Small ruminants

Question 1

Describe sheep behaviour

Answer 1

Graze for 10 hours a day
Sleep together in shade
Aggression seen in ewes with lambs
Age dominance in tups
Lambs form play groups at month old

Question 2

Describe goat behaviour

Answer 2

Friendly
Inquisitive
easily bored
Suffer from separation anxiety
Can develop close affinity with owner
Will stand on gences/gates

Question 3

Describe goat, camelid & deer behaviour when ill

Answer 3

Illness often hidden (prey animals)

Signs may include:
Moving away from herd
Not eating
Loss of condition
Lameness
Dirty backside

Question 4

How should camelids be restrained

Answer 4

Approach slowly
Hand around neck (support, dont scruff) & dont sandwich with other handler (no escape route makes them nervous)
Use halter (tight & high towards eyes as they are obligate nasal breathers)

Question 5

Fill in the table

Answer 5

Question 6

Describe sheep carcase classification

Answer 6

Weight
Category (new season lamb, old season lamb, mature sheep)
Conformation (E = excellent)
fatness (1 = lean, 5 = very fat)

Question 7

Types of sheep flock

Answer 7

Pedigree flock
Commercial flocks
Pet sheep & hobby flocks

Question 8

Sheep gestation length

Answer 8

142-150 days

Question 9

Goat gestation length

Answer 9

146-156 days

Question 10

Camelid gestation length

Answer 10

335-365 days

Question 11

Deer gestation length

Answer 11

228-243 days