Breeding Sheep Essentials

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Breeding Sheep Essentials
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
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Topics to Discuss

• The following topics will be discussed
• Selection
• Facilities and Equipment
• Nutrition
• Health
• Fitting and Showing

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Selection

• Breeds
• Choice of wooled breeding sheep (Columbia,
  Corriedale, Delaine-Merino, and Rambouillet),
  medium wool breeding sheep (Dorset, Hampshire,
  Southdown, and Suffolk), or hair breeding sheep
  (Dorper and Royal White).
• Major shows that have breeding sheep shows
  State Fair of Texas in Dallas, Southwestern
  Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth, San
  Antonio Livestock Exposition, San Angelo
  Livestock Show, and Houston Livestock Show.

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Selection

• Breeds

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Selection cont.

• Age
• Divided into classes based on teeth.(rules vary)
• Some times they are shown according to age on
  registration papers.
• Generally three age divisions Lamb,
  two-tooth(yearling), four to six-tooth(aged)
• Sheep with more than six permanent teeth may not
  exhibit

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Selection cont.

• Quality Considerations
• The following considerations should be taken when
  selecting a sheep
• Structural correctness
• Growth
• Muscle
• Breed and sex characteristics
• Approx. 40-50 of evaluation of wooled breeding
  sheep is on fleece
• Little emphasis placed on wool in medium and hair
  breeding sheep.
• Wool characteristics to watch lbs of wool, grade
  and uniformity of grade, length, density,
  character, belly wool, wool blindness, hairy
  britch

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Selection cont.

• Shearing guidelines
• Apply primarily to wooled breeding sheep
• Most shows require Rambouillet, Columbia, and
  Corriedale sheep to be shorn on or after October
  20th of the calendar year preceding the show.
• Rambouillet with staple length in excess of 2
  inches will be disqualified
• Delaine-Merino sheep aged(4 to 6 tooth) sheep
  only must be shorn to the skin on or before March
  15, of the calendar year preceding the show.
• Many shows require medium wool to be slick shorn
  above the knee and hock joint

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Selection cont.

• Ownership
• All sheep must be registered in the Handbook of
  their Association in the name of the Junior owner
  on or before November 1, the preceding year.
• Open shows require ownership in Handbook of
  Association 30 days prior to the show.
• State Fair of Texas requires ownership 90 days
  prior to show

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Facilities and Equipment

• Minimum space of 500 ft2 of pen space and 30 ft2
  of shelter space per sheep is recommended
• Should be well drained.
• Pen height should be at least 42 inches to
  discourage jumping and predators
• Can be hand-fed or self-fed
• If hand-feeding allow for 1 1/2 linear feet of
  trough space per sheep
• If self-feeding allow for 6-8 inches of trough
  space per sheep
• Access to clean water most important when
  feeding.

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Nutrition

• No particular feed that should be fed
• Sheep must have basic daily nutritional
  requirements
• Water
• Protein
• Energy
• Minerals
• Vitamins

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Nutrition cont.

• If raising own lambs important to not only feed
  brod sheep but also creep feed young lambs
• Good creep feed contains 16-18 crude protein,
  proper mineral balance, not too much roughage or
  fiber, contain antibiotics
• After buying sheep should be put on growing
  ration (14-16 protein), proper mineral balance,
  roughage, and antibiotics if necessary
• Can either be self-fed or hand-fed
• Recommended to hand-feed breeding sheep to allow
  more accurate evaluation and prevention over
  conditioning
• Feed should be fresh and consistent
• Should gain 3-4 of their body weight a day.

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Health

• Keeping breeding sheep healthy is very important!
• Prevention is the key to a successful health
  program.
• Administer vaccination program recommended by
  local veterinarian
• Vaccinate for enterotoxemia and soremouth and
  treated for internal parasites
• Regular hoof trimming is also necessary

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Health cont.

• When administering drugs follow all directions on
  drug labels to Quality Assurance.
• The use of drugs in manner unintended violates
  laws set by the Food and Drug Administration
• Texas livestock shows have strict laws for
  illegal drug use and will disqualify animals if
  illegal drugs are used

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Fitting and Showing

• Fitting breeding sheep is an ART!!
• Wooled breeding sheep are generally fitted
  differently than medium wool and hair breeding
  sheep because they are shown in the wool and are
  not washed.
• Necessary equipment to fit wooled breeding sheep
• Electric clippers with blades
• Hand shears
• Wool cards(2)
• Hoof trimmers
• Curry comb
• Brush
• Blankets and hoods

- Bucket - Spray bottle - Wool rag - Soap -
Trimming table - Rope halters
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Fitting and Showing cont.

• Wooled breeding sheep must be fitted completely
• Medium and haired breeding sheep can be shown in
  the wooled or slick shorn depending on show
  rules.
• If shown in wooled must be shorn 1-2 months
  before show.
• If shown slick then must be washed and shorn
  immediately before the show.
• Do not use artificial coloring
• Can be led on halters, but should learn to lead

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Additional questions to address with Exhibitors

• What are the goals of the 4-H member and family?
• At what major shows do you wish to exhibit
  breeding sheep?
• Do you need assistance in locating and selecting
  your project?

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Additional Resources for Breeding Sheep

• Texas Breeding Sheep Guide
• By Frank Craddock and Ross Stultz

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Conclusions

• All aspects of the selection process should be
  understood. (breeds, quality, ownership, age,
  shearing guidelines)
• Proper facilities should be available.
• Proper diets and nutritional information about
  feeding sheep should be identified.
• Health is one of the most important aspects of
  raising breeding sheep.
• All rules should be followed in regards to
  fitting prior to show.

Texas 4-H and Youth Development