Sheep: Like all other, ruminants, sheep are even-toed
ungulate, also commonly known as cloven-hoofed animals. They are
usually kept as livestock and domesticated for agricultural
purposes, fleece and meat. Therefore, it is a multipurpose
animal. There are more than 200 breeds of sheep such as
Suffolk's, Barbados Black belly, proverbial black sheep.
Scientific Information
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Artiodactyla
Family:
Bovidae
Genus:
Ovis
Species:
O.aries
Subfamily:
Caprinae
Physical Attributes: A sheep can be found in variety of colors
usually in pure white to dark chocolate brown, Depending on breed, sheep
show a range of heights and weights. It has woolly hair and has been
famous for wool. There are no canines teeth in sheep, instead there is a
large gap between the incisors and the premolars.
Reproductive System: A ewe’s gestation period is about 5
months and can give birth to single or twin lambs. Lambs are generally
born in spring/summer when the weather is warmer and grass is growing,
she usually gives birth annually. Once lambs reach 3-4weeks their milk
diet is supplemented with grass/feed concentrates. Approximately 15% of
lambs die during birth.
Most sheep are seasonal breeders. In the time when Woodrow Wilson was
President of the United States he used sheep for grazing in the White
House Lawn. They sold the wool to raise money for the Red Cross in World
War 1. Over the years since ancient times to the modern days sheep has
been a form of life for many people do to the fact that they are very
productive and can reach
high production in less years. Has been stated that sheep will produce
more lambs in less time than a cow. In many ways it can be a more
profitable business and reach exceptional numbers of head in a very
little time. The biggest losses in the sheep industry and where they
affect the most occurs when the herd is attacked by predators which will
immensely affect the production of sheep do to the stress that many ewes
go throw. Predators will likely go for the smaller lambs but the herd
can stress out to the presence of the predator that most ewes in
gestation can result in abortion.
Predators are the main reason many farmers do not like to produce sheep,
or they prefer to keep their sheep in the barn and avoid letting them
loose for grazing. Among the most deadly predators is the coyote, do to
his size he will most like attack a sheep rather than cattle, unlike the
mountain lion that has more strength to kill cattle. The coyote is a
bigger treat to the sheep industry and must be
controlled before they can finish of the herd. Even tough the Mountain
Lion has more strength and apparently he will be the biggest threat, he
prefers to attack bigger and tastier animals. The profitability of the
business is greatly affected by them. The sheep when they are at a
predator's sight they bunch up together so they can protect themselves
and predators will reach the outside sheep. The most common predators
are, coyotes, lions, bob cats, wolfs, etc. Schoenian Susan,
