Welcome to ANSC 101!The Sheep Industry

Please click the arrow below to begin

exploring the sheep industry!

Welcome to the ANSC 101 sheep industry

tour!! In this unit you will be able to learn about

and explore the unique sheep industry!

Please click the arrow below to begin

exploring the sheep industry!

Before we begin, familiarize yourself with the navigation

buttons below.

Help!

The green arrow is the next button and will move you to the next page.

The red arrow will return you to the previous page.

The barn button will return you to the main menu.

The help button will direct you to your TA’s information.

Learning Objectives

1. What are the different breeds and types of sheep?

2. What are the 5 major primal cuts of a lamb?3. What is some general information regarding

the sheep industry, specifically Purdue University’s sheep unit?

Help!

Welcome to the main menu! Click on a picture icon

to begin!

Breeds of sheep Parts of sheep General Information

If you click on any words you see that are bold and

circled , you will be referred to a glossary!

Need help?? Your professor and TA’s

information is below if you have any questions.

Dr. Colleen Bradybradyc@purdue.eduAg Admin. Room 227

Abby Sweetasweet@purdue.eduAg Admin. Room 221

Help!

Did you know???

• There are 47 breeds and types of sheep in the United States.

Breeds of sheep:

• The breeds of sheep in the United States provide a diverse range of performance for growth, carcass merit, reproduction, milk and wool characteristics.

Breeds of sheep:

Click on the types to learn

about an example of that

breed type.

• There are 6 different types of breeds in the United States.

Meat breeds

Fine wool breeds

Long wool breeds

Dual purpose

Hair breeds

Minor breeds

Help!

Hampshire• Meat type breed of sheep

• Used as a source of terminal sires for commercial lamb production.

• Large in size, moderately prolific. They also have a wool cap on their head with a black face and medium wool fleeces.

• Hampshire sheep have very good milking abilities, as well as good growth and carcass cutability.

Help!

Wool cap

Rambouillet• The Rambouillet is the

foundation breed of most U.S. range flocks.

• They have an extended breeding season and produce a high quality fine-wool fleece.

• They are white-faced in appearance with wool on their legs.

• Rambouillets are the largest of the fine-wool breeds, rugged, and adaptable to a wide variety of arid range conditions.

Help!

Romney• The Romney is a medium-sized,

white-faced breed with wool extending on their legs.

• They make good mothers, and have average or better prolificacy, as well as good milk ability.

• Romney’s produce a coarse, long-stapled fleece that is well-suited for spinning.

Help!

Columbia• The Columbia is the first breed

developed in the United States.• They are a hardy and social breed

that make good mothers.• Columbia’s have white faces with

wool extending down the legs.• The Columbia is a dual purpose breed

because they’re commonly used as terminal sires to produce fast growing, lean market lambs but also produce heavy, medium-wool fleeces with good staple length.

Help!

Katahdin• The Katahdin is a wool less breed of

sheep that originated in Maine.• They have excellent mothering

abilities, good milkers, and quite prolific.

• They have an extended breeding season.

• Very tolerant of environmental factors such as heat, humidity, and cold.

• They are the largest of the hair breeds and naturally produce a lean and well-muscled carcass with good flavor.

Help!

Help!

Shetland• The Shetland is a primitive breed and

also one of the smallest breeds.• They have a natural hardiness, good

lambing ease and longevity.• They also are able to survive harsh

environmental conditions.• Shetland sheep are known for their

production of colorful wool upon which the Shetland woolen industry is based.

Now that you have seen an example of each breed type, let’s see if you can identify the appropriate breed with its matching

type!!!

Help!

Match the breed with it’s breed type by clicking on the type. Start with the first breed listed.

Hampshire

Rambouillet

Romney

Columbia

Katahdin

Shetland

Hair breed

Long wool breed

Dual purpose

Minor breed

Meat breed

Fine wool breed

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Match the breed with it’s breed type by clicking on the type. Start with the first breed listed.

Hampshire

Rambouillet

Romney

Columbia

Katahdin

Shetland

Hair breed

Long wool breed

Dual purpose

Minor breed

Meat breed

Fine wool breed

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Match the breed with it’s breed type by clicking on the type. Start with the first breed listed.

Hampshire

Rambouillet

Romney

Columbia

Katahdin

Shetland

Hair breed

Long wool breed

Dual purpose

Minor breed

Meat breed

Fine wool breed

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Match the breed with it’s breed type by clicking on the type. Start with the first breed listed.

Hampshire

Rambouillet

Romney

Columbia

Katahdin

Shetland

Hair breed

Long wool breed

Dual purpose

Minor breed

Meat breed

Fine wool breed

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Match the breed with it’s breed type by clicking on the type. Start with the first breed listed.

Hampshire

Rambouillet

Romney

Columbia

Katahdin

Shetland

Hair breed

Long wool breed

Dual purpose

Minor breed

Meat breed

Fine wool breed

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Match the breed with it’s breed type by clicking on the type. Start with the first breed listed.

Hampshire

Rambouillet

Romney

Columbia

Katahdin

Shetland

Hair breed

Long wool breed

Dual purpose

Minor breed

Meat breed

Fine wool breed

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Sorry! Try Again!

Help!

Now its your turn!! Please look up another meat breed type of sheep and list a few facts (2-3) about that breed, as well as the name of the

breed.

Submit

• Did you list the breed name?

• Is this breed a meat type breed?

• Did you include 2-3 facts about that breed?

• Did you cite any references used?

• Make sure you SAVE the PowerPoint and e-mail to your TA.

• Please return to the “Home” menu when finished.

While sheep are known for their wool production, they also produce a variety of

meat cuts!

Help!

Parts of the sheep

Help!

There are 5 major primal cuts of lamb:

LoinForeshank/Breast

Shoulder Leg

Rack

Help!

Shoulder:• Meat cuts from the shoulder are tough

but flavorful.• They are also lowest in price.• Meat cuts from the shoulder include:

Blade chop and the boneless shoulder

Loin:• This is the premium cut of lamb and

therefore the highest priced.• Meat cuts from the loin include: loin

chop and loin roast.

Rack:• The premium cut of lamb and therefore

the highest priced.• Meat cuts from the ribs include: crown

roast and rib roast

Shoulder:• Meat cuts from the shoulder are tough

but flavorful.• They are also lowest in price.• Meat cuts from the shoulder include:

Blade chop and the boneless shoulder

Foreshank/Breast:• Meat from this part of the lamb is

tough but still flavorful.• It also some of the lowest priced cuts

of meat.• Some cuts of meat from this part of the

lamb include: shank and riblets.

Leg:• The most versatile, with mid-priced

cuts of meat.• Some cuts of meat from this part of the

lamb include: whole leg and American style roast.

Click on the shaded area of the lamb to learn about what cuts of meat

come from that part.

Help!

Now its time to learn about some general management

practices at the Purdue Sheep Unit!

Welcome to Purdue University’s Sheep Unit!!

Help!

Help!

Purdue Sheep Unit• Manager: Gerald Kelly• Purdue’s sheep unit is home to 350-400 ewes annually, with

half of the ewes lambing in the fall (non-traditional) and then traditional lambing in the spring.

• There are approximately 50 acres of alfalfa, orchard grass, red clover, and birds foot trefoil pastures contained in seven-wire, predator control, high-tensile fence.

• Provides facilities for research for intensive efforts in nutrition, reproduction, physiology, neuroendocrinology, and biomedical research.

• Research, teaching, and extension activities are daily activities that take place, as well as the daily care of all animals.

• The objectives of the sheep unit are to improve the quality of animal protein and increase efficiencies of production.

Reproductive Traits:

• Sheep are seasonally anestrous and usually bred in the fall to lamb in the spring.

• The gestation length is typically 144-152 days depending on the breed.

• The estrous cycle is generally 16-17 days in length.

• The estrus period is typically 20-42 hours

Help!

• Age of puberty is 5-8 months• Typically breed ewes at 9 months if

appropriate size/weight.

Common practices to prepare ewes for lambing

• Vaccinate ewes with CD/T around 4 weeks before lambing to ensure passive immunity.

• Shear ewes 6-8 weeks before ewes are scheduled to lamb.

• Feed ewes an additional feed supplement for the last 6 weeks of gestation.

• Ewes carrying twins and triplets should be separated from those ewes carrying a single so they receive more supplement.

Help!

Please watch this video of a sheep shearing

demonstration!

Help!

Help!

Please answer the following questions about

the video you just watched and other information you have learned throughout

this unit. Good Luck!!

According to the video you just watched, what’s the most widely used sheep

shearing method?

A. Use a sheep stand like those used at fairs

B. Australian method

C. Blade shears

D. British method

Help!

Sorry! There’s a more widely used method.

Please try again!

Help!

You’re right. The Australian method is the most widely

used method to shear sheep.

Which breed of sheep was the first to be developed in the United States?

A. Hampshire

B. Romney

C. Katahdin

D. Columbia

Help!

Sorry! Please try again!

Help!

You’re right. The Columbia was

the first breed to be developed in

the United States.

What part of the lamb does the American style roast come from? Meat from this part of the lamb’s body is the

most versatile with mid-prices.

A. Loin

B. Leg

C. Rack

D. Shoulder

Help!

Sorry! Please try again!

Help!

You’re right. Meat from the leg is versatile, with

mid-prices.

What breed of sheep is the foundation of almost all range flocks?

A. Romney

B. Katahdin

C. Rambouillet

D. Hampshire

Help!

Sorry! Please try again!

Help!

You’re right. Rambouillets are known for their

hardiness which makes them a

good foundation for range flocks.

On average, what is the gestation length in sheep?

A. 280-282 days

B. 330-340 days

C. 110-114 days

D. 144-152 days

Help!

Sorry! Please try again!

Help!

You’re right.

Congratulations!! You have completed the

ANSC 101, sheep industry unit!!

DEFINITIONS:

Terminal sire: Used for the breeding of market animals. “Terminal” refers to the offspring from mating's being used for market or “terminated”.

DEFINITIONS:

Prolific: producing offspring in abundance. Sheep usually have twins or triplets. High prolificacy means greater chances of having multiples.

DEFINITIONS:

Gestation: the period of pregnancy from conception until parturition.

DEFINITIONS:

Estrous: the time between standing heats

DEFINITIONS:

Estrus: standing heat, ovulation usually occurs towards the end of standing heat in sheep.

DEFINITIONS:

CD/T vaccination: Vaccine usually used to protect healthy sheep against the three aforementioned clostridial diseases. It should be administered to ewes during their last month of pregnancy. 

DEFINITIONS:

Passive Immunity: Immunity in sheep is passed through the ewes milk to the lambs. Maternal antibodies that are passed to lambs will protect them for six to eight weeks so long as they consume adequate amounts of colostrum.