Sheep production is the fourth most important animal enterprise in Ireland, operating on both hill and lowland farms. Sheep are raised in Ireland for their meat - with wool being a non-profitable by-product of the industry. There are roughly 3.8 million sheep in Ireland, of which 2.5 million of them are breeding ewes (female sheep), in over 30,000 farms. The counties with the most sheep are Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry and Wicklow.

At the end of this section you should be able to:

1. Distinguish between hill and mountain sheep farming.
2. Identify different breeds of sheep and briefly describe their characteristics.
3. Define the terms prolificacy and terminal sire.
4. Name two terminal sire breeds and two prolific breeds of sheep.
5. Describe the advantages of cross-bred sheep as breeding ewes.
6. Briefly outline the breeding strategy (three breed system) used on lowland sheep farms.
7. Compare and contrast the breeding strategies used on hill farms to those of low farms.
8. Define the term draft or cast ewe.
9. Outline the process of ewe and ram selection for breeding.
10. Briefly describe the oestrous cycle of sheep and how it is triggered.
11. Identify the gestation period and oestrous cycle (length and duration) of sheep.
12. Define the term flushing and describe the advantages of flushing.
13. Define the term sponging and describe how and why it is carried out.
14. Outline when and why scanning is carried out.
15. Explain the term steaming up.
16. Describe the care of ewes during the lambing period.
17. Describe the care of lambs in the days following lambing.
18. Define the term fostering and describe two ways it can be carried out.
19. Outline the housing of sheep during the winter, discussing its advantages.
20. Briefly describe the cause, prevention, symptoms and treatment of common diseases of sheep and lambs.