Sheep and Goats
There are approximately 74,000 sheep in Nebraska. Sheep provides us with wool, meat, milk, and hides. Colorado is actually the state with the most sheep in the United States. Midwest and west coast flocks are known as farm flocks, while the western stateside known as range flocks. There are around three million goats in the United States. Goats are also used for their hair, meat, milk, and hides. The sheep and goat industry is comprised of purebred breeders, commercial market lamb producers, and commercial feedlot operators.
Digestive SystemThe digestive system of sheep and goats is the same as beef cattle. To fully understand the digestive system of sheep and goats, you need to know the basic nutrients that they need. There are six basic nutrients are water, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, and vitamins. out of all those nutrients, water is the MOST important.
Sheep and goats are ruminants, which means they have four compartments to their stomach. Those four compartments are... 1. Rumen: "the fermentation vat" 2. Reticulum: "the traffic cop" 3. Omasum: "pages of a book" 4. Abomasum: "true stomach"
1. Regurgitation: regurgitates food back into mouth 2. Remastication: chews it again 3. Reinsalivation: adds more saliva 4. Redeglutition: swallowing it again Complete function of the digestive tract is not complete until 3-4 months Fun Fact: Egyptians believed that sheep were very sacred and even mummified them after they died!Life StagesLambThe most important thing is that lambs get the colostrum form their mother within the first few hours after birth. Lambs should consume at least 6 to 8 ounces of colostrum for immunologic protection. Lambs can be successfully weaned at 8 weeks of age or even earlier. Grower and finisher rations normally contain shelled corn, long alfalfa hay, and supplement. Large fast growing lambs can be susceptible to overeating disease.
Adult SheepThe mature ewe only needs sufficient feed to maintain her normal weight from the time the lamb is weaned until 15 weeks into her next pregnancy. Putting her out to pasture will provide adequate nutrients for her. The energy requirement largely depend on the stage of reproduction the ewe is in. Once she is farther along, her energy needs will increase. An adequate level of protein ensures good wool quality and production.
KidsAs with the lambs, kids need the colostrum for immunologic protection. The kid should consume 150- 200 ml of colostrum within 90 minutes after birth. Using a milk replacer might be helpful in decreasing the disease in these young kids. disease can easily be spread through the colostrum and the mothers milk. Kids can begin being creep fed at 1 week of age and they start ruminating at about 2 weeks of age.
Adult GoatsGoats are browsers, so they enjoy trees, bushes, and other weeds. Goats can be put out to the pasture, but it will not meet all of their nutritional needs. Goats should have some type of hay or alfalfa. Legume hays are high in protein, vitamins, and minerals. They should also be fed some type of grain. Grains also provide protein, vitamins, and minerals to their diets.
Fun Fact: Goats are very social animals, but are not really herd oriented.Contact Info
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Reproductive SystemThe female reproductive tract is made up of a vulva, a vagina, a cervix, a uterus, a pair of uterine horns, oviducts, infundibulum, and ovaries.
The male reproductive tract is made up of testicles, seminiferous tubules, epididymus, vas deferens, urethra, and the penis.
Fun Fact: Sheep can recognize over 50 different faces!References
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