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)