| Foot trimming
Feet of ewes are trimmed as needed at lambing or at another convenient ewe-handling time. Feet of all breeding rams are trimmed as needed prior to the start of each STAR period (five times per year).
Internal parasite control
Ewes are given an oral drench to control internal parasites when on pasture.
External parasite control
External parasites are controlled as necessary but generally not more than one time per year using an insecticide labeled for use on sheep.
Vaccinations
Ewe lambs are vaccinated against the toxin produced by Clostridium perfringens types C&D and against tetanus about two weeks weaning and about one month later. All ewes receive boosters of the same vaccines prior to lambing.
Shearing
Ewes at are shorn once a year. If the weather is severe, shorn ewes are kept in the barn for the first week or two to allow them to acclimate.
Ear tagging or notching
Metal ear tags are used to identify lambs at a few days of age.
Upon entering the breeding flock, ewes are given a larger colored ear tag. Lamb tags are also maintained in the ears of replacement ewes to provide additional identification verification. Both tags are recorded in the Cewe data base management system.
Notches like those for pig identification are used to identify some groups of sheep.
Tail docking
Lamb’s tails are docked prior to two weeks of age.
Castration
Ram lambs sold as young animals normally are not castrated. Castration by standard industry methods for a specific experiment or a specialty market is done before three months of age.
Bedding pack removal
The bedding pack is removed at least one time per year.
Pen sizes and sorting sheep
Number of sheep per pen is based upon size and type of sheep for a given pen size (click for drawings of the barn layout) according to the 1999 "Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching." Sheep are often regrouped based upon reproduction status or for other management reasons so the number of sheep in a given pen can vary frequently. Sometimes (for example, during barn cleaning), two pens of sheep are grouped together for a few hours before regrouping according to the recommendations in the Guide.
Record keeping
A computerized recording system is used to record the following:
- Lambing
- Medical treatments
- Deaths
Disposals
Dead animals are put in a cooler for later examination by the flock veterinarian or, if two decayed for necropsy, composted. Deaths are recorded on a clipboard and later entered into the computer database. The following information is included:Date
- Eartag number (a unique phantom number is used for untagged newborn lambs and this number is entered into the lambing record of the ewe)
- Approximate age
- Clinical diagnosis or signs
Treatment information
Treatments are recorded on health record sheets and later entered into the computer database. Animals under treatment are marked for easy identification. The following information is included:
- Tag number
- Approximate age
- Location
- Symptom
- Treatment
- Dose
- Date and time
- Initials of caretaker
Veterinary care information
The flock veterinarian is consulted on a weekly basis about the health of the flock. In emergencies, the Ambulatory Clinic of the CVM is contacted at 253-3140. The following information is recorded on the health record sheets:
- Date
- Tag number
- Location in barn
- Observation
- Treatment
- Initials of caretaker
Treatments administered to a sub-group or the entire flock are recorded on sheets found in the flock treatment notebook in the laboratory of the barn. The following information is included:
- Date
- Group ID
- Treatment
- Dose
- Route of administration
- Initials of caretaker
Weaning weights
Weaning weights are recorded on weaning weight data sheets and later entered into the computer database. The following information is included:
Sales records
Sales are recorded on sale record sheets and later entered into the computer database. The following information is included:
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