Ag University

Sheep

2 sheep grazing in pasture    
Louisiana has about 12,000 sheep. From these sheep, 84,000 pounds of wool are produced each year. This is enough wool to make 42,000 wool sweaters. Besides wool, sheep also produce 345,000 pounds of meat called lamb. This is enough to provide meals for 1.4 million people. It takes lambs about five months to reach market weight of 120 pounds. Sheep and cattle are different from other farm animals and people in that their stomachs have four compartments. These stomach compartments make it possible for sheep and cattle to turn grass and hay into meat, wool and milk.


     
 
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