Abby Poplawski ‘23
EE Staff Writer
Every year the female sheep or ewes, at the Agriscience farm, are bred to have lovable lambs that are then cared for by the junior and senior students that major in Large Animal Science taught by Mrs. Trojanoski.
Most lambs are born in late winter as sheep are seasonal breeders. Their estrus cycle is determined by day and night length. Sheep are long night and short day breeders so they are bred late summer or early fall and will give birth in the winter.
In early January, Ultrasound Technician Nancy Miniter of PregNancy Ultrasounding, came to the farm to perform ultrasounds on the sheep. The students helped keep the ewes calm and still, prepared them for the procedure, and then documented information on the ultrasound chart. The ultrasounds estimated about a dozen lambs as well as their due dates which helped the Agriscience staff prepare for their arrival and determine how much food each ewe would need.
This year, there were eight pregnant sheep that went through a 147-day gestation period before giving birth in late February and early March. The upperclassmen in Large Animal Science are able to have a hands-on experience with the sheep and help with the birthing process if required. They also helped vaccinate the newborn lambs after their birth with a subcutaneous tetanus shot as well as a booster two weeks later.
The breeds of the eight pregnant sheep are varied. Four of the sheep were Shropshire, two were Southdowns and the last two were Cheviot. Some of the sheep were used for the Kerry Hill breeding program because live Kerry Hill sheep cannot be brought to the United States from Ireland due to USDA regulations. As a result, Trumbull Ag is breeding the sheep to be 100% Kerry Hill via imported semen.
The first two sheep gave birth on February 20th, resulting in four Shropshire lambs. Two days later, two more Shropshire lambs were born. Birthing is also known as lambing, and ewes usually birth one to three lambs per period. Twins are usually more common than having one lamb.
Lambing season is always a great time for the Agriscience students. It provides a hands-on experience for those looking to pursue a career with animals in the future. From learning about sheep in the classroom to getting the opportunity to experience live births, this is truly an unforgettable experience.