Understanding Sheep Farming: Herd Composition and Practices

Sheep Farming: Herd Composition and Management

Sheep Herd Structure

Ewes (Bellies of the Herd)

  • Reproductive females.
  • Age: 1.5 years (paddock mated) to 6.5 years (5th breeding).
  • Replacement rate: 20% annually.
  • Constitute 70-75% of total females in the herd.

Borregas (Breeding Females)

  • Breeding females.
  • Age: 4-5 months (weaning) to 1.5 years (early races, paddock mated).
  • Constitute approximately 20% of total females in the herd.

Rams (Breeding Males)

  • Breeding males.
  • Age: 1.5 years to 5.5 years.
  • Replacement rate: 25% annually.
  • Represent 3-5% of total paddock mated females in the herd.

Replacement Rams

  • Age: 4-5 months to 1.5 years.
  • Not always used for breeding; may be purchased to improve quality.

Lambs (Sheep/Piglets – Chiporro)

  • Age: Birth to 4-5 months (weaning).
  • Quantity depends on the calving rate of females in the herd.

Capones (Steers)

  • Steers, month or month and a half years old.
  • In windy areas, primarily used for wool production.
  • In remote areas, they are raised for meat production.

Sheep Production Practices

Sheep production involves similar practices regardless of the operation type (meat, wool, milk), with timing varying based on latitude:

Paddock Mating

  • Typically lasts about two months during the summer and early winter.
  • Pregnancy lasts five months, timed so that birth coincides with prairie growth.
  • Flushing: Some farmers provide special food (good pastures and supplements) to their lambs 2-3 weeks before and during paddock mating to stimulate ovulation.

Shearing

  • Done once a year, marking the end of the shepherd’s year.
  • Runs from September to January, depending on region and operation type, before pastures mature.
  • Along with shearing, the following are done:
  • Elimination of older ewes (6.5 years).
  • Removal of rams of 5.5 years.
  • Review of Borregas for replacement.
  • Selection of rams.

Glossary of Terms

  • Paddock Mated: Management in which females are joined with reproductively mature males.
  • Service: Mounting.
  • Shearing: Labor in which strips of wool are removed from animals.
  • Shown/Marking: Identification.
  • Jealousy/Estrus: Period when the female is receptive to the male.
  • Pregnancy: Gestation period.
  • Sacrifice/Blessing: Slaughtering the animal.
  • Weaning: End of the milk diet.
  • Castration: Removal of gonads in males.

Composition of Goats

  • Goats: Mothers or “womb.”
  • Replacement Reproductors: Gorda.
  • Chivato/Goat: Males in “Service” with age fluctuating between 1.5 and 5.5 years.
  • Cabrito (a): Husbandry.

Pig Composition

  • Sow: Female or belly.
  • Berraco: Male player.
  • Lechon: Breeding, from birth to weaning (1 month).
  • Pork: From weaning to slaughter or to the first paddock mated in breeding.

Equine

  • Horse: Male castrated.
  • Colt: Male player.
  • Mare: Female reproductive.
  • Foal: Raising.
  • Mula: Mixed breed of a mare and a donkey.
  • Ass: Pack animal.

Cattle

  • Cow: Strand reproduction or belly. Corresponds to one animal unit, and its weight varies with the purpose of meat production 450, 550, and 600 in dual-purpose milk producers.
  • Heifer: Veal has a year and a half to two years. Corresponds to 0.5 AU; their weight varies from 150 to 200 kg initially and ends at 450, 550, or 600 kilograms.
  • Toro: Male player 600 to 800kg, corresponds to 1.2 AU.
  • Caretaker Toro: Same as above, but without reproduction capacity.
  • Toritos: Non-castrated males from weaning to their benefit. (0.5 AU)
  • Calf: From day zero to 6 to 7 months (weaning) (0.5 AU)
  • Novillo: Castrated male from 220 to 430 KgPv (0.75 AU)
  • Ox: Male castrated for work force. (1 to 1.2 AU)