Morphology Of Fattening Unit Animals

Morphology refers to all the physical external components and attributes of an animal that can be used to identify the specific animal.  The morphology of the most common fattening unit animals will be described with specific reference to sheep and cattle.

Morphology and the Life Cycle of Sheep

The sheep is one of the smaller mammal type farm animals with an average weight of 80-120kg for rams and 50-80kg for ewes. The colour and coverage of the animals differ significantly between species. It is easier to describe the morphology attributes of sheep separately for wool and meat sheep.

The wool sheep types have a thick and fine wool fleece for coverage that can be shorn to use as clothing for men. They usually consist of one colour that differs between white and creamy colour. Wool sheep types usually have a smaller frame (body size) than meat sheep types. In most breeds especially the ram develops horns, but in modern farming practices, the horns are cut and burned at a young age. This practice prevents the horns from growing back.

The meat sheep types usually have short hair for coverage, but some races may consist of wool. The wool quality however is not very good, but the carcass composition is excellent. Due to a better carcass composition, these animals usually have a bigger body frame than the wool sheep types. The colour of these animals differs from one colour white or cream to white animals with blackheads and even painted animals that consist of white, black and brown colours. As in the case with the wool sheep types these animals are also dehorned in modern farming practices.

The udder of the female animals has only two teats, so they are referred to as ewes.

The breeding season of sheep is usually determined by the seasons but may be manipulated by the farmer. The best conception results however are obtained when the ewes are mated in their natural breeding season during spring and early summer (September-January). Approximately 150 days after mating a single lamb or up to four lambs are born. The lambs suckle on their mother for up to 5 months and are then weaned. The animals that are not kept replacing older animals are then sent to the fattening unit until they reached the market weight to be slaughtered. Replacement ewes reach puberty (sexual readiness) at 12 to 16 months of age and are then ready to conceive and reproduce.

Morphology and the Life Cycle of Cattle

Cattle are the largest type of modern farm animal with an average weaning mass of 200-220kg at 205 days of age and an average weight of approximately 340-360kg at 540 days of age.

Cattle vary significantly in colour and it differs from white, white and black, black, brown and red accordingly to the different species. The Bos indicus types usually have shorter hair and a more shining than the Bos Taurus types. Bos indicus types also have a smaller body frame and are usually recognized by a big bulk of muscle on top of their shoulders. Most cattle species have well-defined horns, but it is removed in modern farming practices to make the handling of the animals safer.

Female cattle have udders that consist of four teats and are thus referred to as cows.

There is no specific mating season for cattle and conception can take part during any part of the year. Farmers usually decide when to bring their bulls to cows. After conception, the cow is pregnant for 283 days before the calf is born. Usually, only a single calf is born, although twins do exist. At 205 days of age, the calves are weaned and sent to the fattening unit until they reach a market-ready weight after approximately 90 days. Replacement heifers reach puberty at an age of 24 months of age and are then ready for conception and reproduction.

Click here to learn more about morphology.