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To be eligible for exhibit after December 31, 2002, market lambs and breeding sheep must be docked so that the tail (dock) is healed and can be lifted from the exterior with the sheep in its free-standing position. Sheep that have no tail (dock) will not be eligible. To clarify this rule, the tail (dock) must be liftable at a minimum, with a quarter-inch round (standard) pencil from the sheep’s free-standing position. Breeding animals born before January 1, 2003, are exempt.

A new “measuring device” has been developed which will allow tail (dock) length to be objectively measured in lambs. The device will be placed against the base of the tail and pin bones. Using the device, the recommendation will be that lambs have a minimum tail length of 0.7 inches (excluding wool) at the time of show and a minimum of 1.4 inches at the time of “weaning.” The device will be used to measure tail length of Maryland 4-H lambs in 2004, but WILL NOT be used to determine eligibility; the pencil rule will prevail. However, 4-H exhibitors and sheep breeders need to be prepared for a policy in the future which uses the device to determine eligibility, noting that the “pencil test” allows a shorter tail (dock) than the new measuring device.

While not the only cause, the practice of “extreme” or ultra-short tail docking has been associated with increased incidences of rectal prolapses when lambs are fed high-energy diets, as is typical of 4-H show lambs. The American Veterinary Medical Association, the U.S. Animal Health Association, and the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) all recommend that lambs be docked at the distal and of the caudal tail fold. Many countries require that lamb tails be left long enough to cover the ewe’s vulva and the ram’s anus.

Editor’s note: the new measuring device for tails should be commercially available this summer.

Click HERE to read a related article.

Internal Parasite (IPM) Workshops

Small Ruminant Internal Parasite (IPM) Workshops have been scheduled for the following dates and locations. Contact the person listed as the “contact” to pre-register for a workshop or for additional information.

June 2 & 9 (evenings)
Frederick County Extension Office
Contact: Terry Poole at (301) 694-1594 ext. 13577 or tepoole@umd.edu

June 15 & 16 (evenings)
Loudon County, Virginia
Contact: Corey Childs at (703) 901-2103 or cchilds@vt.edu.

June 19 (Saturday)
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Contact: Dr. Niki Whitley at (410) 651-6194 or nwhitley@mail.umes.edu

June 26 (Saturday)
Columbia County, Pennsylvania
Contact: David Hartman at (570) 784-6660 or dwh2@psu.edu.

July 7 (evening)
Garrett College, McHenry, Maryland
Contact: Willie Lantz at (301) 387-3331 or wlantz@garrettcollege.edu.

There are plans to hold IPM workshops in additional counties; however, dates and locations have not been finalized. Contact the person listed as the “contact” for more information.

Baltimore County
Contact: Diane Knapp at catknapp@earthlink.net.

Carroll County
Contact: Mike Bell at (410) 386-2760 or mbell@umd.edu

Kent County
Contact: John Hall at (410) 778-6661 or jehall@umd.edu.

St. Mary’s County
Contact: Ben Beale at (301) 475-4484 or bbeale@umd.edu.

Washington County
Contact: Jeff Semler at (301) 791-1404 or jsemler@umd.edu

IPM workshops will teach the basics of internal parasites and their control. Producers will learn proper anthelmintic use, how to conduct their own fecal egg counts, and how to use the FAMACHA© eye anemia chart to determine the need for deworming. The cost of participation will be $12 per farm or family to cover materials. Participants in the workshop will receive a laminated FAMACHA© chart.

A Rare Birth

According to the Times-Union, Dandelion, a 3-year-old ewe, gave birth to twins. This, alone, is not out of the ordinary. What is unusual, however, is that Dandelion had given birth to a little male lamb one month earlier.

This phenomenon called superfetation does not typically produce live lambs from the second pregnancy. Wayne Singleton of Purdue University called the event “very, very unusual.” All three lambs (two male and one female) are doing fine.

Source: ASI News, April 9, 2004.

Genetics Conference Scheduled

The Maryland Sheep & Goat Genetics Conference will be held on Saturday, October 30 at the Western Maryland Research & Education Center in Keedysville. All topics will be related to genetics. The conference will feature a combination of lectures and hands-on workshops.

New Scrapie Tags Available

As many know, the first plastic scrapie tags issued free to producers under the mandatory tagging program proved difficult to insert in adult sheep ears and prone to high tag losses.

In June 2002, USDA-APHIS approved Premier’s request to substitute a tag (2X tag) that’s larger, made of more durable material, snag resistant, and capable of penetrating thick ears. The cost per tag to APHIS did not change. This was good for the procrastinators who did not request tags until June, 2002, but it did not correct the problems for all those who already had the other tags. There is good news! In Oct. 2003, APHIS approved the free supply of the improved 2X tags to producers, even if they still have a large supply of the other tags. Producers may discard the earlier tags and request the new ones via your state office at 1-866-USDA-TAG. The number of tags supplied this time will only be enough for annual needs (instead of 3 years in some cases with the first supply of tags).

Source: Premier 1 Supplies

FOCUS ON RESEARCH . . .

Western Maryland Update

Last year, the Western Maryland Research & Education Center (WMREC) in Keedys-ville was set up for sheep and goat grazing demonstration projects. The “cattle” fence was renovated for sheep and goats by electrifying all the wires and adding an additional wire closer to the ground. Portable electric netting and port-a-huts were also purchased. The plans for this year are to graze ewes on a 2 acre field that contains several plantings of walnut trees and to rotationally graze Boer x Spanish doelings on a 7 acre grass pasture. Fecal samples will be collected from the goats to evaluate anthelmintic resistance and to compare the efficacy of different anthelmintic dosages and routes of administration.

In addition, one acre each of Sericea Lespedeza, Forage Chicory, and Birdsfoot Trefoil has been planted at the research center. Once these forages get established, we will rotate goats onto them to determine the effect they have on internal parasites (i.e. fecal egg counts). Research conducted in the U.S., Europe, and New Zealand has shown that the tannins contained in Sericea Lespedeza, Chicory, and Birdsfoot Trefoil inhibit parasitism in small ruminants.

Pasture vs. Feed Lot Rearing of Meat Goats

Does Flushing Work in Goats?

Researchers at Langston University conducted a study to determine the effects of flushing on ovulation and kidding rates of Spanish does. They divided the does, based on previous litter size, body condition, and body weight, into four groups of 24. Treatments included: 1) long-term energy; 2) short-term energy; 3) protein; 4) control. Does in the long-term energy group received 0.55 lb. of a corn-based supplement for 40 days. Does in the short-term energy group received 0.55 lb. of a corn-based supplement for 20 days. Does in the protein group received 0.55 lb. of a supplement containing fish meal. Does in the control group received no supplement. Corpus lutea, pregnancy status, and litter size were determined by ultrasound.

Flushing did not increase fetal number or ovulation rate. Conception rates were greater than 92 percent. Neither body condition, body weight, or change in body condition or body weight were associated with fetal number. Nutritional flushing did not improve ovulation rate, conception rate, or litter size in Spanish does.

Source: 1999 abstract. Web site: www.luresext.edu/goats/library/articles.htm

World’s Finest Wool

Two Australian sheep farmers have produced the world’s finest wool, a mere 11.9 microns thick or about one-fifth the diameter of human hair. The bale of the superfine wool was valued at more than A$1 million (US $752,000) and placed under armed guard inside a bank vault.

To grow the world’s finest wool, the farmers built a luxurious shed dubbed the “Wooldorf Astoria” for their prized sheep. Life for the pampered sheep is stress-free. They live in a climate-controlled environment and receive a special feed.

The previous record for the world’s finest wool was 12 microns., also produced by an Australian sheep farmer. The average wool produced in Australia is 20 microns.

The Genetics of Scrapie

Scrapie is a 100% fatal, degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. The disease has been reported in countries throughout the world with few notable exceptions (Australia and New Zealand). The first case of scrapie was discovered in the United States in 1947. The current incidence is 2/10 of 1 percent or 1 in 500 U.S. sheep. The incidence of scrapie in the U.S. goat population is not currently known.

While bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or “mad cow disease”) is believed to be caused by the consumption of contaminated feed (meat and bone meal), scrapie is transmitted during lambing when lambs come into contact with infected placenta and birth fluids from infected ewes . Rams can get scrapie, but are not known to transmit scrapie.

Scrapie is NOT caused by genetics, but the genetic make-up (DNA) of an animal determines whether it will get scrapie if it is exposed to the infective agent. In other words, if a genetically susceptible lamb is exposed to a scrapie-infected placenta, it will develop scrapie. It takes from 2 to 5 years after exposure for an animal to show clinical signs of scrapie. If a genetically resistant lamb is exposed to a scrapie-infected placenta, it will not develop scrapie. No resistant genotypes have been identified in goats.

How the Genetics Work
Sheep have one pair of genes that affects scrapie susceptibility. The pair of genes are known as PRNP genes (PrioN Protein genes). Each sheep has two copies (one pair) of the PRNP – one copy from each parent. PRNP exists in all animals with small differences between species. All genes are made up of codons. Each codon instructs cells to put a specific amino acid at a particular location when building a protein molecule. The prion protein molecule (produced by PRNP gene) has 254 amino acids. The locations of the 254 amino acids are numbered 1 through 254. In the PRNP gene, three codons affect scrapie susceptibility: 171, 154, and 136.

Codon 171 is the major determinant of scrapie susceptibility in the U.S. Codon 136 affects susceptibility in sheep exposed to some scrapie types. Codon 154 plays a minor role and is often not used in the U.S. Codon 136 programs for the amino acids Valine (V) and Alanine (A). Codon 171 programs for the amino acids Glutamine (Q), Arginine (R), Histidine (H), or Lysine (K). Q, H, and K are considered to have the same susceptibility and are reported as Q by most labs.
The genotypes of sheep in the U.S. are written in two ways: 1) letters of the amino acids, AA QR, AV RR, etc.; or 2) Codon number followed by the corresponding amino acids: 171QR, 171RR, etc.

Genotyping (DNA testing) can be used to determine a sheep’s susceptibility to scrapie. A simple blood (or tissue) test is all that is required. A sheep’s genotype never changes so only one test should be needed. Genotype can be determined at any age. It is important to note that genotyping only measures susceptibility to scrapie, not whether the animal has scrapie.

Producers should consider using scrapie genetics (genotyping) as a management tool if:

• They have a breed in which scrapie is prevalent and they have purchased ewes of unknown scrapie status.
• They have purchased ewes from an infected flock.
• They have observed signs of scrapie in their flocks in the past.
• Customers are requesting scrapie-resistant breeding stock.
• They wish to provide scrapie-resistant breeding stock to their customers.
• They are forward-thinking!

Source: Scrapie Control: Genotyping – A New Tool For Producers. A PowerPoint presentation produced by the National Scrapie Education Initiative (available online at http://www.animalagriculture.org/scrapie).

DISEASE FOCUS:   Johne’s Disease (JD) - What You Should Know

What is it?
Johne’s Disease is yet another potentially zoonotic disease that is receiving press. Johne’s (pronounced “yo-knees”) is a contagious, chronic, and usually fatal disease that affects primarily the small intestine of ruminants. While all ruminants are susceptible to Johne’s, it is most common in dairy cattle.

JD is worldwide in distribution. In the U.S. it is estimated that 7.8% of the beef herds and 22% of the dairy herds are infected. Infection rates in cattle in other countries are generally similar. The disease has been reported in sheep, goats, elk, deer, bison, llamas, and wild ruminants in zoos, but accurate estimates of the number of infected animals are not available.

What causes it?
JD, also called paratuberculosis, is caused by Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, a hardy bacteria that is related to the agents of leprosy and tuberculosis. There is a cattle strain, a sheep strain, and an intermediate strain. Cattle are susceptible to all three strains, but are usually not infected with the sheep strain. Sheep usually get only the sheep strain, but can also succumb to the intermediate strain. Goats usually have the cattle strain.

Symptoms.
JD has a long incubation period, usually more than two years. Symptoms include weight loss and diarrhea with a normal appetite. Several weeks after the onset of diarrhea, a soft swelling may occur under the jaw (bottle jaw). Bottle jaw or intermandibular edema is due to protein loss from the bloodstream into the digestive tract. Animals at this stage of the disease will not live very long, perhaps a few weeks at most. In sheep and goats, the only sign of JD may be weight loss in the face of a good appetite. Diarrhea is not a frequent sign in sheep and goats as compared to cattle, though it can occur in some cases. In small ruminants JD may be mistaken for other wasting diseases, such as caseous lymphadentitis, Maedi Visna (OPP), and anything else that can cause a loss of condition (bad teeth, poor nutrition, parasites).

How do they get it?
It is believed that the vast majority of M. paratuberculosis infections in small ruminants occur while they are lambs/kids. Most lambs/kids acquire the organism by sucking on manure-contaminated teats, by licking contaminated flooring/fencing/feed bunks, or by eating off of ground contaminated by infected manure. Since M. paratuberculosis is thought to be excreted in the milk of infected lactating sheep/goats, as has been shown to be the case in cattle, lambs/kids can become infected by nursing from or being bottle-fed milk from an infected ewe/doe. They also can consume the organism by drinking water contaminated by infected manure. Another, but less common, route of exposure occurs in utero.

Although less susceptible than young animals, adults can also acquire the infection. The organism can be shed by an infected animal into milk and manure; the manure then can contaminate water and solid feed. It is likely that adult goats can acquire the infection from and transmit it to other species, such as cattle and sheep.

Diagnosis.
Bacterial culture is not very successful in sheep, whereas in goats, the bacteria can be cultured about 60% of the time when they are present in the feces. However, it takes 4 to 16 weeks to grow the bacteria in a culture. There are several serological (blood) tests used to detect antibodies to JD. The most common test is an Agar Gel Immunodiffusion Test (AGID). While a positive test is usually correct, animals in the early stages of the disease or in the advanced states will often test negative. Other tests have been developed, but infected animals still slip through the cracks.

Treatment.
There is no cure for JD. It causes the intestinal wall to thicken, causing affected animals to have increasing trouble getting nutrients from their food. In Australia, there is a vaccine for Ovine Johne’s.

Prevention.
Since the most common way that the infection is introduced to a flock is through purchase of an animal from an infected flock, maintaining a closed flock is the best prevention. If the prevalence of M. paratuberculosis infection is not known, the best most purchasers can do is to closely assess the body condition of all the adult animals in the source herd, discuss the clinical history of the flock over the past few years with the seller and the seller’s veterinarian, if possible and test the animal to be purchased by AGID or fecal culture. Results for the test should be received prior to introducing the animal to the new flock.

A potential human health risk.
There is a human disease called Crohn’s disease that in some ways resembles JD. The cause of this chronic inflammatory bowel disease, which occurs in 1 in 752 Americans, is not known, and there is no known cure. A few laboratories have grown M. paratuberculosis from a few Crohn’s patients’ specimens, but there is no evidence that the organism caused the disease. No connection has been shown between contact with animals with Johne’s disease or milk consumption and Crohn’s disease. The proposed “link” between Johne’s disease and Crohn’s disease is very controversial.

Tips for Using Cow Colostrum for Lambs/Kids
1. Use colostrum from a Johne’s free herd
2. Use colostrum from a test-negative cow
3. Use colostrum from a young cow
4. Do not use pooled colostrum because disease status would be unknown.
5. Remember: colostrum from an infected cow is still better than no colostrum at all.

References: Johne’s Information Center (www.johnes.org), Johnes’ Disease in Sheep, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (1998).

FEATURED BREED:   The Three Leicesters

Leicester sheep are responsible for the development and improvement of other long wool breeds. There are three distinct breeds of Leicester sheep. The English or “Dishley”, the Blueface or “Hexam,” and the Border Leicester. The English Leicester was developed in the 1700's by Robert Bakewell, the first person to use modern animal breeding techniques in the selection of livestock. Bakewell influenced the work of people such as Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel.

The Border Leicester breed was founded in Northumberland, England in 1767 by two brothers who had access to Bakewell’s improved Leicesters. The brothers are believed to have crossed some of Bakewell’s improved rams with Teesdale ewes, though others claim that Cheviot blood was introduced. By 1850, Border Leicesters surpassed English Leicesters in popularity on the British Isles. The Blueface Leicester originated in the early 1900's from Border Leicester individuals selected for blue face (white hairs on black skin) and finer fleeces.

While Border Leicesters produce top quality market lambs, they are best known for their fleeces of long, lustrous wool. Fleece weights of mature females range from 8 to 12 pounds, with a yield of 65 to 80 percent. The staple length of the fleece ranges from five to ten inches with a spinning count of 36 to 48 (38.5 to 30.0 microns). The fleece of the Blueface typically grades finer, is shorter in length, and lighter weight than that of the Border Leicester. The fleece of the English Leicester is heavy, curly, soft handling, and lustrous. It generally weighs between 11 and 15 pounds.

The English Leicester is said to have been introduced to the United States by George Washington and was a common breed in the colonies. It is not known when the first Border Leicester sheep arrived in the U.S. Leicesters are kept primarily in small purebred flocks. English and Blueface Leicesters are less common in the U.S. than Border Leicesters. In fact, the English Leicester is listed as a rare breed by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation maintains a flock of English Leicesters (Leicester Longwools) and has been instrumental in establishing satellite flocks of the breed.

To locate flocks of Leicester sheep in Maryland and other states, visit the new Maryland Sheep and Goat Directory at http://www.smallfarmsuccess.info/sheepandgoat.cfm.

Editor’s note: Border Leicester sheep were featured in the 1995 movie, “Babe.

FEATURED WEB SITE - Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

The Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival is in its 31st year. It is always held the first full weekend of May at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship. The dates for this year’s festival are May 1 and 2. Admission to the festival and parking are always free. Dogs are not permitted on festival grounds.

This year’s festival is dedicated to Tyson “Pete” Creamer, a long-time Maryland shepherd, sheep shearer, and festival committee member who passed away last year.

The 2004 festival will feature blankets, with a display of early American blankets and coverlets by the American Textile History Museum from Lowell, MA. The American Sheep Industry’s Wool Council will offer Wool Science 101 and 102 as well as an update on wool product research and development. Micron testing of wool will be available both days at the Festival at the ASI booth. Dr. Don Knowles, a veterinary professor and specialist in infectious diseases from Washington State University, will be conducting a short course on TSE, BSE, scrapie, and prion genetics.

Information about the 2004 festival can be found at the Festival’s extensive web site.

www.sheepandwool.org or www.sheepandwoolfestival.org

Back to Kazakhstan

Susan will be returning to the Republic of Kazakhstan for two weeks in May – May 16-30. She will be giving a presentation on Meat and Boer Goats at the “International Conference on Livestock Issues” at Kazakh National Agrarian University in Almaty. Susan is hoping to introduce Boer genetics (semen) to Kazakhstan in hopes of improving the local meat goat population.

Susan and her University of Maryland colleagues will continue with their project (funded by the U.S. State Department) to develop Extension programs in Kazakhstan.

Calendar of Events

May 1-2
Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival
Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, MD
Info: www.sheepandwoolfestival.org or info@sheepandwool.org or (410) 531-3647

May 21-22
Keystone Stud Ram & Ewe Sale
Penn State Ag Arena, University Park, PA
Info: (814) 234-9622 or stctylr@aol.com.

May 21-23
Keystone East USBGA Boer Goat Show and Prospective Market Goat Show and Judging School
Fayette County Fairgrounds, Dunbar, PA.
Info: (866) 668-7242 or office@usbga.org

June 4-5
West Virginia Purebred Sheep Breeders Club Lamb and Breeding Sheep Show and Sale
Tri-County Fairgrounds, Petersburg, WV.
Info: Sandy Smith at (304) 257-4372.

June 5
Mt. Top Boer Goat Show and Sale
Garrett County Fairgrounds, McHenry, MD.
Info: Willie Lantz at (301) 387-3331 or wlantz@garrettcollege.edu.

June 11-12
Eastern Stud Ram Show and Sale
Augusta Expoland, Staunton, VA
Info: (309) 785-5058

June 23
Maryland-Delaware Wool Pool
Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD
Info: Rich Barczewski at (302) 857-6410 or rbarczew@dsc.edu

June 26
Scott County Hair Sheep Faire and Sale
Homeplace, Wadlow Gap, VA
Info: Scott Jerrell at (276) 452-2772 or sjerrell@vt.edu

July 11-14 - applications due June 1
Howard Wyman Sheep Industry Leadership
School, San Angelo, Texas. Info: (503) 370-7024 or www.nlfa-sheep.org/leader.html

July 17-23
World Sheep and Wool Congress
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Info: (418) 832-9922 or vbernier@worldsheep.com or http://www.worldsheep.com.

August 7
Pennsylvania Performance Tested Ram and Buck Sale, PA Livestock Evaluation Center, Furnace, PA
Info: (814) 238-2527

August 28
Virginia Performance Tested Ram Lamb Sale
Steeles Tavern, VA. Info: Scott Greiner at (540) 231-9163 or sgreiner@vt.edu.

Links are provided as an information service. They do not constitute an endorsement of any non-affiliated organizations, businesses, products or content of these pages by Maryland Cooperative Extension or the University of Maryland. Mention of product names is for information purposes only. It is the policy of Maryland Cooperative Extension that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, disability, age, religion or national origin.

The Maryland Sheep & Goat Producer is published bi-monthly by University of Maryland Cooperative Extension. It is written and edited by Susan Schoenian, Area Agent for Sheep and Goats at the Western Maryland Research & Education Center. Contributors include Dr. Niki Whitley from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) tel. (410) 651-6194, e-mail: nwhitley@mail .umes.edu and Willie Lantz from Garrett College, tel. (301) 387-3331, e-mail: wlantz@garrettcollege.edu. To receive the newsletter, contact Susan at the Western Maryland Research & Education Center, 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD 21756, (301) 432-2767 ext. 343, fax (301) 432-4089; e-mail: sschoen@umd.edu. The cost of receiving the newsletter by mail is $10 per year, payable to the University of Maryland. Internet access is FREE and you can be added to a list to receive an e-mail message when a new newsletter has been posted to the web at http://www.sheepandgoat.com/news/. Comments and suggestions regarding the newsletter are welcome. Articles may be reprinted with permission of the author.

 

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