parasites,

predators?

One of the big advantages of small ruminants

What is early maturity, short time

to market, prolificacy, forage-based, small size,..

(we could go on and on!)

This system of grazing can help even out grazing use and improve nutrition for the

animals.

What is rotational grazing/management intensive

grazing?

One of two dangers to sheep on pasture

What are internal parasites or predators?

One of two vital

tools for managing grazing

animals.

What are fences or managers?

Lactating ewes need Lactating ewes need more than dry ewes of more than dry ewes of

these.these.

What are protein, energy, dry matter intake, and water

Provides enough protein and energy for all classes of ruminants,

if adequate quantity is allowed.

What is vegetative pasture?

The number one health problem for sheep and goats in humid

areas.

What is internal parasite infection?

Prevent this by using guardian animals.

What is predation?

Clostridium Types C&D, and T

What is the main vaccination usually given to sheep and goats?

Fundamental condition for good health.

What is good nutrition, or low-stress living conditions, or

sanitation, or hardy stock, or preventative health care?

It is better to prevent this illness than to have to treat it.

What is…you name it! Footrot, soremouth, acidosis, pregnancy

toxemia, internal parasite infection, ETC.?

This is the basis of pasture management and overall health of

the grazing system (plants and animals and soil); and also good

neighbors.

What are good fences?

A reel of this is relatively inexpensive and easy to install .

What is polywire or polytape?

Four fence options that can be used for sheep and goats.

What are electric fence (high tensile wire, polywire, polytape, electrified netting), woven wire (various options for spacing), board fence, chain link, cattle panels, barbed wire if enough strands or if electric wire is

added?

Cost, longevity, ease of installation and of maintenance, reliability, flexibility, possible cost-share opportunities, and

safety.

What are factors important to consider when deciding on fencing?

An important feature in designing electric fence.

What is the energizer, ground rods, lightning protection, cut-off

switches, insulators, posts, wire? (you may think of something else,

too)

Body condition score and animal gains.

What are two ways to assess the nutritional program?

Intake (how much the animals eat).

What is the most important determiner of gain?

(also, indicator of palatability and of digestibility)

Young animals need a higher percentage of this in their diet compared to mature

animals.

What is protein?

Needed by sheep and goats but potentially toxic if given in too large amounts.

What are minerals? (copper might be thought of in particular for

sheep)

Something to consider if an animal is losing weight.

What are internal parasite infection, chronic illness,

inadequate diet, poor teeth, stage of production (lactation)?