xt7q2b8vcf1r https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7q2b8vcf1r/data/mets.xml Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. 1937 journals kaes_circulars_003_301 English Lexington : The Service, 1913-1958. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 301 text Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 301 1937 2014 true xt7q2b8vcf1r section xt7q2b8vcf1r aj us
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_ COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
Extension Division ·
THOMAS P. COOPER, Dean and Director
CIRCULAR NO. 301
T THE BREEDING SEASON FOR THE
i FARM FLOCK OF SHEEP A
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~ ° June, 1937
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Published in connection with the agricultural extension work carried on by C0-
eration of the College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, with the U, S. Dep&l‘L·
Q ent of Agriculture and distributed in furtherance of the work provided for in the
l ct of Congress of May 8, 1914.
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Circular N0. 301
The Breeding Season for the Farm Flock of Sheep
By RICHARD C. MILLER
About 85 percent o1` tl1e income lrom tl1e average Kentucky
[arm llock is lrom l2lIlll)S. \\ll1Cll tl1e lamb crop is short, t11e income
lrom tl1e llock is correspoiidingly s111a1l. l"(\l`lllCl`S wl1o have tl1eir
sl1eep, bot11 ewes 2ll1(1 rams, i11 good condition lor breeding and give
them proper care llll(l attention during tl1e breeding seaso11, will
{ind this ellort Zlll(l expense l1igl11y justihed. lt is proposed in this ‘
circular to discuss S()lllC 1`actors relative to breeding tl1e larm llock
and to point (1111 (`Cl'lillll practices which (`<)ll(lll(`C to larger, more
llI1ll·(>l`Ill Lllltl lll(>l`C prohtable la111b crops.
BREEDING CYCLE
Most ewes produce lambs o11ly once a year. It is possible with
so111e breeds, notably tl1e Dorset, to get two crops ol lambs a year,
but i11 t11e end nothing is to be gained by tl1is practice as the ewes
wear out earlier, tl1e lambs usually are inferior 2lll(l. tl1e cost of feed
2lll(l labor in growing tl1e111 out lor marlcet is coniparatively l1igl1.
\\'hile September and October are tl1e principal breeding-
111o11tl1s in Kentucky, the season is ()li[(3l1 extended lrom early
August to November. Most western ewes and certain types ol na-
tives can usually be bred in August. The ti111e ol tl1e first oestrus,
or heat period, is Cl(iL(il`1lllllC(l l))`lll(`ll)Illl}' by tl1e breed ol` tl1e ewes
and cli111atic conditio11s. Ewes high in Dorset or 1ine—wool blood
come in heat early, as a rule. Cool nights are conducive to an early
oestrus. Tl1e condition ol` tl1e ewes may also be :1 1`actor as will be
shown later.
The average interval betwee11 ()llC llC(l1` period and tl1e next is
about 16 days, tl1o this tin1e Illlly vary a day or two either way. 'l`l1e
heat periods average about 27 l1o11rs in duration, but individtial
ewes may vary many hours more or less.
The duration of the gestation period i11 ewes is abo11t 21 weeks
tho it may be a few days shorter or lo11ger. Tl1e period is shortest
in ewes ofthe €ZU`1y-1llZ1l.ll1`lllg breeds and longest i11 t11e late- or slow—
maturing breeds.
4 Ken/uc/cy Extension Circular No. 301
Recent investigations on the physiology of reproduction of sheep, cl
notably those of Missouri and Minnesota, have shown that ovula- SC
tion occurs about the end of the heat period, that the life of both
the sperm and the egg is about twenty—four hours and that it re-
quires from live to six hours for the sperm of the ram to pass the It
genital tract of the ewe to fertilize the ovum. '1`hus is appears that di
the best time to breed sheep is in the last five or six hours of the h(
heat. If bred early in the period there is a possibility that the sperm m
will become exhausted and die before fertiliyation. lu
FECUNDITY th
There is much diilerence in the degree of fecundity in ewes ol ll
different breeds and in dillerent strains in the same breed. Flocks lh
of Dorsets, Shropshires and Hampshires, l`or example, normally pro- O
duce a higher average percentage of lambs in a single season than do W
Merinos, Rambouillets and Lincolns. A good example of varia— Sh
tion of different strains within a breed is found in the Rambouillet.
Rambouillet breeders in the farm states where twins are desired
have, thru selection, developed llocks of the breed that normally _
produce a high percentage of twins. Under range conditions, where in
twins are seldom wanted, ranchmen have selected for single lambs Sh
with the result that in many flocks of range Rambouillets the per- ri
centage of twins is comparatively small. Yearling ewes produce
fewer twins than older ewes.
BARRENNESS `_
Barrenness while common in ewes is far less frequent than in E
cows. Possibly tl1e most common cause of barrenness in this State ’*
is having ewes in too high condition at breeding time. \tVhile it is
important that the ewes be in good condition at time of breeding, ii
certain types of ewes often get too fat, especially if they have failed
to raise a lamb the previous season. Except valuable purebreds, it
generally does not pay to retain in the flock ewes that go thru a
breeding season without getting with lamb unless there is some ap-
parent reason for their not breeding. Certainly the ewe that misses
two seasons in succession should be disposed of. Barrenness natural- Hu
ly results where infertile rams are used. .—\nnually, some farmers [01
in this State learn long after the breeding season that the rams ther [01
used did not "settle" the ewes. It is never wise to depend entirely [CC
on an untried ram, regardless of how small the flock, unless close
The Breeding Season or {he Farm Flock 0 S/ice 2 5
S
ep, check is kept on ewes to determine whether or not they are being
ilu. settled. See Methods of Breeding, page 13,
Mh ABORTION
re- . . . . .
I Abortion is a common cause of ewes failing to produce lambs.
t te . . . .
I It usually results lrotn the ewes being chased by dogs, pnnping
tat . . ' J ‘
ditches, erowdmr thru narrow doors or rates and wading thru
the B
' heavy mud. Abortion may also result from insufficient or improper
·rm . , . . . . .
nourishment. Outbreaks ol abortion apparently ol. an inleetious
nature, while not frequent., have been known to occur in sheep in
this State but in no case has the causative factor been determined.
L O[ \i\’hen aborted ewes are retained in the flock. it is important that
(ks they be separated from the other ewes and given reduced feed.
)l.O_ Otherwise they may get too fat for breeding the following season.
\\’here the abortion is of an infectious nature, the ewes, of course.
0
mb should be culled and sold lor the block.
ICL PLANNING FOR THE BREEDING SEASON
red _ _
IH" lt is important to plan ahead so as to be ready to breed when the
me time arrives. lf any additions are to be made to the llock, they
nhs should be on the farm long enough before breeding time to become
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MSCS Yearling range ewes in good breeding condition.
tral- , t_ _ . . . .
accustomed to their new environment and be properly conditioned
ners . _ _ . _ , . . .
I lot breeding. Sheep slnpped a long distance, ewes lrom the \\’est
.1C\' · . . . .
1 lor csample, should have several weeks rest, with good grazing or
rev . - » - · i
1 .» lccd, to oxctcome the ill ellects ol the trip. llnn or abnormally
ose
6 Kcrilric/cy lixlcnsion Circular No. 301
fat sheep may prove disappointing unless the condition is corrected py
before the breeding season begins. The practice of some farmers tl-
of adding either rams or ewes to their flocks just before breeding {(
time, is not commendable. Failure to have the sheep on the farm qi
long enough to properly condition them for the breeding season jy
often results in a late or uneven lamb crop. It is also important to Cl
arrange the pasture rotation in such a way as to have some fields of yr
extra good grazing for the sheep ust before and during the breeding m
season. br
Calling and Mar/iivzg. Any ewes with unsoundnesses which t1·
might render them unprofitable as breeders should be culled from Y
the flock before turning in the rams. .-\ careful, individual exami- {
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Four-year—o1d range ewes in good condition for breeding. S
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nation should be made of each ewe. Particular attention should be Q
given to tl1e mouth and udder, where most unsoundnesses are found.
Broken mouth or "gummer" ewes are seldom profitable as they
usually require special care. They generally have to be fed V
separately from other ewes and on feed especially prepared for them.
This extra cost of course may be justified in the case of valuable (U
purebred ewes. To detect udder unsoundnesses before breeding th
rather than at lambing time will save much trouble and loss. l·`ew
_ things are more provoking to a shepherd on a cold day than for a Ul
ewe to be unable to nurse a new—born lamb. Sm
Unless the flock is small enough for the farmer or caretaker to in
know eachsheep individually, some marking system should be used ha
that makes possible the ready identification of any ewe in the flock. do
This enables the farmer to keep a dennite record of each ewe and mi
facilitates the weeding out of unprofitable or poor-breeding ewes in t0
the future. Possibly the most satisfactory method is to ear-label or res
tattoo the ewes and paint corresponding mnnbers on their sides. thc
T/ze Breeding Season for the Farm Flock of Sheep 7
$[6d Paint numbers alone would be satisfactory if paints cot1ld be l1ad
HCYS that were durable eHOugh t0 last El year and still scour out. Un-
ling f()1`[U1’12t[€ly, [ew, if Zllly, P£`tlH[S HOW Oll [116 1‘t1?i1‘l<€[ 1T1€€[ [l1(}SC TC-
arm quirements. Metal ear labels numbered consecutively can be had
tson in quantities at about 1 cent each, or in small lots at somewhat high-
t to er prices. Paint numbers are usually placed on tl1e ewe’s side.
.s of 1 ’ ` e these numbers are venerall ‘ stam >ed on with irons or blocks
11 D )
li11 1Z\(l€ es Jeciall t for the >ur nose, the * can, 111 case of close-wool ewes,
g H l l
—· >ut on free hand w1t11 a small, stiff brush. The writer l1as used
Je I
fiich this free hand method for years.
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1 bc . aa ’Z— < »t»&.§p:ay: s.`;y..- —;:.. 4~a s;%€l3t&{=2st`me, —.
Ind Before and after "t1·immir1g." `
they .
[ ‘l Ifenirme wool from doc/c. Ewes so1net1111es go unbred because
et . . .
wool or ta rs around the dock ireyent tl1e rams from makin r satis-
tem 1 ‘
bl factory connection. ft is a small task to remoye any wool or tags
6 0 . . . . .
line that might interfere with breednig.
* ‘7 ,t _ . .
1,·C`:, Care of {/ze [ee/. Al, l1e feet of all Sl`lC€1) should be kept well
. , trimmed so that they can walk naturall t and as a >recaution avainst
o1 tl r l ¤
sore ieet and foot rot. The feet of rams, when ne rlected, may et
1. LO lll such a condition as to seriously affeet them as breeders. Sheep
A A. handled llll(l(’l` dry Till] ·e conditions usually kee 1 their feet \\’Ol`l1
asu , A , I
ck. down smooth. Under farm conditions tl1e horn of the hoof ¤rows
o *0
and more rapidly tl1an it wears and if 1lOt trimmed will cause tl1e sheep
zs in to walk on tl1e side or l1(2Cl of tl1e foot and 1l12l\', i11 ll]]1H2lLlll`(i sl1ee J,
/
rl or result in crooked legs and bad pasterns. 1·`ilth acc11111ulates under
ides. the oyetgrown l1orn Hll(l predisposes tl1e sheep to sore feet. or even
S Kcrzluc/cy Ex/ensimi C/rcu/ar Nu. 250]
loot rot. The feet. ]ll?\)' be ll`l1]llllC(l \\'illl il sharp pocket knile. ()r- Li
dinari )l`Lllllll"` shears are olten used to remove 111ost o[ the ll()l`ll
{j I.
and El knife to hnish tl1e job. LlIl(lCl` l{C1llll(Tl{)’ conditions iti IS in1— C;
portant to examine tl1e leet 11t least tl1ree ti111es a year and ll`il]l (1;
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{ A purebred iiock in good condition for breeding.
breeding depends on their condition and may vary from one to
several weeks. The extra feed should be discontinued after breed-
‘ ing. It is a mistake to increase the feed for ewes that are already in ·
fg high condition at breeding time.
In a normal year, under Kentucky (Z()1l(llf1()llS, about 70 percent
of lambs are marketed by August lst. Lambs that are not ready
for market by that time should be weaned so that the ewes can be
conditioned for breeding in the early fall. Ewes that have suckled
sheep well are often thin at weaning time but will put on flesh afterwards.
ng or Y\’hile the ewe should be in good condition at breeding time, it is
possible for her to get too fat. A common complaint of Kentucky
Condi. farmers is that ewes of certain types often get too fat for breeding.
hmm This condition usually can be prevented by running the ewes on
C Pm sparse pasture after weaning. until about two weeks before the
by thc breeding season begins.
enient Sjzecial Tren./imrnl for Over-ful l£n·c.r. The problem of over-fat
grass. Gwes is one of considerable importance to many lienturkv sheep-
rasscs, men. Ewes in an over-fat condition are found most freipiently among
n 10 KCII/’1.((`]€)1 Extension Circular N0. 301
those strong in blood of the extreme mutton breeds, like the South- Cu,
down. \*Vhile this condition often may be corrected, it is important T]
to prevent it, if possible. Ewes that are likely to get too fat for {lu
breeding should be run on sparse pasture from the time the lambs
are weaned until close to the breeding season. If it becomes ap be
parent that certain ewes are going to be too fat for breeding they ma
should either be culled and sold for the block or else put in a dry gl.;
lot and fed only a little hay once a day and given all the water they It
will drink. It is sometimes necessar t to handle over-fat ewes in this ..
> glc
way for a month or longer before they are in condition for breed- ml
ing. Show sheep that have been highly fed should be gradually re- qu
duced in {lesh. of
CONDITIONING THE RAM ing
The importance of having the ram in proper condition at breed-
ing time is seldom given the consideration it deserves. Best results fitt
can be expected only when the ram is active and vigorous during rel
the breeding season. Too many farmers wait until near breeding
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A ram of good type but rather high in condition for a successful breeding season. thc
time to purchase their rams, with the result that the lambing season Pm
is often strung out over a long period and some ewes which normally SOD
could have been bred do not have lambs. Rams should be pur- SCH
chased long enough in advance of breeding time to become ac a Y
T/10 Breeding Season for I/ze 1"(U`)}l/ 1*`f0c/t of S/Lee]; ll
»0uth— eustomed to their new surroundings and conditioned for breeding.
>1`t21Ht Then, t0o, by buying early there is a better chance for selection and
it fur the rams can usually be bought for less money.
lambs It is generally advisable to feed rams some grain for several weeks
ES RP before breeding begins. Grain feeding for a month or six weeks
5 thcy may be necessary if the rams are in thin condition. The amount of
8 dry grain, of course, depends upon the condition and size of the ram.
V they It is seldom advisable to begin with more than 0ne»half pound of
U [lm grain daily. This should be increased gradually to a pound. Large
?i`€€d· rams, like Hampshires or Dorsets, or rams in thin condition may re-
lly 1`€· quire one and one-half pounds of grain per head daily. A mixture
of 3 parts of oats and 1 part bran is very satisfactory. Grain feed-
ing should continue thru the breeding season.
breed- The show ring of this country, unfortunately. calls for such high
‘esults fitting of breeding sheep that many valuable rams and ewes are
[ming rendered worthless as breeders. Some ram breeders also overfit
ceding
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·. Well-developed ram lambs like these may be used on a small number of ewes.
lSOI`l. . _ _
their sale sheep. Rams that carry an excessive amount of fat often
Season prove disappointing as breeders. They are usually sluggish and in
mmm Some cases lat obstrncts the reproductive tubes and stops the flow of
C Pm, Semen. \Vlnle high fitting for show or sale may sometimes render
nc M, a ram permanently sterile, usually he returns to normal when re—
I2 Kenluclty Exlczzsiozz. Cirtru/r1rNo. 30]
duced i11 condition, provided l1e has 11()L l)CC11 too long in an over bet
litted conditio11. Rams older lllélll yearlings sl1ould 11ever be littetl the
[or sl1ow, and higl1 litting, even ol yearlings, is never advisable, il Vmé
they are to be used lor breeding. Rams 111 high condition shoultl Wil
be reduced by gradually decreasing their feed and providing plenty bu)
ol exercise.
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Ram in prime condition for breeding. mel
1nft
\1\’hile overlitting is the 111ost conimon cause ol sterility in h€€¤
rains, lack ol` exercise, sexual overwork, underl`eedin<¤· and im )l`O >e1 3 1`
h
leeding 1nay l12l\'C the same ellect. Rams tl1at are carried lllI`ll tht {Y0!
su1nmer witl1 a heavy coat ol` wool are sometimes inlertile until alter ID3?
tl1e wool has bee11 removed. $€W
, , . . ur
Rams S/1011/tl be .5/icured. home [armers shear their rams belont P
breeding. Shorn rams are n1ore active and can stand l1ot weatlw 1
, t 121
better. Rams that carr* more than a seasonable Ill]lOllll[ ol wool
l sea<
should be sheared, by all means. '1`he practice ol some rain pre f `
, . . . . roi
ducers ol leaving most ol tl1e wool 011 their rams so that they will
. . ’ two
present a larger, thicker appearance at sale t1n1e cannot be cou- ll,
_ _ ‘ ns
demned IOO severely. Rams ol our nnproved mutton breeds do not cw]
(
stand hot weather any too well, at best, and when tl1e wool is lelt the
o11 duri11 r tl1e 5Ll1lllI1Cl` tl1e bllll-Cl`l11*" must be i11te11se. \1\'hile theit · ,
¤ sixt
The Breeding Season for I/ie Farm Flock of Sheep 13
l PVC] better appearance may cause some inexperienced sheepmen to buy
tw them at higher prices than they otherwise would, the experienced
bm li and cautious sheep farmers will not be fooled by the extra wool but
huum will consider the injury that 1nay have been done the rams and will
flcml buy only at a reduced price.
METHODS OF BREEDING
The plan of breeding generally followed by Kentucky sheepmen
is to let the ram run with the ewes day and night during the breed—
ing season. This system certainly is convenient but it does not con-
serve the strength of the ram and make it possible for him to breed
a large number of ewes. Some farmers allow the rams with the ewes
only at night or for an hour each morning and evening. During
the breeding season, when not with the flock, the ram should be con-
;’i fined to a lot or a small field out of sight and hearing of the ewes.
Rams may be kept together so long as they do not fight. It has been
observed that some rams of a nervous disposition, fret and some-
T fi ` times even refuse to eat when kept away from the ewes during the
"" breeding season. Such rams had better be left with the ewes and
taken out once a day only long enough for a feed of grain. Regard-
. less of the system of breeding followed, the ram should be given a
daily feed of grain.
Many breeders of purebred sheep and some commercial sheep-
men use a kind of “hand coupling" method of breeding in which illl ·
inferior ram, known as a "teaser," is used to find the ewes that are in
ity in heat. These are then turned into a lot with the breeding ram. .·\n
uropci apron is fastened on the "teaser" in such a way as to prevent him
ru tht from breeding the ewes, and his brisket is painted daily so that he
l after marks the ewes he attempts to breed. The apron may be tied or
sewed to the belly wool that has been left. at shearing time, for this
bchm purpose. · · _
CMM By painting the brisket of each ram so that he marks the ewes
E Wm that he serves, all guessing about the time and extent of the latnbing
H PW season can be eliminated and barren ewes can be detected, taken
by wm from the flock and sold. The paint should be applied every day or
é will twio and the color changed every sixteen days. ln one-ram flocks.
gh) ml this marking system provides a means of·detecting infertile rains
is M early in the season. lf most of the ewes which the ram marked w1tl1
‘ _ the first color are marked again after the color has been changed in
i thm] sixteen days, the ram should be replaced.
I4 Kmzltzc/cy Exlcnsimz ClA)`(.`Il[(ll` N0. 30l
VVhere more tl1an OIIC flock is made of tl1e ewes during tht mm
breeding season, tl1e rams should be alternated since ewes that will KH
not become pregnant to one ram sometimes will settle to another Img
by
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Painting the brisket of the ram. el" _
Ear.
VVhere the ewes are all in one group during the breeding SCLISOII aut WOT
several rams are used, it is a good plan to save back one ram to bi late
used fresh late i11 tl1e season after tl1e other ran1s l1ave been remove lam
so as to breed a11y ewes that may not have been bred or tl1at ma not
have turned. feed
NUMBER OF EWES PER RAl\rI wld.
__ _ _ _ _ , they
Since rams are of different ages and breeds a11d vary lll contl for
tion, activity Zlll(l vigor, it is obvious that no definite rule can be lair Wha
down as to the nun1ber of ewes one ram should be allowed. f as t-
Hampshire ram, for instance, can serve ]]10l`C ewes tl1a11 a Soutl Ken
down and a mature 1`£llD more lllllll a yearling. \\feather eonditioti Lim
and methods of handling the flock during tl1e mating season at
_ —_ _ _ — S€21St
factors to be co11s1dered 111 determining the ]lll1Hl)C1` of ewes to li mor
allotted per ram. I11 England, where flocks are handled in hurdlt
and the weather is usually cool at 1nati11g time, a much larger num
ber of ewes per ram ca11 be served tl1a11 i11 tl1e early lambing section
of1·\1nerica where at the time of year tl1e ewes lllLlS[ be bred for earl
market lan1bs tl1e weather is warmer a11d the system different. rl
The Breeding Season. for the Farm Flock of Sheep 15
Q UH mature, vigorous, active ram usually is allowed 35 to 40 ewes, under
I will Kentucky conditions, when allowed to run with the flock; a year-
mhm ling, 25 or 30. The number of ewes per ram can be greatly increased
by the "hand coupling" and other methods [or conserving the
stre