Gunnison County Lease-A-Sheep Record Intermediate 2013 Name Age Year(s) in Project I declare that the information in this book is correct and all 4-H requirements have been completed to the best of my knowledge. Member Signature Leader Signature Parent/Guardian Signature Cover Date Date Date
PERSONAL GOALS Do at beginning of the year Goals are essential to a successful project they can provide your roadmap for success! Choose at least two goals which you feel are important. The goal should include a personal skill or characteristic that you can learn or improve during this project. Write at least two goals; more are optional. List one step you will take to accomplish the goals. See page 3 for examples. 1. 2. 3. PROJECT AGREEMENT I will spend at least eight ranch/animal care hours per month. I will keep good records and finish my record book to complete my project. I will be responsible for handling the goats according to the barn manager s wishes and for my own behavior according the Code of the Goat. Member Signature Date As a parent or supporter, I will support this youth in their efforts and allow them to learn as much as possible from the experience. The youth is expected to be responsible for labor and care affecting the project. I will help where needed by giving guidance and instruction, make every effort to provide transportation and insure obligations are met. Parent Signature 2 Date
Examples of a Personal Goal and to do s A goal should include what you want to happen. It is more effective if you also plan at least one step you will take to achieve the goal. Goal: I want to have an attitude of gratitude. Step: I will remember to thank Ann, goat club leaders, and my parents when they help me. Goal: I want to help other goatees. Step: I will help other members catch their sheep. I will help with chores. Goal: I want to be dependable or learn responsibility. Step: I will keep track of my tools (halter, lean ropes, collars, etc.) I will keep up on my record book. I will communicate with Ann if I can t take care of my sheep. Goal: I want to learn to clip hooves by myself. Step: I will ask questions and follow instructions. Goal: I want to learn more about sheep health. Step: I will help with flock health activities. I will learn a couple of diseases and how to treat them. Goal: I want to become more involved in 4-H. Step: I will come to club meetings and participate in community service projects. I will attend a 4-H retreat or camp. 3
LEASE-A-SHEEP PROJECT GOALS Do at beginning of the year Goals are essential to a successful project they can provide your roadmap for success! Follow the directions to help you set some sheep related goals. Do the last question at the end of your year. Number of animals I plan to lease and take care of. (You need to keep records on each animal you lease.) List some of the duties or jobs you (or someone older) have to do to care for your animals. Name one new skill or knowledge you want to gain while working with your animal this year. Examples: clipping hooves, sheep nutrition, Shetland sheep facts, how to give a shot, evaluating my animals How did you do? Name the new skill or goat fact that you learned. 4
FEED RECORD Part of any livestock project is recording what your animal eats since that is one of the biggest expenses. Feed and nutrition is also a factor in the quality of the product of fiber. Although feed my be freely available start to learn what a goat s nutrition needs are. You should know all the feed requirements for the whole herd in addition to your animal. List all the types of feed (food) the Shetland sheep flock gets throughout the year; include baby lambs and pregnant ewes. List any nutritional (diet) supplements for the sheep flock. How did they get their supplements? Why do the sheep need a supplement? Why do the sheep need hay? How much hay does the sheep flock eat in a year. 5
EXPENSE RECORD Enter all expenses here such as: show supplies, transportation, entry fees, lease fees, show clothes, etc. for the year. Date Item Paid to: Cost $ Total: 6
FLOCK AND ANIMAL HEALTH RECORD Be specific in recording your Health Record. Write down what health products were used. Include immunizations, examinations, worming, tagging, wound medications, and spraying for flies. Record treatments if animal was sick or injured. Date Name or ID of Animal Reason for Treatment Name of Medicine Amount Given Method Cost Record preventative vaccinations, wormings, etc. given to flock or group Date Herd or group Reason for Treatment Be specific Name of Medicine Method Cost 7
BREEDING RECORD You need to have a breeding record for every animal you lease. Sire Strengths Weaknesses Name and Tag # Strengths Weaknesses Dam Strengths Weaknesses Birthdate Ram Ewe Single Twin Birthing complications or comments 8
BREEDING RECORD You need to have a breeding record for every animal you lease. See the breed characteristics on page 9 to help you with strengths and weaknesses. Sire Strengths Weaknesses Name and Tag # Strengths Weaknesses Dam Strengths Weaknesses Birthdate Ram Ewe Single Twin Birthing complications or comments 9
Shetland Sheep Characteristics Strong Traits Weak Traits Balanced body; long and deep Strong straight back Travels or walks well Feet pointing straight ahead Stands square on their legs Stands on the toe of their hoof Fiber that grows from head to tail Good teats and udder on does Fiber diameter, style, length is good Lacks size or volume Crooked teeth Dangerous horns Hooves are crooked Hocks nearly touching Weak pasterns Poor fiber coverage; spots Poor fiber 10
SHETLAND SHEEP AND FIBER EVALUATION SHEET North American Shetland Sheep Standards found at www. shetland-sheep.org is a resource to help you evaluate your sheep. You need an evaluation for every animal you lease. Animal Name Scrapie Tag # Age Gender Character Description Points General Appearance Head Face Good width between ears, tapering rapidly to base of nose. Hollow between cheeks and nose well marked. Medium length to face from eyes to muzzle. Nose prominent; small mouth Your Score 9 Back 9 Ribs 5 Rump Eyes Full, bright, and active look 3 Tail Ears Neck Shoulders Fine, medium size set well back, carried slightly above the horizontal Full, tapers into a fairly broad chest Well set, top level with back 4 Legs 4 Skin 6 Wool Chest Medium width and deep 5 Carriage 11 Character Description Points Level, with as much width as possible Well sprung and well ribbed up Good width, with well tuned rounded hips Fluke tail. Wool at root forming the broad rounded part, and tapering suddenly to barely covered fine point Light, but very fine in quality Varies according to colour of wool. In white not blue or black colouring Extra fine and soft texture. Longish, wavy, and well closed. Alert and nimble, with a smart active gait 9 4 5 9 4 2 20 2 Your Score
SHETLAND SHEEP AND FIBER EVALUATION SHEET North American Shetland Sheep Standards found at www. shetland-sheep.org is a resource to help you evaluate your sheep. You need an evaluation for every animal you lease. Animal Name Scrapie Tag # Age Gender Character Description Points General Appearance Head Face Good width between ears, tapering rapidly to base of nose. Hollow between cheeks and nose well marked. Medium length to face from eyes to muzzle. Nose prominent; small mouth Your Score 9 Back 9 Ribs 5 Rump Eyes Full, bright, and active look 3 Tail Ears Neck Shoulders Fine, medium size set well back, carried slightly above the horizontal Full, tapers into a fairly broad chest Well set, top level with back 4 Legs 4 Skin 6 Wool Chest Medium width and deep 5 Carriage 12 Character Description Points Level, with as much width as possible Well sprung and well ribbed up Good width, with well tuned rounded hips Fluke tail. Wool at root forming the broad rounded part, and tapering suddenly to barely covered fine point Light, but very fine in quality Varies according to colour of wool. In white not blue or black colouring Extra fine and soft texture. Longish, wavy, and well closed. Alert and nimble, with a smart active gait 9 4 5 9 4 2 20 2 Your Score
ACTIVITY LOG Record everything you did related to your goat, goat ranch, club, and other 4-H related activities and events. List club meetings, herd health care activities, shows, ranch clean ups, club meetings, fund raisers, and community service projects and other 4-H activities. Date or time period What did you do? Examples to help you remember what to record Sept-Aug 9-17-11 10-28-11 11-15-11 Jan-Feb Spent time with my sheep, helped with chores, helped clip hooves when needed Helped with fall flock vaccinations Club meeting; started record book Club Halloween party Invited Partners to goat ranch for community service Watched Darby ultrasound bred does Ranch clean up day Combed goat cashmere 7-16-12 Estes Park Wool Show 13
Activity Log, cont. 14
Write the letter of the definition next to the term. gestation lactation SHEEP KNOWLEDGE scrapies C dewormer soremouth A B D combination of features that identify an animal with a breed such as confirmation, color, and head shape membranes of pregnancy that are expelled following giving birth time during which the ewe carries her unborn lamb(s), normally 150 days skirting E just under the skin injection Sub Q colostrums afterbirth H waviness in wool F G small red spots at the corners of the lips (or blisters) caused by a virus removing from the edges of whole fleeces the stained or inferior portions such as belly, legs, and neck emsket, shaela, musket, mioget, moorit I secretion of milk; time during which milk is produced ruminant J sheep breed developed from a fine-wool sheep in Spain. It is the basis for all wool breeds crimp K first milk from ewe, high in nutrients skein L hoofed animals that chew cud and have complex 3-4 chambered stomachs Merino M similar to a ball of yarn but oblong in shape breed character or type N O fatal, degenerative, infectious disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats Shetland sheep colors 15
SHEEP TALK These are terms and words that you should be learning taking care of a sheep and spending time at the Goat Ranch. Colostrum: The first milk from the ewe. Very high in nutrients. Cow-hocked: Undesirable, crooked hind legs. Hocks too close together as viewed from behind. Dam: Female parent Deworm: To rid of internal parasites. Fleece: The hair or wool of an animal. Free choice: Method of feeding in which rations are always present. Freshening: To begin lactation after giving birth. Hay: Livestock feed made from forage that has been cut and allowed to dry so that it may be stored without molding. Nutrient: A chemical substance that nourishes, such as protein, carbohydrates, minerals or vitamins. Pasture: Grasses grown for grazing animals. Shetland Sheep: A small, hardy primitive breed, with a short thin tails, fine bones and a small head that is dished on the ewes. Origins are from the Shetland Islands located north of Scotland. Sire: Male parent Stanchion: A restraining device that holds a goat by the neck. Used to trim hooves and comb. Vaccine: A substance that contains live, modified or dead organisms or their products that is injected into an animal in an attempt to protect the host from a disease caused by that organism. 16
4-H STORY Write a story about your project. Include the following information in story format: Why did you choose each project? Did you learn what you had hoped to learn? Did you reach your goal? Did anyone help you? What did you like the best about each project? What results, difficulties or challenges did you have with this project? You can add other information or thoughts to your story. You can type or hand-write your story. If you hand-write the story, use pencil or ink on lined white notebook paper. If a computer is used to write the story, use plain white paper with no smaller than 12 pt. font. Leave a wide enough margin so the story can be read if inserted into a report cover. Limit your story to maximum of two (2) pages specifically related to your livestock projects. PROJECT PHOTOS A minimum of four pictures per project is expected. Pages should be attached at the end of the record. Pictures must be project specific. Include pictures that represent the whole project; for example, kidding, feeding, combing, cleaning the barn, showing, practicing showmanship, workshops, etc. Pictures should have a caption that describes what is occurring in the picture. 17