WIS405    
          02/26/1990  09:06 AM  D1  393 Lines

SHEEP SCIENCE
Agriculture Science/Production Management

Sheep Science (7-27 days)

This unit deals with sheep production in Wisconsin.  Topics include career
opportunities, classes and breeds of sheep, selection of the breeding flock,
feeding the flock, management of the flock, parasites and diseases,
marketing meat and wool, and fitting and showing sheep.


Objectives

To acquaint students with employment information and career opportunities in
the sheep science industry

To create student awareness of the nature and distribution of the sheep science
industry in the U.S.

To provide students with a basis for evaluating sheep production as a source of
income and other values

To acquaint students with various sheep breeds

To provide students with guidelines for selecting good breeding stock

To assist students in developing an effective breeding program for sheep

To acquaint students with the various feeds available for feeding Wisconsin
flocks

To help students design rations for ewes, lambs, and rams

To develop student understanding of routine sheep management practices

To create student awareness of the shelter and equipment requirements for
sheep production

To acquaint students with procedures for the prevention and treatment of the
parasites and diseases of sheep

To increase student understanding of the marketing of meat and wool

To provide students with instruction and practice in evaluating slaughter lambs
and wool

To prepare students to fit and show sheep


Competencies

At the conclusion of this unit, students will be able to

explain current employment information such as job descriptions,
job availability, personal and educational requirements, working conditions,
opportunity for advancement, and other factors relative to potential employment
in the sheep science industry and relate it to their personal needs and

aspirations;

identify the leading states in sheep production;

outline the advantages and disadvantages of the sheep enterprise;

list the wool classifications for sheep and identify the breeds in each
classification;

discuss the considerations necessary in selecting a breeding flock's foundation
stock;

describe common sheep breeding programs;

identify the various parts of the sheep;

balance a ration for Wisconsin flocks using suitable feeds;

balance a ration for ewes, lambs, and rams;

prepare a sheep management plan including lambing, weaning, flushing, breeding,
gestation, castrating, docking, ear tagging, and shearing practices;

identify and maintain the types of records necessary for profitable sheep
production;

list the housing and equipment requirements for sheep;

recognize the various internal and external parasites of sheep, noting the life
history, symptoms, prevention, and treatment;

discuss the diseases that pose the greatest problems for sheep, noting causes,
symptoms, prevention, and treatment;

explain the law of supply and demand and its implications for the marketing of
wool and meat;

identify the grades of slaughter lambs;

compare the different methods of marketing sheep;

recognize the factors that determine the value of wool;

and demonstrate and explain techniques for fitting and shearing sheep.


Subject Matter  (Basic skills integration areas are shown in brackets
following title.)

Careers
    - Current and future employment needs
    - Job descriptions
    - Training requirements
    - Working conditions
    - Opportunities for advancement
    - Other factors


Opportunities in sheep production
    - Advantages and disadvantages of sheep
    - Areas of sheep production
    - Determining the kind and size of operation

Classes and breeds of sheep
    - Classes
    - Breeds and their characteristics
    - History and registration

Selection of the breeding flock
    - Considerations in starting a flock
    - Selecting a breed
    - Criteria for selecting individuals
    - Sources of foundation stock

Feeding the flock   [Science]
    - Flushing
    - Feeding the pregnant ewe
    - Lactation rations
    - Feeding the breeding ram
    - Creep rations
    - Fattening rations

Management of the flock   [Science, Social Studies]
    - Breeding and reproduction
    - Recordkeeping
    - Culling the flock
    - Lambing practices
    - Docking, castrating, and ear tagging
    - Shearing
    - Housing and equipment

Parasites and diseases   [Science]
    - Life cycle or cause
    - Symptoms
    - Prevention and treatment

Marketing meat and wool   [Social Studies]
    - Supply and demand
    - Feeder and market grades
    - Methods of marketing
    - Determining the value of wool

Fitting and showing sheep
    - Show classifications
    - Feeding for the show
    - Shearing and grooming
    - Showing techniques


Motivational Activities

Take a field trip to a sheep producer, a sheep evaluation contest, or a sheep
shearing demonstration.

Invite resource people, such as a veterinarian or a sheep buyer, to give class

presentations.

View films, videotapes, and slides on topics related to this unit.

Make available to students computer software related to sheep production or
management.


Learning Activities

Participate in a Supervised Agricultural Experience program.

Collect and analyze feed tags.

Research and report on breeding systems for sheep.

Demonstrate how to castrate a lamb.

Demonstrate how to dock a lamb.

Label the parts of a sheep on a drawing.

Identify the components of a lamb carcass using a meat-cutting chart.

Design a housing and equipment layout for a specific size and type of sheep
operation.

Keep a daily record of prices for market grades of sheep.

Balance rations, using home-grown and commercial feeds, for various classes of
sheep.

Create a display that depicts the meat and wool characteristics of several
breeds of sheep.

Prepare a meal of lamb for the class to eat.


Instructional Materials

Textbooks and References

Approved Practices in Sheep Production by E.M. Juergenson.  4th ed.
  Danville, IL:  Interstate, 1981.

Feeds and Feeding by Arther E. Cullison and Robert S. Lowrey.  4th ed.
  Englewood Cliffs, NJ:  Prentice Hall, 1987.

Livestock and Poultry Production by Clarence E. Bundy and Ronald V. Diggins.
  5th ed.  Englewood Cliffs, NJ:  Prentice Hall, 1982.

Profitable Sheep Farming by M.M. Cooper and R.J. Thomas.  5th ed.
  Alexandria Bay, NY:  Diamond Enterprises, 1982.  Available from Nasco.

Raising Sheep the Modern Way by Paula Simmons.  Pownal, VT:
  Storey Communications, 1976.  Available from National Farm Book Company.


The Science of Animal Husbandry by James Blakely and David Bade.  4th ed.
  Englewood Cliffs, NJ:  Prentice Hall, 1985.

Sheep and Goat Science by M.E. Ensminger and R.O. Parker.  5th ed.
  Danville, IL:  Interstate, 1986.  Available from National Farm Book Company.

Sheep and Wool Science by M. Eugene Ensminger.  Danville, IL:  Interstate,
  1970.

The Sheep Book by Ron Parker.  Danville, IL:  Interstate, 1984.

Sheep Diseases by Hadleigh Marsh.  Baltimore, MD:  Williams and Wilkins, 1965.

The Sheep Raisers Manual by William K. Kruesi.  Charlotte, VT:
  Williamson Publishing, 1985.  Available from Nasco.

Structure and Development of Meat Animals by J.J. Swatland.  Englewood Cliffs,
  NJ:  Prentice Hall, 1984.


Bulletins and Pamphlets

The following are available from the Cooperative Extension Service.

Controlling Disease and Parasites in Your Flock.  A2827.
Housing Your Flock.  A2830.
An Introduction to Raising Sheep.  A2831.
Lamb Slaughtering, Cutting, Preserving and Cooking on the Farm.  AF2264.
Meat Yields from Beef, Pork and Lamb.  A2584.
Sheep Abnormalities.  A78862SH.
Sheep Breeding.  A2825.


The following is available from Hobar Publications.

Sheep Handbook - Housing and Equipment.  5776-MWPS-3.


The following are available from the Ohio Agricultural Education Curriculum
Materials Service.

Approved Practices for Market Lambs.  444X.  Pennsylvania Instructional
  Materials Service, 1978.

Approved Practices for Sheep Breeding.  443X.  Pennsylvania Instructional
  Materials Service, 1978.

Judging Sheep.  447X.  Pennsylvania Instructional Materials Service, 1979.


Periodicals

Sheep Breeder and Sheepman


Computer Software


The following is available from Hobar Publications.

Sheep Production and Related Review.  Apple, IBM, TRS, Macintosh.


The following is available from Midwest Agribusiness Services, Inc.

Agri-ID:  The Sheep.  Apple.
Agri-Quiz:  Sheep.  Apple, IBM.


On-line Computer Networks

The following are available from Ag Ed Network, AgriData Resources, Inc.

Cash Lamb Prices.  HS413.
Cash Wool Prices.  HS417.
Cost of Producing Sheep.  HS192.
Markets for Sheep and Lambs.  HS410.
Markets for Wool.  HS414.
Sheep and Lamb Market Routes.  HS419.
Sheep and Lamb Marketing.  HS423.
Sheep/Lamb Analysis; Outlook.  HS422.
Sources of Lamb Market Facts.  HS421.
Understanding Lamb Demand.  HS412.
Understanding Lamb Supply.  HS411.
Understanding Wool Demand.  HS415.
Understanding Wool Supply.  HS416.


Laboratory Resources

The following is available from the National Vocational Agriculture
Book Company.

Livestock Production Manual.  1973.


Films, Videotapes, and Slides

The following are available from the Bureau of Audio Visual Instruction.

Sheep Abnormalities.  08862 (16mm film, color, 23 minutes).  University of
  Wisconsin, Department of Agricultural Journalism, 1982.

Sheep, Sheep, Sheep.  09487 (16mm film, color, 11 minutes).  Churchill Films,
  1970.


The following are available from Nasco.

Controlling Internal Parasites of Sheep.  C10418N (70-frame color filmstrip
  with cassette and script).

Judging Sheep.  C10102N (43-frame color filmstrip).

Selection, Fitting, and Showing of Sheep.  Z9882N (VHS videotape, 22 minutes).


Sheep Management Practices.  Z10450N (Part I, VHS videotape, 30 minutes),
  Z10452N (Part II, VHS videotape, 30 minutes) or Z10454N (Parts I and II).


The following are available from the Ohio Agricultural Education Curriculum
Materials Service.

Blocking and Trimming Sheep.  451X (42-frame color filmstrip).  1971.
Breeds of Sheep.  448X (58-frame color filmstrip).



The following are available from Photocom.

Lambing Time Management, Part I.  30-761 (VHS videotape, 52 minutes).
Lambing Time Management, Part II.  30-762 (VHS videotape, 50 minutes).
Nutrition and Health.  30-764 (VHS videotape, 48 minutes).
Sheep Fencing.  21-753-9 (VHS videotape, 30 minutes).
Sheep Showmanship.  01-011-100 (VHS videotape, 25 minutes).
Weaning, Finishing, and Marketing Lambs.  30-763 (VHS videotape, 19 minutes).


The following are available from Vocational Agriculture Services.

Breeds of Sheep.  S145 (slideset) or F145 (58-frame filmstrip).
Selecting Breeding Sheep.  143a (72-frame filmstrip and study guide).


The following are available from Vocational Education Productions.

Sheep Breed Identification.  1-430-200H (67-frame slideset and breed
  information sheets).

The Sheep Management Series.  1-431-130H (Six filmstrips with cassettes and
  scripts).


The following is available from Vocational Media Associates.

Sheep Production.  30803-93 (Four parts; sound filmstrips or sound slides,
  program guide, and masters).


Equipment and Facilities

Castrator
Tail docker
Clipmaster
Iodine and disinfectant
Cookware