I love animals - Reading, information and questions for small kids - Part 43 Sheep

"Ba ba black sheep have you any wool?  Yes sir yes sir three bags full..."  If you know this song I am sure you could not just read it, but sang it hahaaha.  It tells you exactly what is one of the things we can use sheep for.

The wool of the sheep is sheared and then it is taken to a special factory where it is processed and then made into wool to knit with and clothes.

• Watch the video and answer the questions.

1. What is the bag of wool called?
2. Where is it graded and sold?
3. Why is it now called 'greasy wool' ?
4. What is the job of the graders?
5. Why is it important to grade and sort the wool?
6. How much does a bale of wool weigh?
7. What does the first treatment entail?
8. What is lanolin and what can it be used for?
9. What happens to the wool after it has been cleaned and dried?
10. Name 3 things wool can be used for.

China has the most sheep in the world (I always thought it was Australia, but it is not.)  A sheep has a 300 degrees vision, that means it can actually see behind itself, without turning its head, so it is not that easy to catch a sheep.

Sheep like to huddle together and this makes it easy to move them from one place to another and it is also for their protection.  Many farmers have 'sheep dogs' that will help with gathering them and chasing them to where they need to be.  

• Have a look at how clever these dogs are.

Just something to remember for language...

Adult female sheep are known as ewes.  Adult male sheep are known as rams.  Castrated adult male sheep are known as wethers.  A group of sheep is known as a herd, flock or mob.

If a male sheep is castrated it means that they cannot reproduce - they cannot make baby sheep which are called lambs.

Sheep are used for their fleece and meat.

• For fun watch the story on sheep.  You can either listen to the story or you can read out loud (with or without the sound).
• Once you are done, re-tell the story in your own words in the correct order.

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