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:: General Livestock - Chapter 7 - Sheep and Goat Industry
Issues
Introduction
Valuable
information was gained from the
following works: Raising Sheep
the Modern Way, Paula Simmons,
1989, Storey Communications,
Inc., Pownal, VT and Raising
Milk Goats the Modern Way, Jerry
Belanger, 1975, Storey
Communications, Inc., Pownal,
VT.
Sheep
The sheep
industry can be defined as
either being a wool market or a
lamb market. Specific aspects of
an operation will be geared
toward one of these areas. Sheep
which produce multiple births
(commonly twinning) are
tremendous assets in either
operation. "A 1987 University of
Wisconsin analysis stated that
it would require 5,721 ewes
producing one lamb each to
generate a $25,000 profit, and
only 352 ewes producing two
lambs each to equal it."
(Simmons, 3) Though lambing is
usually an annual event, some
may push for a second lambing in
a year. Availability of adequate
pasture or supplemental feed
will be the controlling factor
in this decision.
A starter flock
of sheep may be developed by
purchasing older ewes culled
from other flocks and investing
in a quality ram. Others may
invest in younger ewes at a
higher cost. In most opera-
tions, ewes will be considered
old and likely to be replaced at
the age of 7 to 8 years although
they may be productive to the
age of 10 to 12.
Numerous breeds
of sheep are available and are
chosen by farmers for the
characteristics of their meat or
wool. Your farmer can describe
the criteria and reasoning for
the breed they have chosen. In
some cases grade ewes, not
purebreds but exhibiting
dominant characteristics of
specific breeds, are bred to
purebred rams.
Sheep lamb in
spring and the lambs grow to
market age during the available
time of abundant pasture. Sales
in late summer or early fall
correspond to the decrease in
pasture availability thus
reducing the need for special
feed considerations during
winter months. Rotation of
grazing fields is necessary to
avoid denuding the land.
Movement will usually take place
within a 10- to 14-day period
for maximum benefit especially
if the pasture has been divided
into smaller areas which allow a
more even grazing. Inclusion of
goats in the grazing flock is
beneficial where brush has
developed. Goats, being
browsers, will clear the larger
plants while the sheep graze the
grasses. Sheep may be used in
orchard operations among the
trees to help keep the area
clear.
Woven wire
fencing will be common to
contain the sheep and to prevent
intrusion by dogs. Electric
fencing may be used to cordon
off small pasture sections for
grazing control.
Other than
pasturing, supplement grain
feeding is common during
reproductive periods. Whole
grains, other than barley, and
alfalfa hay are commonly used.
Windfall apples, molasses, and
discarded produce from grocery
stores, such as lettuce,
cabbage, broccoli, celery, and
various fruits in limited
quantities are good additives to
the diet.
Rams are chosen
for many characteristics which
will be passed on genetically.
Generally placed in service at 2
years, one ram for 25 to 30 ewes
is a standard practice. With
proper feeding and control of
servicing ewes, the ram should
be productive for a period of 6
years. Some operations will
change rams more frequently
within the business strategy.
With a gestation period of 5
months (148 to 152 days)
breeding in August will produce
January lambs. Adjustment of the
breeding date is common to
control lambing.
Ewe lambs, less
than 2 years of age, should have
attained a weight of 85 - 100
pounds by breeding time. Earlier
breeding may stunt their growth,
reduce their reproductive
lifetime, and create teeth
problems earlier which leads to
feeding and related problems.
The ideal ewes for breeding are
those who are a twin or triplet
since this trait is passed on
through the ewe.
Castration of
ram lambs can take place early,
as soon as the testicles have
descended into the scrotum at
about 10 days old. This process
is not necessary if the lamb is
to be marketed for meat at 5 or
6 months of age or will be used
or sold as a breeding ram. In
wool operations, castration and
docking the tail are both
recommended early on.
Sheep are
susceptible to several types of
diseases which will affect the
acceptability as breeders and
may endanger life. Medical
expenses are routine to treat
pneumonia, scours (diarrhea),
navel ill, constipation,
entropion (inverted eyelids),
urinary calculi, white muscle
disease, enterotoxemia
(overeating disease), parasites,
tetanus, coccidiosis, acidosis,
and polio. There are also a
number of diseases related to
pregnancy.
Shearing the
wool is an annual event done as
early in the season as
practical. Ewes may be sheared
before lambing allowing for ease
of assistance during the lambing
process if necessary. The wool
will be graded on count, blood,
or micron and determine its
quality in various applications.
Sales of the wool will be
contracted to textile
manufacturers or hand spinners
or may be sold to others for
quilt batts, rug yarn or
felting.
Lambs may be
sold directly to consumers as
locker lambs which are custom
butchered for the buyer. The
seller receives the price per
pound of processed meat and pays
a nominal slaughter fee per
animal to the butcher. Mutton is
the meat from mature animals.
Ram rental may result in receipt
of choice of lambs for service
provided.
Guardian sheep
dogs may be raised by some
operations as additional sources
of income as well as for use
with the flock. A variety of
breeds have been used for this
purpose.
Goats
In the United
States there are three distinct
types of goats:
-
Dairy
goats, raised under
intensive management
primarily for milk;
-
Spanish or
Mexican goats, produced
under extensive range
conditions for meat; and
-
Angora
goats, also managed rather
extensively, primarily for
fiber.
Regarding the
meat of goats, called chevon,
the U.S. Department of
Agriculture Food Safety and
Inspection Service indicates
kids (goats under a year of age)
are often slaughtered when 3 to
5 months of age and weighing
from 25 to 50 pounds. Kids do
not store much body fat until
they are about a year of age.
Many goats are older and heavier
when marketed, but most, except
aged cull goats, are slaughtered
when less than a year of age.
The meat of older goats is
darker and less tender, but more
juicy and flavorful than kid.
The meat from males is lighter
in color and lower in fat. The
meat from females is more
desirable for steaks and chops,
and is more tender. Retail cuts
of goat are similar to those for
lamb or mutton. Goat should have
light pink to bright red, firm,
fine-grained flesh with
well-distributed white fat. In
some breeds of goat there can be
color variation between males
and females in other breeds
there is no difference. Excess
males and cull goats are also
used for meat.
Goats require
mandatory USDA inspection. Goats
federally inspected:
1984: 107,299
1989: 230,297
1993: 289,382
1994: 364,905
Spanish and
Angora goats are increasing in
numbers in the Southwestern
states, primarily in Texas. On
brushy ranges they improve the
pasture for cattle and sheep by
eating large amounts of twigs,
shrubs, and brush.
Fiber emphasis
herds will have many
characteristics of wool
operations of sheep. See the
information previously presented
for this information.
Dairy goats in
the United States are
represented by five major breeds
or their crosses. Nubian, French
Alpine, Toggenburg (Toggs,)
Saanen, and LaMancha are the
popular breeds. As with dairy
cattle, the breed choice is
determined by desired production
of butterfat vs milk. Production
levels are greatly affected by
diet, nutrition, weather, and
other factors. Production will
generally be stated in pounds
produced in a 305 day period
(allowing for a 2-month dry
period prior to breeding for
rest and repair.) Figures from
"one of the largest commercial
herds in the country posted
these annual averages in a
recent year." (Belanger, 11)
Goat
Dairy Breed
|
Butterfat Produced
|
Milk
Produced
|
Saanen
|
55 /
305
|
1,585 /
305
|
Toggenburg
|
61 /
305
|
1,702 /
305
|
French Alpine
|
46 /
305
|
1,315 /
305
|
Nubian
|
55 /
305
|
1,086 /
305
|
LaMancha
|
63 /
305
|
1,459 /
305
|
Herd animals
may be registered purebred or
grade animals. Cost
considerations and focus of the
business will determine breed
choices. Price of animals is
affected by the buyer market
with variations due to purebred
acquisition needs or performance
characteristics of sire and dam.
Star milkers are rated "*,"
"**," or "***" depending on
personal performance and
performance of dam and granddam.
Seldom is a
single-use agricultural building
necessary for goats as long as
it is dry and free of drafts.
Goats are susceptible to
pneumonia and shelter housing
must provide adequate
protection. Being herd animals,
they are seldom kept in
individual stalls. Additional
space for milk stations and
appropriate equipment as well as
freedom of movement is
necessary.
Being browsers,
pasturing is not as practical
for goats as for cattle or
sheep. Trees, bushes, and shrubs
are required vegetation for
goats in the open. Grasses will
not be touched unless other,
more adequate, feed is not
available. Proper feeding in the
barn is the preferred method for
most herds. Allowance for a
sunny exercise yard is necessary
for the fitness and overall
health of the herd. Fencing must
be very sturdy, such as chain
link or stock fencing, and 4
feet high since goats will lean
on, crawl under or jump over
fences. Electric fencing can be
used most effectively after
"training" the goats about its
effects.
Goat feeds will
provide nutrition necessary for
the lactating animal and should
be fed in accordance with the
production of milk in mind. The
strain of milk production
requires additional feed and
nutrients which are not
necessary when the goats are not
lactating. Some operations will
grow a portion of the feed
required for the herd, but most
feed will be brought in
pre-mixed or in components
custom mixed for the desired
result in the herd.
Grooming needs
of goats include hoof trimming,
disbudding horns, tatooing, hair
trimming, and castrating. Some
specialized equipment may be
used for these functions, but
low-cost equipment is also
available. Castration of buck
kids is not necessary for meat
animals, but is recommended if
the kids are kept for over 3
months and not kept separate
from does.
Health issues
include abortion, abscess (neck
or shoulder region,) brucellosis
(bang's disease,) bloat, colds,
cuts, cystic ovary, goat pox,
and several others. Most are
treatable but when deaths occur
an autopsy is usually performed
to determine the course of
action for the herd.
A buck will be
capable of breeding by 3 to 4
months of age, however, limited
service in bucks less than a
year old is recommended. Mature
bucks can service more than 100
does per year in some cases.
Operations with a small number
of does may resort to studs for
servicing breeding needs.
The gestation
period for a doe is 145 to 155
days. Does generally come into
heat only in the fall and early
winter. This results in spring
kidding. The herd will be bred
over a period of time to balance
the lactation curve and provide
milk at all times. Births will
be twins in most cases with one
to five kids possible. Separate
stall facilities for birthing
are recommended.
Buck kids are
weaned at 10 weeks with doe kids
weaning at 8 weeks. Grain
feeding starts after weaning and
doelings are switched to a
milking ration at 6 months. The
first breeding will take place
when the doe is 7 months old and
weighs 75 - 80 pounds.
Butchering may
take place at four different
stages. Newborns may be
butchered at birth and dressed
out like rabbits. Milk fed kids
weighing from 20 - 30 pounds are
popular with some religious
groups around Easter and provide
another source of income to the
farmer. Buck kids raised for
meat are castrated early and fed
out for 6 to 8 months. Finally,
cull does and old animals may be
processed into jerky, salami, or
other processed meats using less
desirable cuts of meat.
The milk itself
will be sold to commercial
processors or will be processed
on site for subsequent sale.
Good records should be available
for the herd if the goat keeper
is planning on making the most
of the operation. Knowing
production history, health
problems, and other information
on the animals is necessary to
determine culling and
replacement requirements.
Industry Facts
The following
is a sample of price quotes. See
chapter 4, Cattle Industry, for
information on historical
prices.
San Angelo, TX
Tue, Mar 18, 1997
USDA-TX Dept of Ag Market News
Producers
Livestock Auction Co, San
Angelo, Texas
Sheep
Auction Close and Weekly:
Estimated Receipts:
10,000 Last Week: 9378
Last Year: 12983
Compared with
last week slaughter lambs weak
to 2.00 lower; slaughter ewes
3.00-5.00 lower; feeder lambs
firm. Trading active, demand
good. Quality average to
attractive. Supply included 30
percent slaughter ewes, 35
percent feeder lambs with
numerous consignments new crop
feeder lambs for special sale, 1
percent slaughter lambs, balance
goats.
Slaughter Lambs:
Choice, few Prime 2-3 shorn, few
wooled 100-145 lbs 97.00-101.00,
set 103.00. New crop 45-85 lbs
142.50-155.00, 90-105 lbs
110.00-117.00.
Slaughter Ewes: Good
and Choice 2-4 44.00-54.50, few
55.00-57.00; Utility and Good
2-3 51.00-61.50; Utility 1-3
42.00-52.00, Cull and Utility
1-2 35.00-42.00.
Slaughter Bucks:
40.00-47.50, few 50.00.
Feeder
Lambs: Medium and Large
1-2 60-90 lbs 104.00-110.00,
90-105 lbs 100.00-105.00. New
crop 40-90 lbs 130.00-149.00,
90-95 lbs 123.50-133.00. Medium
and Large 2 45-90 lbs
94.00-104.00. New crop 40-80 lbs
110.00-123.00.
Replacement Ewes:
Medium and Large 1-2 ewes and
lambs 61.00-68.00 per head.
Goats:
Slaughter - Meat Goats:
Billies and Muttons: 100-150 lbs
60.00-110.00 per head; small
billies and muttons including
yearlings 60-100 lbs Good and
Choice 85.00-97.50 cwt; Good
70.00-85.00 cwt.
Nannies:
60-105 lbs 56.00-65.00 cwt, thin
nannies 60-90 lbs 48.00-55.00
cwt.
Kids:
Good and Choice 40-65 lbs
85.00-97.50 cwt, few
100.00-117.50. Good 40-65 lbs
75.00-85.00 cwt. few 20-25 lbs
16.00-24.00 per head.
Angora:
kids 40-50 lbs 68.00-71.50 cwt,
50-80 lbs 40.00-50.00.
Source: USDA-Texas Dept
of Ag Market News, San Angelo,TX
Rebecca Sauder, OIC Phone
915-653-1778
Issues
IRC Section
162
Depending on
the setup, there is a higher
potential for personal use of
sheep and goat products than
with some other animals.
IRC Section
61
Potential
sources of sheep related income
include locker lambs, mutton,
ram rental, breeding stock,
pelts and pelt products,
shearing for hire, cheese from
sheep milk, manure for gardens,
soap and candles, special uses
of wool, building sheep
"furniture ", locker hooking
with fleece, feltmaking with
fleece, special breeds and
colors, selling wool to
spinners, handspun yarn and
products, cottage-industry
processing, livestock dog
breeding, incentive payments,
merchandising products, and
teaching. (Simmons, 228)
Goats may
produce limited income from meat
sources with the greatest
potential from sales of animals
to other herd keepers, milk and
milk by-products.
IRC Section
168
Breeding stock
for sheep and goats is 5-year
property for depreciation
purposes.
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