Management practices of five U.S. sheep breeds: insights from a producer survey

Lay Summary Sheep producers across the U.S. adopt different management strategies based on breed-type, production goals, flock size, and climatic conditions. To document this variation we surveyed 97 flocks enrolled in the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP), a data-oriented segment of the U.S. industry. The survey focused on five major breeds—Katahdin, Polypay, Suffolk, Rambouillet, and Targhee—and considered general husbandry and practices related to parasite control, lambing, feeding, udder health, culling, and climate mitigation. Survey respondents often used different management approaches depending on breed-type. For internal parasite control, selective anthelmintic treatment based on FAMACHA scores, fecal egg counts, or animals in poorer body condition was common in Katahdin and Suffolk flocks, whereas fine-wool (Rambouillet–Targhee) producers usually dewormed the whole flock. Culling priorities also differed: fine-wool producers more often cited ewes’ reaching a fixed age as the primary reason for culling, which is a common criterion in extensive rangeland systems. In contrast, Suffolk, Polypay, and Katahdin producers more often cited udder defects, emphasizing maternal soundness and ability to raise lambs. This is the first national survey to document flock management practices across U.S. sheep breeds in the NSIP. These findings provide a baseline to tailor genetic selection to specific management systems.