Sheep

Sheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Domestic sheep are relatively small ruminants, usually with a crimped hair called wool and often with horns forming a lateral spiral. Domestic sheep differ from their wild relatives and ancestors in several respects. Few primitive breeds of sheep retain some of the characteristics of their wild cousins, such as short tails. Depending on breed, domestic sheep may have no horns at all, or horns in both sexes as in wild sheep, or in males only. Most horned breeds have a single pair, but a few breeds may have several. Sheep are exclusively herbivorous mammals. Like all ruminants, sheep have a complex system composed of four chambers, allowing them to break down cellulose from stems, leaves, and seed hulls into simpler carbohydrates. When sheep graze, vegetation is chewed into a mass called a bolus, which is then passed into the first chamber: the rumen. The rumen is a 19 to 38-liter organ in which feed is fermented via a symbiotic relationship with the bacteria, protozoa, and yeasts of the gut flora. The bolus is periodically regurgitated back to the mouth as cud for additional chewing and salivation. Cud chewing is an adaptation allowing ruminants to graze more quickly in the morning, and then fully chew and digest feed later in the day.

Genesisqa can help your farms have food assurance, The Genesis QA scheme comprises a range of standards that cover best practice methods of production, animal welfare, tractability, legislation, food safety and environmental issues. We always have friendly staff available to talk to you about the services we provide or any enquiries you may have about our company.

If you would like to enquire about Genesisqa Sheep systems or request information about an order, please don’t hesitate to get in contact. You can get in touch with us by calling us 01283 791400 or fax us on 01283 791500. We aim to reply as soon as possible to all of customer’s requests and questions asked. Our business trade in the locations Staffordshire, West Midlands, East Midlands and the Midlands so we a great central location.