REPRODUCTIVE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

2. Production Goals Drive Management Decisions Is the sheep operation a primary or secondary pursuit? Primary pursuit will dictate management. Do you want/need to make a profit? Family tradition. For the love of sheep! Careful market analysis has revealed an opportunity to make money.

3. Production Goals Drive Management Decisions What are you Marketing? Lamb Wool Lamb and wool Breeding stock/show animals Specialty fleeces Yourself and your lifestyle

4. Production Goals Drive Management Decisions Who are you marketing to? Multi-national packing plants vs local butchers vs restaurants vs individual hoseholds. Local 4H/FFA kids vs regional or national show circuts. Range rams for range producers. Specialty breeders. Local handspinners vs woolen mills.

5. Overall Functions For The Female Reproductive Tract Control activity of organs (hormonal) Transport sperm Produce oocyte Facilitate fertilization Provide environment for embryo and fetus

7. Overall Functions Of The Male & Male Repro Tract Produce and maintain supply of sperm Termed - Spermatogenesis Detect females in estrus Using - Pheromones, Visual Cues Inseminate females and fertilize the female gamete

8. Onset of Puberty Factors which influence onset of puberty. 1) Breed 2) Threshold body size in females. 3) External/Social factors (season of birth, photoperiod, presence of opposite sex, nutrition, density of housing).

9. Sheep are Seasonally Polyestrus Cycle repeatedly during specific times of the year. Short day breeders Breeding season ~August-March Southern breeds have longer season � Merino Northern breeds have shorter season - Cheviots

12. Seasonal Anestrus Evolutionary strategy for ensuring offspring are born during the optimal environmental season. Most seasonal breeders give birth during the Spring. Transition between cyclicity and anestrus is controlled by photoperiod (small temp. effect). Seasonal onset of cyclicity is similar to onset of puberty.

15. Total Management of the Breeding Sheep Flock

16. Preparation is the Key to Success Animals Nutrition Health Facilities Personnel Obstetrics

17. Ram Raise own replacements or purchase from a reputable breeder. Conduct a breeding soundness exam (BSE) 3-4 weeks prior to breeding. General physical : Health, structural soundness, feet, legs, eyes, jaws etc. Reproductive exam Semen evaluation Libido testing

18. Ram Reproductive exam Palpate the testicles and epididymis for firmness and hard spots Hard spots may indicate epididymitis Serological test for epididymitis on all rams! Measure scrotal circumference Testicle size is an indicator of fertility 30 cm as yearlings 35 cm as mature rams Examine prepuce and free end of penis for lesions or infections

19. Ram Semen evaluation Concentration: 3 billion/ml Motility: 30-70% Satisfactory, >70% excellent Abnormality: 50-80% normal = satisfactory, >80% excellent Immune cells- >5 WC per HPF - indicate infections Satisfactory ram should be able to breed 50 ewes during a 34 day breeding season (excellent = 100 ewes).

20. Ram Libido checking Rarely done, time consuming, inconvenient. Differentiate �Studs� from �Duds�. USSES: MORES and FORES Pen ram with estrus ewes and evaluate # mounts per unit time. >3-5 mounts/ 15 minutes = STUD

21. Ram Utilize teaser rams prior to breeding season to stimulate ewes to cycle (Ram effect). Fit rams with marking harness or paint brisket. Change colors every 14 days (light to dark). Allows rapid identification of �Duds�

22. Ewes Pounds of lamb marketed per ewe exposed for breeding is primary determinant of profitability. Heavier lambs or more lambs? Prolificacy = # lambs/ ewe From singles to twins there is only a moderate increase in costs, but double the income from that ewe. Ovulation rate sets the upper limit on polificacy. Genetics Environmental factors Management factors

23. Ewes Ovulation rate # eggs shed at ovulation Influences on ovulation rate: Breed (primary factor) Age of ewe (increase during first three pregnancies). Time of Year (low early and late in season) Nutritional management (flushing)

24. Ewes Breed Crossbreeding with breeds with increased ovulation rate Finn, Romanov, Dorset. Undesirable characteristics? Select replacement ewes from prolific mothers (heritability of ovulation rate is high) Age Manage ewe lambs to ensure successful lambing as yearlings. Health and nutritional management of aged ewes to prolong productivity.

25. Ewes Time of Year Delay breeding season until Sept-Oct-Nov. Inexpensive, but must evaluate effect on entire management schedule. Nutritional Management Ewes should be in moderate body condition at the onset of breeding season (BCS 2.5-30) Flushing ewes by feeding extra energy 3 wks before and 3-4 wks into breeding can increase ovulation rate. Flushing overly-conditioned ewes (BCS>3.5) is a waste of money. Best for ewes mated early in season of for thin or old ewes.

26. Ewe Fertilization rate is high in sheep and essentially all viable eggs are fertilized. Greatest area of reproductive wastage occurs after fertilization. Significant numbers of embryos are lost during the first 30 days of pregnancy (15->30%). Complete embryo loss Partial embryo loss

27. Ewe Minimize stress during the first 30-50 days of gestation. Handling Heat/humidity Avoid dramatic changes in diet. Ewes should be maintaining body weight during this time. Placental growth

28. Nutrition- Ewe Stages of Gestation First 2/3 and last 1/3 Conception to Day 90 of gestation Maintenance + Do not overcondition ewes (BCS 3.0) Pregnancy check ewes

29. Nutrition- Ewe Last third- 70% fetal growth Separate Ewes with Singles from Ewes with Multiples Supplement ewes (10-12% CP; 2.5-3.0 Mcal DE/kg; TDN 60-65%; 35%:65%) Singles-1.5 lbs/ewe/day Multiples-1.5-2.5 lbs/ewe/day

30. Nutrition- Ewe Post-natal (Days 1-3) Days 1 and 2: High quality roughage and clean water. Day 3: Roughage plus small amount of concentrate (0.5 lb). >Day 3: Increase concentrate to 1-3 lbs/head/day depending on # lambs.

31. Facilities Shed lambing is optimal problems with predators are minimized mothering ability of ewes is maximized Lambing percentage increases reduced mortality reduced abandonment increased costs increased problems with disease?

32. Facilities Drop pens Pregnant females 1-3 weeks prior to lambing Close to allow frequent monitoring/protection from predators Lambing pens (Jugs) 5�x 5� heat lamp # jugs = 10-20% pregnant ewes

33. Facilities Orphan Pens (5�x10�) Clean, dry, heat lamps Clean water Gang milkers Creep feed troughs Mixing Pens (15� x 30�) 8-10 ewes plus lambs 1-3 weeks- enhances mothering ability/bonding

34. Facilities Pasture lambing Reduced facilities/labor costs Reduced incidence of disease Increased death losses

35. Equipment/Personnel Check and order supplies 4-8 weeks prior to expected lambing Prepare records Check and repair shed, jugs, panels, creep feeders- Clean everything! Schedule/train personnel Set goals and provide incentives for surpassing goals

36. Obstetrics Sort ewes according to expected lambing dates Shear and monitor frequently To increase lambing during daylight hours: Move feeding to afternoon Check ewes quietly at night with flashlight

37. Obstetrics Advantages of shearing Cleaner wool crop More space and dryer in barns Easier to detect ewes about to lamb Stimulate ewes� metabolism Encourage ewe to seek shelter during lambing

38. Obstetrics One week prior to expected lambing begin frequent monitoring (4-6 hours) Look for: Engorged udders Ewes off feed Ewes which isolate themselves Ewes pawing at the ground or straining

39. Obstetrics Move ewes to jugs when lambing is imminent or lamb in drop pens then move to jugs. If ewe has already lambed, pick up her lamb and use it to entice her across the pen to the jug Extra personnel during this time will usually pay for itself with increased lamb crop

40. Obstetrics- Stages of Labor Stage 1 Cervical dilation Stage 2 Head and feet in birth 2-6 hours for Stages 1 and 2 Stage 3 Lamb is delivered 1/2 to 2 hours Monitor ewe until placenta is passed

42. Obstetrics- When to Assist Don�t rush in, be patient, know your limits, seek qualified assistance When to assist: Ewe in Stage 1 for 2-3 hours without straining Ewe in Stage 2 for 1/2 to 2 hours without progress Membranes visible for 1/2 to 2 hours without progress

44. Obstetrics- Examination Gently restrain ewe Clean ewes rectal-vaginal area and your arms and hands. Trim fingernails WEAR OB GLOVES Use mild soap as lubricant, insert hand in vagina, keep fingers close together Identify cervix and extent of dilation Determine presentation/posture of lamb(s)

45. Obstetrics- Examination If cervix is well-dilated break bag (chorioallantois) If cervix is not dilated- wait. If possible elevate hindquarters of the ewe Attempt to correct abnormal presentations Work gently between contractions

46. Obstetrics- Presentation Refers to placement of feet and head Forwards or backwards are both normal presentations Deviations from this should be corrected before pulling lamb(s)

47. Normal Presentations Forward Diving position Head between extended legs Backward back feet together soles pointing up tail between legs

49. Abnormal Presentations Head Back Two Legs Back Inverted-back first Breech

50. Abnormal Presentations Inverted-feet first Twins-normal and backward Locked elbows One leg back

51. Abnormal Presentations Four front legs, one head

52. Lamb Processing Keep ewe and lamb in jugs 24-72 hours 70% of losses occur on days 1 to 3 Clean around lambs� nose Clip/Dip/Strip Weigh and record sex of lambs Monitor until lamb nurses Tag and paint brand

55. Grafting Lambs Make decision to graft soon after birth Bad udders insufficient milk Triplets (farm vs range)

57. Grafting Techniques Slime graft Fetal fluids and membranes rubbed on lamb Wet graft Immerse both lambs in saturated salt solution Stanchion graft 3-5 days for acceptance

58. Grafting Techniques Lamb coat Skin dead lamb Tie hide on grafted lamb Stocking graft Cover ewes� lamb 2-3 days invert cover and place on orphan Others (dog, chemicals)

59. Raising Orphan Lambs Keep orphans close, dry, warm and well-fed Feed 4 -6 oz warm colostrum every 4-6 hours during the first 24 hours of life Tube lambs if necessary Be gentle positive pressure in tube = lungs

60. Raising Orphan Lambs Switch to milk replacer after 24 hours Warm milk, bottle fed- labor intensive, scours Cool milk, gang milkers - reduce scours Provide water and palatable creep feed early (start on roughage and move to pelletized concentrates) Wean as early as 3-4 weeks

61. Move�em Out Move ewes and lambs out of jugs into mixing pens 5-10 ewes/pen 1-3 weeks Pen ewes with multiples together Facilitates nutritional management Clean jugs thoroughly between ewes Move ewes and lambs out on spring pasture or early wean lambs and place in feedlot

62. Pregnancy Diagnosis