SHEEP TERMINOLOGY
So what is the difference in names? Like all species, there are specific names for specific points in an animal’s life. But, because many do not know the specific difference, we tend to use names interchangeably. For example, the basic difference between a pig and a hog is age and size. Personally, I tend to call my pigs…pigs, my goats…goats and my sheep…lambs. But that is not accurate for every stage of their life. It’s important to know the differences of names for showmanship classes where questions may be asked and the simple fact of knowing about sheep.
The root scientific family names are:
Sheep = Ovine Swine = Porcine
Goats = Caprine Cattle = Bovine
Horse = Equine Dogs = Canine
The scientific names are commonly seen on medicine labels.
Terminology in the Market Barn by Age
- Sheep is a mature ovine at least one year of age and may also refer to the ovine species or more than one animal.
- Lamb is a young sheep. A market lamb is age12-14 months old or younger.
- Ewe lamb is a female sheep under 1 year of age.
- Ram lamb is a male sheep that is under 1 year of age that is not castrated.
- Wether is a castrated male lamb or goat.
Terminology in the Breeding Barn -
- Ram is an in-tact male sheep that is at least one year of age and sexually mature to breed.
- Ewe is a female sheep at least 1 year of age and sexually mature to breed.
- Lambkin or lambling is a newly born lamb 1-21 days old.
- Open– this is a term describes female ewes that are not pregnant.
- Weaned– When a lambling is no longer nursing.
- Ram is an in-tact male sheep that is at least one year of age and sexually mature to breed.
- Ewe is a female sheep at least 1 year of age and sexually mature to breed.
- Lambkin or lambling is a newly born lamb 1-21 days old.
- Open– this is a term describes female ewes that are not pregnant.
- Weaned– When a lambling is no longer nursing.
