Sheep & Goat Welfare Quiz

SHEEP & GOAT WELFARE

Welfare or animal well-being is an important aspect of sheep and goat husbandry. This quiz tests the users knowledge of animal welfare as it pertains to sheep/goats. The quiz will randomly choose 10 questions from the question bank. There are 24 questions in the bank. At the end, you can see which answers you got correct, as well as your overall score and correct answers. You can take the quiz as many times as you want. Each time, the quiz will select different questions.

Last updated/reviewed 02.19.25 by Susan Schoenian.

How can you prevent urinary calculi in early castrated lambs/kids?

Sufficient intake of roughage -- long stemed fiber
Addition of ammonium chloride to the diet
Proper diet formulation, Ca to P ratio of at least 2:1
Adequate water intake
Salt to encourage water intake
All of the above

How often should a sheep/goat's hooves be trimmed?

True for false? Considering animal welfare, pastured sheep/goats should always have access to shade or shelter?

True
False

True or false? Disbudding is usually more humane than dehorning.

True
False

True or false? It is not possible to meet the five freedoms of animal welfare by raising sheep/goats in confinement (zero grazing)?

True
False

True or false? Wool-bearing sheep should be sheared at least once per year.

True
False

From an animal welfare standpoint, what is the proper age to castrate ram lambs and buck kids when using an elastrator (rubber bands)?

First 24 hours
1 to 7 days of age
4 weeks
> 3 months

True or false? It is generally recommended that all sheep/goats have long stemmed forage (effective fiber) in their diets?

True
False

According to research (cortisol levels in blood), which is the most painful method of castration?

Crushing (Burdizzo)
Elastrator + Burdizzo
Elastrator (rubber bands)
Surgical (knife)

True or false? All sheep require shearing.

True
False