Sheep and Goat Overview

1. Sheep and Goat Overview • An expanding industry in Kentucky • Goats growing faster than sheep • Partially due to increased ethnic groups in larger cities (Bowling Green*) and Hispanic workers • Markets are developing * There are 26 languages spoken at home as the primary language in the BG schoolsystem.

2. Sheep and Goat Overview • Goats are either meat producers or milkers (dairy goats) • In KY many years have had mixed breed goats to browse rough land and wooded areas.

3. Sheep and Goat Overview • Most KY goats are meat goats • Dairy goat milk made into cheese, some used for children allergic to milk

4. Sheep and Goat Overview • More goats in world than cattle • Sheep used for meat in U.S. but some parts of world sheep are milked • In U.S. wool is a byproduct

5. Sheep and Goat Overview Black face sheep are most common

6. Sheep and Goat Overview Horned ram

7. Sheep and Goat Overview Sheep have become popular as 4-H and FFA show animals

8. Sheep and Goat Overview Crossbred breeds are popular in commercial production “South Suffolks”

9. Sheep and Goat Overview “Suffolk” show lamb

10. Sheep and Goat OverviewThese are all sheep!

11. Sheep and Goat Overview Goats are increasing in numbers, this is a wild goat of Australia

12. Sheep and Goat Overview Goats can have special wool that is very valuable “Angora”

13. Sheep and Goat Overview Boer goats are the fastest growing meat goat breed

14. Sheep and Goat Overview Pygmy goats are sometimes kept for pets

15. Sheep and Goat Overview Dairy goats are found in certain areas of the U.S. where goat cheese is popular

16. Sheep and Goat Overview Sheep and goats are short day breeders Females cycle when day length is short as November, December Gestation takes about 150 days Multiple births are common 2 or 3 Newborn goats are called kids Newborn sheep are called lambs

17. Sheep and Goat Overview Kids and lambs nurse their mother which has to teats Mothers eat forage and sometimes grain Kids and lambs are weaned (removed from their mother) at 3-4 months of age or earlier Kids and lambs may be fed grain or grazed

18. Sheep and Goat Overview Male kids and lambs which are grown for meat are castrated and called “wethers” Meat goats are marketed at 70-90 pounds, Price is about $1.25 per pound live weight Replacement females are grown on passture and will kid or lamb the first time at about a year of age

19. Sheep and Goat Overview • Health concerns of sheep and goats • internal parasites – regular deworming is required • bacterial diseases – regular vacciantion is required • viral diseases - vaccinate

20. Sheep and Goat Overview Breeding males are called Bucks if they are goats and Rams if they are sheep Breeding females are called Does or Nannies if the are goats and Ewes if they are sheep Females are bred by natural service

21. Sheep and Goat Overview Goats and sheep prefer forage from bushes, trees and weeds rather than pasture forage (grass and clover) Sheep and cattle work well on the same pasture

22. Sheep and Goat Overview Goats and sheep offer small farmers an opportunity to own livestock even if they only have a few acres of land

23. Sheep and Goat Overview Questions