Flock of sheep in Mauritius

This farm animal, herbivorous and ruminant, lives in flocks and has been domesticated by man for thousands of years. Used for its wool, milk, meat and skin, the sheep has also become an ally of the ecological transition and sometimes a pet. The name sheep refers to the animal in a generic way, and it is often represented in the same way. But there are many breeds and differences. Names in the sheep family Males, females and babies have different names. What is the name of the male sheep? The male sheep is called the ram. He is recognized because he is bigger and fatter than the females. Very often, he has horns on the sides of his head that curl and can make several turns. But in some species even rams do not have horns. Depending on the breed, rams can weigh between 45 and 150 or even 160 kg. A flock will have only one ram, which is the dominant male. What is the female sheep? The female sheep is called the ewe. She is smaller than the rams and usually has no horns. A flock can have a very large number of ewes. She usually weighs between 45 and 80 kg, rarely around 100 kg. What is the ewe's young? The ewe's baby is a lamb if it is a male, and a ewe lamb if it is a female. When the mother gives birth, it is called "lambing". Usually the ewe will have only 1 or 2 lambs at the same time, and the lambing period is from January to July, sometimes as early as December. Very often the lambs are born before April, for the spring: we speak about the Easter lamb, traditional dish in some regions or countries at Easter time. Why is the animal called a sheep? As with other species, the word "sheep" originally refers to the castrated male. Males are castrated to avoid developing their "conqueror" character: they are more docile, do not fight each other, do not try to dominate a territory and females. This is what also allows their breeding. For ease of use, the name sheep is generally used to designate all the individuals of the species or of a flock, without distinguishing ewes from rams. How do sheep reproduce? In human managed flocks, farms and herds, a single ram will mate with the ewes of the flock when they are in heat. Without human intervention, with wild or free-ranging flocks, the rams will head-butt each other to determine which one will be the winner and have the right to mate with the females. The noise of their fight is impressive. When they fight, the rams are not faking it! They can fight to the death. This is another reason why breeders do not allow several uncastrated adult males in the same flock. When a ewe is in heat, she gives off an odor that the ram will identify as a signal that she is ready to mate. A ewe could have lambs every 8 months or so, but in the farms the breeders let 1 year pass, so that she can rest a minimum and avoid pregnancy problems. Does the sheep have a tail? Yes, normally, and without human intervention, sheep have a fairly long, hanging tail. It is often seen in young lambs, a few days or weeks after birth. Only in the vast majority of cases, if the animal is not intended to be eaten quickly, the tail will be cut off, or rather shortened: this is why you see most sheep without a tail in pastures and meadows. The tail is shortened when the animal is still young: the tail docking can be done surgically or via a rubber ring. It is often the latter technique that is used: a small ring is placed around the tail, close to its base. The ring contracts and will strongly decrease the blood circulation. The tail eventually necroses and falls off, without the lamb appearing to be affected. Some associations are fighting against this practice which is considered brutal. In fact, if the tail of the lambs is shortened it is essentially for sanitary reasons: according to what it eats, the sheep can have important diarrhoeas. With a long tail covered with wool, the excrements end up clumping on it (really, a lot!). This is a breeding ground for flies, maggots and vermin, which make the sheep sick and can kill it if nothing is done. The tail of the sheep is therefore cut off to prevent the flies from laying eggs in the droppings that remain stuck to the wool, and the infestation can make the animal very sick. However, it is indeed possible to leave the tail on the sheep, but this requires more follow-up, more work, and is less compatible with animals raised in pastures and mountains. It is easier to manage with sheep raised in buildings and with total control of the forage. What noise does the sheep make? The sheep bleats, from the verb "to bleat". This is also true for ewes and babies, but a ram is said to bleat. Here are examples of lamb and sheep sounds. Bleating is the way sheep communicate. Within the flock, members of the group call each other regularly to communicate with each other: they call each other if an individual is isolated and afraid, if a threat appears, if they are looking for each other. This is the best way to keep the flock together and cohesive. The ewe and the lambs call each other to recognize and find each other. The babies will bleat as soon as they are afraid or hungry, as soon as they want to find their mother if she has moved away. Similarly, the ewe will regularly call the lambs to watch and protect them. What do they eat? Sheep are herbivores that graze and ruminate: they will eat grass, low plants or hay, especially in winter. They spend several hours a day eating and ruminating: the sheep will graze grass in large quantities and then go to bed to ruminate for a long time. They have their own preferences and are able to appreciate the taste of their food: naturally, animals will reject poor quality grass or fodder. Unlike goats, which are able to eat bushes with thorns and brambles, sheep are more delicate: they will not touch brambles, nettles, thistles etc. They prefer good fresh grass. It prefers good fresh grass.