Read and translate the text.

THE SHEEP

Sheep belong to the Genus Ovis, and are generally grouped into: Longwools, Shortwools, and Mountain sheep which have horns. Inside each group there are many well-defined breeds, and an endless variety of crosses bet­ween the different pure breeds.

Sheep are kept for the production of mutton and wool.

The stomach of the sheep is three times larger than that of the pig.

As the sheep and goats have a cleft upper lip, they have to graze very close to the ground.

A male sheep is called a ram on whose fertility largely depends the lamb crop of the year.

An in-iamb sheep is called a ewe and a new born – a lamb. The period of gestation in sheep lasts 21 weeks.

As a rule, ewes should be healthy and vigorous, with deep, wide bodies, good teeth, healthy udders, and high-quality, dense fleeces.

Pregnant ewes should always have access to clean wa­ter.

Healthy lambs can withstand bad weather, provided the coat dries immediately after birth. If, because of very wet severe weather, the coat does not dry, losses even among the strong lambs may occur.

The consumption of colostrum or first milk is as im­portant to the lamb as it is to the calf.

(to be continued)

2. Answer the following questions:

1. What genus do sheep belong to? 2. Are mountain sheep hornless? 3. What are sheep kept for? 4. Why do sheep and goats graze very close to the ground? 5. How many weeks does a period of gestation in sheep last? 6. In what part of the Soviet Union is sheep breeding widely spread? 7. When may losses among the strong Iambs oc­cur? 8. Under what conditions can healthy lambs withstand bad weather?

3. Complete the sentences:

1. Mountain sheep have ... . 2. The goats and sheep have a cleft ... ... . 3. A male sheep is called a ... . 4. The period of gestation in sheep lasts ... ... . 5. Ewes should have ... ... .

Word List B

4. Translate into Russian:

1. The milk supplied to the lamb during the first few days of life is very rich in vitamin A and those anti-bodies which provide immunity against infection to disease. 2. Co­balt deficiency in the herbage is a very serious limiting factor to sheep production. 3. Another mineral deficiency which causes a diseased condition in sheep is copper. 4. In copper deficiency, the lambs develop an awkward gait known as swayback because of improper functioning of the nervous system. 5. Iodine deficiency of pasture herbage causes the birth of goitrous and weak lambs, a condition which can be prevented by drenching the pregnant sheep with an iodine solution, or by feeding iodine with the meals. 6. A mineral which is frequently available in insuf­ficient quantity to sheep is common salt, of which sheep are very fond. 7. The fact that sheep are generally out­doors and exposed to sunlight much of the time, even in winter, protects them against any deficiency of vitamin D. Also, hay and other good dry roughage supplies this vitamin. 8. Even in the South sheep should be protected from winter rains. 9. It is not necessary to warm water for sheep in winter, but ice should be kept out of the troughs. 10. Plenty of fresh water should always be furnished sheep, under all ordinary circumstances.

5. Translate into English:

1. Существует большое количество пород овец. 2. Шерстный покров у овец – превосходная защита от холода. 3. Овцематка должна иметь хорошие зубы и здо­ровое вымя. 4. Когда овец кормят сочными кормами, та­кими как силос или корнеплоды, они пьют меньше воды. 5. Пшеницу и рожь следует давать овцам постепенно. 6. Молозиво также важно для ягнят, как и для телят. 7. Обычно ягнята начинают поедать концентраты в двухнедельном возрасте.

Lesson 6. The Sheep

Word List А

Read and translate the text.

THE SHEEP (Continued)

Word List B

4. Translate into Russian:

1. Unthriftiness in sheep due to parasitic infestation may be confused with unthriftiness arising from mineral deficiency of the pasture herbage. 2. Iodine deficiency in the diet seriously reduces the weight of wool produced. 3. Full nutrition is essential for full growth of wool. 4. The woolen manufacture requires wool of fine quality, i. e. wool of which the fibres have a small diameter. 5. Sheep are so well protected from cold by their fleeces that they do not need warm shelter. 6. It is known that sheep grazing on a copper deficient area produce low quality wool. 7. A sudden and serious reduction in food intake, such as may occur in a severe drought, checks wool growth. 8. It is of interest to note that where the climate is mild in sum­mer, sheep may remain healthy when not shorn for a long time. 9. Wool is very rich in cystine, the chief sulphur-con­taining amino acid. 10. It should be kept in mind that tu­berculosis in sheep is very rare.

5. Translate into English:

1. Овца является ценным животным. Она дает чело­веку мясо и шерсть. 2. Пастбище – основной ра-цион овец. 3. Овец обычно стригут в середине мая. 4. На­стриг шерсти с овец горных районов очень большой. 5. Много красивых вещей изготовляется из шерсти. 6. Эта шерсть отличного качества.

Lesson 7. The Poultry

Word List А