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The Occurrence of Estrus in Sheep and its Relation to Extra-Seasonal Production of Lambs

United States Department of Agriculture

Abstract

The natural mating seasons of the common mutton breeds of sheep is limited so that a portion of each year is left without marketable lambs. This seasonal absence of lamb meat has stimulated interest in hot-house lamb production to fill in a portion of the gap, and this in turn has raised hopes that lambs may be produced in all seasons of the year. Such production, whether for a special limited demand or for more extensive market developments, depends on how completely the effective mating season can be spread throughout the year.

Precise information available on the occurrence of estrus in various breeds of sheep seems to be quite limited. McKenzie and Terrill (4) report observations on 344 ewes including Hampshire, Shropshire, Southdown, Rambouillet and grade animals. In general, the breeding season extended from September to January with some ewes showing estrus in August at the beginning of the season and other individuals having estrus extend into February or March.

^* The authors acknowledge valuable assistance from E. B. Krantz, V. L. Simmons, and J. O. Williams of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.