Course: Principles of Agricultural, Food, and Natural Resources

Unit Title: Breeds of Sheep TEKS: 130.2(C)(12)(C)

Instructor: Ms. Hutchinson

Objectives:

After completing this unit of instruction, students will be able to:

A. Define commonly used sheep industry terms;

B. Describe the wool classifications;

C. List and describe the different sheep breeds;

D. Compare and contrast the three versions of a Delaine Merino;

E. Explain how the Barbado came to be;

F. Categorize a set of pictures into what wool classification they are; and

G. Plan your own herd and defend why you choose the breeds you choose.

Interest Approach:

(On PowerPoint slides 1-3 there are pictures of a baseball, marshmallows, lotion, crayons, and a fleece blank)

All these things have something in common. Sheep is the common factor!

- Sheep can be useful for many different purposes. They are well known for their brush control, wool production, and meat production, but there are things that you may not have realized.

- Hide and wool Baseballs Footwear Clothing

- Fats Medicines Chewing gum Crayons

- Bones, horns, & hooves Marshmallows Dice Tape Ice cream

- Meat Bar-B-Que ribs Lamb chops Rack of lamb

- Manure Nitrogen fertilizer

- Intestines Surgical supplies Sausage casings

Curriculum & Instruction:

Curriculum History: Domesticated 10,000 years ago in Central Asia. 3,500 B.C. that man learned to spin wool. Wool was the first commodity of sufficient value to

guarantee international trade. Sheep production is known as the oldest organized industry. Numbers: 235 breeds World Wide 26-30 breeds in the U.S. 8-10 breeds impact the industry

Instruction

PPT Slide 7 PPT Slide 8 How many breeds impact the sheep industry?

Terminology: Lamb- 12 months of age or less. Sheep- often referred to as having offspring and over a

year in age. Ewe- a female sheep. Ram- a male sheep. Wether- castrated male lamb.

Reproduction: Estrus cycle: 18 days Gestation period: 145 days Twins are common when lambing Breeding: seasonally anestrous (normally breed in Fall)

Facts: Body temp: 100.9°F Pulse rate: 70-80 beats per minute Weight:

Adult Sheep 100-150 lbs. for ewes 175-275 lbs. for rams

Baby Lambs 10-12 lbs.

Born with long tails. Fiber or Coat Type: Most common way is to categorize sheep All sheep grow both hair and wool fibers Hair breeds = more hair fibers than woolly fibers

Shed annually Wool breeds = more woolly fibers

Need to shear Wool Classification: Medium Wool Sheep Fine Wool Sheep Long Wool Sheep Hair Sheep

Wool Terminology: Yield: % of CLEAN wool fibers Fiber Diameter measured in Microns

1 micron = 1/25,400 of an inch (this is the newest and most accurate)

Staple length: Length of wool fibers.

PPT Slide 9 Define sheep industry terminology.

PPT Slide10 What is gestation? How long is a sheep’s gestation period?

PPT Slide 11 What is a person’s normal body temperature? What is a sheep’s normal body temperature?

PPT Slide 12

PPT Slide 13 What are the four wool classifications?

PPT Slide 14 How big is a micron? Define Staple Length. What does “yield” refer to?

Fine Wool Breeds: Shortest in length Contain the most lanolin

wool wax or grease Smallest fiber diameter

usually less than 22 microns Fine wool fleeces usually yield a lower percentage of

clean fiber than longer, coarser fleeces. Due to so much lanolin

Highest quality of wool Delaine Merino:

Medium sized Golden in color. Productive life last longer. (10-12yrs) Yield 45-54% 2 ½-4” staple length Wool blindness Means excessive wool growth can interfere with their

vision.

3 Types of Delaine Merinos: Three different types:

“A”- lanky with little carcass value. Not advocated for commercial lamb and wool production.

“B”-Larger than “A”. Has heavy neck rolls and wrinkles on the thighs and rear flank. More adaptable to farm like conditions

“C”- Most practical on range farms. Can adapt

PPT Slide 15-21 Describe the characteristics of fine wool. Describe the Delaine Merino. What are the 3 different types of Delaine Merinos? Compare and contrast the 3 different types of Delaine Merinos.

from the deserts to mountains. Rambouillet

Originated from Merino breed in Germany and France. White-faced with wool on the legs. Largest of fine wool breed. Adaptable to many arid conditions. Rugged and long lived. 45-55% yield 2 ½ -4” staple length Dual purpose sheep, producing a desirable carcass and

good fine wool Debouillet:

Origin: New Mexico Comes from the Rambouillet and Delaine-Merino. Medium sized with white-faced and wool on legs. Produce high quality, long staple fleece. Good for southwest range conditions. Can lamb unassisted 35-50% yield Staple length can range from 3-5

Medium Wool Breeds: length and fiber diameter is intermediate between fine

and long Most of the meat-type breeds Make up about 15 percent of the world sheep

population Suffolk:

What breed did the Rambouillet originate from? What breed is the largest of the fine wool breeds?

What breeds did the Debouillet originate from?

PPT Slide 22-27 Describe the characteristics of medium wool.

Origin: England #1 Ram Breed! Bare and black head and legs. Largest sized breed in U.S. Wool is undesirable

Black hairs contaminate the fleece when sheared

Grow rapidly and produce high quality carcasses. Hampshire:

Origin: England #2 Ram Breed Excellent muscling Black head & legs

Wool cap Wool above the knees

Polled Males may have scurs

Southdown:

Origin: England Small Sized Mouse colored muzzle & legs Polled Early maturing Produce muscular, light-weight carcasses.

What breed of sheep is the #1 Ram Breed? Describe the Suffolk sheep. What breed of sheep is the largest breed in the U.S.?

What breed of sheep is the #2 Ram Breed? Describe the physical characteristics of the Hampshire.

Why did the Southdown gain popularity for small exhibitors?

Gained its popularity due to size for young exhibitors

Finnsheep:

Originated in Finland. small- to medium-sized Fine-boned, open-faced breed. Good-staple length Wool is mainly white, but colored is acceptable. Ewes are hardy, have strong maternal instincts and are

highly prolific Yield 50-70% Staple length 3-6” Dual purpose breed

Dorset:

Origin: England White face Smaller meatier sheep Breeds out of season Excellent mothering ability Excellent carcass traits

“True Dual Purpose Breed” Long Wool Breeds:

large fiber diameter (usually more than 30 microns)

Describe the physical characteristics of the Finnsheep. In giving birth, what is different about the Finnsheep compared to most other breeds of sheep?

What breed of sheep is considered the “True Dual Purpose Breed?”

PPT Slide 28-32

Long staple length. Yield more clean fiber because they contain less lanolin. Commonly raised in cool, wet climates Tend to be favored by hand spinners and weavers.

Cheviot:

Originated in hill country that borders Scotland and

England. Small sized. White face and bare head. Desirable carcass for small weight. Staple length 2 ½-4” Yield 50-65%

Romney:

Developed in England marsh areas to adapt to wet, cold

conditions. Medium sized. White faced with wool extending on legs. Produce course, long stapled fleece. Yield 55-70% Staple length 5-8”

Cotswold:

One of oldest breeds known leading back to Caesar’s

Describe the characteristics of long wool.

Describe the characteristics of the Cheviot.

Describe the characteristics of the Romney.

conquest of Britain. Large with white face. Known for long, coarse fleece of naturally wavy curls

and the tuft of wool on their foreheads. Yield 60% Staple length 12-15”

Lincoln:

Originated in England. Large, deep-bodied sheep with a large frame. Polled with a bluish-white face and forward-pointing

ears. They produce a heavy fleece that is very coarse, highly

crimped, long and shiny. Yield 55-70% Staple length 8-15”

Hair Breeds: 10% world's sheep population No wool or very little Hair sheep can be differentiated by the their place of

origin. Some hair breeds originate from tropical

climates. (more resistant to internal parasites.) Other breeds originate from arid regions and

are best-adapted to similar conditions. Desert breeds tend to be heavier muscled

Dorper:

Developed in South Africa. Color: solid white or white w/ black heads. Extended breeding season No shearing! Hardy & adaptable to hot, dry, humid and cold climates

Describe the physical characteristics of the Cotswold.

Describe the physical characteristics of the Lincoln.

PPT Slide 33-37 Describe the characteristics of the hair breed sheeps. Describe what a Dorper looks like.

Rapid growth, early maturity yield muscular, high-quality carcasses.

Barbado:

Origin: Texas Trophy animal

Due to large curled horns Tan, tan with pale or black belly, or pied Coat varies from short hair to coarse wool Males are horned Females are polled

BARBADO = BARBADOS BLACKBELLY X (RAMBOUILLET

X MOUFLON)

Katahdin:

Origin: Maine Woolless Capable of high performance in a variety of

management systems. Excellent mothering abilities

good milkers, prolific and have an extended

What breed of sheep is used on high game ranches as a trophy animal? What breed of sheep originated from Texas? How did the Barbado come to be? Describe the color of a Katahdin.

breeding season. Their hair coat can be any color or color pattern. Largest of the hair breeds Naturally produce a lean and well-muscled carcass with

excellent meat flavor

Ball Toss & Question The students will get in a circle around the room. A ball will start with one person who will answer a question that I ask. They will then throw the ball to a different person in the room. Every time the ball arrives at a student, I will ask them a question about one of the breeds of sheep and the student will answer me. Name that Wool! In groups of 4, categorize the stack of pictures into what wool classification they belong to (Fine, Medium, Long, Hair). INDEPENDENT PRACTICE Crossword Puzzle: Students will be given a crossword puzzle with questions pertaining to breeds of sheep. No words will repeat. Project: Students are to plan their own herd of sheep. Qualifications of this project are as listed: What breed of sheep do you want and why Price of sheep per head How many head of sheep do you want Total price of sheep herd How much land is needed for your herd Price of land for your herd

Use questions for the Ball Toss & Question game from this column. Print off pictures from the slide show for students to categorize what type of wool the sheep has. Use grading rubric for each project. Give rubric out to the students so they can guide themselves in their project.

Review & Instruction:

Objectives will be reviewed before examinations. Exams will be developed based on objectives as

taught in class.

Instructional Support:

A. References

a. Dr. Harp’s Goat and Sheep Production notes

b. Jessica Scallan’s PPT

B. Teaching Aids & Equipment:

a. Breeds of Sheep PPT

b. Breeds of Sheep Student PPT

c. Project Grading Rubric

d. Breeds of Sheep pictures for classification

e. Breeds of Sheep Word Search

f. Ball

C. Facilities:

a. Agriculture classroom