Saskatchewan Sheep Opportunity Prepared by Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board 2213C Hanselman Court Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7L 6A8 Telephone: (306) 933-5200 Fax: (306) 933-7182 E-mail: sheepdb@sasktel.net Website: www.sksheep.com
Sheep have been a part of Saskatchewan's economy for 200 years, with the first sheep arriving on the Canadian prairies in the early 1800's. While the sheep population has shifted with changing times in agriculture, lamb production remains an active part of Saskatchewan agriculture. Advantages to Raising Sheep The sheep industry lends itself well to a family enterprise. Sheep/lamb production can have a relatively low cost of entry with lower breeding stock costs and the ability to easily adapt existing livestock facilities to lamb production. Sheep adapt to various feed stuffs quickly. Sheep/lamb production can economically compliment other farming enterprises with environmental advantages to multi-species grazing. Noxious weeds and brush can be controlled using sheep in grazing programs. Six sheep can be sustained in the same area as one cow. picture provided by Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan Flock size can be increased quickly due to multiple births and short time to maturity. Producers have the potential to increase lambing percentages and lambs marketed per ewe. Sheep can be raised for meat production, wool or both depending on the breed. Sheep can be raised using a variety of production methods from grass-based to dry lot intensive. Sheep and the Environment Multispecies grazing can be used as a tool to accomplish specific grazing management goals. Using two species of animals to graze a pasture can diversify the type of forage utilized, the topographic location of preferred grazing areas, and may diversify income sources. Sheep are a very good fit with cattle for a multispecies grazing operation because of their distinct forage preferences. Cattle prefer to graze grasses, while sheep prefer forbs, brush and shrubs. By clearing brush, sheep grazing at low to moderate intensities promotes the growth of perennial grasses. picture provided by Arlette Seib Sheep are nature s weed eaters. They control noxious and invasive weeds without the use of chemical or mechanical practices. One such weed is leafy spurge which is so competitive that it quickly crowds out all other plants. Sheep will consume the top growth which, in turn, reduces plant vigour and seed production. Sheep primarily eat the flowers and vegetative shoots of the weed. They also strip leaves from mature stems. Repeated grazing weakens the spurge plants and allows grasses to become more productive. When sheep are properly grazed they benefit the land by aerating the soil with their hooves, which allows more oxygen and water to enter the ground. The hooves also puncture the soil pan and increase the ability of seeds to germinate and grow. Sheep provide the soil with natural fertilizer in the form of manure. Front cover picture provided by Arlette Seib
Sheep Industry Opportunities Canadian lamb is continually requested by consumers. 35.5 million Canadians eat 1 kg of lamb meat per year. Lamb consumption continues to increase in Canada; driven by an increasing immigrant population and the consumer s desire for a new dining experience. The Canadian sheep industry currently produces approximately 40 % of the domestic consumption. The world demand for lamb is increasing and production is not keeping pace. picture provided by OSMA Protein Disappearance of animal protein sources in Canada (food available per person, per year) Year Chicken Beef Pork Mutton & Lamb 1980 16.88 38.81 32.16 0.80 1990 22.13 33.99 26.14 0.83 2000 29.12 32.02 28.69 0.94 2010 30.47 27.88 22.06 1.09 2015 31.83 24.32 23.02 1.04 2016 32.51 25.00 20.90 1.02 Source: Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Cattle, Sheep, and Hog Inventory Numbers for Saskatchewan and Canada Statistics Canada Livestock Inventories as of July 1, Saskatchewan (1,000 head) Percent of Canada (1,000 head) Market and Breeding Livestock 2011 2013 2015 2016 2017 Country 2011 2013 2015 2016 2017 Total Beef and Dairy Cattle 2,895.0 2,910.0 2,685.0 2,675.0 2,700.0 20.85% 13,545.0 13,520.0 12,915.0 12,935.0 12,950.0 Total Market and Breeding Hogs 1,030.0 1,070.0 1,170.0 1,180.0 1,225.0 8.67% 12,640.0 12,765.0 13,360.0 13,840.0 14,130.0 Total Sheep, Ewes, Lambs 123.0 126.0 119.0 115.0 111.0 7.18% 1,658.1 1,659.6 1,601.6 1,576.4 1,546.6 Source: Statistics Canada, Inventory as of July 1. Sheep Industry in Saskatchewan Saskatchewan's breeding flock is the fourth largest in Canada. There are approximately 850 producer members across the province with a breeding flock totalling approximately 60,000 breeding ewes. Production models include intensive accelerated lambing, semi confinement farm flocks, range flocks and/or finishing operations. Flocks range in size from 25 to 2500 ewes. Lambs are generally marketed as feeder lambs 60-90 pounds or fed to a finish weight of 110 pounds, the usual target weight for slaughter lamb in Canada. Lambs move to various markets via order buyers, feedlots, public auctions, direct markets or through the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board. Prices for Saskatchewan feeder and slaughter lamb maintained a steady and strong market in the last several years. Shrinking sheep inventories outside Canada and North America also point to a strong future in lamb production. picture provided by Gord Schroeder
Wool production although not the primary revenue generator for the industry is a revenue source. Producers have three primary markets for their wool; commercial wool buyers, local wool handcrafters and selling partially processed wool. Fine, clean, uncontaminated, white wools command a premium price on the wool markets. Wool is an ecologically friendly, naturally biodegradable, renewable resource. Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board (SSDB) picture provided by Arlette Seib with its office in Saskatoon, has the provincial mandate for industry development and is considered the voice of the industry. Five board members are elected from five regions across the province. Sheep production remains a viable alternative within sustainable agriculture. A relatively low cost of entry, a higher biological efficiency (more than 1 offspring), and additional income opportunity areas such as wool make sheep production attractive. Saskatchewan Advantages! Saskatchewan has a large land base in both grain production and pasture land. Farm Land Acres in Saskatchewan and Canada, Saskatchewan is a feed exporter as more grain is produced locally than consumed. Grain Area and Production by Crop in Saskatchewan and Canada
Saskatchewan has among the lowest feed costs in the world. Saskatchewan land costs vary by region in the province with overall prices among the lowest in Canada and many parts of the world. Saskatchewan s large land area and low animal densities provide tremendous opportunities for high biosecurity control and low disease outbreaks compared to many other countries in the world. Saskatchewan Lamb Production Models There are a variety of production methods from grass-based to dry lot intensive production units. This allows for individuals to create a production model that is best suited for their situation and personal preferences. There are three basic lamb production models in Saskatchewan: Intensive Accelerated Lambing 3 lambing s in 2 years, jug lambing Lambing in this system is variable throughout year as each ewe has three lamb crops in two years. A higher number of lambs are marketed per ewe annually. Appropriate breed selection is important. Feed requirements are high as nutrition is vital to success of the accelerated lambing program. Housing requirements are high as lambing occurs indoors under controlled conditions. Marketing time and price will vary but will endure a more consistent cash flow & less price risk. Labour costs are high as intensive management is required. Lamb creep feeding is required for lambs in confinement. Flock health is monitored. Pasture needs are low and thus low land base required. Predation not usually an issue as sheep are confined. Semi Confinement Jug Lambing (most popular) Lambing period is from December to April. Lamb production is lower than accelerated lambing but greater than range grass based production. Marketing time focused on late spring to early winter. Labour and housing requirements can be quite high during lambing. Feed requirements are high with quality forage needed for lactating ewes. Lamb creep feed recommended. Pasture and fencing needed for summer grazing. Flock health is monitored. Picture provided by Owen Gentes Range Grass Based Lambing Lambing period is May and June. Labour requirement is lower as animals are lambing on pasture and grazing for extended period of time. Appropriate breed selection is important. Marketing time focused on early fall to winter. Housing requirements are reduced because more time spent on pasture. Feed requirements lower for winter and coincides with spring pasture growth. Lamb creep feed is not required but a high-quality grass needed. More land is required as pasture needs high; lambs and ewes at pasture. Flock health is monitored with potential for increased predation. Lower number of lambs are typically marketed per ewe.
Nutrition Sheep are ruminants and nutrition needs vary throughout the production cycle. Feed represents the single largest production cost in sheep operations. It is important to monitor the body condition on a regular basis as changes due to nutrition can happen very quickly. Some breeds are capable of producing a choice carcass while feeding on forage. Good quality forages can provide 100 percent of the nutrient requirements. Winter-born lambs will require an area where they can go to eat separately from the ewes. Often producers buy a commercially prepared ration to get the lambs started early and later make their own ration. It is not necessary to grind, roll, crack or crimp grain: sheep have an efficient digestive system. When lambs are on full-feed, many breeds are capable of gaining one pound per day on three pounds of feed. After six weeks, the ewes' milk production starts declining. By the time the lambs are three months old, picture provided by Dwane Morvik the ewes are providing very little milk. Lambs should be weaned at two to three months of age. This allows the ewes to be put on a maintenance diet. Basic Sheep Information Length of estrous cycle: 14-19 days Length of Gestation: Reproductive period: 142-154 days 1 8 years Annual ewe replacement rate: 15% Average feed consumption is 3% of body weight Average ewe weight: Average ram weight: 150 lbs 250 lbs Average lamb weight at birth: Average rate of weight gains: Ready for slaughter: 7.5 lbs 0.75 lbs per day 4-8 months Sexual maturity approximately: 7 months Average No. of offspring: 1.8 Average No of offspring marketed: 1.5 Natural breeding season: late August February picture provided by Dwane Morvik Average Fleece weight: 5 lbs
The Financial Picture Commercial lamb production can generate positive financial returns. The ability of producers to influence production and increase the number of lambs marketed annually per ewe can have a tremendous financial reward. While lamb production in the industry as a whole averages 1.5 lambs/ewe; we currently have producers marketing 2 or more lambs per ewe annually. From birth to marketing usually takes 5-8 months.
How to Get Started Contact the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board (SSDB) for more information and take advantage of the services provided by the SSDB. The Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board provides a Getting Started in Sheep workshop. This two-day course covers the basics of lamb production. It is designed for those who are looking at getting into sheep and those who are already in the business on the beginner level. Please see http://www.sksheep.com/events.htm for the Getting Started workshop dates and workshop outline or call the office at 306-933-5200 for further information. The Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board also has a variety of Fact Sheets and materials available in the office and online at http://www.sksheep.com/services.htm visit http://www.sksheep.com/about.htm to view video on Saskatchewan Sheep Industry Opportunities in Saskatchewan.