(a) A ewe was serviced on May 1, 2014. Determine the expected date of lambing of the ewe (b) Define Animal Husbandry

Answer Details

(a) Expected date of lambing

The gestation period of a ewe (sheep) is about 150 days (approximately five months). The expected date of lambing is found by adding 150 days to the service date.

Service date: 1 May 2014.

Adding 150 days:

• May contributes 30 days (to 31 May): 150 - 30 = 120 days left.
• June contributes 30 days (to 30 June): 120 - 30 = 90 days left.
• July contributes 31 days (to 31 July): 90 - 31 = 59 days left.
• August contributes 31 days (to 31 August): 59 - 31 = 28 days left.
• 28 days into September gives 28 September.

\[ 1\text{ May }2014 + 150\text{ days} \approx 28\text{ September }2014 \]

The ewe is therefore expected to lamb about 28 September 2014 (roughly the end of September, five months after service).

(b) Definition of Animal Husbandry

Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with the care, feeding, breeding, housing, health and general management of farm animals for the production of meat, milk, eggs, hides and other products.