History of sheep

Scientists have used the vestiges of ancient retroviruses to unravel the history of sheep domestication,

Specialised wool production began in South-west Asia, while other findings imply some truth behind a tale in the Bible, say the international team of researchers, led by scientists from the University of Glasgow.

Sheep were first domesticated 11 000 years ago in South-west Asia before spreading to Europe and the rest of the world. Initially, they were first selected for their meat and eventually also for secondary products like wool.

One study used a family of endogenous retroviruses as markers to deduce the genetic lineage of 133 breeds of domestic sheep from various locations around the world.

Endogenous retroviruses integrate their DNA into the genetic code of the host they infect, enabling scientists to detect the remnants of ancient infections caught by sheep and their ancestors.

By testing for the presence of a particular set of retroviruses, known as enJSRVs, and comparing their prevalence in each breed of sheep, the researchers were able to distinguish primitive breeds of sheep from more recently domesticated ones.

The results support the theory that the breeding of sheep for wool and other secondary products began in South-west Asia, before spreading to Europe through secondary migrations.

Matching the retrovirus signatures with the location of the sheep, they gained insight into ancient migration routes. For example, Orkney sheep  (left) were found to be closely related to breeds in Scandinavia, while the Soay sheep (top) of St Kilda, Scotland, have links to the Mediterranean Mouflon. 

Intriguingly, they also found that the Jacob sheep (left)  of the British Isles is more similar to South-west Asian and African breeds than other British sheep. The breed is named  after the Biblical story of Jacob, who is said to have taken "every speckled and spotted sheep" as a wage from his father-in-law, Laban. The note in the book of Genesis is possibly the first recorded use of selective breeding.

Voedingsbehoeftes van 50kg skaap in verskillende produksie stadiums

Tips for Legume Pasture - Lucerne

Lucerne and Merino’s go together like a horse and carriage; a wonderful working marriage!  Lucerne is the most productive of all perennial pastures legumes and it is hardy and persistent to boot.  

This explains why more land is planted to lucerne than any other perennial pasture legume in SA.  If lucerne did not have a bloat problem, there would be little need to use alternative perennial legumes.   Many farmers complain about grass invasion in their lucerne lands.  This is actually an indication that the soil is poorly mineralised.  Lucerne is particularly dependant upon calcium and phosphorous.  Liming to correct pH is most certainly no assurance that calcium levels in the soil will be built to optimize; very often they will fall far short of this all important mineral.  Huge – very costly and wasteful - applications of super phosphate are needed to build soil P to the desired level.  For this reason most farmers don’t apply sufficient P, consequently lucerne suffers from P hunger. This reduces its vigour, thus giving grass weeds the competitive edge.  In the long run, building P with rock phosphate is far more effective and less costly.  For top yields and the production of high quality lucerne, soil minerals should be fully balanced according to the Albrecht model.

Groenvoer vestiging

Groenvoer maak die beste ekonomiese sin waar dit aangewend word vir die afronding van lammers of ander vee vir bemarking.  Produksie van droëland groenvoer is wisselvallig.  Die belangrikste groenvoer-soorte is hawer, korog en rog. 

Water is die dryfkrag

‘n Duimreël is dat 100mm plantbeskikbare water, 2,3 ton droëmateriaal / ha kan lewer; 150mm omtrent 3,9 ton droëmateriaal / ha en 200mm omtrent 5,5 ton droëmateriaal / ha.  In die somerreënvalgebied is reënval gedurende die groenvoer groeifase beperk en is dit belangrik om water reeds voor vestiging in die grond op te berg.  Tewens sukses met droëland groenvoer word gewoonlik bepaal deur die boer se vermoë om water beskikbaarheid te bestuur.  Hier is gronddiepte, onkruidbeheer en waterindringing belangrik.  ‘n Grond van 1m diep se waterlewerings vermoë wissel van 120 mm vir kleigrond tot 110 mm vir meer sanderige grond.  Indien daar nie met plant minstens 100 mm water in die grondprofiel is nie, raak droëland groenvoer vestiging in die somerreënvalgebied ‘n groot risiko. 

Kultivar-keuse

Drie patrone, naamlik; kort seisoen; medium seisoen en lang seisoen.

• Kort seisoen kultivars het geen koue-behoefte vir blom nie; blom daarom vroeg met ‘n vroeë produksie-piek tot einde Julie.
• Medium seisoen kultivars het ‘n kort koue-behoefte vir blom; blom later met ‘n vroeë produksie-piek tot middel Augustus.
• Lang seisoen kultivars het ‘n lang koue-behoefte; blom laaste met ‘n later produksiepiek en produseer tot einde September. 

Dit geld vir herfs-vestigings. Kultivar-produksie proewe het verder bewys dat lang seisoen kultivars se produksie gemiddeld 50% hoër is as dié van kort seisoen kultivars.  Dit geld vir die onderskeie kultivar-tipes binne al die groenvoergroepe, naamlik rog, hawer en korog kultivars.

Kies die regte tipe volgens jou spesifieke voervloei-behoefte.  As dit laat raak (einde Maart) en voer is teen middel Mei nodig, plant dan kort seisoen kultivars.  ‘n Lang-seisoen kultivar kan so vroeg as moontlik (Februarie) geplant word.  Dit sal ‘n sekerder, langer en hoër produksie verseker.  Met so ‘n praktyk sal moontlike laat-somer en herfsreëns ook beter benut word en groenvoer sal vanaf middel April tot einde September beskikbaar wees.

Bemesting van droëland groenvoer

Die volgende algemene aanbevelings geld:

Stikstof (N)

Effek op produksie hang saam met beskikbaarheid van water (reënval).  Met genoeg reën kan stikstofbemesting beide voerproduksie en diereprestasie verhoog.  Neig egter na die konserwatiewe met ‘n maksimum van 30kg N / ha per toediening.

Fosfor (P)

Indien breedwerpig gevestig, word geen P-bemesting aanbeveel nie.  Indien in rye gevestig, mag ‘n P-toediening van maksimum 10kg P / ha voordelig wees.

Kalium (K)

Onnodig onder beweiding.

Plant die raaigras en assegaaiklawer breedwerpig met die rog in ongeveer 40cm rye daarna (verhoed oorskadu effek).  Die rog is relatief vinnig en sorg vir goeie herfs en winter produksie.  Die klawer is stadig en sal vanaf Augustus tot Desember produseer.  Dit bind stikstof en gee baie goeie diereprestasie.  Enhancer is ‘n raaigras kultivar met uitstekende diereprestasie potensiaal wat tot Desember sal produseer.

Notas:

1)     Besin oor die rede(s) vir groenvoer in u produksiestelsel.  Afronding van bemarkbare vee is die mees ekonomiese aanwending.

2)     Bestuur en benutting van grondwater is uiters belangrik.  Kies en bewerk lande vir maksimum wateropberging.

3)     Wees bewus van dramatiese verskille tussen:

·        Groenvoer groepe

·        Kultivars binne groepe

Plant met die oog op jou spesifieke behoefte!

4)     Besproeide weidings

·        Let op besproeiings- en bemestings-riglyne

5)     Bemesting

·        Wees konserwatief

·        Onthou die water/stikstofinteraksie vir goeie diereprestasie 

Assegaaiklawer

Assegaaiklawer versprei en groei maklik en kan droogtes oorleef. Dit is ’n eenjarige gewas, maar dit is nie nodig om elke jaar te saai nie omdat dit self opkom en maklik self saad maak. Uitstekende eienskappe as voergewas  van Januarie tot Augustus.

Dit bly groen deur die winter en kan in die middel van die winter al ’n goeie produksie lewer. Assegaaiklawer, wat soos lusern behandel en gebaal is, bevat 18 % proteïen.

In sy groen vorm kan Assegaaiklawer bewei of gesny en in krippe gevoer of in voermengers saam met droëmateriaal gemeng word.

Vaccination schedule - when, how comments and recommendations

Sheep rule

Age determination and teeth examination

Age determination and teeth examination

Sheep and goats

Determine age, flock composition, dental defects and diseases

The lifting of lips to expose the teeth should take place in such a way as to prevent unnecessary stress to the animal. The following illustration shows how this should be done: Use the index and middle finger or thumb preferably.

     

It is important not to confuse temporary teeth in a year old animal, which has not yet started teething, with an adult sheep that is 4 years of age (“full mouth”).  The more mature characteristics of the face will be helpful.

Ageing is done according to the following formula for sheep (and goats):-

 

                       15 months (1 year)             ± 3 months            =          2 TOOTH (2 permanent teeth)

24 months (2 years)           ± 3 months            =          4 TOOTH

33 months (3 years)           ± 3 months            =          6 TOOTH

42 months (4 years)           ± 3 months            =          8 TOOTH (Full-mouth)(Volbek)

Gummer (Slytbek) (6-8 years) =      Old, stumpy teeth (or very long teeth, if little wear   takes place)

 .

Once animals reach this stage they will already have lost condition, because of poor veld intake.. It is for this reason that breeding animals should not usually be retained in the flock when older  than 8 years.

After this age, the approximate age can be told by the amount of wear on the front teeth. As the animal gets older, the teeth spread apart and finally become loose and some drop out. At this age the animal begins to lose its usefulness as a grazing animal.

Cattle

Meerpaarstelsels wenke

Benut die goeie tye beter.  Meerpaarstelsels wenke 

Vandag volop, more skoonop!

Meerpaarstelsels is voordelig en dit is `n goeie tyd om oor te skakel as jy nog getwyfel het.

Verhoog lewensdagproduksie - paar die jong diere wat goed uitgroei vroeër.  Paar ouer ooie gouer na hulle gelam het - boer met jou skape soos wat `n beesboer met sy beeste boer - m.a.w. paar hulle weer drie maande na hulle gelam het. Teen daardie tyd het die baarmoeder lankal reeds herstel.`n Skaap dra vyf  maande en as jy drie maande later paar, lam die ooi elke agt  maande of wel driemaal in twee jaar.

Ooie wat oorvet raak kan hul vrugbaarheid negatief beinvloed.

Pas `n ekstra lamtyd in!  Oorweeg selfs kruisteling om d.m.v. basterkrag `n sterker/vinniger lam te kry.

Toestande vir KI of laparoskopie is gunstig!

Maar onthou - jy kan nie net meer vra van jou skape nie - gee ook meer. Dit mag `n ekstra dosering, inenting of byvoeding vereis, maar die ekstra lammers sal meer as daarvoor vergoed!