Hd-book 2Freitag, 12. April 201322:37 Chapter 2. HOW TO CHOOSE GOOD SHEEP ORIGIN AND KINDS OF SHEEPORIGIN OF SHEEPSheep of different breeds were introduced in the Caribbean 300 yearsago.They came from Europe and  Africa. Sheep arrived from different countries,  got together in the Caribbean and finally produced native sheep. These kinds of sheep are easily raised and live without difficulty in the Caribbean. THE NATIVE SHEEP

The native sheep is a hardy  sheep and has adapted very well to local conditions in the Caribbean.This is why sheep are so  popular in the Caribbean. HAIR SHEEPWool is not a good coat in  a hot and humid climate. These sheeps in the caribbean have lost their  wool.They are often called  "hair sheep". They are also called "tropical sheep"  because they are well adaptedto the tropics.The hair sheep's outstanding feature is:

FERTILITY

KINDS OF SHEEP In the Caribbean there are different kinds of hair sheep, such as:West AfricanVirgin Island SheepBahamas NativesPelibueyBlackhead PersianTabasco

 CHOOSING GOOD SHEEP What can you do in order to have good   productive sheep ? First: Select good animals.Second: Breed them well.Third: Raise and feed them properly.Why select good animals?Good sheep assure you a  superior production. This means: healthy lambs and high quality meat. Poor sheep produces loss in  forage, time and money. It is important to select animalsIf you have a large herd,  you can select breeding stock from the ones you raise.If you want to buy sheep, you have to choose a young healthy animal. 

In both cases you need to distinguish a good sheep from a poorone. 

How can we know a good sheep from a poor one?This is a good sheep.It has: bright eyesshiny coatlarge body

This is a poor sheep.It has: cloudy eyesdull coatsmall body

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD SHEEPA healthy sheep has the skin  free of sores and dandruff.A good sheep is medium or  large framed.A good sheep has straight  legs.A good sheep has strong  healthy feet.

 Which sheep would you choose:

If you are a good observer, you will make a good choice.AnswersEither 3 or 4 are a good choice.  Sheep 1 is lame, it could not find food easily.Sheep 2 is too small, this means poor meat yield.Sheep 5 has wool, she may be a poor producer.A good sheep has

Sheep are for meatSo, pay special attention to the body.It should have:

- Wide loins, good legs- Rear legs with a large round  deep down to the hock to producea good leg of lamb.

 A good sheep has:

 1) bright

eyes

2) shiny coat

3) clean skin

4) healthy feet

5) large loin

6) large or mediumframed body

7) straight legs

  

The age of sheepLooking at their teeth we will know the age, and decide which to select.  You know the age of sheep by looking at their teeth

 From 3 to 4 years old, sheep have 6 permanent teeth.From 4 to 5 years old, they have 8 permanent teeth (full mouth).After 5 years old, teeth wear out, they spread apart, they become loose and some fall out.Test on age of sheepHave a look at these teeth.What age may the sheep be?

Answers to page 37:

 Principal characteristics of a good ewe

 Udder and teats are not  large as in milk goats.

 Udder should be without  hard places, warts, sores or scars.

  A good ram

 BUYING SHEEPWhat to buy if you have money for one or two sheep?

 - a one or two yearold ewe

good

- a lactating youngewe

better

- a pregnant young ewe

best

Select your animals from a well known herd. 

Do not buylambs: because they might die.fat sheep: because they are poor breeders and they give little milk.

 

Do not forgetAsk for a health certificate

Sheep for replacement- keep sheep that grow faster- keep lambs with a high weight at birth- keep lambs of multiple births, if their  parents have other good traits RememberOffspring of highly productive animals  will probably be highly productive.1. Native sheep are well adapted to the tropics.2. Sheep that have lost their wool are called "hair sheep".3. The most important characteristic of hair sheep is fertility.4. A lame sheep cannot find food easily.5. A small sheep will have poor meat yield.6. A good sheep has bright eyes, shiny coat, straight legs and

clean skin.7. If we look at the teeth, we will know the age of a sheep.8. A sheep with two adult teeth and 6 milk teeth is one year old.9. A good ewe has its udder without hard places, scars or sores.10. A good ram has two testicles and wide apart squarely set

legs.11. It is better not to buy lambs, because they might die.12. The best ewe to buy is a young pregnant ewe.

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