a) (i) Name three common sheep breeds - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question Question 1 - 2012

Two common parasites of sheep are:

1. Blowfly or maggots
2. Lung worms

The advantages of housing sheep at lambing time include:

1. Easier supervision or easier management, helping farmers to monitor the ewes and lambs closely.
2. Prevention of poaching and shelter from adverse weather, ensuring the health of both ewes and lambs.
3. Reduced risk of predation or lower rates of lamb mortality, as housed sheep are less exposed to predators.

Four sheep management practices prior to and at mating time are:

1. Ensuring ewes are in good body condition, ideally one month before mating, to promote reproductive success.
2. Flushing ewes by providing better nutrition to stimulate estrus (heat) before mating.
3. Monitoring the ewes for signs of heat and using methods like PMSG or sponge treatments to synchronize estrus cycles.
4. Providing adequate grazing or supplementary feed to maintain health and ensure fertility during the mating season.

The diet of the lamb from birth to slaughter consists of:

1. Initially, lambs consume colostrum from the ewe, which is crucial for their immunity and health.
2. As they grow, they transition to ewe's milk and gradually incorporate solid foods such as grass, silage, and hay.
3. Finally, they may also be fed concentrates or grain to ensure optimum growth and weight gain before slaughter.

The normal weight at which lambs are slaughtered is typically between 40 to 50 kilograms.