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123-410: Men's programs include baseball, cross country, football, basketball, ice hockey, and soccer. Women's programs include cross country, lacrosse, softball, basketball, field hockey, outdoor track and field, soccer, and volleyball (women's ice hockey will be added in 2024–25). Club sports that the university offers include Cheerleading, Men's Lacrosse, Men's Rugby, and Women's Rugby. The university also offers

246-647: A diurnal pattern of activity, feeding from dawn to dusk, stopping sporadically to rest and chew their cud . Ideal pasture for sheep is not lawnlike grass, but an array of grasses , legumes and forbs . Types of land where sheep are raised vary widely, from pastures that are seeded and improved intentionally to rough, native lands. Common plants toxic to sheep are present in most of the world, and include (but are not limited to) cherry, some oaks and acorns, tomato, yew , rhubarb, potato, and rhododendron . Sheep are largely grazing herbivores, unlike browsing animals such as goats and deer that prefer taller foliage. With

369-670: A gestation period of about five months, and normal labor takes one to three hours. Although some breeds regularly throw larger litters of lambs, most produce single or twin lambs. During or soon after labor, ewes and lambs may be confined to small lambing jugs , small pens designed to aid both careful observation of ewes and to cement the bond between them and their lambs. Ovine obstetrics can be problematic. By selectively breeding ewes that produce multiple offspring with higher birth weights for generations, sheep producers have inadvertently caused some domestic sheep to have difficulty lambing; balancing ease of lambing with high productivity

492-777: A 84–69 win over the Bridgewater State Bears at home with a posted attendance of 844 people led by MASCAC tournament MVP sophomore guard Gwendolyn Carpenter. The Rams were again awarded an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament, this time being matched up with the D3hoops.com number 16 team, the Smith College Pioneers at Ainsworth Gymnasium on the campus of Smith College in Northampton , Massachusetts . On March 4, 2022, Smith beat Framingham State by

615-565: A club team but got elevated to varsity status in 2008 and has an overall record of 129-119 (.520), 40-25 (.615) in MASCAC conference play, 11-11 (.500) in NEWLA ( New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance ) conference play as of the end of the 2023 season as Framingham State's winningest overall program to date. The teams home field is Maple Street Field in Framingham, Massachusetts. On May 7, 2022,

738-472: A ewe and her direct descendants often move as a unit within large flocks. Sheep can become hefted to one particular local pasture (heft) so they do not roam freely in unfenced landscapes. Lambs learn the heft from ewes and if whole flocks are culled it must be retaught to the replacement animals. Flock behaviour in sheep is generally only exhibited in groups of four or more sheep; fewer sheep may not react as expected when alone or with few other sheep. Being

861-407: A few breeds that are predominantly used for milking. These sheep produce a higher quantity of milk and have slightly longer lactation curves. In the quality of their milk, the fat and protein content percentages of dairy sheep vary from non-dairy breeds, but lactose content does not. A last group of sheep breeds is that of fur or hair sheep , which do not grow wool at all. Hair sheep are similar to

984-539: A final score of 61–51 with a posted attendance of 450 people, which marked the closest NCAA tournament game in program history to date. On December 3, 2022, the Framingham State women's basketball team upset the Smith Pioneers at home by a final score of 78-74 who was ranked number 6 on the D3hoops.com women's basketball top 25 national poll. This game was notable due to multiple factors. First this

1107-475: A flock as it is herded between living sites. It has been reported that some sheep have apparently shown problem-solving abilities; a flock in West Yorkshire , England , allegedly found a way to get over cattle grids by rolling on their backs, although documentation of this has relied on anecdotal accounts. Sounds made by domestic sheep include bleats, grunts, rumbles and snorts. Bleating ("baaing")

1230-420: A geographic envelope of the domestication center. One of the earliest animals to be domesticated for agricultural purposes, sheep are raised for fleeces , meat ( lamb, hogget or mutton ), and milk . A sheep's wool is the most widely used animal fiber, and is usually harvested by shearing . In Commonwealth countries, ovine meat is called lamb when from younger animals and mutton when from older ones; in

1353-479: A highly bred herding ability. Sheep are food-oriented, and association of humans with regular feeding often results in sheep soliciting people for food. Those who are moving sheep may exploit this behavior by leading sheep with buckets of feed. Sheep establish a dominance hierarchy through fighting, threats and competitiveness. Dominant animals are inclined to be more aggressive with other sheep, and usually feed first at troughs . Primarily among rams, horn size

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1476-613: A lot of success in recent years. In Walter's first year (2013–14), the Rams won a share of the MASCAC regular season title (along with Bridgewater State and Westfield State ), to make it the Rams first conference title in program history. However the Rams lost in the MASCAC tournament finals to the Bridgewater State Bears by a final score of 73–66. The Rams did go on a run to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) DIII New England Semifinals losing to

1599-447: A month. Two fundamental preventive programs are maintaining good nutrition and reducing stress in the sheep. Restraint, isolation, loud noises, novel situations, pain, heat, extreme cold, fatigue and other stressors can lead to secretion of cortisol, a stress hormone, in amounts that may indicate welfare problems. Excessive stress can compromise the immune system. "Shipping fever" (pneumonic mannheimiosis, formerly called pasteurellosis)

1722-446: A much narrower face, sheep crop plants very close to the ground and can overgraze a pasture much faster than cattle. For this reason, many shepherds use managed intensive rotational grazing , where a flock is rotated through multiple pastures, giving plants time to recover. Paradoxically, sheep can both cause and solve the spread of invasive plant species . By disturbing the natural state of pasture, sheep and other livestock can pave

1845-434: A new pasture to avoid ingesting the same parasites. External sheep parasites include: lice (for different parts of the body), sheep keds , nose bots , sheep itch mites , and maggots . Keds are blood-sucking parasites that cause general malnutrition and decreased productivity, but are not fatal. Maggots are those of the bot fly and the blow-fly , commonly Lucilia sericata or its relative L. cuprina . Fly maggots cause

1968-612: A non-conference exhibition game at the Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield , Rhode Island . Although the Rams lost by a final score of 98–44, the game was notable due to freshman guard Julius Goines's dunk in the beginning minutes of the second half. The dunk was so notable that it was featured on ESPN's SportsCenter top 10 plays as the number 4 play the following day on November 29, 2022. Accomplishments The Framingham State women's basketball team began play in

2091-478: A perfect 12-0 (1.000) in MASCAC conference play. They went on to become MASCAC tournament champions for the first time ever beating the Worcester State Lancers at home by a final score of 66-51 led by MASCAC tournament MVP senior guard Mary Kate O'Day and with a posted attendance of 1,214 people, which represented the biggest home crowd in program history and Logan Gymnasium history. With that win

2214-428: A prey species, a sheep's system is adapted to hide the obvious signs of illness, to prevent being targeted by predators. However, some signs of ill health are obvious, with sick sheep eating little, vocalizing excessively, and being generally listless. Throughout history, much of the money and labor of sheep husbandry has aimed to prevent sheep ailments. Historically, shepherds often created remedies by experimentation on

2337-600: A prey species, the primary defense mechanism of sheep is to flee from danger when their flight zone is entered. Cornered sheep may charge and butt, or threaten by hoof stamping and adopting an aggressive posture. This is particularly true for ewes with newborn lambs. In regions where sheep have no natural predators, none of the native breeds of sheep exhibit a strong flocking behavior. Farmers exploit flocking behavior to keep sheep together on unfenced pastures such as hill farming , and to move them more easily. For this purpose shepherds may use herding dogs in this effort, with

2460-415: A result of selective breeding by humans. A few primitive breeds of sheep retain some of the characteristics of their wild cousins, such as short tails. Depending on breed, domestic sheep may have no horns at all (i.e. polled ), or horns in both sexes, or in males only. Most horned breeds have a single pair, but a few breeds may have several. Another trait unique to domestic sheep as compared to wild ovines

2583-476: A scent and indicate readiness through physical displays towards rams. In feral sheep, rams may fight during the rut to determine which individuals may mate with ewes. Rams, especially unfamiliar ones, will also fight outside the breeding period to establish dominance; rams can kill one another if allowed to mix freely. During the rut, even usually friendly rams may become aggressive towards humans due to increases in their hormone levels. After mating, sheep have

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2706-438: A series over Fitchburg State . Meanwhile Bridgewater State lost three out of three games in a series against Westfield State to give Framingham State their first ever MASCAC regular season title. Accomplishments The Framingham State men's basketball team began play in the 1967–68 season as the first varsity team at Framingham State, and has an overall record of 560-804 (.411), 239-364 (.396) in MASCAC conference play as of

2829-546: A slight risk to humans. During the 2001 FMD pandemic in the UK, hundreds of sheep were culled and some rare British breeds were at risk of extinction due to this. Of the 600,300 sheep lost to the US economy in 2004, 37.3% were lost to predators, while 26.5% were lost to some form of disease. Poisoning accounted for 1.7% of non-productive deaths. Eastern College Athletic Conference The Eastern College Athletic Conference ( ECAC )

2952-505: A slow rate of growth. Long wool sheep are most valued for crossbreeding to improve the attributes of other sheep types. For example: the American Columbia breed was developed by crossing Lincoln rams (a long wool breed) with fine-wooled Rambouillet ewes. Coarse or carpet wool sheep are those with a medium to long length wool of characteristic coarseness. Breeds traditionally used for carpet wool show great variability, but

3075-819: A study published in Nature in 2001, Kenneth M. Kendrick and others reported; "Sheep recognize and are attracted to individual sheep and humans by their faces, as they possess similar specialized neural systems in the temporal and frontal lobes  ... individual sheep can remember 50 other different sheep faces for over 2 years". In addition to long-term facial recognition of individuals, sheep can also differentiate emotional states through facial characteristics. If worked with patiently, sheep may learn their names, and many sheep are trained to be led by halter for showing and other purposes. Sheep have also responded well to clicker training . Sheep have been used as pack animals; Tibetan nomads distribute baggage equally throughout

3198-422: A tendency to congregate close to other members of a flock, although this behavior varies with breed, and sheep can become stressed when separated from their flock members. During flocking, sheep have a strong tendency to follow, and a leader may simply be the first individual to move. Relationships in flocks tend to be closest among related sheep: in mixed-breed flocks, subgroups of the same breed tend to form, and

3321-407: A waste product or a scent marker to help lost sheep find their flock, have also been proposed. Sheep and goats are closely related: both are in the subfamily Caprinae . However, they are separate species, so hybrids rarely occur and are always infertile. A hybrid of a ewe and a buck (a male goat) is called a sheep-goat hybrid , known as geep . Visual differences between sheep and goats include

3444-415: A well-focused retinal image of objects in both the middle and long distance. Because sheep eyes have no accommodation , one might expect the image of very near objects to be blurred, but a rather clear near image could be provided by the tapetum and large retinal image of the sheep's eye, and adequate close vision may occur at muzzle length. Good depth perception, inferred from the sheep's sure-footedness,

3567-624: A wide scale, and were an important agent in the spread of sheep raising. Pliny the Elder , in his Natural History ( Naturalis Historia ), speaks at length about sheep and wool. European colonists spread the practice to the New World from 1493 onwards. Domestic sheep are relatively small ruminants, usually with a crimped hair called wool and often with horns forming a lateral spiral . They differ from their wild relatives and ancestors in several respects, having become uniquely neotenic as

3690-415: A wide variety of intramural programs that include everything from badminton, to golf, to dodgeball. There is also a state-of-the-art athletic and recreation center which opened in 2001 that includes basketball courts, a volleyball court, and a weight room. Framingham State University adopted its mascot the ram in 1967, after a school-wide vote on what should represent the school. It came at the same time as

3813-496: Is hay , often during the winter months. The ability to thrive solely on pasture (even without hay) varies with breed, but all sheep can survive on this diet. Also included in some sheep's diets are minerals , either in a trace mix or in licks . Feed provided to sheep must be specially formulated, as most cattle, poultry, pig, and even some goat feeds contain levels of copper that are lethal to sheep. The same danger applies to mineral supplements such as salt licks . Sheep follow

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3936-560: Is a college athletic conference comprising schools that compete in 15 sports (13 men's and 13 women's). It has 220 member institutions in NCAA Divisions I , II , and III , ranging in location from Maine to South Carolina and west to Missouri. Most or all members belong to at least one other athletic conference . The ECAC was founded as the Central Office for Eastern Intercollegiate Athletics in 1938, largely through

4059-409: Is a dominant trait it spread quickly. However, colored sheep do appear in many modern breeds, and may even appear as a recessive trait in white flocks. While white wool is desirable for large commercial markets, there is a niche market for colored fleeces, mostly for handspinning . The nature of the fleece varies widely among the breeds, from dense and highly crimped, to long and hairlike. There

4182-832: Is a club team that began play in 2005 and has an overall record of 26-57 (.313) as of the end of the 2023 season. The team competes in the Continental Lacrosse Conference (Division III) in the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA). On April 24, 2023, the Framingham State Rams completed their first undefeated regular season with an overall record of 5-0 topped off by a 4–2 win over the Fitchburg State Falcons under first year head coach Tim Ryan. Accomplishments The Framingham State women's lacrosse team began play in 2007 as

4305-539: Is a disease of particular concern, that can occur as a result of stress, notably during transport and (or) handling. Pain, fear and several other stressors can cause secretion of epinephrine (adrenaline). Considerable epinephrine secretion in the final days before slaughter can adversely affect meat quality (by causing glycogenolysis, removing the substrate for normal post-slaughter acidification of meat) and result in meat becoming more susceptible to colonization by spoilage bacteria. Because of such issues, low-stress handling

4428-493: Is a factor in the flock hierarchy. Rams with different size horns may be less inclined to fight to establish the dominance order, while rams with similarly sized horns are more so. Merinos have an almost linear hierarchy whereas there is a less rigid structure in Border Leicesters when a competitive feeding situation arises. In sheep, position in a moving flock is highly correlated with social dominance, but there

4551-499: Is a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease affecting sheep and goats. Sheep may also be affected by primary or secondary photosensitization. Tetanus can also afflict sheep through wounds from shearing , docking , castration , or vaccination. The organism also can be introduced into the reproductive tract by unsanitary humans who assist ewes during lambing. A few sheep conditions are transmissible to humans. Orf (also known as scabby mouth, contagious ecthyma or soremouth)

4674-476: Is a skin disease leaving lesions that is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Cutaneous anthrax is also called woolsorter's disease, as the spores can be transmitted in unwashed wool. More seriously, the organisms that can cause spontaneous enzootic abortion in sheep are easily transmitted to pregnant women. Also of concern are the prion disease scrapie and the virus that causes foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), as both can devastate flocks. The latter poses

4797-677: Is commonly given at an age of about 10 to 12 weeks; i.e. when the concentration of maternal antibodies passively acquired via colostrum is expected to have fallen low enough to permit development of active immunity. Ewes are often revaccinated annually about 3 weeks before lambing, to provide high antibody concentrations in colostrum during the first several hours after lambing. Ram lambs that will either be slaughtered or separated from ewes before sexual maturity are not usually castrated. Objections to all these procedures have been raised by animal rights groups, but farmers defend them by saying they save money, and inflict only temporary pain. Sheep are

4920-414: Is essential in sheep management. Avoiding poisoning is also important; common poisons are pesticide sprays, inorganic fertilizer , motor oil , as well as radiator coolant containing ethylene glycol. Common forms of preventive medication for sheep are vaccinations and treatments for parasites . Both external and internal parasites are the most prevalent malady in sheep, and are either fatal, or reduce

5043-438: Is no definitive study to show consistent voluntary leadership by an individual sheep. Sheep are frequently thought of as unintelligent animals . Their flocking behavior and quickness to flee and panic can make shepherding a difficult endeavor for the uninitiated. Despite these perceptions, a University of Illinois monograph on sheep reported their intelligence to be just below that of pigs and on par with that of cattle. In

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5166-477: Is one of the dilemmas of sheep breeding. In the case of any such problems, those present at lambing may assist the ewe by extracting or repositioning lambs. After the birth, ewes ideally break the amniotic sac (if it is not broken during labor), and begin licking clean the lamb. Most lambs will begin standing within an hour of birth. In normal situations, lambs nurse after standing, receiving vital colostrum milk. Lambs that either fail to nurse or are rejected by

5289-547: Is the Loring Ice Arena in Framingham, Massachusetts. On October 16, 2023, Framingham State announced that Women's Ice Hockey will be the 15th varsity sport along with the 9th women's varsity sport on campus. In that same announcement the Rams hired the program's first head coach Robert Lavin, who previously served as head coach for the Rams men's ice hockey program from the 2001–02 season to the 2002–03 season. Accomplishments The Framingham State men's lacrosse team

5412-458: Is their wide variation in color. Wild sheep are largely variations of brown hues, and variation within species is extremely limited. Colors of domestic sheep range from pure white to dark chocolate brown, and even spotted or piebald . Sheep keepers also sometimes artificially paint "smit marks" onto their sheep in any pattern or color for identification. Selection for easily dyeable white fleeces began early in sheep domestication, and as white wool

5535-433: Is then passed into the rumen , via the reticulum . The rumen is a 19- to 38-liter (5 to 10 gallon) organ in which feed is fermented . The fermenting organisms include bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. (Other important rumen organisms include some archaea, which produce methane from carbon dioxide. ) The bolus is periodically regurgitated back to the mouth as cud for additional chewing and salivation . After fermentation in

5658-692: Is used mostly for contact communication, especially between dam and lambs, but also at times between other flock members. The bleats of individual sheep are distinctive, enabling the ewe and her lambs to recognize each other's vocalizations. Vocal communication between lambs and their dam declines to a very low level within several weeks after parturition. A variety of bleats may be heard, depending on sheep age and circumstances. Apart from contact communication, bleating may signal distress, frustration or impatience; however, sheep are usually silent when in pain. Isolation commonly prompts bleating by sheep. Pregnant ewes may grunt when in labor. Rumbling sounds are made by

5781-489: Is variation of wool type and quality even among members of the same flock, so wool classing is a step in the commercial processing of the fibre. Depending on breed, sheep show a range of heights and weights. Their rate of growth and mature weight is a heritable trait that is often selected for in breeding. Ewes typically weigh between 45 and 100 kilograms (100 and 220 lb), and rams between 45 and 160 kilograms (100 and 350 lb). When all deciduous teeth have erupted,

5904-433: Is widespread, and is the main impediment to certified organic farming with sheep. Many breeders take a variety of preventive measures to ward off problems. The first is to ensure all sheep are healthy when purchased. Many buyers avoid outlets known to be clearing houses for animals culled from healthy flocks as either sick or simply inferior. This can also mean maintaining a closed flock, and quarantining new sheep for

6027-584: The Abrahamic traditions. In both ancient and modern religious ritual, sheep are used as sacrificial animals . The exact line of descent from wild ancestors to domestic sheep is unclear. The most common hypothesis states that Ovis aries is descended from the Asiatic ( O. gmelini ) species of mouflon ; the European mouflon ( Ovis aries musimon ) is a direct descendant of this population. Sheep were among

6150-514: The Barstool Sports Instagram account among others. It was the Rams first MASCAC Men's Hockey tournament win since 2014, although they subsequently lost 8–4 to the 1st seeded Plymouth State Panthers (19–6–2 overall, 14–2–2 in MASCAC play) in the MASCAC tournament semifinals 3 days later on March 1, 2022. Accomplishments The Framingham State women's ice hockey team began play in the 2024–25 season. The teams home rink

6273-513: The Endicott College Gulls by a final score of 67–64. However, in the next five years the Rams have made it to either the MASCAC tournament semifinals (2014–15 and 2018–19) or the MASCAC tournament finals (2015–16, 2016–17, and 2017–18) without winning the MASCAC regular season crown. Finally in the 2019–2020 season the Rams won their first ever outright MASCAC regular season championship with an overall record of 22-6 (.786) and

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6396-553: The Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) regular season championship four straight years (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013). In 2011, 2012, and 2013 the team also took the title as New England Football Conference (NEFC (now Commonwealth Coast Football )) Bogan Division champions, and outright champions in 2012. In 2010, the program won its first Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Northeast Bowl. The Rams participated in

6519-663: The NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship for the first time ever in program history, and on May 14, 2022, the Rams were matched up with the St. Mary's College of Maryland Seahawks at the campus of The College of New Jersey in Ewing , New Jersey . The Seahawks won with a final score of 19–9. Accomplishments The Framingham State men's soccer team began play in 1968 and has an overall record of 332-496-57 (.407), 122-195-21 (.392) in MASCAC conference play as of

6642-715: The National Football League (NFL) signed defensive end Joshua Onujiogu as an undrafted free agent. Accomplishments The Framingham State field hockey team began play in 1987 and has an overall record of 195-405-8 (.327), 55-132-2 (.296) in MASCAC conference play, 71-170 (.294) in Little East Conference play as of the end of the 2022 season. The teams home field is Maple Street Field in Framingham, Massachusetts. The field hockey team (along with Bridgewater State , Fitchburg State , Salem State , Westfield State , and Worcester State ) joined

6765-559: The Western New England College Golden Bears at Maple Street Field in Framingham, Massachusetts. Framingham State won 7-6 and the game ball was presented to B.R.D Justin McCarthy being FSC's number one fan. The McCarthy center on the campus of Framingham State is named after Justin McCarthy. The Framingham State Rams football program has seen several successful seasons in recent years. The Rams won

6888-794: The Worcester State Lancers for the first ever Ram's Invitational. Accomplishments On September 30, 2023, The Framingham State Rams men's and women's cross country team hosted the first ever Ram's Invitational at the Warren Conference Center and Inn in Ashland , Massachusetts . Framingham State hosted the Massachusetts Maritime Buccaneers and the Worcester State Lancers for the first ever Ram's Invitational. Accomplishments The football team began play in 1972 and has an overall record of 220-251-2 (.467), 64-8 (.888) in MASCAC conference play as of

7011-505: The dental formula for sheep is either 0.0.3.3 4.0.3.3 or 0.0.3.3 3.1.3.3 There is a large diastema between the incisors and the molars . In the first few years of life one can calculate the age of sheep from their front teeth, as a pair of milk teeth is replaced by larger adult teeth each year, the full set of eight adult front teeth being complete at about four years of age. The front teeth are then gradually lost as sheep age, making it harder for them to feed and hindering

7134-430: The order Artiodactyla , the even-toed ungulates . Numbering a little over one billion, domestic sheep are also the most numerous species of sheep. An adult female is referred to as a ewe ( / j uː / yoo ), an intact male as a ram , occasionally a tup , a castrated male as a wether , and a young sheep as a lamb . Sheep are most likely descended from the wild mouflon of Europe and Asia, with Iran being

7257-458: The rut , whereas rams do not. The domestic sheep is a multi-purpose animal, and the more than 200 breeds now in existence were created to serve these diverse purposes. Some sources give a count of a thousand or more breeds, but these numbers cannot be verified, according to some sources. However, several hundred breeds of sheep have been identified by the Food and Agriculture Organization of

7380-612: The topography for which the breed has been developed. This last point is especially stressed in the UK, where breeds are described as either upland (hill or mountain) or lowland breeds. A sheep may also be of a fat-tailed type , which is a dual-purpose sheep common in Africa and Asia with larger deposits of fat within and around its tail. Breeds are often categorized by the type of their wool. Fine wool breeds are those that have wool of great crimp and density, which are preferred for textiles. Most of these were derived from Merino sheep, and

7503-499: The 1974–75 season as the first women's varsity team at Framingham State, and has an overall record of 467-649 (.418), 187-319 (.370) in MASCAC conference play as of the end of the 2022–23 season. The teams home court is the Logan Gymnasium in Framingham, Massachusetts. With the hiring of head coach Walter Paschal in the 2013–14 season from the Fitchburg State Falcons , the Framingham State Rams women's basketball team has seen

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7626-569: The 2013 NCAA Division III Football Championship , losing to SUNY Cortland in the first-round. In 2014 the Rams were MASCAC Champions & ECAC North Atlantic Bowl Champions winning against RPI 42–36 in Overtime. In 2015 the Rams were MASCAC Champions and participated in the 2015 NCAA Division III Football Championship, losing to Wesley College 42–22. In 2016 the Rams won the New England Bowl v.s. Salve Regina winning 37–34. In 2017

7749-716: The 2023 season, and 246-312 (.441) in MASCAC conference play from 1986 to the end of the 2022 season. The team's home field is Bowditch Field in Framingham, Massachusetts , however most early season home games (until usually April 1) are played at the New England Baseball Complex (NEBC) in Northborough, Massachusetts . On May 6, 2023, The Framingham State Rams baseball team led by fifth year head coach Sean Callahan won their first ever MASCAC regular season title with winning two out of three games in

7872-423: The 20th and 21st centuries, a minority of sheep owners have turned to alternative treatments such as homeopathy , herbalism and even traditional Chinese medicine to treat sheep veterinary problems. Despite some favorable anecdotal evidence , the effectiveness of alternative veterinary medicine has been met with skepticism in scientific journals . The need for traditional anti-parasite drugs and antibiotics

7995-423: The D3hoops.com women's Top 25, 2022-23 Week 3 poll. Although for the Rams, the 2022–23 season not the best of seasons for the team compared to the prior two seasons. The Rams entered the 2023 MASCAC conference play with a 25-game winning streak against MASCAC opponents dating back to February 21, 2019, however that was snapped when on January 4, 2023, the Bridgewater State Bears (8-4 overall, 0–0 in MASCAC play) beat

8118-578: The ECAC has organized regional college basketball championship tournaments at the end of the regular season for teams playing at the NCAA Division I , Division II , and Division III levels. It held the Division I tournaments from 1975 to 1982 to provide independent colleges and universities in the northeastern United States with a means of participating in end-of-season tournaments that resulted in

8241-918: The Jacobson's organ) to sense the pheromones of ewes and detect when they are in estrus . The ewe uses her vomeronasal organ for early recognition of her neonate lamb. Sheep follow a similar reproductive strategy to other herd animals. A group of ewes is generally mated by a single ram, who has either been chosen by a breeder or (in feral populations) has established dominance through physical contest with other rams. Most sheep are seasonal breeders , although some are able to breed year-round. Ewes generally reach sexual maturity at six to eight months old, and rams generally at four to six months. However, there are exceptions. For example, Finnsheep ewe lambs may reach puberty as early as 3 to 4 months, and Merino ewes sometimes reach puberty at 18 to 20 months. Ewes have estrus cycles about every 17 days, during which they emit

8364-647: The Little East Conference as an affiliate member for field hockey in the 2000–01 season to create a MASCAC division with those 6 schools. In the 2023–24 season the MASCAC division of the Little East became its own separate conference and now currently plays a double round robin in-conference schedule going forward. Accomplishments The Framingham State men's ice hockey team began play in the 1971–72 season and has an overall record of 429-787-60 (.359), 33-168-19 (.193) in MASCAC conference play as of

8487-567: The Rams (8-2 overall, 0–0 in MASCAC play), 75–58 at home. The Rams finished the 2022–23 season with an overall record of 17-6 (.739) and 9-3 (.750) in MASCAC conference play culminating with a 90–76 loss to the third seeded Westfield State Owls at home in the MASCAC tournament semifinals. In the 2023–24 season the Rams are scheduled to appear in the 13th annual D3hoops.com Classic at the South Point Arena in Las Vegas , Nevada for

8610-405: The Rams went 8–2 (8–0 in MASCAC play) in the regular season and were MASCAC Champions along with being participants in the 2021 Division III Football Championship. However the Rams lost to Muhlenberg College in the first round 45–0. Head coach Thomas (Tom) Kelley '76 coached the Framingham State Rams football team for 2 years as head coach in his first stint from 1982 to 1984. He later returned to

8733-425: The Rams were MASCAC co-champions and won the 2017 New England Bowl Series against Curry College 48–14. In 2018 the rams were MASCAC Champions and participated in the 2018 NCAA Division III Football Championship losing to Brockport State in the first round 40–27. In 2019 the Rams were MASCAC Champions and participants in the 2019 Division III Football Championship losing to Wesley College in first round 58–21. In 2021

8856-721: The Rams were awarded with an automatic berth into the 2020 NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament which was the first time in program history that the Rams appeared in the NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament . On March 6, 2020, the Rams were matched up with the D3hoops.com number 7 team, the Amherst College Mammoths at the LeFrak Gymnasium in Amherst , Massachusetts on

8979-597: The UN (FAO), with the estimated number varying somewhat from time to time: e.g. 863 breeds as of 1993, 1314 breeds as of 1995 and 1229 breeds as of 2006. (These numbers exclude extinct breeds, which are also tallied by the FAO.) For the purpose of such tallies, the FAO definition of a breed is "either a subspecific group of domestic livestock with definable and identifiable external characteristics that enable it to be separated by visual appraisal from other similarly defined groups within

9102-481: The United States, meat from both older and younger animals is usually called lamb. Sheep continue to be important for wool and meat today, and are also occasionally raised for pelts , as dairy animals, or as model organisms for science. Sheep husbandry is practised throughout the majority of the inhabited world, and has been fundamental to many civilizations. In the modern era, Australia , New Zealand ,

9225-449: The basis of these tendencies. The dominance hierarchy of sheep and their natural inclination to follow a leader to new pastures were the pivotal factors in sheep being one of the first domesticated livestock species. Furthermore, in contrast to the red deer and gazelle (two other ungulates of primary importance to meat production in prehistoric times), sheep do not defend territories although they do form home ranges . All sheep have

9348-418: The beard of goats and divided upper lip of sheep. Sheep tails also hang down, even when short or docked , while the short tails of goats are held upwards. Also, sheep breeds are often naturally polled (either in both sexes or just in the female), while naturally polled goats are rare (though many are polled artificially). Males of the two species differ in that buck goats acquire a unique and strong odor during

9471-460: The breed continues to dominate the world sheep industry. Downs breeds have wool between the extremes, and are typically fast-growing meat and ram breeds with dark faces. Some major medium wool breeds, such as the Corriedale , are dual-purpose crosses of long and fine-wooled breeds and were created for high-production commercial flocks. Long wool breeds are the largest of sheep, with long wool and

9594-461: The campus of Amherst College in which the game ended with a final score of 70-46 and a posted attendance of 12 people. In the 2021–22 season (no 2020–21 season due to COVID-19 concerns ) the Rams recorded their best ever record with an overall record of 22-4 (.846) and a perfect 12-0 (1.000) in MASCAC conference play. The Rams won their third ever (second ever outright) MASCAC regular season title and won their second ever MASCAC tournament title with

9717-499: The chief requirement is a wool that will not break down under heavy use (as would that of the finer breeds). As the demand for carpet-quality wool declines, some breeders of this type of sheep are attempting to use a few of these traditional breeds for alternative purposes. Others have always been primarily meat-class sheep. A minor class of sheep are the dairy breeds. Dual-purpose breeds that may primarily be meat or wool sheep are often used secondarily as milking animals, but there are

9840-399: The decline of localized family farms , many breeds of sheep are in danger of extinction. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust of the UK lists 22 native breeds as having only 3,000 registered animals (each), and The Livestock Conservancy lists 14 as either "critical" or "threatened". Preferences for breeds with uniform characteristics and fast growth have pushed heritage (or heirloom) breeds to

9963-793: The earliest woven wool garments have been dated to two to three thousand years later. Sheep husbandry spread quickly in Europe. Excavations show that in about 6000 BC, during the Neolithic period of prehistory, the Castelnovien people, living around Châteauneuf-les-Martigues near present-day Marseille in the south of France, were among the first in Europe to keep domestic sheep. Practically from its inception, ancient Greek civilization relied on sheep as primary livestock, and were even said to name individual animals. Ancient Romans kept sheep on

10086-476: The early domesticated sheep kept before woolly breeds were developed, and are raised for meat and pelts. Some modern breeds of hair sheep, such as the Dorper , result from crosses between wool and hair breeds. For meat and hide producers, hair sheep are cheaper to keep, as they do not need shearing. Hair sheep are also more resistant to parasites and hot weather. With the modern rise of corporate agribusiness and

10209-811: The efforts of James Lynah of Cornell University . In 1983, the Eastern Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (EAIAW) was consolidated into the ECAC. Most member schools are in other conferences as well, but through the ECAC they are able to participate in sports that their main conferences do not offer. Its headquarters are located in Danbury, Connecticut . The ECAC also now offers esports competitions to its member schools. As of fall 2023, there are 78 Division I members. As of fall 2023, there are 7 Division II members. As of spring 2018, there are 79 Division III members. The ECAC has several affiliated single-sport leagues: At various times,

10332-501: The end of the 2022 season as Framingham State's most winningest men's program to date. The team's home field is Bowditch Field in Framingham, Massachusetts. On October 9, 1972, the football team played its first game against the Boston State College Warriors at Bowditch Field in Framingham, Massachusetts. Framingham State won 23–0. On September 10, 1982, the football team played its first "home" game against

10455-399: The end of the 2022 season. The teams home field is Maple Street Field in Framingham, Massachusetts. Accomplishments The Framingham State women's soccer team began play in 1982 and has an overall record of 308-347-32 (.471), 99-100-15 (.497) in MASCAC conference play as of the end of the 2022 season. The teams home field is Maple Street Field in Framingham, Massachusetts. On May 26, 2008,

10578-704: The end of the 2022–23 season. The teams home court is the Logan Gymnasium in Framingham, Massachusetts. In 1984 Mark VanValkenburg was selected as a member of the first team of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division III All America selections. On November 28, 2022, the Framingham State Rams (2-5 overall, 0–0 in MASCAC play) took on the Bryant University Bulldogs of NCAA Division I's America East Conference (6-1 overall, 0–0 in America East play) in

10701-622: The end of the 2022–23 season. The teams home rink is Loring Ice Arena in Framingham, Massachusetts. On February 26, 2022, the 7th seeded Framingham State Rams (3–21–1 overall, 1–16–1 in MASCAC play) upset the 2nd seeded Fitchburg State Falcons (17–6–1 overall, 14–3–1 in MASCAC play) at the Wallace Civic Center in Fitchburg, Massachusetts , on a 1–0 overtime win in the MASCAC Men's Hockey Tournament quarterfinal game with

10824-728: The ewe require help to survive, such as bottle-feeding or fostering by another ewe. Most lambs begin life being born outdoors. After lambs are several weeks old, lamb marking ( ear tagging , docking , mulesing , and castrating ) is carried out. Vaccinations are usually carried out at this point as well. Ear tags with numbers are attached, or ear marks are applied, for ease of later identification of sheep. Docking and castration are commonly done after 24 hours (to avoid interference with maternal bonding and consumption of colostrum) and are often done not later than one week after birth, to minimize pain, stress, recovery time and complications. The first course of vaccinations (commonly anti-clostridial)

10947-403: The extremely destructive condition of flystrike . Flies lay their eggs in wounds or wet, manure-soiled wool; when the maggots hatch they burrow into a sheep's flesh, eventually causing death if untreated. In addition to other treatments, crutching (shearing wool from a sheep's rump) is a common preventive method. Some countries allow mulesing , a practice that involves stripping away the skin on

11070-418: The face, and some have facial wool (if any) confined to the poll and or the area of the mandibular angle; the wide angles of peripheral vision apply to these breeds. A few breeds tend to have considerable wool on the face; for some individuals of these breeds, peripheral vision may be greatly reduced by "wool blindness", unless recently shorn about the face. Sheep have poor depth perception ; shadows and dips in

11193-502: The farm. In some developed countries, including the United States, sheep lack the economic importance for drug companies to perform expensive clinical trials required to approve more than a relatively limited number of drugs for ovine use. However, extra-label drug use in sheep production is permitted in many jurisdictions, subject to certain restrictions. In the US, for example, regulations governing extra-label drug use in animals are found in 21 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 530. In

11316-862: The first animals to be domesticated by humankind (although the domestication of dogs probably took place 10 to 20 thousand years earlier); the domestication date is estimated to fall between 11,000 and 9000 BC in Mesopotamia and possibly around 7000 BC in Mehrgarh in the Indus Valley. The rearing of sheep for secondary products, and the resulting breed development, began in either southwest Asia or western Europe. Initially, sheep were kept solely for meat, milk and skins. Archaeological evidence from statuary found at sites in Iran suggests that selection for woolly sheep may have begun around 6000 BC, and

11439-470: The first time ever in program and school history. The Rams are scheduled to play the first game of the 13th annual D3hoops.com Classic with the Westminster College (Missouri) Blue Jays on December 27, 2023, at 9:00 PM EST, and the nationally ranked Trinity University (Texas) Tigers on December 29, 2023, at 3:00 PM EST. All games of the classic will be streamed live on team1sports.com with

11562-414: The goal should not have been given because the ball went through the side netting rather than the goal post. Reynolds told his squad to alert the referees to the mistake, and after some discussion, they decided to uphold the decision, giving the Rams a 1–0 lead. By telling his squad to enable Bridgewater State to score and tie the score at 1 again in the ensuing minute of play, Reynolds attempted to right

11685-529: The ground may cause sheep to baulk. In general, sheep have a tendency to move out of the dark and into well-lit areas, and prefer to move uphill when disturbed. Sheep also have an excellent sense of smell, and, like all species of their genus, have scent glands just in front of the eyes, and interdigitally on the feet. The purpose of these glands is uncertain, but those on the face may be used in breeding behaviors. The foot glands might also be related to reproduction, but alternative functions, such as secretion of

11808-537: The health and productivity of the animal. For this reason, domestic sheep on normal pasture begin to slowly decline from four years on, and the life expectancy of a sheep is 10 to 12 years, though some sheep may live as long as 20 years. Sheep have good hearing, and are sensitive to noise when being handled. Sheep have horizontal slit-shaped pupils, with excellent peripheral vision ; with visual fields of about 270° to 320°, sheep can see behind themselves without turning their heads. Many breeds have only short hair on

11931-451: The hoof, such as foot rot and foot scald may occur, and are treated with footbaths and other remedies. Foot rot is present in over 97% of flocks in the UK. These painful conditions cause lameness and hinder feeding. Ovine Johne's disease is a wasting disease that affects young sheep. Bluetongue disease is an insect-borne illness causing fever and inflammation of the mucous membranes . Ovine rinderpest (or peste des petits ruminants )

12054-439: The injustice. Sheep Ovis guineensis Linnaeus, 1758 Ovis strepsiceros Linnaeus, 1758 Sheep ( pl. : sheep) or domestic sheep ( Ovis aries ) are a domesticated , ruminant mammal typically kept as livestock . Although the term sheep can apply to other species in the genus Ovis , in everyday usage it almost always refers to domesticated sheep. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of

12177-642: The link coming from D3hoops.com. Accomplishments The Framingham State cheerleading team was formed in 1997 as a club team. In 2022 The Framingham State cheerleading team won their first national championship by taking first place in the Division III small coed Finals at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) Collegiate National Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida . The program had previously participated in

12300-429: The margins of the sheep industry. Those that remain are maintained through the efforts of conservation organizations, breed registries, and individual farmers dedicated to their preservation. Sheep are herbivorous . Most breeds prefer to graze on grass and other short roughage , avoiding the taller woody parts of plants that goats readily consume. Both sheep and goats use their lips and tongues to select parts of

12423-445: The measurements were limited by wool, although photographs of the experiments indicate that only limited facial wool regrowth had occurred since shearing. In addition to facial wool (in some breeds), visual field limitations can include ears and (in some breeds) horns, so the visual field can be extended by tilting the head. Sheep eyes exhibit very low hyperopia and little astigmatism . Such visual characteristics are likely to produce

12546-557: The only species of mammal except for humans which exhibit exclusive homosexual behavior . About 10% of rams refuse to mate with ewes but readily mate with other rams, and thirty percent of all rams demonstrate at least some homosexual behavior. Additionally, a small number of females that were accompanied by a male fetus in utero (i.e. as fraternal twins ) are freemartins (female animals that are behaviorally masculine and lack functioning ovaries ). Sheep may fall victim to poisons, infectious diseases , and physical injuries. As

12669-400: The overtime game-winning goal scored by freshman forward Kaleb Kinskey on a power play goal with 12 minutes and 48 seconds to go in the first overtime period. After the overtime goal the Framingham State ice hockey team and fans were celebrating on the glass when all of a sudden the glass broke after a Framingham State player jumped on to the glass while celebrating. This moment was featured on

12792-415: The plant that are easier to digest or higher in nutrition. Sheep, however, graze well in monoculture pastures where most goats fare poorly. Like all ruminants, sheep have a complex digestive system composed of four chambers, allowing them to break down cellulose from stems, leaves, and seed hulls into simpler carbohydrates . When sheep graze , vegetation is chewed into a mass called a bolus , which

12915-638: The position of other sheep in the flock. This constant monitoring is probably what keeps the sheep in a flock as they move along grazing. Sheep become stressed when isolated; this stress is reduced if they are provided with a mirror, indicating that the sight of other sheep reduces stress. Taste is the most important sense in sheep, establishing forage preferences, with sweet and sour plants being preferred and bitter plants being more commonly rejected. Touch and sight are also important in relation to specific plant characteristics, such as succulence and growth form. The ram uses his vomeronasal organ (sometimes called

13038-421: The productivity of flocks. Worms are the most common internal parasites. They are ingested during grazing, incubate within the sheep, and are expelled through the digestive system (beginning the cycle again). Oral anti-parasitic medicines, known as drenches , are given to a flock to treat worms, sometimes after worm eggs in the feces has been counted to assess infestation levels. Afterwards, sheep may be moved to

13161-403: The ram during courting; somewhat similar rumbling sounds may be made by the ewe, especially when with her neonate lambs. A snort (explosive exhalation through the nostrils) may signal aggression or a warning, and is often elicited from startled sheep. In sheep breeds lacking facial wool, the visual field is wide. In 10 sheep (Cambridge, Lleyn and Welsh Mountain breeds, which lack facial wool),

13284-482: The rams football program as head coach for 13 years from 2007 until 2020 going 107–59–1 (.643) in his second head coaching stint. In his second stint he won 9 MASCAC regular season championships, won 4 bowl games, and took the rams to 5 NCAA Division III Football Championship appearances. He currently serves as the athletic director at Framingham State University. On April 30, 2022, the Seattle Seahawks of

13407-425: The rumen, feed passes into the reticulum and the omasum ; special feeds such as grains may bypass the rumen altogether. After the first three chambers, food moves into the abomasum for final digestion before processing by the intestines . The abomasum is the only one of the four chambers analogous to the human stomach, and is sometimes called the "true stomach". Other than forage, the other staple feed for sheep

13530-469: The rump to prevent fly-strike, normally performed when the sheep is a lamb. Nose bots are fly larvae that inhabit a sheep's sinuses , causing breathing difficulties and discomfort. Common signs are a discharge from the nasal passage, sneezing, and frantic movement such as head shaking. External parasites may be controlled through the use of backliners , sprays or immersive sheep dips . A wide array of bacterial and viral diseases affect sheep. Diseases of

13653-449: The same species or a group for which geographical and/or cultural separation from phenotypically similar groups has led to acceptance of its separate identity." Almost all sheep are classified as being best suited to furnishing a certain product: wool, meat, milk, hides, or a combination in a dual-purpose breed. Other features used when classifying sheep include face color (generally white or black), tail length, presence or lack of horns, and

13776-454: The school, which had been all female up until 1964, added its first male athletics team. In one of the logos it shows a ram running down a hill, which represents the 282 foot (86 meter) high Bare Hill, where Framingham State University sits atop. The mascot's name is Sam the Ram. The Framingham State Rams Baseball team began play in 1969 and has an overall record of 725-830-3 (.466) as of the end of

13899-625: The second seeded Framingham State Rams (11–7 overall, 6–1 in MASCAC conference play) won their first ever MASCAC tournament championship at home against the fourth seeded Bridgewater State Bears (10–9 overall, 4–3 in MASCAC conference play) by a score of 18–10, after heavy favorites, the number one seed Westfield State Owls (12-6 overall, 7–0 in MASCAC conference play), got upset in the MASCAC quarterfinals by Bridgewater State 14-13 two days prior on May 5, 2022. The Rams were led by first-year head coach Devyne Doran, and MASCAC tournament MVP, sophomore midfielder Rachel Erickson. The Rams were selected into

14022-442: The sheep has 20 teeth. Mature sheep have 32 teeth. As with other ruminants, the front teeth in the lower jaw bite against a hard, toothless pad in the upper jaw. These are used to pick off vegetation, then the rear teeth grind it before it is swallowed. There are eight lower front teeth in ruminants, but there is some disagreement as to whether these are eight incisors , or six incisors and two incisor-shaped canines . This means that

14145-499: The small all-girl division since they began participating in Daytona Beach in 1997; this was their first time competing in the small coed division. Accomplishments On September 30, 2023, The Framingham State Rams men's and women's cross country team hosted the first ever Ram's Invitational at the Warren Conference Center and Inn in Ashland , Massachusetts . Framingham State hosted the Massachusetts Maritime Buccaneers and

14268-595: The southern and central South American nations, and the British Isles are most closely associated with sheep production. There is a large lexicon of unique terms for sheep husbandry which vary considerably by region and dialect . Use of the word sheep began in Middle English as a derivation of the Old English word scēap . A group of sheep is called a flock. Many other specific terms for

14391-489: The various life stages of sheep exist, generally related to lambing, shearing, and age. As a key animal in the history of farming, sheep have a deeply entrenched place in human culture, and are represented in much modern language and symbolism . As livestock, sheep are most often associated with pastoral , Arcadian imagery. Sheep figure in many mythologies —such as the Golden Fleece —and major religions, especially

14514-411: The visual field ranged from 298° to 325°, averaging 313.1°, with binocular overlap ranging from 44.5° to 74°, averaging 61.7°. In some breeds, unshorn facial wool can limit the visual field; in some individuals, this may be enough to cause "wool blindness". In 60 Merinos, visual fields ranged from 219.1° to 303.0°, averaging 269.9°, and the binocular field ranged from 8.9° to 77.7°, averaging 47.5°; 36% of

14637-830: The way for invasive plants. However, sheep also prefer to eat invasives such as cheatgrass , leafy spurge , kudzu and spotted knapweed over native species such as sagebrush , making grazing sheep effective for conservation grazing . Research conducted in Imperial County, California compared lamb grazing with herbicides for weed control in seedling alfalfa fields. Three trials demonstrated that grazing lambs were just as effective as herbicides in controlling winter weeds. Entomologists also compared grazing lambs to insecticides for insect control in winter alfalfa. In this trial, lambs provided insect control as effectively as insecticides. Sheep are flock animals and strongly gregarious; much sheep behavior can be understood on

14760-502: The winning team receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament , similar to the end-of-season tournaments held by conventional athletic conferences. The Division I ECAC tournaments were discontinued after all participating schools joined conferences of their own during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The ECAC also held combined Division II/III regional end-of- season tournaments from 1973 to 1980 and

14883-551: The women's soccer team was presented with the 2007-08 NCAA Sportsmanship Award by the NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct, for their actions on October 29, 2006, during a MASCAC match against the Bridgewater State College Bears . Freshman forward Kellen Dougherty, who scored a contentious goal in the 59th minute, immediately informed the bench and head coach Tucker Reynolds that

15006-421: Was confirmed in "visual cliff" experiments; behavioral responses indicating depth perception are seen in lambs at one day old. Sheep are thought to have colour vision, and can distinguish between a variety of colours: black, red, brown, green, yellow, and white. Sight is a vital part of sheep communication, and when grazing, they maintain visual contact with each other. Each sheep lifts its head upwards to check

15129-423: Was the programs first ever win against a top 25 opponent. Second this game was a rematch of the 2022 NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament first round. Lastly junior center, Flannery O'Connor scored her 1,000th point making her the 14th Ram in program history to score 1,000 points. On December 11, 2022, the Rams appeared in the D3hoops.com women's basketball poll for the first time ever receiving 2 votes in

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