ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM.pptx
sheepmodulereadytoload.ppt
1. Sheep husbandry module
Adapted from the “Guide for care
and use of agricultural animals in
agricultural research and
teaching”, Federation of Animal
Sciences, First revised edition,
January 1999
2. Facilities and environment
Shelter
– shade, warmth, protection from wind, precipitation
Adequate ventilation
– dust, ammonia gas
Clean, dry surroundings
– drainage
Manure handling/disposal
Range conditions vary
3. Facilities and environment
Flooring surfaces
– well-drained compacted soil, concrete, composition
mats, wood, expanded metal
Lambs
– observation for hypothermia (low body
temperature), hyperthermia (elevated body
temperature) and sunburn
Adequate feed and water for environmental
conditions
4. Intensive laboratory environments
Prolonged restraint, frequent sampling,
collection of urine/feces
Pens, metabolism stalls, stanchions,
respiration chambers, environmental chambers
Do not house alone
Uniform light intensity/photoperiod
Shearing for cleanliness
sanitation
5. Intensive laboratory environments
Close observation
Opportunities for exercise
Monitor appetite, fecal and urinary output
Monitor soundness of feet and legs
6. Fencing
42 inch high board or wire fence
Can use boards, planks, high tensile wire,
chain-link, woven wire
Plastic net or snow fence for temporary pens
Be attentive to tangling of legs in wire
Separation of bucks from does during breeding
season
7. Lighting
Photoperiod and light intensity adequate for
inspection and maintenance of activity patterns
and physiological control of reproductive cycles
May need supplemental light during lambing
for observation
Outside lights can deter predators
8. Feed and water
Make changes in roughage and concentrate
rations gradually
– acidosis (fatty acid building up in GI tract)
– polio (brain degeneration)
– enterotoxemia (intestinal infection)
Feeding and watering devices positioned so as
to minimize injury and contamination with feces
9. Social environment
Maintain in groups to avoid stress
Introduction of new males to a group can lead
to fighting
Sufficient space to avoid domination of feeding
and watering places
Use of lambing pens to increase lamb
survivability and enhance development of bond
between dam and offspring
11. Husbandry
Immunization
– diseases deemed appropriate by herdsman and
veterinarian
Colostrum
– adequate intake of “first milk”
Parasite control
– abomasal worms
Fly strike
12. Shearing
Shearing lambs during hot weather stimulates
feed intake and improves performance
Shear ewes around lambing – easier for lambs
to suckle
– crutching
Disinfect shearing equipment
– spread of caseous lymphadenitis (infection of the
lymph nodes and internal organs)
13. Shearing
Hold off feed for 6 to 12 hours before shearing
Shear when dry
Need access to shelter following shearing
15. Standard agricultural practices
Tail-docking
– reduces perianal soiling and incidence of fly strike
– rubber rings, hot iron cautery, surgical removal,
emasculator
– docking too short contributes to rectal and vaginal
prolapses
– dock lambs before two weeks of age
16. Standard agricultural practices
Castration
– rubber rings
– emasculator
– surgical removal
– castrate prior to 2 months of age
– anesthesia, monitor hemorrhage, monitor infection
17. Handling,
transportation
Utilize tendency to flock
Avoid transporting in times of extreme
temperature or humidity
Avoid transportation during late gestation
Gate into smaller groups to avoid piling up
Give adequate nutrients before transporting to
avoid pregnancy toxemia and transport tetany