domestic sheep reproduction mammals domestic sheep reproduction occurs sexually reproductive strategy similar domestic herd animals flock sheep generally single ram chosen farmer established dominance physical contest feral populations sheep breeding season autumn able breed year round largely result influence humans sheep breeding produce multiple increase lamb number birth weight cause problems delivery lamb survival requiring intervention sexual behavior generally reach sexual maturity months age generally ram occasionally known mothers months enter cycles days approximately hours addition scent indicate readiness physical displays sheep display homosexuality occurs percent occurrence related flock hierarchy homosexual behavior mammals ram typical motor pattern intercourse directed instead phenomenon female masculine lacks functioning commonly associated cattle occur extent sheep instance sheep increasing concert rise result male female twin combinations human intervention fight determine individuals mate especially unfamiliar ones fight outside breeding period establish dominance kill allowed mix freely normally friendly aggressive humans increases levels historically especially aggressive today typically prefer softer measures moving clear line exit turning ram possibly water solution dissuade charges pregnancy special tools determining sheep pregnant difficult begin visibly pregnancy weeks giving birth rely assumption ram flock fitting ram chest harness called marking harness holds special spelled mounted marked color directly applied ram measure flocks wool important color mating sheep gestation period months days impending birth begin behave differently lie stand ground act normal flock patterns quickly fill swell anal occur case physical hold problem artificial embryo transfer addition natural artificial embryo transfers sheep breeding programs years australia new_zealand programs commonplace united_states 2000s number qualified perform types procedures proficiency grown relatively complicated procedure compared livestock unlike cattle goats straight curved difficult access additionally breeders recently unable control cycles ability control cycle easier today products safely assist heat cycles examples products products contain bring induction sheep seasonal seasonal regular cycles outside natural breeding season historically sheep produced success rates called shot dark 1980s australian researchers developed procedure combined use pregnant mare yielded higher success rates standard artificial sheep 21st century collection naturally integral component entire process collected immediately slowly frozen use later date fresh recognized method choice lives longer yields higher conception rates frozen work highest quality twice day marketing ram major industry producers owning prize winning found good avenue leverage accolades famous animals embryo transfer minor surgical procedure risk injury infection performed properly sheep allows improved breeds non existent certain countries regulation live animal imports embryo transfer procedures allow producers maximize females produce best kids retention flock sale producers allows producers continue utilize physically able carry feed set allow producer grow flock quickly average individuals similar primary industry utilize technology united_states club lamb breeders common practice commercial sheep industries australia new_zealand south_america average success rates terms embryos recovered vary widely breed respond differently process typically white faced fertile black faced range zero mid terms viable embryos recovered flush procedure expected course year average eggs donor conception rate eggs big modern sheep reproduction overall breeding animal health effort help improve animal health ultimately performance progressive breeders rely evidence based research reliable field trials shown improved performance sheep comes cells body cells differentiated stem cells specific direction purpose future building blocks body goal support body fundamental levels encouraging efficient development cells approach impact entire animal starting immune function health system importantly reproduction efficiency birth imminent begin place behavior increase normal labor hours depending present age physical condition prior birth breeds regularly produce larger litters records stand produce single twin point usually beginning labor soon occurred confined small generally feet length width designed aid careful observation cement bond problematic breeding produce multiple offspring higher birth weights generations sheep producers inadvertently caused domestic sheep difficulty myth sheep lamb human assistance birth directly pasture aid proven fact birth wild balancing ease high productivity sheep breeding majority relatively normal require intervention complications arise lamb present normal fashion legs head forward simply large slide birth canal happens large crossed related breed naturally larger comparison present shoulder completely backward limbs protruding spontaneously aborted reproductive failure common consequence foot mouth disease types abortion sheep case problems present include accomplished degree assist birth break sac broken labor begin clean lamb nose mouth lamb breathing healthy point begin trying stand half hour help mother generally stand cord trimmed inch centimeters trimmed small container film held lamb belly remainder cord prevent infection care normal situations nurse standing receiving vital milk fail nurse prevented require aid order live pair accept nursing work steps taken held tied force accept nursing lamb lamb eating stomach tube force feed lamb order save life case permanently rejected lamb shepherd attempt foster orphaned lamb fostered death mother birth event scent plays large factor recognizing disrupting scent newborn lamb washing handling cause reject conversely methods scent lamb orphaned useful orphaned lamb fostered usually known bottle lamb lamb raised people fed bottle stabilized lamb marking carried includes ear docking usually ear numbers primary mode identification sheep named legal manner animal identification european_union number identify individual sheep flock performed early age ear cause little discomfort designed sheep cause discomfort largely excess weight animals ram intended breeding choose avoid procedure ethical economic practical reasons ram slaughtered separated sexual maturity usually breeds tails docked health reasons tail removed lamb caudal tail flaps docking shorter cause health problems breeds tail left longer docked docking necessary short tailed breeds usually breeds long tail valued docking considered cruel unnatural animal rights activists considered sheep producers large small alike critical step maintaining health sheep long tails difficult interfere mating sheep extremely susceptible parasites especially cause docking performed instruments places tight band rubber area causing fall number weeks process cause extended suffering tend ignore hours addition heated knife days usually sufficiently stabilized allow rest flock commercial sheep breeding large sheep producing nations south_america australia new_zealand sheep usually bred large tracts land intervention breeders land countries lend mob intervention found smaller flock breeding countries countries little need option lamb outdoors insufficient structures handle large flocks new_zealand produce million spring time average farm australian receive financial support governments countries provide sheep breeders low cost sheep breeding based large numbers sheep labour unit having capable produce hardy active managerial aspects breeders intent strict improvements flocks classed inferior sheep removed prior mating order maintain improve quality flock faces long associated lower fertility rates stud specially selected chosen aid objective measurements genetic information evaluation services available australia new_zealand choice mating time governed factors including climate market requirements feed availability typically depending age sheep plus consideration size type mating mating period ranges weeks commercial flocks longer mating times result management problems lamb marking etc good nutrition vital weeks pregnancy order prevent pregnancy especially twin bearing result large single reduces number cast unable rise number lost aided finding typically placed sheltered good feed water attention varies according breed size locations properties stud unlikely receive intensive care stations large policy non interference properties inspected varying intervals stand cast deal producers quietly drift pregnant away order prevent usually marked weeks age protracted season markings depression tends occur flocks limited size single associated decline performance usually referred depression depression found lamb average daily weight gain birth months litter size countries major sheep countries argentina brazil peru chile breeders utilizing testing performance recording schemes means improving flocks new research time history researchers research station new south wales stem cells develop males produce viable male approach sheep experiments involves ram placing stem cells second ram ram following weeks ram produces usual way stem cells ram producing carrying ram ram effectively ram viable born process proving normal healthy dna tests proved ram carry donor ram
Domestic sheep reproduction