Sheep, goats, and cattle are ungulates, ‘hooved’ animals that are members of the Order Artiodactyla (animals with cloven hooves), suborder Ruminatia (ruminants or cud-chewing animals) and Family Bovidae. References provided at the end of this chapter and noted in the text offer more information to the interested reader. One chapter is simply not adequate, however, to address the many details and complexities of biology, management, and diseases of these species. This chapter addresses basic biology, husbandry, and the more common or important diseases of the three ruminant species used most commonly in the laboratory, namely sheep, goats, and cattle. Concern and interest for the welfare for these species and improved understanding of their biology and behavior have continued and are reflected in changing husbandry and management systems. Although ruminants have continued in their traditional agricultural research role, they are now extensively used for studies in molecular biology, genetic engineering and biotechnology for basic science, agricultural, and clinical applications. Formerly large animals were used primarily for agricultural research or as models of human diseases.
Since the first edition of this book, the use of ruminants as research subjects has changed dramatically.
