Modern Sheep Production in Virginia. Virginia. Modern Sheep Producers. Challenges to Sheep Production in. S.P. Greiner

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1 Modern Sheep Production in Virginia S.P. Greiner Department of Animal & Poultry Science Virginia Tech % CHANGE ALL SHEEP & LAMBS JANUARY 1, 1996 TO JANUARY 1, MD New England States -7 to 61 (8) -16 to -7 (5) to -16 (7) -32 to -22 (4) Other States to -32 (9) U.S. Total Livestock Marketing Information Center Data Source: USDA/NASS S-N-14 1/31/5 % CHANGE ALL SHEEP & LAMBS JANUARY 1, 24 TO JANUARY 1, MD New England States 6 to 23.1 (7) 4.7 to 6 (7) to 4.7 (7) -2 to 1.7 (9) Other States to -2 (9) U.S. Total Challenges to Sheep Production in Virginia Parasites Predators Wool Marketing Management and laor requirements Livestock Marketing Information Center Data Source: USDA/NASS S-N-13 1/31/5 $ Per Cwt JAN APR SLAUGHTER LAMB PRICES 3-Market Average, Weekly JUL OCT Avg Modern Sheep Producers Influx of new producers Diverse interests, motivations Well-educated Limited agricultural/husandry experience Hungry for information

Sheep Internal Parasites Most important is arer pole worm, Haemonchus contortus Blood sucking parasite Anemia (pale) and ottle jaw Other, similar parasites contriute ut not usually a prolem y

5 million eggs/day All the common worms have the same life cycle Sheep infected when ingest larvae on pasture Management Stocking density, small paddocks Drug Resistance Dewormers 3 major categories

Causes A few worms have the genetic aility to resist a drug efore you use it Use of a drug gives those worms an advantage Gradually the numer of resistant worms increases Contriuting Factors Frequent

2 Sheep Internal Parasites Most important is arer pole worm, Haemonchus contortus Blood sucking parasite Anemia (pale) and ottle jaw Other, similar parasites contriute ut not usually a prolem y themselves Parasite Control Challenges Climate Long, warm, humid summers perfect for life cycle of Haemonchus 3 worms 1.5 million eggs/day All the common worms have the same life cycle Sheep infected when ingest larvae on pasture Management Stocking density, small paddocks Drug Resistance Dewormers 3 major categories Tramisol, Levasole Valazen Ivomec drench, Cydectin drench Resistant arer pole worm can e found for all drug groups Drug Resistance Defined Genetic aility of worm to withstand the effects of a drug Causes A few worms have the genetic aility to resist a drug efore you use it Use of a drug gives those worms an advantage Gradually the numer of resistant worms increases Contriuting Factors Frequent treatments Mass treatments, indiscriminate treatments Sheep do not get full drug dose Under-dosing Improper administration Methods to Slow Resistance Use dewormers correctly Dosage Annual rotation Don t ring in resistance Deworm new sheep with drugs from 2 major groups and quarantine Practice strategic parasite control measures: Rotational grazing Resting pastures (3 or more months) Alternation of sheep with cattle or horses (and co-species grazing) Reduce Numer of Deworming Treatments Reducing Deworming Selective deworming - deworm only wormiest animals i.e. FAMACHA system Others Good nutrition Put most susceptile animals on safest pasture (lams vs. ewes) Reduce stocking density Mixed or alternate grazing Genetics Cull highly susceptile animals

Principles of Selective Deworming Opposite of previous recommendations (deworm all animals at the same time) 2-3% of sheep have most of worms, and deposit 8% of total eggs Not all worms exposed to

chart with color of mucous memranes of sheep or goat Classification into one of five color categories: 1 - not anemic 5 - severely anemic Using FAMACHA FAMACHA SYSTEM General criteria for deworming

If lams--deworm Adults--it depends Lactating or stressed or high parasite challenge-- consider deworming Consider deworming if want maximum effect on egg production WHAT IT WILL DO Slow accumulation

3 Principles of Selective Deworming Opposite of previous recommendations (deworm all animals at the same time) 2-3% of sheep have most of worms, and deposit 8% of total eggs Not all worms exposed to drug treatment, slows development of resistance Susceptile worms in untreated animals reproduce Helps dilute out resistant worms The FAMACHA System Eye color chart with five color categories Compare chart with color of mucous memranes of sheep or goat Classification into one of five color categories: 1 - not anemic 5 - severely anemic Using FAMACHA FAMACHA SYSTEM General criteria for deworming If in dout, score at paler category Score 1 or 2-- don t deworm Score 4 or 5--deworm Score 3-? If lams--deworm Adults--it depends Lactating or stressed or high parasite challenge-- consider deworming Consider deworming if want maximum effect on egg production WHAT IT WILL DO Slow accumulation of resistant worms Save expense on dewormers Allow you to identify and cull susceptile sheep, retain highly resistant sheep General management tool WHAT IT WON T DO Be the answer to parasite prolems y itself Eliminate drug resistant worms CHALLENGES Laor intensive Not silver ullet Precautions Only properly trained persons should apply the FAMACHA system In U.S. must attend a workshop with hands on exposure to sheep with different eye colors to get card The card is an AID in the control of Haemonchus only Only part of a parasite control program, rememer other management strategies Hair sheep Hair sheep genetic resources Cariean origin: Barados Blackelly, St. Croix South Africa: Dorper U.S.:

Virginia Tech Hair Sheep Research: Project Summary S.P. Greiner, D.R. Notter, H.B. Vanimisetti, A.M. Zajac, and M.L.

system Lam growth and survival Parasite resistance Carcass composition and product sensory attriutes Maternal performance Experimental Design-- --Phase I Crossred Lam

Croix x BB) wethers Evaluate lam growth, carcass traits, parasite resistance, palataility Growth of Dorset and Dorper- sired lams Item Dorset Dorper No.

4 Virginia Tech Hair Sheep Research: Project Summary S.P. Greiner, D.R. Notter, H.B. Vanimisetti, A.M. Zajac, and M.L. Wahlerg Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksurg, VA Glade Spring Project Ojectives Evaluation of hair sheep composite reeds in easy-care production system Lam growth and survival Parasite resistance Carcass composition and product sensory attriutes Maternal performance Experimental Design-- --Phase I Crossred Lam Production Produce ~5 Dorset and ~5 Dorper crosses/year for 3 years Purchase 2 ewe lams/year from 1 to 15 flocks Purchase and Hair cross (St. Croix x BB) wethers Evaluate lam growth, carcass traits, parasite resistance, palataility Growth of Dorset and Dorper- sired lams Item Dorset Dorper No. orn All Birth weight, l. All Weaning wt., l * All Summer gain, l./d All Drylot gain, l./d All Parasite Resistance Ewe lams Fecal Egg Counts FEC, eggs/gram

Ewe lams Packed Cell Volume Wethers: : Fecal Egg Counts PCV, % 32 3 28 26 24 2 21 22 FEC,

5 4 aa c a a a a a c Live Wt. Carcass Wt.

5 Ewe lams Packed Cell Volume Wethers: : Fecal Egg Counts PCV, % FEC, eggs/gram Hair X Carcass Composition Dorset = aa c a a a a a c Live Wt. Carcass Wt. Dress % Trait (Age Constant Endpoint) Hair X a,,c,d Breed means with different superscripts differ (P <.5). Dorset = 1 Carcass Composition a a c a a a a c c a a a Fat th. KP % REA Leg Score Retail Cut % Trait (Adjusted to Constant Wt.) Hair X Lam tenderness and flavor a,,c,d Breed means with different superscripts differ (P <.5).

6 Shear force of longissimus muscle y reed type Sensory panel tenderness ratings y reed type Shear force, kg Breed types differ (P<.1) Breed type Non- Breed type Dorset Dorper Hair Trait 1 crossred crossred crossred SEM Initial tenderness Overall tenderness Juciness Lam flavor Off-flavor Tenderness scale: 1 = extremely tough to 8 = extremely tender. Juciness and lam flavor scale: 1 = extremely dry or land to 8 = extremely juicy or intense. Off-flavor scale: = none to 8 = extremely intense. Experimental Design-- --Phase II Crossred Ewe Evaluation Estalish flocks of ~5 each of Dorset crosses, Dorper crosses, and s Mate to Suffolk rams for 3 years Evaluate ewe size, reproduction, parasite resistance, and coat characteristics. Evaluate lam growth, carcass traits, and parasite resistance, palataility Numers of lams orn to Dorset crossred, Dorper crossred, and ewes of different ages No. of lams orn Ewe age, yr and ewes are oth 1/8 Finnsheep; ewes are purered Numers of lams weaned per ewe laming for Dorset crossred, Dorper crossred, and ewes No. of lams weaned Ewe age, yr and ewes are oth 1/8 Finnsheep; ewes are purered Average 6-day lam weaning wt for lams from Dorset crossred, Dorper crossred, and ewes Avg. lam wt, ls Avg Ewe age, yr and ewes are oth 1/8 Finnsheep; ewes are purered

Fecal egg counts for adult Dorset crossred, Dorper crossred, and ewes Log fecal egg count 8 6 4 2 24 25 Average and ewes are oth 1/8 Finnsheep; ewes are purered Fecal egg counts for lams out of

7 Fecal egg counts for adult Dorset crossred, Dorper crossred, and ewes Log fecal egg count Average and ewes are oth 1/8 Finnsheep; ewes are purered Fecal egg counts for lams out of Dorset crossred, Dorper crossred, and ewes Log fecal egg count Average and ewes are oth 1/8 Finnsheep; ewes are purered Where do they fit?? Extensive production systems Maternal performance Productivity, parasite resistance Maternal Moderate parasite resistance Growth/carcass intermediate to wool and Carriean hair Dorper Terminal or cross with other hair reeds Little parasite resistance Growth/carcass more similar to wool reeds Carriean reeds (St. Croix, Blackelly) Maternal- cross with other reeds Most parasite resistant Unimproved reeds Challenges to Sheep Production in Virginia Parasites Predators Wool Finding shearers Wool prices Marketing Management and laor requirements Lam Marketing Options Livestock auctions Special sales Cooperative marketing entities Direct marketing ALL DRIVEN BY THE ETHNIC MARKET Defining the Ethnic Lam Wide range in acceptale weights Adequate finish- not extremely fat or thin Generally prefer males Less discriminate old crop tails, horns hair sheep

Marketing Considerations Management Parasites Predators Current value vs.

8 Successful Marketing Ethnic Holiday Calendar Product offering must e compatile with marketplace Match marketing scheme Genetics Production System laming date nutrition/feeding program Marketing Considerations Management Parasites Predators Current value vs. future value Cost of gain (feed/forage, death loss, performance) Predicting future market Local market vs. PA vs. direct marketing

Evaluation of terminal sire breeds in hair sheep production systems

217 Virginia Shepherd's Symposium Evaluation of terminal sire breeds in hair sheep production systems A.R. Weaver, D.L. Wright, M.A. McCann, D.R. Notter, A.M. Zajac, S.A. Bowdridge, S.P. Greiner Goal: