Sheep are thought to be one of the
first animals domesticated by man. Over thousands of years, sheep
have been selected and bred to produce meat and fiber. Progress in
genetics, management, nutrition, and environmental alteration has
resulted in increased productivity and efficiency. For instance,
many breeds are capable of producing three lambs at each birth and
can average one and a-half lambings yearly compared to only one
lamb per year. The production of fiber (wool and hair) and meat
has also greatly increased.
While there are more than 30 breeds of sheep in the US, less than
10 are used for large-scale commercial production. Minor breeds
may become more popular due to specific attributes, such as
increased reproductive efficiency, improved carcass merit, higher
wool yield, higher milk production, or adaptability to specific
production situations.
Sheep Production
Considerations
Depending on flock size, only a relatively small capital
investment in specialized buildings and equipment is needed.
Unused buildings can be converted into low-cost sheep shelters.
Total confinement operations also exist. Marginal land resources
can be used during a portion of the annual production cycle of
breeding sheep when nutritional quality of forage is not critical.
The lamb crop accounts for 75-85% of the income for most sheep
operations and often covers the annual cost of ewes. The wool clip
can often be sold for additional income, dependent upon consumer
demands and global supply.
Labor requirements of sheep operations are low compared to many
other livestock enterprises. Lambing and shearing represent the
periods of greatest labor need. Advances in feeding, management,
and genetics have developed lambs with superior growth potential,
creating the need to provide proper nutrition to achieve rapid,
efficient growth of market lambs and fiber production.
Sheep producers should set production goals prior to the breeding
season. Lambing season should be timed as early as possible based
on facilities, weather, and available labor. Marketing
opportunities should also be considered. Spring and early summer
lamb prices are usually higher than late summer and fall prices.
Lambs, which will be sold as feeder lambs, gain faster if they can
be finished before hot weather. Profitability is also influenced
by ewe “quality.” An aggressive culling program may be needed to
retain only healthy, vigorous, productive ewes in the flock.
Figure 1 illustrates a typical production year for a sheep
enterprise lambing once yearly.
Sheep are classified according
to breed assets:
Fine-Wool
Breeds: These breeds are more tolerant of heat, cold,
and drought, and more likely to breed out of season compared to
other breeds. They produce a more desirable, uniform, finer
fleece. Rambouillet and Debouillet are the predominate fine-wool
breeds.
Medium-Wool
Breeds: The white-faced breeds Columbia, Corriedale,
and Targhee are the most common medium-wool breeds in the US.
These sheep are very productive provided feed is not restricted.
Fleece varies in fineness/grade, and the breeding season tends to
be more restricted.
Meat-Type
Breeds: The common meat-type breeds in the US include
Dorset, Hampshire, Shropshire, Suffolk, and Southdown. Rams of
these breeds are often crossed with white-faced ewes to produce
market lambs. Wool of these breeds is not as desirable as wool
from the wool breeds.
Hair Breeds:
Rather than wool, these breeds produce hair, which is shed in the
spring. Hair breeds tend to be more heat and parasite resistant
than wool breeds.
