Sire and dam: who determines what?

Many sheep and goat producers are quick to credit their ram or buck when they have a significant number of multiple births (twins and triplets) born.  But, they are giving credit to the wrong animal.

The dam determines the maximum number of offspring that can be born via her ovulation rate. If she only ovulates one egg, there's not much the male can do to turn that single ovulation into twins, although sometimes a fertilized embryo will split, resulting in the birth of identical twins.

The female (dam) determines the number of offspring.

One way the male may contribute to the incidence of multiple births is through the viability of the conceptus (embryo).  Research has identified differences in embryo survival among different sire lines. Thus, females bred to a male with high embryo survival will give birth to more offspring than females bred to a male with low embryo survival (all other factors being equal).

What the male does determine is the sex of the offspring. Females have two of the same kind of sex chromosomes (XX), whereas males have two distinct sex chromosomes (XY). Whichever sex chromosome the male contributes will determine the genetic sex of the offspring:  XX (female) or XY (male).

The male (sire) determines the sex of the offspring.

At the same time, there are various maternal factors that can affect the sex ratio of offspring.  The "default" sex is female. Theories suggest that females in better body condition will produce more male offspring and that wild animals can adapt the sex ratio to enhance survival of their species.

While reproduction is complicated, for the most part, the female determines the number of offspring and the male determines the sex of the offspring.

Sheep cloned with "good" fat

Chinese scientists have cloned a genetically-modified sheep containing a "good' type of fat that is naturally found in nuts, seeds, fish, and leafy greens and helps to reduce the risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular disease.

"Peng Peng", which has a roundworm fat gene, weighed in at 5.74 kg (12.6 lbs.) when it was born on March 26 in a laboratory in China's far western region of Xinjiang.

Peng Peng

Image source: Peng Lui/BGI Ark Biotechnology co.,Ltd/Handout , Reuters

According to the lead scientist, Peng Peng  is growing very well and is very healthy like a normal sheep.

Read full article at Science on MSNBC.com

The truth about "pink slime"

Lean, finely-textured beef (LFTB) is the proper term for the beef product that has been referred to as "pink slime" in the media. It is beef, 100% beef, but in a finely textured version, sort of like baby food.

Making ground chevon

Not all beef can become a steak or roast. When meat cuts are trimmed to remove excess fat, some lean is also removed, resulting in beef trim that has a higher percentage of fat. It would take too much time with a knife to separate this product manually, so it is mechanically separated. During the process, a puff of ammonium hydroxide gas is applied to the beef.

The ammonium hydroxide increases the pH of the meat and creates an environment that does not allow pathogens to survive. Since the ammonium hydroxide evaporates, it is not considered a food additive. Ammonium hydroxide is used in the processing of many food products.

About 10 to 12 pounds of 94-97% lean beef is recovered from each carcass using this process. It is blended with other ground beef at a rate of not more than 15%. LFTB can be added to ground beef with a higher fat content to produce a leaner end product.

Editor's note:  the only thing consumer boycotts of this product will do is drive up already escalating food costs and take away more private sector jobs. Removing LFTB from ground beef will not make it safer.

Read article from MSU Extension

Hair sheep ram test in Virginia

Virginia Tech is initiating a ram performance test (for hair sheep) at the Southwest Ag Research & Extension Center (AREC) in Glade Spring, Virginia. The test is designed to quantify growth and parasite resistance in rams.

While on test, the rams will have continuous access to high-quality fescue pasture and be supplemented daily with a concentrate ration at a rate of 3% of their body weight.

The test is open to breeders from any state. A minimum of 3 rams and a maximum of 10 may be consigned. Registered rams of any hair sheep breed are eligible for the 70-day test. They must have been born between December 15, 2011, and March 15, 2012, and weigh at least 40 lbs. upon delivery to the test site on June 5.  Nominations are due May 10.

For more information, contact Dr. Scott Greiner at (540) 231-9159 or Lee Wright at (276) 944-2200 or visit http://www.apsc.vt.edu/extension/sheep/swarec-ram-program/index.html.

Virginia Tech's Southwest AREC

The Southwest Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center has recently become one of the key sites for hair sheep research at Virginia Tech.

Virginia to host Dairy Sheep Conference

The 18th Annual DSANA Sheep Symposium (formerly called Great Lakes Dairy Sheep Symposium) will be held October 18-20, 2012, at the Holiday Inn Washington Dulles in Dulles, Virginia.

The DSANA Dairy Sheep Symposium is the major annual event of the dairy sheep industry in North America. For 18 years, this event has attracted dairy sheep producers from Canada, Mexico and throughout the United States. As a small but growing industry, the symposium provides critical connections among producers.

The first day includes talks directed towards beginning producers. The second day features presentations by innovative producers and top scientists from North America and Europe to bring the latest information on dairy sheep production and sheep milk processing to our domestic industry. The final day will include a tour to two local dairy sheep producers and processing plants that manufacture sheep milk cheeses.

Dairy ewes from Maryland's first sheep dairy
Shepherd's Manor Creamery

The DSANA Dairy Sheep Symposium provides an educational environment and fosters connections among dairy sheep producers, processor and researchers.

DSANA Conference Proceedings

Upcoming Festival Seminars

Educational seminars are one of the highlights of the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, always held the first full weekend of May at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, Maryland.

Rich Barczewski

Every year on Friday of the Festival, Dr. Rich Barczewski teaches a basic shepherding course.  This year, there will be a course for those who already have sheep and a course for those who are considering getting a sheep flock.  Barczewski is an animal science professor at Delaware State University. He is also manager of the Maryland Wool Pool.

For the second year in a row, I (Susan Schoenian) will be conducting an Integrated Parasite Management (IPM/FAMACHA©) workshop. Participants will become certified in the FAMACHA© system and will receive a laminated FAMACHA© card. FAMACHA© is a method for determining when sheep need dewormed.

On Saturday, the featured speaker for all educational seminars will be Martin Dally from Oregon.  Dally's presentations will include:  1) Increasing profitability by increasing lamb survival; 2) Management of the flock for optimal reproduction; and 3) Maximizing your flock's fleece potential.  The flock reproduction seminar will be repeated on Sunday.

Martin Dally

All of Dally's seminars are free and will be held in the dining hall at the fairgrounds, except the Sunday seminar, which will be held in the 4-H building.  Dally is owner-operator of Super Sire Ltd (www.toprams.com).

Register online for the Basic Shepherding and FAMACHA courses at www.sheepandwool.org. Registration is not required for Dally's seminars. Information about all of the workshops and seminars can be found by clicking on Events -> Workshops -> Shepherd Workshops.

Southern Maryland Workshop

There will be a Southern Maryland Sheep & Goat Production Workshop on Wednesday, April 25, from 5 to 8 p.m. The workshop will be held at the St. Mary's Agriculture Service Center in Leonardtown, Maryland.

The primary purpose of the workshop is to discuss opportunities for expanding the sheep and goat industry in Southern Maryland.

Call (301) 475-4484 to pre-register or for more information.

Download program flyer

Easter prices

The demand for sheep and goats traditionally increases at Easter. This year, one week separates Roman (traditional) and Orthodox (Greek) Easter. Roman Easter was April 8, whereas Orthodox Easter is April 15.

While many Christian Americans enjoy lamb at Easter, lamb is more strongly favored by Orthodox Christians, such as Greeks, Italians, Eastern Europeans, Russians, and Ethiopians.

"Hothouse" lamb

Many sheep and goat producers sell their animals in advance of the Easter holidays, in anticipation of higher prices.

New Holland Sales Stables (in Pennsylvania) is one of the premier sheep and goat markets in the United States. According to the market report, all of the lambs are destined for non-traditional markets.

Roman Easter (April 9)
On April 2, lamb prices were $15 to $20 higher at New Holland, as compared to the previous week. However, hair lambs were discounted up to $50 per cwt, as they are less desirable for the Easter trade that seeks a fancy, fleshy, milk-fed lamb. Prices for ewes were mostly $10 below the previous week’s prices. 2599 sheep and lambs were sold. Sheep are sold by the hundred weight (cwt), based on actual weights.

Kid prices were lower or steady compared to the previous week, with fewer Selection 1 kids available. Nanny goats traded $5 to $10 lower, whereas billies were $15 lower. The market report attributed the lower prices to the quality of offerings. 2185 goats were sold. Goats are sold by the head, based on estimated weights.

Orthodox Easter (April 15) 
On April 9, lamb prices were mostly $60 higher than the previous week’s prices. The top price was paid for a group of 50 to 60 lb. lambs at $3.70 per lb. The highest average price was for fancy lambs that averaged 48 lbs; they brought $360.13 per cwt.

Goats at New Holland

Slaughter ewe prices were higher than a week ago, with medium-fleshed ewes topping $1 per lb. The market report attributed the higher prices to the higher quality of the animals. The lighter offering (1864) may also have contributed to the higher prices.

Kid prices were $10 to $15 higher, with instances of $25 higher for Selection 1 kids. Nanny goats traded mostly $10 higher and billies brought $10 to $15 more than the previous week. Quality probably accounted for the improved prices. 2024 goats were sold.

New Holland market report (April 2) - weighted average
New Holland market report (April 9) - weighted average

Shearing and baling services

TLS Shearing and Baling Services has been in business in the Mid-Atlantic region for more than 20 years. They specialize in sheep shearing, flock management, and wool baling for flocks of any size.

David Todd

TLS recently acquired a hydraulic wool press, capable of compressing wool into square bales weighing 400 to 500 lbs.

David Todd, the proprietor of TLS has been shearing sheep for more than 30 years. He has sheared sheep in 13 countries and previously managed two of the three biggest sheep operations in Great Britain.

According to Todd, "All flocks, large or small, are treated with the same gentle, clean, and efficient shearing that has come to be the signature of a sheep shorn by TLS."

TLS Todd's Livestock Service

Editor's note:  The Maryland Sheep Breeders Association, via the Maryland Wool Pool, also has the ability to press wool into large square bales.  Contact Richard Barczewski at rbarczewski@desu.edu for more information.

Spring 2012 Wild & Woolly

The Spring 2012 issue of Wild & Woolly has been posted to the Maryland Small Ruminant Page.

The current issue features an article on alpacas in Peru.
Image by Stephan Wildeus

Wild & Woolly is a quarterly newsletter for sheep and goat producers and anyone else interested in small ruminants. It is published by University of Maryland Extension.

The cost to receive the newsletter via U.S. mail is $10 per year, payable to the University of Maryland. The newsletter is available on the internet for free.

Contact Susan Schoenian at sschoen@umd.edu if you'd like to be added to the newsletter e-mail list so that you'll receive an e-mail message when a new issue of the newsletter has been posted.

Spring 2012 Wild & Woolly - HTML
Spring 2012 Wild & Woolly - PDF
Newsletter archive

Goat AI Clinic

Delaware State University and Bio-Genics LTD will be holding a Goat Artificial Insemination (AI) Clinic on Friday and Saturday, May 4 and 5 at Delaware State University.

Dr. Dahlia Jackson-O'Brien at Delaware State University

The registration fee is $100 person. For more information or to register, contact Dr. Dahlia Jackson-O'Brien at (302) 857-6490 or djjackson@desu.edu.

Visit www.biogenicsltd.com/clinics.html for more information.


Download program flyer

Parasite control meeting in PA

Parasite management is a major concern among sheep and goat producers worldwide. Few products are on the market labeled for parasite control in sheep and goats, and in some cases, parasites have built up a resistance to these products and are no longer effective.

Penn State Extension will help producers sort through these problems at a meeting 8:30 a.m.-noon, Thursday, April 12, at the Best Western Conference Center, Routes 512 and 22, Bethlehem, PA.

Pamela Reed of Delaware Valley College will talk about how resistance has become an issue over the years and best management practices for treating stock.

Mena Hautau, Extension educator in Berks County, will talk about managing pastures for better parasite control and forage production. Brian Moyer, program assistant with Penn State Extension in Lehigh County will talk about risk management opportunities for sheep, goats and pastures.

The cost is $25. Registration deadline is April 5. For more information, contact Jodi Torock at (610) 746-1970 or jlt272@psu.edu.

Source:  Lancaster Farming

Thanks to Kelly Cole for sharing this information.

Goat test nomination period open

The nomination period for the 2012 Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test is officially open. Nominations will be accepted until May 15.

Goat producers from any state may consign up to five goats to the test, along with two extra goats for a study comparing pen and pasture-raised goats. Eligible goats must have been born between December 20, 2011, and March 20, 2012, and weigh between 35 and 70 lbs. upon delivery to the test site on June 2.

Bucks from the 2010 test

All documents pertinent to the goat test may be downloaded from the blog at http://mdgoattest.blogspot.com. Nomination packets are also available upon request.  Contact Pam Thomas at pthomas@umd.edu or (301) 432-2767 x315 to request a nomination packet.

The Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test was established in 2006 at the University of Maryland's Western Maryland Research & Education Center (in Keedysville).

While on test, the goats are evaluated for growth, parasite resistance, and parasite resilience. They are also evaluated for carcass merit and structural and reproductive soundness.  The top-performing bucks are eligible to sell.