There are a number of terms in the sheep farming industry that can be confusing if you are new to the industry. In this article, we will be defining some of the lesser known terms regarding sheep physiology, breeding and industry. The domesticated sheep, Ovis aries, was domesticated about 5000 BC and is farmed globally today.

Physiological Terminology

Lamb: A sheep that is younger than one year old.
Shearling: A young sheep that has not yet been sheared.
Ewe: A female sheep that has given birth to a lamb.
Ram: A male sheep that has not been castrated.
Weaner: A lamb that has been weaned from its mother.
Wether: A male sheep that has been castrated.
Yearling: A sheep between the ages of 1 and 2 years.
Teaser ram: A ram that has been castrated. They are introduced to female sheep during the breeding season to induce estrus.

Breeding Terminology

Estrus: The period in which a female sheep is fertile, this period can also be referred to as heat.
Estrus cycle: The reproductive cycle of a female sheep.
In lamb: Pregnant with a lamb or lambs.
Gestation: The pregnancy period, in sheep this is about 147 days.
Lambing: The process of giving birth to a lamb, also known as parturition.
Lambing percentage: The number of lambs weaned in a flock compared to the number of ewes mated in that flock.
Lambing pen: Pen that is used to keep an ewe and her newly born lamb in close proximity. This promotes bonding.
Flushing: The process of improving the nutrition of an ewe before mating in order to improve their fertility.
Sire: Father
Dam: Mother

Wool Terminology

Fleece: The wool of a sheep.
Shearing: The removal of the sheep’s fleece.
Greasy wool: Wool that has been sheared from a sheep, but that has not yet been washed.
Crutching: The removal of wool, especially from the hindquarters, to prevent fly-strike.
Top knot: Wool from the forehead of a sheep.
Kemp: Short, hairy fibres that are usually found on the legs and head of the sheep.
Micron: The unit of measurement of wool fibre diameter. One millionth of a metre.
Staple: Wool fibres grouped to form a cluster or “lock”.

Industry terms

Flock: A group of sheep.
Ovine: Pertaining to, or relating to, a sheep.
Weaning: The process of removing a lamb from its milk source/ mother
Dock: To surgically remove the tail of a sheep.
Mutton: Meat that is produced by an older sheep.
Polled: The absence of horns.
Accelerated lambing: Producing an average of more than one lamb a year.
STAR© System: An accelerated lambing system in which ewes lamb 5 times in a three year period.
Scabie/ sheep scab: A type of mange that affects sheep because of a mite.
Fly-strike: The infestation of wool, skin and flesh of blowfly. This often happens to wool that has been soiled by urine or feces.