Glossary of Sheep Terms
- A
Abattoir -a facility where farm animals are killed and processed into meat products.
Abomasum - the fourth compartment of the stomach of a ruminant; the one where digestion takes place.
Abortion - premature loss of a pregnancy.
Accelerated lambing - when a ewe lambs more often than once a year.
AFO - Agricultural operations where livestock are kept and raised in confined situations. Some states regular AFOs.
Afterbirth - the placenta and fetal membranes that are expelled from the uterus after the lambs are born.
Amino acid - one of the building blocks of protein.
Anemia - a lower than normal number of red blood cells.
Animal unit - A unit represented by one mature cow or horse, or by as many animals as consume an equivalent amount of feed, such as 7 sheep.
Animal unit month (AUM) - The quantity of forage required by one mature cow and her calf (or the equivalent, in sheep or horses, for instance) for one month.
Annual plant - a plant that usually germinates, flowers and dies in one year.
Anthelmintic - medicine which kills certain types of intestinal worms.
Antibiotic - drug that kills bacteria and other germs.
Antibodies - proteins produced by the immune system to fight specific bacteria, viruses, or other antigens.
Anti-toxin - an antibody that can neutralize a specific toxin.
Artificial Insemination (AI) - process whereby semen is placed within a female's uterus by artificial means i.e. other than sexual intercourse.
ASI - American Sheep Industry Association. Federation of state sheep associations.
- B
Banding - the process of applying rubber bands to the tail or scrotum for docking and castrating.
Bellwether - sheep that leads the herd often wearing a bell .
Bloat - excessive accumulation of gases in the rumen of an animal.
Bottle jaw - Edema or fluid accumulation, under the jaw. A sign of infection with Haemonchus in sheep.
Breech birth - a birth in which the lamb is presented backwards with the rear legs tucked under and only the tail near the opening.
Browse - parts of woody plants, including twigs, shoots, and leaves.
Buck - slang term for a male sheep.
Bummer - slang term for an orphan lamb.
Burdizzo - castration method that uses a large clamp to crush the blood vessels leading into the testicles.
- C
CAFO - cconfined animal feeding operation having at least 1,000 animal units. Governed by federal and state laws.
Carding -process involving the movement of natural fibres between two surfaces covered with wire pins in order to detangle and align the fibres in preparation for spinning.
Castrate - removal of testes.
cc - cubic centimeter. Same as a millileter (ml).
Cellulose - component of plant cell walls that is not digestible by most animals (lignin)
Cervix - the lower section of the uterus which protrudes into the vagina and dilates during labor to allow the passage of the fetuses.
Coccidiostat - any of a group of chemical agents mixed in feed or drinking water to control coccidiosis in animals.
Colostrum - first milk a ewe gives after birth. High in antibodies, this milk protects newborn lambs against diseases.
Composting - process whereby organic wastes decompose naturally.
Combing - the straightening or parallelizing of fibers using combs. Also includes the removal of short fibers and other impurities.
Concentrate - feed that is high in energy, low in fiber content, and highly digestible.
Conception - in reproduction, the point at which a sperm fertilizes an egg.
Continuous grazing - livestock remain on a grazing unit the entire time in which grazing is allowed.
Cool season plant - a plant that generally makes most of its growth during the late fall, winter, and spring.
Corpus Luteum - the mass of cells that form once the egg has been released from the ovary. The corpus luteum produces progesterone. Also called "yellow body."
Cost share - a subsidization, by different governmental agencies and some private industries.
Crimp - the natural waviness of the wool fiber.
Culling - the process that determines which animals in a herd will not be bred.
Creep feeding - to provide supplemental feed to nursing lambs.
Creep grazing - the practice of allowing young animals to graze areas their dams cannot access at the same time.
Crossbreeding - the mating of animals of different breeds.
Crutching - the removal of wool from around the tail and between the rear legs of a sheep.
Cud - food of a ruminant regurgitated to be chewed again.
-
D
Dags - wool contaminated with feces, which is either adhering to or has been clipped from the posterior of sheep.
Dam - the mother.
Diarrhea - increased frequency, fluidity, or volume of fecal excretion.
Dock - to remove the tail (v) or the shortened tail of a sheep (n).
Drench - a method of giving liquid medicine.
Dressing percentage - the percentage of the live animal that ends up as carcass.
Dystocia - difficulty in giving birth or being born. -
E
Eid - annual Islamic festival. There are two major Eids in the Muslim calendar.
Elastrator - instrument used to apply heavy rubber bands (elastrator rings/bands) to the tail and scrotum for docking and castration.
Embryo - an animal in the early stage of development before birth.
Embryo Transfer - implantation of embryos or fertilized eggs into a surrogate mother.
EPD (expected progeny difference) - the expected difference between the performance of an animal's progeny and the average progeny performance of all the animals in the breed.
Epididymitis - tiny tube where sperm collect after leaving the testis.
Estrogen - female sex hormone produced by the ovary. Responsible for the estrus cycle.
Estrus - the period when the female is fertile and receptive to the male. Also called heat.
Estrus Cycle - the reproductive cycle of the female.
Ewe - female sheep
Extra label - use of a drug in a manner for which it was not approved. -
F
FAMACHA© - a parasite control regime for controlling and treating Haemonchus contoritis in small ruminants. Uses an eye anemia chart.
Fat-soluble vitamins - vitamins that dissolve in liquid fat or fatty oils, in addition to water. They include Vitamin A, D, E and K. They are manufactured in the rumen.
Fatten - feed for slaughter. Make fleshy or plump.
Fecal egg count (FEC) - number of worm eggs in a gram of feces. Also called EPG (eggs per gram).
Feedlot - a small area where lambs are confined and fed carefully mixed, high-concentrate feed to fatten them.
Fertilizer - any one of a large number of natural and synthetic materials, including manure and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compounds, spread or worked into the soil to increase its fertility.
Fleece - the wool from a single sheep in the shorn grease state.
Flerd - a mixed group of sheep and cattle.
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) - hormone produced by the pituitary gland which stimulates the production of follicles by the ovary.
Foot bath - chemical and water mixture that sheep stand in, used for the prevention and/or treatment of foot rot and foot scald.
Footrot - contagious disease of sheep caused by specific bacteria
Forage - grasses, small shrubs and other plant material that can be used as feed for livestock. Edible parts of plants.
Forb - broadleafed herbaceous plant (e.g., dandelion).
Forward grazing - one group of animals is allowed access to a paddock ahead of another group. -
G
Genotype - the genetic constitution of an individual.
Gestation - the length of pregnancy.
Gimmer - female sheep over one year of age.
Grade - a measure of quality (n).
Graft - transfer a lamb to a ewe that is not its mother.
Grain - the seed part of cereal crops such as corn, oats, barley, and wheat.
Grass - a group of plants having narrow leaves with parallel veins, small flowers, and basically hollow stems with joints where the leaves are attached.
Grass-based - pasture or grassland play a significant role in the life or diet of the animal.
Green chop - freshly cut forage fed to livestock.
Ground water - water that does not run off, and is not taken up by plants, but soaks down into an aquifer; a supply of fresh water under the earth’s surface which forms a natural reservoir. Is frequently used for drinking.
Gummer - a sheep so old that it has lost all of its teeth. -
H
Haemonchosis - infestation with or disease caused by nematode worms of the genus Haemonchus (esp. H. contortus)
Halal - a set of Islamic dietary laws which regulate the preparation of food.
Hand spinner - a person who spins wool (twists fibers into yarn) by hand.
Hay - grass mowed and cured for use as fodder.
Haylage - grass silage
Heat - estrus. The period when the female is fertile and receptive to the male.
Heavy use area - an outdoor area where livestock are primarily sustained by imported feed.
Hectare - metric unit of area equal to 10,000 square meters, or 2.471 acres
Heterosis - an increase in the performance of hybrids over that of purebreds, most noticeably in traits such as fertility and survivability.
Heritability - the extent to which a trait is influenced by our genetic makeup.
Hogget - a British term for a yearling sheep that has not yet been shorn.
Hoop house - building with an arched metal frame and fabric cover, used to house livestock.
Hormone -a substance that is made by one part of the body but affects another part of the body.
Hull - the dry outer cover of a fruit, seed, or nut.
Hybrid vigor - an increase in the performance of hybrids over that of purebreds, most noticeably in traits such as fertility and survivability.
Hypothermia - a condition of characterized by low body temperature. -
I
Immunity - a natural or acquired resistance to a specific disease.
Inbreeding - Mating or crossing of individuals more closely related that average pairs in the population.
Intramuscular (IM) - into a muscle.
Intraperitoneal (IP) - administered or withdrawn from within the abdominal cavity.
Intravenously (IV) - entering through a vein.
Islam - the religious faith of Muslims, literally, "submission" (to God) -
J
Jug - a pen where a ewe and her newborn lambs are put to bond. -
K
Ked - wingless fly that is an external parasite on sheep.
Ketone - acidic substance produced when the body uses fat, instead of sugar for energy.
Ketosis - metabolic disorder where ketones build up in the body.
Kosher - food prepared in accordance with Jewish dietary laws. -
L
Lactation - the secretion (production) of milk. When the ewe is giving milk.
Lamb - a young sheep (n). To give birth to a lamb (v). The meat from an animal less than one year old (n).
Lanolin - wool "grease." Also called yolk.
Larvae - the immature form of many animals, which hatches from the egg and often differs in appearance from the adult form.
Leader-follower grazing - two classes of livestock having distinctly different nutritional needs are grazed successively in a pasture.
Legume - a plant whose roots form an association with soilborne bacteria that can capture atmospheric nitrogen.
Libido - sexual desire.
Lignin - a component of the cell walls of plants that occurs naturally, along with cellulose.
Linebreeding - the mating of individuals within a particular line.
Live vaccine - a vaccine in which live virus is weakened through chemical or physical processes in order to produce an immune response without causing the severe effects of the disease.
Lutenizing hormone (LH) - The hormone that normally triggers ovulation and stimulates the corpus luteum to secrete progesterone. In the male, it stimulates testosterone production. -
M
Macromineral - an element essential in large quantities. Includes Ca, Mg, P, Na, Cl, and K.
Mastitis - Inflammation of the mammary glands.
Meat and bone meal - the rendered production from animal tissues, including bone.
Microminerals - an element needed in very small quantities. Also called trace minerals. Includes Fe, Co, Cr, Cu, I, Mn, Se, Zn, and Mo.
Micron - one millionth of a meter. Measurement unit for wool fiber diameter.
Milliliter (ml) - a unit of liquid volume in the metric system equivalent to one thousandth of a liter or approximately .03381 fluid ounces in the English system.
Mixed grazing - grazing by two or more species of grazing animals on the same unit of land . Also called multi-species grazing.
Mob - a group of sheep that have been run under exactly the same conditions for the entire growing season.
Moorit - brown.
Morphology - the size and shape of sperm.
Motility -the ability of sperm to move by themselves.
Mottled-faced - having spots or patches of color on the face.
Muslim/Moslem - a member of the Islamic faith.
Mutton - the meat from an older sheep. -
N
NAIS - National Animal Identification System.
NSIP - National Sheep Improvement Program. A computerized genetic evaluation program for sheep.
Necropsy - a postmortem examination.
Nematode - a type of roundworm.
Nutrient management - identifying how the major plant nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) are to be annually managed for expected crop production and for the protection of water quality. - O
Omasum - the third part of the ruminant stomach located between the reticulum and the abomasum.
Orf - a viral skin disease affecting sheep and goats. People can contact this disease.
Organic matter - the part of the soil that includes the decomposing remains of plants and animals, as well as the product of complete decomposition, known as humus.
Orthodox - referring to the Eastern Church.
Ova - female sex egg. Also called ovum, oocyte.
Ovulation - the release of mature eggs from the ovary.
Oxytocin - a naturally secreted hormone that is important in milk letdown and the contraction of the smooth uterine muscles during the birthing process. - P
Paddock - an enclosed area for grazing animals.
Parturition - the act of giving birth.
Pedigree - line of descent of a purebred animal.
Pelt - the skin of a sheep with the wool on.
Perennial plant - plant that lasts three seasons or more.
pH - a value that indicates the acidity of the soil.
Phenotype - the observable characteristics of an individual.
Photoperiod - the relationship between the length of light and dark in a 24-hour period.
Pinkeye - condition in which the conjunctiva (membranes lining the eyelids and covering the white part of the eye) become inflamed or infected. Also called conjunctivitis.
Pizzle - the penis of an animal.
Placenta - the organ that nourishes the fetus(es) in the uterus.
Pneumonia - an infection in the lungs.
Polled - the abscence of horns.
Predator - an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals.
Probiotic - living organisms used to manipulate fermentation in the rumen.
Progeny - the offspring of an individual.
Progesterone - a female hormone secreted by the ovary. Produced in large quantities by the placenta during pregnancy.
Prolific - producing offspring in abundance.
Protozoa - the first animals; the lowliest forms of life, all single-celled.
Purebred - wholly of one breed or line (as opposed to crossbred).
- Q
- R
Raddle - color pigment that is applied to the ram's brisket to mark females he mates.
Ram - uncastrated adult male sheep
Ram effect - stimulating non-cycling ewes to ovulate by the sudden introduction of a ram or teaser ram.
Refugia - worms that have not been exposed to anthelmintics and therefore are susceptible to drug treatment.
Reticulum - the second chamber of the ruminant digestive tract, used for sorting out fine plant particles for further fermentation.
RFID - radio frequency identification. Refers to the technology that uses devices attached to objects that transmit data to an RFID receiver.
Ringwomb - failure of the cervix of a ewe to dilate during parturition.
Rotational grazing - a grazing scheme where animals are moved from one grazing unit (paddock) to another.
Roughage - feed that is high in fiber, low in digestible nutrients, and low in energy (e.g., hay, straw, silage, and pasture).
Roundworm -unsegmented worms with elongated rounded body pointed at both ends.
Rumen - the first compartment of the stomach of a ruminant animal. Tts bacteria and protozoa break down cellulose.
Ruminant - an animal with a multiple stomach that is able to digest cellulose.
- S
Safe pasture - pasture that is not infected with worm larvae.
Scouring - the actual separation of dirt, grease, and foreign matter from grease wool.
Scours - diarrhea in livestock.
Scrapie - the TSE of sheep and goats. A fatal brain disease.
Scrotum - pouch in which the male's testicles are suspended outside the body.
Scurs - little horns that have broken the skin, but not grown.
Second cuts - short tufts of wool cut at least twice by the shearing.
Selection - choosing of favorable offspring as parents for future generations.
Selection differential - the difference between the mean of the individuals selected to be parents and the mean of the overall population.
Selection index - a linear combination of phenotypic information and weighting factors used for genetic prediction.
Semen - the combination of sperm, seminal fluid, and other male reproductive secretions.
Shear - the act of cutting wool.
Sheath - an enveloping structure or covering enclosing an animal organ or part.
Shed lambing - Housing ewes and newborn lambs in pens or sheds to provide food, shelter, and medical care during and immediately after birth.
Silage - fodder (livestock feed) prepared by storing and fermenting green forage plants in a silo.
Sire - the father.
Skirting - removing the stained, unusable, or undesirable portions of a fleece.
Slime graft - rubbing the fetal fluids and membrane of a ewe's lamb onto a lamb that you wish to graft onto her.
Smut-faced - blackface x whiteface
Somatic cell count - the number of white blood cells per milliliter of milk or measurement of the number of somatic cells present in a sample of milk.
Sperm - male reproductive cells.
Spin - work natural fibers into thread or yarn.
Staple - refers to the length of a lock of shorn wool; in the trade, "staple" refers to the longer length wools within a grade.
STAR© System - accelerating lambing system in which ewes produce five lamb crops in a three year period.
Stillborn - showing no signs of life at birth.
Stocking density - the relationship between the number of animals and area of land at any given time.
Stocking rate - the number of specific kinds and classes of animals grazing a unit of land for a specified period of time.
Stockpiled forage - forage that is allowed to accumulate for later grazing.
Straw - the stems of wheat, barlely, or oat plants which are cut and baled and often used for animal bedding. Sometimes, straw is fed to animals.
Strip grazing - confining animals to an area of grazing land to be grazed in a relatively short period of time.
Stun - make senseless.
Subcutaneous (sub-Q, SQ) - under the skin.
Sustainable agriculture - an approach to growing food and fiber which is profitable, uses on-farm resources efficiently to minimize adverse effects on the environment and people, preserves the natural productivity and quality of land and water, and sustains vibrant rural communities.
- T
Tapeworm - ribbonlike flatworm that is parasitic in the intestines of vertebrates.
Teaser - ram that have been surgically altered in a way that prevents him from reproducing.
Testosterone - a hormone that promotes the development and maintenance of male sex characteristics.
Top - a strand of longer fibers that have been straightened, made parallel and separated from the shorter fibers by combing.
Topdress - a process that means apply to the top.
Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) - standard system for expressing the energy value of feeds.
Tup - British term for an uncastrated adult male sheep.
- U
Udder - the milk secreting organ of a cow or sheep.
Ultrasound -a procedure in which high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) are bounced off internal tissues or organs and make echoes.
Urea - chief end product of mammalian protein metabolism.
Uterus - the organ in the female in which the fetuses develop. The womb.
- V
Vaccine - injection given to animals to prevent or cure diseases.
Vagina - the canal that forms the passageway from the uterus to the outside of the body. The birth canal.
Vegetable matter - any material of plant origin found in the fleece, such as burrs, stickers, chaff and seed heads.
Vegetative - in developmental stages of plant growth. Non-reproductive plant parts, i.e. leaf and stem; in contrast to reproductive plant parts, i.e. flower and seed.
- W
Warm season plant - a plant that makes most of its growth during late spring, sumer, or early fall and is usually dormant in winter.
Weaning - removal of young mammals from their source of milk.
Weed - a plant that is growing where it is unwanted.
Wet graft - immersing the lamb to be grafted, along with the ewe's own lamb, into a saturated salt solution.
Wether - a male sheep that has been castrated as a lamb.
Withdrawal period - the time when a drug must not be administered prior to marketing to insure that no drug residues remain in the meat or milk.
Wool pool - a collection point for many producers to sell their wool.
Woolen - yarn made from fibers that are one to three inches in length and that have been carded only. Fabrics of woolen yarn are characterized as being fuzzy, thick, and bulky.
Worsted - wool yarn of long staple with fibers that have been combed prior to spinning. Combing produces more parallel fibers than carding.
- X
- Y
Yearling - an animal between 1 and 2 years of age.
Yoe - slang term for an adult female sheep.
- Z
Zero grazing - a method of raising livestock in pens or small corrals where most of their fodder is grown elsewhere and carried to the pen.
Zoonoses - a disease that is transmissible between humans and animals.
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