D. Grady, S. Only, S. Kirongo, K. Braxton and E.N. Escobar
Abstract
The objective of this study was to give intern undergraduate students working at the UMES Small Ruminant Farm the opportunity to develop critical thinking, data organization and technical writing skills through the observation and data recording of the performance of sheep (Ovis aries) raised on the farm.
The data was collected during the 2022 and 2023 lambing seasons. Performance was evaluated by determining the Body Weight (BW) at birth, the BW at weaning — 97d in 2022, and in 2023 at 47 d and at 305 d, total body weight gains, Average Daily Gain (ADG), and mortality rate.
In 2022, data was collected from an initial crop of 24 lambs and with an early (<5 d) mortality rate of 16.7%. Therefore, final data analyzed was from n= 20. In 2023, data was collected from N= 20, with an early (<5 d) mortality rate of 55% leaving n=9 for the final analysis. The death of three ewes and loss of lambs was attributed to pregnancy toxemia. The students also had the opportunity to observe how birth type (single=1, twins=2, or triplets=3) and sex influenced birth weight and ADG. For example, in 2022 at weaning (97 d), female lambs’ ADG was slightly higher (272.2 g) than male lambs (270.5 g). In 2023, ADG of all (n=9) twin lambs was 272.2 g at 47 d. However, at 305 d, ADG of male lambs was 238.3 g vs, 227.7 g for female lambs. The students trust that the hands-on experience gained during this project will enhance their knowledge and skills for their future professional careers.
Introduction and Objectives
The objective of this study was to give intern undergraduate students working at the UMES Small Ruminant Farm the opportunity to develop critical thinking, data organization and technical writing skills through the observation and data recording of the performance of sheep (Ovis aries) that were born and raised on the farm.
Materials and Methods
Katahdin sheep is the prevalent breed at the UMES Small Ruminant Farm and synchronized breeding is practiced using EAZI-BREED™ CIDRs® (Zoetis, Inc; Kalamazoo, MI, USA) to promote scheduled lambing and a uniform lamb crop (age, nutritional requirements, etc.).
In 2022 and 2023, ewes were exposed to rams after CIDR’s were removed, ewes were identified as pregnant following a blood sample (>35 d after breeding) analyzed by BioPRYN® (Bio Tracking, Inc, Moscow, ID). BioPRYN® measures the presence of Pregnancy Specific Protein B (PSPB), a protein only produced by the placenta of a growing fetus (Anonymous).
At birth, lambs were checked for vital signs, temporally tagged for identification and the following data was recorded: size of the litter, sex, BW — newborn lambs were weighed using a large bucket and a fishing scale. Also, iodine (7% tincture) was applied to the umbilical cord/navel area and suckling of colostrum was verified. In few instances, nursing was encouraged to distressed or small lambs.
Subsequent BW measurements were done using a commercial livestock scale. Rubber band castration and CD/T vaccination occurred at 6 weeks. The data was entered into an Excel (Microsoft Office Suite) spreadsheet and calculations for average birth BW, ABG at different ages and by sex were performed using the available formulas in Excel. The data was not statistically analyzed, because of the sample size and the intention of the exercise was on data collection and organization only.
Results and Discussion
Data from 11 female lambs and 9 male lambs born in spring 2022 was used for this case study, the average birth BW was 4.2 kg. After 97 d, the labs were weaned, and female lambs gained 272.2 g/d vs. male lambs gained 270.5 g/d.
In 2023, data was initially collected from N= 20 lambs, with an early (<5 d) mortality rate of 55% leaving n=9 (all twins) for the final analysis. The death of three ewes and loss of lambs was attributed to pregnancy toxemia. In 2023, male lambs performed slightly better than female lambs as expressed by ADG (238.3 g vs. 227.7 g, respectively). However, taking into account the number of lambs in the final analysis (only 9), it is not conclusive that male lambs perform better than female lambs.
Conclusions
The critical thinking, data organization and technical writing skills developed by the student during the course of this study will serve him in his pursuit of a career in agriculture.
The student intern, Donovan Grady, is majoring in general agriculture with a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine in the interest of going to vet school after completing his undergraduate program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore to become a veterinarian specializing in large animal medicine.
Critical thinking skills are essential for any professional and is highly desired in veterinary medicine. Over the course of the study, the student has been maintaining the sheep which presents a constant influx of novel challenges that necessitate critical thinking.
The collection of data is imperative in monitoring an animal’s production and health. The technical writing skill developed in the writing of the study will help the student in communicating information coherently in a professional context. The skills developed during the study will serve the undergraduate student intern throughout their professional life.
References
Anonymous. (n.d.) What is BioPRYN® ? https://heardhealthdiagnostics.com/about. Accessed January 2024.
Acknowledgements
- This work was supported in part by the intramural research program of the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agricultural Extension Programs at 1890 Institutions – grant NI221444XXXXG016. in partnership with the State of Maryland Legislature.
- Also, a grant from the Center for Farming Systems, Rural Prosperity and Economic Sustainability – 1890 Universities Foundation.
This study was presented at the ARD Research Symposium hosted by the Association of 1890 Research Directors from April 6-9 in Nashville, Tennessee. The findings and conclusions in this preliminary presentation have not been formally disseminated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.
