document_title: Lethal Weapon (TV series)

question_text: who plays murtaugh's wife on lethal weapon

question_tokens: who plays murtaugh 's wife on lethal weapon

text: Lethal Weapon (TV series)

text: Synopsis[edit]

text: Roger Murtaugh, an aging detective with a wife and three children, is partnered with Martin Riggs, a younger, somewhat unstable detective whose wife and unborn child were recently murdered. While Riggs' devil-may-care methods of collaring criminals puts his and Murtaugh's lives in danger on a regular basis, the two are able to develop a respect and friendship.

text: Cast and characters[edit]

text: Main[edit]

text:
Damon Wayans as Roger Murtaugh, a senior Los Angeles Police Department Detective who returns to the force after recovering from a heart attack and is partnered with Texas transfer Martin Riggs. He is married with three children (two teenagers and a toddler). He is a native of Inglewood, California, and currently resides in Sherman Oaks. He carries a Heckler & Koch USP as his duty weapon, in early episodes, and later switches to a Glock. In "Family Ties", Murtaugh is promoted to Captain after Avery decides to step down in order to run for office. He was originally played by Danny Glover in the film series.
Clayne Crawford as Martin Riggs (seasons 1–2), a Navy SEAL-turned-police officer from El Paso, Texas. He moves to Los Angeles after the death of his wife and unborn child, transferring from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office to the LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division. Riggs lives in a trailer on the beach, drives a 1977 Ford F-350, and his weapon of choice is the Beretta 92F, much similar to his movie counterpart. He was originally played by Mel Gibson in the film series.
Seann William Scott (season 3)
Jordana Brewster as Dr. Maureen Cahill, the police department's psychologist who treats Det. Riggs (and occasionally Det. Murtaugh). Although sometimes she is referred to as a psychiatrist and prescribes drugs (for example in "Better Living Through Chemistry"). The character is based on Dr. Stephanie Woods played by Mary Ellen Trainor in the film series.
Keesha Sharp as Trish Murtaugh, Det. Murtaugh's loving wife and mother of his three children who works as a defense attorney. In the season one episode "As Good As It Getz", Trish quits her job after being passed over for managing partner at her law firm. She was originally played by Darlene Love in the film series.
Kevin Rahm as Captain Brooks Avery (seasons 1–2), the Commanding Officer of Robbery-Homicide Division. Before his promotion, Capt. Avery was partners with Det. Murtaugh. In "Lawmen", it is revealed that years ago he and a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) planted evidence to convict a murderer after previous evidence was excluded from trial; he was prepared to resign over the incident when it came to light, but Murtaugh convinced him to stay because if his impropriety was revealed it would mean that all of Avery's cases (many of which he worked with Murtaugh) would be reviewed if not overturned entirely. In "Family Ties", he decides to retire from the force in order to run for office. The character is based on Captain Ed Murphy played by Steve Kahan in the film series.
Johnathan Fernandez as Bernard Scorsese, a medical examiner, forensic scientist and aspiring screenwriter who works alongside Dets. Murtaugh and Riggs.
Michelle Mitchenor as Detective Sonya Bailey, a fellow detective with Robbery-Homicide Division. She is partnered with Det. Alex Cruz during the first season and Det. Zach Bowman during the second season.
Chandler Kinney as Riana Murtaugh, Det. Murtaugh's teenage daughter. The character is based on Rianne Murtaugh, played by Traci Wolfe in the film series.
Dante Brown as Roger "RJ" Murtaugh Jr., Det. Murtaugh's teenage son. He graduated from high school at the end of season 1 and briefly attended college before dropping out during season 2. The character is based on Nick Murtaugh, played by Damon Hines in the film series.

text: Recurring[edit]

text:
Thomas Lennon as Leo Getz, a comedic ambulance-chasing lawyer who once worked in the District Attorney's office before being fired. He befriends Murtaugh (and to a lesser extent, Riggs) after he witnesses a client's murder, and is put under their protection. His friendship with the duo is strengthened in the second-season episode "Let it Ride" where he works with them again and Murtaugh assures Leo that they don't have to be on a case to be friends. Getz is partially inspired by the character of the same name played by Joe Pesci in the film series.
Hilarie Burton as Karen Palmer (seasons 1–2), a DEA agent who sometimes works with Riggs and Murtaugh on drug trafficking cases, and is also Riggs' love interest. The two break up early in season 2.
Floriana Lima as Miranda Riggs (née Delgado) (seasons 1–2), Det. Riggs' late wife, who is seen in flashbacks. Originally from the Los Angeles area, she moved to Texas when she married Riggs, and after her death, he moved to LA and joined the LAPD. The character is based on Victoria Riggs from the film series, although she was never seen as she had already died before the events of the first film.
Richard Cabral as Detective Alejandro "Alex" Cruz (season 1), formerly an undercover officer with the LAPD's Gang Division who once worked at the Robbery-Homicide Division.
Tony Plana as Ronnie Delgado (seasons 1–2), the Los Angeles City Attorney and Det. Riggs' father-in-law. He is stabbed in prison in the Season 2 episode "Diggin' Up Dirt", and dies in the hospital.
Andrew Patrick Ralston as Jim McNeile, a dentist and neighbor of the Murtaughs.
Michelle Hurd as Gina Santos (season 2), a police big shot who arrives to take control of the division as chief, superseding the authority of Captain Avery. She and Murtaugh had previously partnered as detectives on a stakeout.
Andrew Creer as Detective Zach Bowman (season 2), a young detective who starts working at the precinct. He is soon partnered with Bailey. Leo Getz condescendingly calls them "The B-team", which the naïve Bowman thinks is because their last names both start with "B".
Kristen Gutoskie as Molly Hendricks (season 2), Riggs' childhood friend and the ex-wife of his old best friend Jake, who has been in and out of prison. Riggs and Molly have a brief relationship that Riggs ends when he sees his work is putting Molly and her son in danger. They later are able to reconcile.
Rex Linn as Nathan Riggs (season 2), Martin Riggs' abusive father.
Chase Mangum as Young Martin Riggs (season 2)
Sophia Woodward as Young Molly Hendricks (season 2)
Duncan Joiner as Ben (season 2), Molly's son via her ex-husband Jake.
Peter Coventry Smith as Garrett Riggs (season 2), Riggs' half-brother.

text: Episodes[edit]

text: Series overview[edit]

text:
Season
Episodes
Originally aired
Average U.S. viewers
(millions)

First aired
Last aired

1
18
September 21, 2016 (2016-09-21)
March 15, 2017 (2017-03-15)
6.54

2
22
September 26, 2017 (2017-09-26)
May 8, 2018 (2018-05-08)
4.11

text: Season 1 (2016–17)[edit]

text:
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
Prod.
code
U.S. viewers
(millions)

1
1
"Pilot"
McG
Story by : Matt Miller & Shane Black
Teleplay by : Matt Miller
September 21, 2016 (2016-09-21)
T15.10138
7.93[4]

A slightly unhinged widower and former Navy SEAL lands a job as a police officer in Los Angeles where he is partnered with a veteran detective who is trying to maintain a low stress level in his life.

2
2
"Surf N Turf"
McG
Matt Miller
September 28, 2016 (2016-09-28)
T13.20102
7.23[5]

Murtaugh and Riggs are sent to deal with a noise complaint at a party. And when they arrive there are shots fired. They chase the shooter only he was killed. They go back to the Captain who is with an ATF agent who tells them the weapon that was used is strictly for military use, which means someone got their hands on some and are trying to sell it. Riggs upon looking over what happened doesn't think the one who was killed is the target. They think it's someone else, a woman. They track her down and learn she's from Russia and pregnant. She tells them that a few months ago she got involved with a guy and she caught him trying to unload the guns and when he saw her, he tried to kill her that's why she ran. And evidently, the shooter was there to sell the gun when he saw her and told probably the guy she was there, who told him to take care of her. They put her in protective custody while they try to find out were the guns came from. Murtaugh finally learns about Riggs and his wife.

3
3
"Best Buds"
Steve Boyum
Gene Hong
October 5, 2016 (2016-10-05)
T13.20103
6.62[6]

Riggs and Murtaugh follow a violent case involving a drug cartel, theft, two killings and, unfortunately, Murtaugh's old T.O., Ned Brower. As the case unfolds, it turns out that Ned is more involved than just driving the cash, which leaves Murtaugh with an inevitably dangerous decision to make. Looking for back-up, the duo turns to Cruz for help. In the midst of all the chaos, Riggs continues to depend on outside vices, rather than face the reality of Miranda's death, while Murtaugh and Trish struggle to find alone time. Miranda Riggs appears as a vision to Riggs early in the episode and at the very end he remembers walking up to her parents home with her for the first time.

4
4
"There Goes the Neighborhood"
Jason Ensler
Adele Lim
October 12, 2016 (2016-10-12)
T13.20104
6.84[7]

A string of burglaries hits close to home for Murtaugh when one occurs in his own neighborhood, and it gets just as personal for Riggs when another break-in ends in a casualty. Meanwhile, Roger Junior connects with an old friend who might be twisted up in some criminal action of his own.

5
5
"Spilt Milk"
Larry Teng
Seamus Kevin Fahey
October 19, 2016 (2016-10-19)
T13.20105
6.66[8]

Murtaugh delves deep into the psyche of a former navy seal who is wanted for criminal activity, and draws parallels between him and his partner, Riggs, who also served in the military. Riggs' connection to the suspect threatens to interfere with the case, but it also forces him to open up to Murtaugh.

6
6
"Ties That Bind"
Antonio Negret
Erik Mountain
November 9, 2016 (2016-11-09)
T13.20106
7.02[9]

When Riggs and Murtaugh investigate a high-profile case surrounding the murder of a young model, they uncover a vicious secret behind the locked mansion gates of one of LA's wealthiest families. Riggs gets a jolt from his past when he discovers that an old friend of his wife has ties to the case. Back at home, Murtaugh is shocked to hear that his daughter is sending provocative photos to her new boyfriend.

7
7
"Fashion Police"
Rob Seidenglanz
Kyle Warren
November 16, 2016 (2016-11-16)
T13.20107
6.60[10]

As Riggs and Murtaugh examine the murder of one of L.A.'s fashion expeditors, they follow a trail of evidence that leads them to an ongoing and exceptionally dangerous underground investigation led by the DEA agent Karen Palmer (Hilarie Burton). In the meantime, Trish and the kids are off visiting colleges, leaving Murtaugh to a "bender" of his own, while Riggs has trouble sleeping through the night due to his all-too-real dreams of Miranda.

8
8
"Can I Get a Witness?"
Jason Ensler
Amanda Green
November 30, 2016 (2016-11-30)
T13.20108
6.43[11]

When a million dollar casino heist takes a deadly turn, Riggs befriends the only credible witness, an eight-year-old boy, and takes him into his care. On the flip side, Murtaugh pulls some dangerous stunts in an attempt to prove to everyone that he can be a motorcycle guy. Meanwhile, Riggs contemplates what to do with the money he received from selling his home in Texas.

9
9
"Jingle Bell Glock"
Steve Boyum
Joe Smith
December 7, 2016 (2016-12-07)
T13.20110
6.26[12]

The whole precinct's holiday celebrations are cut short when they're called to examine a ruthless homicide linked to Eddie Flores (Raul Casso), the deranged nephew of a notable drug lord who has a previous history with Riggs. The holiday season weighs heavily on Riggs, who flashes back to past Christmas with his former wife, Miranda. Murtaugh is also a little preoccupied with his neighbor's obnoxious holiday decorations.

10
10
"Homebodies"
Michael Fields
Alex Taub
January 4, 2017 (2017-01-04)
T13.20111
6.30[13]

Riggs and Murtaugh end up in the middle of a turf war as they investigate the murder of a millennial "designer drug" dealer.

11
11
"Lawmen"
Sylvain White
Andy Callahan
January 11, 2017 (2017-01-11)
T13.20109
6.48[14]

Riggs and Murtaugh are pitted against the LA Sheriff’s department.

12
12
"Brotherly Love"
Uta Briesewitz
Stacy A. Littlejohn
January 18, 2017 (2017-01-18)
T13.20112
6.29[15]

Riggs and Murtaugh get involved with a notorious auto theft ring after a car containing a large amount of cocaine is stolen from the impound lot.

13
13
"The Seal is Broken"
Nathan Hope
Adele Lim & Gene Hong
January 25, 2017 (2017-01-25)
T13.20113
6.28[16]

Riggs and Murtaugh investigate a series of violent crimes targeting members of the same church; the anniversary of Miranda's death weighs on Riggs; Trish and Roger butt heads with R.J.

14
14
"The Murtaugh File"
Matt Barber
Seamus Kevin Fahey
February 8, 2017 (2017-02-08)
T13.20114
6.25[17]

A car crash reveals that Cahill is the target of a murderous stalker; Riggs finds Murtaugh's file in Cahill's office and becomes obsessed with finding out about his past; Roger and Trish discover their daughter has a fake ID.

15
15
"As Good As It Getz"
Nick Copus
Rob Wright
February 15, 2017 (2017-02-15)
T13.20115
6.37[18]

Riggs and Murtaugh are forced to work with DEA agent Karen Palmer again, to protect Leo Getz, an ambulance-chasing attorney who was linked to the Cartel. As the three delve further into the case, they begin to realize that Leo may not be the only one with a target on his back. In the meantime, Riggs begins to view Agent Palmer in a new light while Murtaugh is left worried after Trish makes a spontaneous decision.

16
16
"Unnecessary Roughness"
Bethany Rooney
Laura Putney & Margaret Easley
February 22, 2017 (2017-02-22)
T13.20116
6.26[19]

A murder involving a high school football phenomenon draws Riggs and Murtaugh into the lucrative - and corrupt - world of college recruiting. Meanwhile, Murtaugh considers a big change in his professional life, and Riggs contemplates an even bigger shift in his personal life, as he spends more time with DEA Agent Karen Palmer.

17
17
"A Problem Like Maria"
Rob Bailey
Alex Taub
March 8, 2017 (2017-03-08)
T13.20117
5.93[20]

Riggs and Murtaugh team up again with DEA Agent Karen Palmer, and together they gain inside knowledge of dangerous new cartel operations. As Riggs' attachment to Palmer deepens, so do his impulsive actions, further worrying Captain Avery and Delgado. In the meantime, Trish explores the potential of an amazing new career opportunity.

18
18
"Commencement"
Steve Boyum
Matt Miller & Kyle Warren
March 15, 2017 (2017-03-15)
T13.20118
6.02[21]

After making a startling discovery that pertains to Miranda's death, Riggs heads to Mexico and the cartel in search of answers. Worried about Riggs, Murtaugh is seen driving into the night to Mexico.

text: Season 2 (2017–18)[edit]

text:
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
Prod.
code
U.S. viewers
(millions)

19
1
"El Gringo Loco"
Steve Boyum
Matt Miller & Kyle Warren
September 26, 2017 (2017-09-26)
T13.20701
4.37[22]

Murtaugh intercepts Riggs just as he is preparing to shoot and kill Tito Flores, the drug lord responsible for Miranda's death. He convinces Riggs to bring Tito back to the U.S. alive, in the trunk of Murtaugh's car. When they prepare to turn Tito over to U.S. authorities, however, they open the trunk and discover Tito has been shot in the head and killed.

20
2
"Dancing in September"
Rob Bailey
Alex Taub
October 3, 2017 (2017-10-03)
T13.20702
4.10[23]

Riggs and Murtaugh respond to the death of a plastic surgeon, drawing them into a case involving an illegal drug ring run out of a wellness clinic. The case has Riggs reconnecting with Agent Karen Palmer, who has been given desk work at the DEA ever since she leaked the Tito Flores file to Riggs. Karen, blind-sided by her greed to get out of the desk work, hijacks the investigation by interfering with Riggs job only to realize that she is not as efficient as she thinks she is. Begrudgingly, she blames Riggs for it. Riggs, knowing her ego, says he is sorry even though he knows that it was not his fault. Elsewhere, RJ is packing for college and seems reluctant to live on campus, until he learns that his dorm building is co-ed, which then has dad and mom concerned.

21
3
"Born to Run"
Nathan Hope
Stacy A. Littlejohn
October 10, 2017 (2017-10-10)
T13.20703
3.89[24]

Riggs and Murtaugh, along with young detective Zach Bowman (Andrew Creer), investigate when the bodyguard of famous pop singer Shaye (Joanna Levesque) is murdered. The detectives uncover a secret relationship between Shaye and the bodyguard, along with an even bigger secret in Shaye's past. Meanwhile, Riggs and Palmer struggle to find normalcy in their relationship.

22
4
"Flight Risk"
Omar Madha
Seamus Kevin Fahey
October 17, 2017 (2017-10-17)
T13.20704
3.79[25]

A lifelong con man (Adrian Pasdar) robs the passengers on a private plane at gunpoint while it is airborne, then leaps out with a parachute, taking a victim with him. Riggs and Murtaugh learn that the con man is dying and wanted one last haul to help his daughter after he's gone, but one stolen item (a briefcase full of uncut diamonds) has attracted a group of violent criminals. Meanwhile, Santos questions Avery's ability to lead, given his top detectives' penchant for danger.

23
5
"Let it Ride"
Eric Laneuville
Rob Wright
Story by Bryce Dallas Howard
November 7, 2017 (2017-11-07)
T13.20705
4.06[26]

Riggs and Murtaugh investigate a death that occurs moments before the victim's bet wins a horse race. The victim is Howard, a friend of Leo Getz. While it appears that Howard had a stroke, Getz is convinced it's murder, which Scorcese later proves to be true. Meanwhile, the city tows Riggs' trailer off the beach, bringing back painful childhood memories of being evicted.

24
6
"Gold Rush"
Steve Boyum
Terence Paul Winter
November 14, 2017 (2017-11-14)
T13.20706
3.84[27]

Riggs helps his childhood friend Jake (Linds Edwards) get paroled from prison, but it soon becomes apparent that Jake is up to no good again. Noticing that Riggs gives Jake a lot of leeway, Murtaugh asks his partner if he owes his old pal a favor. Elsewhere, Murtaugh tries to find out which of his family members left a marijuana joint in a package of cookies, while Bailey gives Bowman a hard time just because he rejected her after she accidentally sent him a sext.

25
7
"Birdwatching"
Salli Richardson-Whitfield
Elizabeth Davis Beall
November 21, 2017 (2017-11-21)
T13.20707
3.86[28]

Riggs and Murtaugh work on the case of a dead surfer who just came into town from San Diego the day before. Bailey and Bowman help, and Bailey wonders why Bowman is treated like a hero in the beach town. Meanwhile, Murtaugh becomes suspicious of Trish's relationship with her charity ball co-chair "Scott", until he learns it is ex-NBA star Scottie Pippen. Also, Riggs deals with recurring nightmares.

26
8
"Fork-Getta-Bout-It"
Matt Barber
Michael C. Martin & Joe Smith
November 28, 2017 (2017-11-28)
T13.20708
4.89[29]

Riggs and Murtaugh investigate a murder involving a couple and a New York mobster, Frank Truno. Scorsese reveals a movie script he has been writing, after he found out that the case revolves around the mafia. However, Murtaugh dislikes the way Scorsese accurately portrays him as one of the characters. Meanwhile, Riggs is taken aback when his childhood friend Molly (Kristen Gutoskie) suggests that they could have been romantically involved.

27
9
"Fools Rush In"
Eric Laneuville
Kyle Warren & Eileen Jones
December 5, 2017 (2017-12-05)
T13.20709
4.50[30]

Jonah (Derek Richardson), a man with schizophrenia who believes that Elvis Presley is alive and controlling Hollywood's traffic, is running away from Riggs and Murtaugh after being suspected of murder. However, when he proves his theory, Riggs and Murtaugh must stop an organized heist conducted by men dressing as Presley. At the same time, Murtaugh tries to get his daughter into at an esteemed pre-school and Riggs gets scared when his relationship with Molly becomes romantic.

28
10
"Wreck the Halls"
Steve Boyum
Katie Varney
December 12, 2017 (2017-12-12)
T13.20710
4.08[31]

Murtaugh is ready for his family holiday in Hawaii until Diego, a young man he once helped, is murdered. Riggs and Murtaugh confront Grant Davenport (Martin Donovan), the president of an American upper class club where Diego was employed, who has ties to the Aryan fraternity. However, their confrontation causes the fraternity to ambush both of them. Murtaugh manages to subdue his attackers, but Riggs is only able to escape because of his father's assistance.

29
11
"Funny Money"
Nathan Hope
Alex Taub
January 2, 2018 (2018-01-02)
T13.20711
4.55[32]

Riggs and Murtaugh take on a counterfeiting ring and are joined on the case by veteran Secret Service Agent Peterson (Ernie Hudson). A group of three teenagers inadvertently get involved when they witness a shooting and run off with the phony cash and plates. One of the teenagers named Ty (Nathan Davis Jr.) strikes a chord with Riggs after revealing he's homeless. Meanwhile, Riggs brings home a dog for Ben and Molly. Molly later finds the dog dead with its neck snapped. Sensing it's a message from his father, Riggs goes to confront him in prison. Also, Roger and Trish learn that RJ has been cutting classes at college.

30
12
"Diggin' Up Dirt"
Maja Vrvilo
Seamus Kevin Fahey & Joe Smith
January 9, 2018 (2018-01-09)
T13.20712
4.26[33]

Shortly after Gene Nakahara (C.S. Lee) meets with Trish and an uninvited Leo Getz to announce he is running against Councilman Sean O'Brien (Michael Reilly Burke) for Mayor of Los Angeles, Gene is killed when his car blows up. Riggs and Murtaugh learn of a private investigator named Serrano (Tim Kang) who works as a "fixer" for high-profile people and investigate that angle, while Trish and Leo work behind the scenes to reveal skeletons in O'Brien's closet. Riggs also learns that his late wife Miranda once visited Serrano to get info on Riggs' father.

31
13
"Better Living Through Chemistry"
Rob Bailey
Zev Borow
January 16, 2018 (2018-01-16)
T13.20713
5.03[34]

Dr. Cahill begins to question her abilities when two patients of hers die in separate incidents, until it is learned that they were briefly roommates in the same psych facility. Riggs and Murtaugh uncover corruption in the facility related to the medications both patients were taking. At the same time, Santos (Michelle Hurd) learns that Riggs had an anger incident caught on tape in which he destroyed the deputy mayor's car, and requests that Cahill sign an affidavit confirming that Riggs is still fit for duty. Elsewhere, Trish and Roger see that RJ has become depressed and withdrawn after dropping out of college, and decide to take their son to a therapist.

32
14
"Double Shot of Baileys"
John Behring
Stacy A. Littlejohn
January 23, 2018 (2018-01-23)
T13.20714
4.55[35]

Detective Bailey's younger sister Jess (Alisha Wainwright) inadvertently gets caught up with a drug mob when she and her boyfriend use her waitress position at a high-end night club to steal a man's wallet. After the boyfriend is killed over the wallet's contents, Bailey walks a thin line between her obligation to the law and protecting her sister. Elsewhere, Murtaugh helps Riana spy on her boyfriend, whom she accuses of cheating, while Riggs loses his truck after a night of heavy drinking.

33
15
"An Inconvenient Ruth"
Larry Teng
Kyle Warren
February 6, 2018 (2018-02-06)
T13.20715
4.35[36]

A elderly drifter named Ruthie (Swoosie Kurtz) is present at a jewelry store robbery, and becomes a key witness in the case. In the process, she and Riggs, who has recently vowed to stay sober, bond over their alcoholism. Meanwhile Murtaugh, fresh off being called "grandpa" at the playground while with his toddler, starts acting like Riggs and takes dangerous risks to prove he's not getting old. This gets him on Trish's bad side.

34
16
"Ruthless"
Silver Tree
Carlos Jacott
February 27, 2018 (2018-02-27)
T13.20716
4.13[37]

Riggs and Murtaugh track a group of criminals who stole numerous guns during a shoot-up at a police buy-back event. They locate and capture the group's leader, Booker (Sheaun McKinney), only to learn that he's working undercover for ATF. Avery learns from Booker's boss that Booker is a bit of a loose cannon, much like Riggs. Meanwhile, Riggs learns a little more about Ruthie's past and family situation, as Roger and Trish continue to fight at home.

35
17
"The Odd Couple"
Larry Teng
Elizabeth Davis Beall & Eileen Jones
March 6, 2018 (2018-03-06)
T13.20717
4.00[38]

With Riggs trying to get Murtaugh to make up with Trish and get out of his trailer, the two only make things worse when they ruin a public building implosion for Trish's latest project. An angry Trish tells the two that her client, grocery store magnate Henry Butler (Michael McGrady), now wants to bail on the project. Riggs convinces Butler to stay in town by inviting him to dinner. Riggs and Murtaugh discover that Butler is the man behind the murder, and Trish eventually also learns that her client is dirty. This leads to a wild adventure when Riggs and Murtagh board Butler's private jet as he's trying to flee. Later on, Riggs confesses that he wants more out of their relationship, but Molly insists that Riggs must first resolve the issues with his father.

36
18
"Frankie Comes to Hollywood"
John Behring
David Fury
April 10, 2018 (2018-04-10)
T13.20718
4.14[39]

About 16 years ago, Frankie Kelso (Jude Ciccolella), a contract killer, decided to show mercy on Murtaugh after the latter tried to arrest him at the scene of a hit. In the present, Murtaugh notices Kelso's signature at the scene of another killing. He captures Kelso, but the latter is able to get the upper hand and take Murtaugh hostage. Kelso insists that he is retired and that someone framed him for the recent crime. Riggs recognizes the name of one of Kelso's mob connections as someone who spent time in prison with his father, Nathan (Rex Linn). Riggs then reluctantly contacts his father to get the information he needs to save Murtaugh. However, his action caused the mobs to declare war on Riggs' father by attacking him in prison.

37
19
"Leo Getz Hitched"
Nick Copus
Rob Wright
April 17, 2018 (2018-04-17)
T13.20719
3.59[40]

Leo is getting married to Nina (Shakira Barrera), an ex-con, but she bails on the day of the wedding. Riggs and Murtaugh find her with a group of criminals trying to unload a bag of cocaine that "fell into" her purse at a high-stakes poker game run by a known mobster. At the same time, Riggs learns that Molly met with her ex-husband Jake, who is still a fugitive, and that Jake was at the same poker game. When Riggs catches up with Jake, the latter reveals he is planning to rob the safe at the poker game with two other conspirators. Elsewhere, Murtaugh is distraught over finding a positive pregnancy test in the trash can outside his home.

38
20
"Jesse's Girl"
Clayne Crawford
Seamus Kevin Fahey & Joe Smith
April 24, 2018 (2018-04-24)
T13.20720
4.28[41]

A break-in at a mansion turns deadly, and Roger and Trish are surprised to learn that Riana may be involved. It turns out that Phoebe, the sister of Riana's new boyfriend Jesse (Daniel DiVenere), is in possession of stolen diamonds from the heist and has become a target. Meanwhile, Riggs tries to be a good father figure for Ben, as he recalls the things he and Molly discussed in their teen years.

39
21
"Family Ties"
Nick Copus
Alex Taub
May 1, 2018 (2018-05-01)
T13.20721
3.09[42]

With Avery away at a conference, Murtaugh is appointed interim captain. His first case involves the kidnapping of Lisa Conlon, wife of a pharmaceutical magnate. Riggs is forced to get his father involved when its revealed that the Aryan Fraternity of Texas (AFT) is behind the crime. In the process, Riggs learns that he has a 19-year-old half-brother, Garrett (Peter Coventry Smith), who is assisting the AFT. In exchange for his help, Riggs' father is let out of prison early. His comments to Riggs suggests that he plotted the whole kidnapping to get an early release. Meanwhile, Commissioner Debra tells Murtaugh that he is being promoted to full-time captain, as Avery will not be returning.

40
22
"One Day More"
Steve Boyum
Matt Miller & Katie Varney
May 8, 2018 (2018-05-08)
T13.20722
3.15[43]

While Murtaugh visits Riggs, the latter's trailer is shot up by two men on motorcycles. The investigation leads back to Grant Davenport where Riggs and Murtaugh discover that Riggs' father is the former's bodyguard. Later on, a suspect tells Riggs that Murtaugh was the target of the shootout and Trish's senior partner in her workplace has been laundering money for the AFT. Riggs' father immediately kidnaps Trish. Riggs and Murtaugh releases Riggs' half-brother to exchange him for Trish. During the exchange, Murtaugh manages to save Trish, Riggs' kills his father and Riggs' half-brother escapes. Afterwards, during a celebration party, Riggs tells Trish that he is moving back to Texas with Molly and Ben. However, during a visit to his wife's grave, Riggs' half-brother shows up and shoots Riggs in the chest.

text: International broadcast[edit]

text: In United Kingdom, ITV started airing the series beginning on March 3, 2017.[44] Its viewing figures remained consistent with around 2.5 million tuning in each week. Series 2 started January 12, 2018. In Australia, the Nine Network[45] premiered the series on January 29, 2017.[46] In the Philippines, it premiered on June 10, 2017 on ABS-CBN[47] and ended on September 9, 2017. Only 14 episodes were aired. In Hong Kong, the TVB Pearl premiered the series with switchable dual-language in original English and local Cantonese version on October 11, 2017. In India, Zee Café premiered the first season on 29 September 2016.[48]

text: Production[edit]

text: The series was ordered on May 10, 2016 and premiered on Fox on September 21, 2016.[1] On October 12, 2016, Fox picked up the series for a full season of 18 episodes.[49] On February 22, 2017, Fox renewed the series for a 22-episode second season, which premiered on September 26, 2017.[50][51][52] On May 13, 2018, the series was renewed for a 13-episode third season, with Seann William Scott replacing Clayne Crawford as the series' lead, playing a new character.[2][53]

text: Casting[edit]

text: On February 12, 2016, Damon Wayans was cast as Roger Murtaugh.[54] On February 19, 2016, Golden Brooks was cast as Trish Murtaugh.[55] On March 3, 2016, Jordana Brewster was cast as Dr. Maureen Cahill.[56] On March 7, 2016, Kevin Rahm was cast as Captain Avery.[57] On March 10, 2016, Clayne Crawford was cast as Martin Riggs.[58] On March 15, 2016, Chandler Kinney was cast as Riana Murtaugh.[59] On March 17, 2016, it was announced that Keesha Sharp would take over the role of Trish Murtaugh from Brooks.[60][61] Also on March 17, Johnathan Fernandez was cast as Scorsese.[61][62] When the pilot was picked up to series, Johnathan Fernandez was made a series regular. Though showrunner Matt Miller has expressed interest in making Leo Getz (Thomas Lennon) a series regular at some point, the character is confirmed to be making frequent guest appearances throughout season two.

text: In May 2018, it was reported that Crawford had been dismissed from the show for on-set behavioral issues, and that the producers were looking to replace him for a potential third season.[3][63] On May 13, 2018, Seann William Scott was cast as the new co-lead ahead of a third season renewal and will be playing a new character.[2][64]

text: Reception[edit]

text: Critical reception[edit]

text: Lethal Weapon has received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported a 65% approval rating, with an average rating of 5.35/10 based on 40 reviews. The consensus says, "Lethal Weapon's overly polished production values and tired narrative are somewhat overcome by solid chemistry between its two leads."[65] On Metacritic, the first season has a weighted average of 56 out of 100 based on 24 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews."[66]

text: Ratings[edit]

text:
Season
Timeslot (ET)
Episodes
First aired
Last aired
TV season
Rank
Avg. viewers
(millions)
18–49 rating
(average)

Date
Viewers
(millions)
Date
Viewers
(millions)

1
Wednesday 8:00 pm
18
September 21, 2016 (2016-09-21)
7.93[4]
March 15, 2017 (2017-03-15)
6.02[21]
2016–17
35
8.63
2.2/8[67]

2
Tuesday 8:00 pm
22
September 26, 2017 (2017-09-26)
4.37[22]
May 8, 2018 (2018-05-08)
3.15[43]
2017–18
90
5.38
1.3[68]

3
Tuesday 9:00 pm
13[53]
September 2018 (2018-09)
TBA
TBA (TBA)
TBA
2018–19
TBD
TBD
TBD

text: Season 1 (2016–17)[edit]

text:
No.
Title
Air date
Rating/share
(18–49)
Viewers
(millions)
DVR
(18–49)
DVR viewers
(millions)
Total
(18–49)
Total viewers
(millions)

1
"Pilot"
September 21, 2016
2.2/8
7.93[4]
1.0
3.16
3.2
11.09[69]

2
"Surf N Turf"
September 28, 2016
2.0/8
7.23[5]
0.8
2.68
2.8
9.91[70]

3
"Best Buds"
October 5, 2016
1.7/6
6.62[6]
0.9
2.62
2.6
9.24[71]

4
"There Goes the Neighborhood"
October 12, 2016
1.9/7
6.84[7]
0.9
N/A
2.8[72]
N/A

5
"Spilt Milk"
October 19, 2016
1.7/6
6.66[8]
0.9
2.81
2.6
9.47[73]

6
"Ties That Bind"
November 9, 2016
1.8/6
7.02[9]
0.8
2.62
2.6
9.64[74]

7
"Fashion Police"
November 16, 2016
1.7/6
6.60[10]
0.8
2.64
2.5
9.25[75]

8
"Can I Get a Witness?"
November 30, 2016
1.6/6
6.43[11]
0.8
2.75
2.4
9.17[76]

9
"Jingle Bell Glock"
December 7, 2016
1.4/5
6.26[12]
0.8
2.75
2.2
9.00[77]

10
"Homebodies"
January 4, 2017
1.5/5
6.30[13]
0.8
2.82
2.3
9.03[78]

11
"Lawmen"
January 11, 2017
1.4/5
6.48[14]
0.7
2.40
2.1
8.88[79]

12
"Brotherly Love"
January 18, 2017
1.4/5
6.29[15]
0.8
2.54
2.2
8.83[80]

13
"The Seal is Broken"
January 25, 2017
1.4/5
6.28[16]
0.8
2.70
2.2
8.98[81]

14
"The Murtaugh File"
February 8, 2017
1.3/5
6.25[17]
N/A
2.44
N/A
8.69[82]

15
"As Good As It Getz"
February 15, 2017
1.4/5
6.37[18]
0.7
2.52
2.1
8.89[83]

16
"Unnecessary Roughness"
February 22, 2017
1.4/5
6.26[19]
0.7
2.57
2.1
8.83[84]

17
"A Problem Like Maria"
March 8, 2017
1.2/5
5.93[20]
0.7
2.36
1.9
8.28[85]

18
"Commencement"
March 15, 2017
1.3/5
6.02[21]
0.7
2.55
2.0
8.57[86]

text: Season 2 (2017–18)[edit]

text:
No.
Title
Air date
Rating/share
(18–49)
Viewers
(millions)
DVR
(18–49)
DVR viewers
(millions)
Total
(18–49)
Total viewers
(millions)

1
"El Gringo Loco"
September 26, 2017
1.2/5
4.37[22]
N/A
2.75
N/A
7.12[87]

2
"Dancing in September"
October 3, 2017
1.1/4
4.10[23]
N/A
2.66
N/A
6.76[88]

3
"Born to Run"
October 10, 2017
1.0/4
3.89[24]
N/A
2.59
N/A
6.48[89]

4
"Flight Risk"
October 17, 2017
0.9/4
3.79[25]
N/A
2.63
N/A
6.42[90]

5
"Let it Ride"
November 7, 2017
1.0/4
4.06[26]
0.7
2.76
1.7
6.81[91]

6
"Gold Rush"
November 14, 2017
1.0/4
3.84[27]
N/A
2.54
N/A
6.40[92]

7
"Birdwatching"
November 21, 2017
1.0/4
3.86[28]
0.6
2.53
1.6
6.39[93]

8
"Fork-Getta-Bout-It"
November 28, 2017
1.0/4
4.89[29]
0.7
2.44
1.7
7.34[94]

9
"Fools Rush In"
December 5, 2017
1.0/4
4.50[30]
0.7
2.45
1.7
6.95[95]

10
"Wreck the Halls"
December 12, 2017
1.0/4
4.08[31]
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

11
"Funny Money"
January 2, 2018
1.1/4
4.55[32]
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

12
"Diggin' Up Dirt"
January 9, 2018
1.0/4
4.26[33]
0.7
2.70
1.7
6.95[96]

13
"Better Living Through Chemistry"
January 16, 2018
1.2/4
5.03[34]
N/A
2.47
N/A
7.50[97]

14
"Double Shot of Baileys"
January 23, 2018
1.2/4
4.55[35]
0.6
2.67
1.8
7.22[98]

15
"An Inconvenient Ruth"
February 6, 2018
1.1/4
4.35[36]
0.7
2.80
1.8
7.15[99]

16
"Ruthless"
February 27, 2018
1.0/4
4.13[37]
N/A
2.68
N/A
6.81[100]

17
"The Odd Couple"
March 6, 2018
0.9/4
4.00[38]
N/A
2.48
N/A
6.48[101]

18
"Frankie Comes to Town"
April 10, 2018
0.9/4
4.14[39]
0.6
2.36
1.5
6.50[102]

19
"Leo Getz Hitched"
April 17, 2018
0.8/3
3.59[40]
0.6
2.44
1.4
6.02[103]

20
"Jesse's Girl"
April 24, 2018
0.9/4
4.28[41]
0.6
2.10
1.5
6.38[104]

21
"Family Ties"
May 1, 2018
0.7/3
3.09[42]
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

22
"One Day More"
May 8, 2018
0.8/4
3.15[43]
N/A
2.34
N/A
5.49[105]

text: DVD releases[edit]

text:
DVD Name
Ep #
Release Date

Lethal Weapon: Season 1
18
September 19, 2017[106]


document_title: No Smoking Day

question_text: when was the first no smoking day celebrated

root

text: No Smoking Day

text:
No Smoking DayObserved by
United Kingdom[1]Date
Second Wednesday in MarchFrequency
annual

tag: table

text: No Smoking Day is an annual health awareness day in the United Kingdom which is intended to help smokers who want to quit smoking.  The first No Smoking Day was on Ash Wednesday[2] in 1984,[3] and it now takes place on the second Wednesday in March.

tag: p

text: Each year, the campaign is promoted with a theme in the form of a short phrase.  In 2010, this theme was "Break free", encouraging smokers to break free from the chains of cigarettes and quit on No Smoking Day. The 2011 theme was "Time to quit?".  Research conducted by GfK NOP following the 2009 campaign found that 1 in 10 smokers quit on No Smoking Day.

text: The campaign was run by a charity of the same name, based in London with four full-time staff, until this was merged with the British Heart Foundation in 2011. It is funded by a coalition of governmental and voluntary sector organisations with an interest in health.  No Smoking Day's most recent President was entrepreneur, TV personality, and anti-tobacco campaigner Duncan Bannatyne OBE. Bannatyne is an ex-smoker who publicly took on British American Tobacco at its AGM in April 2008.


document_title: Sheep

question_text: the digestive system of a sheep has evolved to

question_tokens: the digestive system of a sheep has evolved to

text: Sheep

text: Characteristics

text: Domestic sheep are relatively small ruminants, usually with a crimped hair called wool and often with horns forming a lateral spiral. Domestic sheep differ from their wild relatives and ancestors in several respects, having become uniquely neotenic as a result of selective breeding by humans.[1][2] 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.[3]

text: Another trait unique to domestic sheep as compared to wild ovines 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.[4][5] Selection for easily dyeable white fleeces began early in sheep domestication, and as white wool 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.[4][5] While white wool is desirable for large commercial markets, there is a niche market for colored fleeces, mostly for handspinning.[6] The nature of the fleece varies widely among the breeds, from dense and highly crimped, to long and hairlike. There 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.

text: 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.[7] Ewes typically weigh between 45 and 100 kilograms (100 and 220 lb), and rams between 45 and 160 kilograms (100 and 350 lb).[8] When all deciduous teeth have erupted, the sheep has 20 teeth.[9] 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 the dental formula for sheep is either 0.0.3.34.0.3.3 or 0.0.3.33.1.3.3 [10] 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 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.[3][11][12]

text: Sheep have good hearing, and are sensitive to noise when being handled.[13] 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.[6][14] Many breeds have only short hair on 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.[15] Sheep have poor depth perception; shadows and dips in the ground may cause sheep to baulk. In general, sheep have a tendency to move out of the dark and into well-lit areas,[16] 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,[17] but those on the face may be used in breeding behaviors.[7] The foot glands might also be related to reproduction,[7] but alternative reasons, such as secretion of a waste product or a scent marker to help lost sheep find their flock, have also been proposed.[17]

text: Comparison with goats

text: 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 (only a single such animal has been confirmed), and is not to be confused with the sheep-goat chimera, though both are known as geep. Visual differences between sheep and goats include 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 the rut, whereas rams do not.[12]

text: Breeds

text: The domestic sheep is a multi-purpose animal, and the more than 200 breeds now in existence were created to serve these diverse purposes.[3][18] Some sources give a count of a thousand or more breeds,[19][20] but these numbers cannot be verified, according to some sources.[6][12] However, several hundred breeds of sheep have been identified by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN), with the estimated number varying somewhat from time to time: e.g. 863 breeds as of 1993,[21] 1314 breeds as of 1995[22] and 1229 breeds as of 2006.[23] (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 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."[23] 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 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.[16] 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.

text: 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 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.[24] 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 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.

text: 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 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.[25]

text: 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 a few breeds that are predominantly used for milking. These sheep produce a higher quantity of milk and have slightly longer lactation curves.[26] 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.[27]

text: 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 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.[25] Hair sheep are also more resistant to parasites and hot weather.[12]

text: With the modern rise of corporate agribusiness and 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".[28][29][30] Preferences for breeds with uniform characteristics and fast growth have pushed heritage (or heirloom) breeds to the margins of the sheep industry.[25] Those that remain are maintained through the efforts of conservation organizations, breed registries, and individual farmers dedicated to their preservation.

text: Diet

text: Sheep are exclusively herbivorous mammals. Most breeds prefer to graze on grass and other short roughage, avoiding the taller woody parts of plants that goats readily consume.[31] Both sheep and goats use their lips and tongues to select parts of the plant that are easier to digest or higher in nutrition.[31] Sheep, however, graze well in monoculture pastures where most goats fare poorly.[31]

text: 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 is then passed into the rumen, via the reticulum. The rumen is a 19- to 38-liter (5 to 10 gal) organ in which feed is fermented.[32] The fermenting organisms include bacteria, fungi, and protozoa.[33] (Other important rumen organisms include some archaea, which produce methane from carbon dioxide.[34]) The bolus is periodically regurgitated back to the mouth as cud for additional chewing and salivation.[32] After fermentation in 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".[35]

text: Other than forage, the other staple feed for sheep 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.[25] 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.[6] The same danger applies to mineral supplements such as salt licks.[36]

text: Grazing behavior

text: Sheep follow 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.[37] 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.[38]

text: Effects on pasture

text: Sheep are largely grazing herbivores, unlike browsing animals such as goats and deer that prefer taller foliage. With a much narrower face, sheep crop plants very close to the ground and can overgraze a pasture much faster than cattle.[12] For this reason, many shepherds use managed intensive rotational grazing, where a flock is rotated through multiple pastures, giving plants time to recover.[12][16] 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 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.[39] 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.[40]

text: Behavior

text: Flock behavior

text: Sheep are flock animals and strongly gregarious; much sheep behavior can be understood on 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.[41] 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.[42] All sheep have a tendency to congregate close to other members of a flock, although this behavior varies with breed,[13] and sheep can become stressed when separated from their flock members.[7] 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 a ewe and her direct descendants often move as a unit within large flocks.[6] 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.[7][43]

text: 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.[6] Being 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.[6]

text: In regions where sheep have no natural predators, none of the native breeds of sheep exhibit a strong flocking behavior.[12]

text: Herding

text: 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 a highly bred herding ability. Sheep are food-oriented, and association of humans with regular feeding often results in sheep soliciting people for food.[44] Those who are moving sheep may exploit this behavior by leading sheep with buckets of feed.[45][46]

text: Dominance hierarchy

text: 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.[47] Primarily among rams, horn size is a factor in the flock hierarchy.[48] 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.[48] Merinos have an almost linear hierarchy whereas there is a less rigid structure in Border Leicesters when a competitive feeding situation arises.[49]

text: In sheep, position in a moving flock is highly correlated with social dominance, but there is no definitive study to show consistent voluntary leadership by an individual sheep.[49]

text: Intelligence and learning ability

text: Sheep are frequently thought of as unintelligent animals.[50] 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 them to be just below pigs and on par with cattle in IQ.[6] Sheep can recognize individual human and ovine faces, and remember them for years.[51][52] In addition to long-term facial recognition of individuals, sheep can also differentiate emotional states through facial characteristics.[51][52] If worked with patiently, sheep may learn their names and many sheep are trained to be led by halter for showing and other purposes.[6] Sheep have also responded well to clicker training.[6] Sheep have been used as pack animals; Tibetan nomads distribute baggage equally throughout a flock as it is herded between living sites.[6]

text: 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.[53]

text: Vocalisations

text:
A sheep baa

A sheep bleat

Problems playing this file? See media help.

text: Sounds made by domestic sheep include bleats, grunts, rumbles and snorts. Bleating ("baaing") is used mostly for contact communication, especially between dam and lambs, but also at times between other flock members.[54] The bleats of individual sheep are distinctive, enabling the ewe and her lambs to recognize each other's vocalizations.[55] Vocal communication between lambs and their dam declines to a very low level within several weeks after parturition.[54] 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.[56] Pregnant ewes may grunt when in labor.[57] Rumbling sounds are made by the ram during courting; somewhat similar rumbling sounds may be made by the ewe,[54] especially when with her neonate lambs. A snort (explosive exhalation through the nostrils) may signal aggression or a warning,[54][58] and is often elicited from startled sheep.[59]

text: Senses

text: In sheep breeds lacking facial wool, the visual field is wide. In 10 sheep (Cambridge, Lleyn and Welsh Mountain breeds, which lack facial wool), the visual field ranged from 298° to 325°, averaging 313.1°, with binocular overlap ranging from 44.5° to 74°, averaging 61.7°.[60] 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 the measurements were limited by wool,[61] 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,[61] 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 a well-focused retinal image of objects in both the middle and long distance.[60] 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.[60] Good depth perception, inferred from the sheep's sure-footedness, was confirmed in "visual cliff" experiments;[61][62] behavioral responses indicating depth perception are seen in lambs at one day old.[63] Sheep are thought to have colour vision, and can distinguish between a variety of colours: black, red, brown, green, yellow and white.[64] Sight is a vital part of sheep communication, and when grazing, they maintain visual contact with each other.[65] Each sheep lifts its head upwards to check 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.[66]

text: 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.[67]

text: The ram uses his vomeronasal organ (sometimes called the Jacobson's organ) to sense the pheromones of ewes and detect when they are in estrus.[68] The ewe uses her vomeronasal organ for early recognition of her neonate lamb.[69]

text: Reproduction

text: 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.[25] Most sheep are seasonal breeders, although some are able to breed year-round.[25] Ewes generally reach sexual maturity at six to eight months old, and rams generally at four to six months.[25] 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.[70] Ewes have estrus cycles about every 17 days,[71] during which they emit a scent and indicate readiness through physical displays towards rams. A minority of rams (8% on average) display a preference for homosexuality[72] and a small number of the females that were accompanied by a male fetus in utero are freemartins (female animals that are behaviorally masculine and lack functioning ovaries).[73][74][75][76]

text: 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.[25] During the rut, even usually friendly rams may become aggressive towards humans due to increases in their hormone levels.[7]

text: After mating, sheep have a gestation period of about five months,[77] and normal labor takes one to three hours.[78] Although some breeds regularly throw larger litters of lambs, most produce single or twin lambs.[7][79] During or soon after labor, ewes and lambs may be confined to small lambing jugs,[80] small pens designed to aid both careful observation of ewes and to cement the bond between them and their lambs.[16][25]

text: 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 is one of the dilemmas of sheep breeding.[81] In the case of any such problems, those present at lambing may assist the ewe by extracting or repositioning lambs.[25] After the birth, ewes ideally break the amniotic sac (if it is not broken during labor), and begin licking clean the lamb.[25] Most lambs will begin standing within an hour of birth.[25] In normal situations, lambs nurse after standing, receiving vital colostrum milk. Lambs that either fail to nurse or are rejected by the ewe require help to survive, such as bottle-feeding or fostering by another ewe.[82]

text: After lambs are several weeks old, lamb marking (ear tagging, docking, and castrating) is carried out.[25] 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. Castration is performed on ram lambs not intended for breeding, although some shepherds choose to omit this for ethical, economic or practical reasons.[25] However, many would disagree with regard to timing. 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.[83][84] The first course of vaccinations (commonly anti-clostridial) 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.[85][86][87] Ewes are often revaccinated annually about 3 weeks before lambing, to provide high antibody concentrations in colostrum during the first several hours after lambing.[88] Ram lambs that will either be slaughtered or separated from ewes before sexual maturity are not usually castrated.[16] Tail docking is commonly done for welfare, having been shown to reduce risk of flystrike.[89] Objections to all these procedures have been raised by animal rights groups, but farmers defend them by saying they solve many practical and veterinary problems, and inflict only temporary pain.[7][25]

text: Health

text: Sheep may fall victim to poisons, infectious diseases, and physical injuries. As a prey species, a sheep's system is adapted to hide the obvious signs of illness, to prevent being targeted by predators.[7] However, some signs of ill health are obvious, with sick sheep eating little, vocalizing excessively, and being generally listless.[90] 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 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.[91] 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.[92] In 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.[6][7] Despite some favorable anecdotal evidence, the effectiveness of alternative veterinary medicine has been met with skepticism in scientific journals.[6][7][93] The need for traditional anti-parasite drugs and antibiotics is widespread, and is the main impediment to certified organic farming with sheep.[25]

text: 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.[7] This can also mean maintaining a closed flock, and quarantining new sheep for 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.[94][95][96][97] Excessive stress can compromise the immune system.[97] "Shipping fever" (pneumonic mannheimiosis, formerly called pasteurellosis) is a disease of particular concern, that can occur as a result of stress, notably during transport and (or) handling.[98][99] 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.[95] Because of such issues, low-stress handling 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.[100]

text: 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 the productivity of flocks.[7] 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 a new pasture to avoid ingesting the same parasites.[16] 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. Fly maggots cause 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 the rump to prevent fly-strike, normally performed when the sheep is a lamb.[101][102] 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.[7]

text: A wide array of bacterial and viral diseases affect sheep. Diseases of the hoof, such as foot rot and foot scald may occur, and are treated with footbaths and other remedies. 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) is a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease affecting sheep and goats.

text: A few sheep conditions are transmissible to humans. Orf (also known as scabby mouth, contagious ecthyma or soremouth) 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 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.[7]

text: Predators

text: Other than parasites and disease, predation is a threat to sheep and the profitability of sheep raising. Sheep have little ability to defend themselves, compared with other species kept as livestock. Even if sheep survive an attack, they may die from their injuries or simply from panic.[7] However, the impact of predation varies dramatically with region. In Africa, Australia, the Americas, and parts of Europe and Asia predators are a serious problem. In the United States, for instance, over one third of sheep deaths in 2004 were caused by predation.[103] In contrast, other nations are virtually devoid of sheep predators, particularly islands known for extensive sheep husbandry.[7] Worldwide, canids—including the domestic dog—are responsible for most sheep deaths.[104][105][106] Other animals that occasionally prey on sheep include: felines, bears, birds of prey, ravens and feral hogs.[103][107]

text: Sheep producers have used a wide variety of measures to combat predation. Pre-modern shepherds used their own presence, livestock guardian dogs, and protective structures such as barns and fencing. Fencing (both regular and electric), penning sheep at night and lambing indoors all continue to be widely used.[25] More modern shepherds used guns, traps, and poisons to kill predators,[108] causing significant decreases in predator populations. In the wake of the environmental and conservation movements, the use of these methods now usually falls under the purview of specially designated government agencies in most developed countries.[109]

text: The 1970s saw a resurgence in the use of livestock guardian dogs and the development of new methods of predator control by sheep producers, many of them non-lethal.[16] Donkeys and guard llamas have been used since the 1980s in sheep operations, using the same basic principle as livestock guardian dogs.[7] Interspecific pasturing, usually with larger livestock such as cattle or horses, may help to deter predators, even if such species do not actively guard sheep.[25] In addition to animal guardians, contemporary sheep operations may use non-lethal predator deterrents such as motion-activated lights and noisy alarms.[7]

text: Economic importance

text:
Global sheep stocks
in 2013

(million)

 China
185

 Australia
89.0

 India
75.0

 Sudan
52.5

 Iran
50.2

 Nigeria
39

 United Kingdom
32.9

 New Zealand
30.8

World total
1,172.8

Source:
UN Food & Agriculture Organisation
(FAO)

text: Sheep are an important part of the global agricultural economy. However, their once vital status has been largely replaced by other livestock species, especially the pig, chicken, and cow.[16] China, Australia, India, and Iran have the largest modern flocks, and serve both local and exportation needs for wool and mutton.[110] Other countries such as New Zealand have smaller flocks but retain a large international economic impact due to their export of sheep products. Sheep also play a major role in many local economies, which may be niche markets focused on organic or sustainable agriculture and local food customers.[6][111] Especially in developing countries, such flocks may be a part of subsistence agriculture rather than a system of trade. Sheep themselves may be a medium of trade in barter economies.[6]

text: Domestic sheep provide a wide array of raw materials. Wool was one of the first textiles, although in the late 20th century wool prices began to fall dramatically as the result of the popularity and cheap prices for synthetic fabrics.[6] For many sheep owners, the cost of shearing is greater than the possible profit from the fleece, making subsisting on wool production alone practically impossible without farm subsidies.[6] Fleeces are used as material in making alternative products such as wool insulation.[112] In the 21st century, the sale of meat is the most profitable enterprise in the sheep industry, even though far less sheep meat is consumed than chicken, pork or beef.[16]

text: Sheepskin is likewise used for making clothes, footwear, rugs, and other products. Byproducts from the slaughter of sheep are also of value: sheep tallow can be used in candle and soap making, sheep bone and cartilage has been used to furnish carved items such as dice and buttons as well as rendered glue and gelatin.[113] Sheep intestine can be formed into sausage casings, and lamb intestine has been formed into surgical sutures, as well as strings for musical instruments and tennis rackets.[3] Sheep droppings, which are high in cellulose, have even been sterilized and mixed with traditional pulp materials to make paper.[114] Of all sheep byproducts, perhaps the most valuable is lanolin: the waterproof, fatty substance found naturally in sheep's wool and used as a base for innumerable cosmetics and other products.[3]

text: Some farmers who keep sheep also make a profit from live sheep. Providing lambs for youth programs such as 4-H and competition at agricultural shows is often a dependable avenue for the sale of sheep.[115] Farmers may also choose to focus on a particular breed of sheep in order to sell registered purebred animals, as well as provide a ram rental service for breeding.[116] The most valuable sheep ever sold to date was a purebred Texel ram that fetched £231,000 at auction.[117] The previous record holder was a Merino ram sold for £205,000 in 1989.[117] A new option for deriving profit from live sheep is the rental of flocks for grazing; these "mowing services" are hired in order to keep unwanted vegetation down in public spaces and to lessen fire hazard.[118]

text: Despite the falling demand and price for sheep products in many markets, sheep have distinct economic advantages when compared with other livestock. They do not require expensive housing,[119] such as that used in the intensive farming of chickens or pigs. They are an efficient use of land; roughly six sheep can be kept on the amount that would suffice for a single cow or horse.[7][120] Sheep can also consume plants, such as noxious weeds, that most other animals will not touch, and produce more young at a faster rate.[121] Also, in contrast to most livestock species, the cost of raising sheep is not necessarily tied to the price of feed crops such as grain, soybeans and corn.[122] Combined with the lower cost of quality sheep, all these factors combine to equal a lower overhead for sheep producers, thus entailing a higher profitability potential for the small farmer.[122] Sheep are especially beneficial for independent producers, including family farms with limited resources, as the sheep industry is one of the few types of animal agriculture that has not been vertically integrated by agribusiness.[123]

text: As food

text: Sheep meat and milk were one of the earliest staple proteins consumed by human civilization after the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture.[7] Sheep meat prepared for food is known as either mutton or lamb. "Mutton" is derived from the Old French moton, which was the word for sheep used by the Anglo-Norman rulers of much of the British Isles in the Middle Ages. This became the name for sheep meat in English, while the Old English word sceap was kept for the live animal.[124] Throughout modern history, "mutton" has been limited to the meat of mature sheep usually at least two years of age; "lamb" is used for that of immature sheep less than a year.[125][126][127]

text: In the 21st century, the nations with the highest consumption of sheep meat are the Arab States of the Persian Gulf, New Zealand, Australia, Greece, Uruguay, the United Kingdom and Ireland.[6] These countries eat 14–40 lbs (3–18 kg) of sheep meat per capita, per annum.[6][127] Sheep meat is also popular in France, Africa (especially the Maghreb), the Caribbean, the rest of the Middle East, India, and parts of China.[127] This often reflects a history of sheep production. In these countries in particular, dishes comprising alternative cuts and offal may be popular or traditional. Sheep testicles—called animelles or lamb fries—are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world. Perhaps the most unusual dish of sheep meat is the Scottish haggis, composed of various sheep innards cooked along with oatmeal and chopped onions inside its stomach.[128] In comparison, countries such as the U.S. consume only a pound or less (under 0.5 kg), with Americans eating 50 pounds (22 kg) of pork and 65 pounds (29 kg) of beef.[127] In addition, such countries rarely eat mutton, and may favor the more expensive cuts of lamb: mostly lamb chops and leg of lamb.[6]

text: Though sheep's milk may be drunk rarely in fresh form,[129] today it is used predominantly in cheese and yogurt making. Sheep have only two teats, and produce a far smaller volume of milk than cows.[7] However, as sheep's milk contains far more fat, solids, and minerals than cow's milk, it is ideal for the cheese-making process.[27] It also resists contamination during cooling better because of its much higher calcium content.[27] Well-known cheeses made from sheep milk include the Feta of Bulgaria and Greece, Roquefort of France, Manchego from Spain, the Pecorino Romano (the Italian word for sheep is pecore) and Ricotta of Italy. Yogurts, especially some forms of strained yogurt, may also be made from sheep milk.[130] Many of these products are now often made with cow's milk, especially when produced outside their country of origin.[6] Sheep milk contains 4.8% lactose, which may affect those who are intolerant.[6]

text: As with other domestic animals, the meat of uncastrated males is inferior in quality, especially as they grow. A "bucky" lamb is a lamb which was not castrated early enough, or which was castrated improperly (resulting in one testicle being retained). These lambs are worth less at market.[131][132][133]

text: In science

text: Sheep are generally too large and reproduce too slowly to make ideal research subjects, and thus are not a common model organism.[134] They have, however, played an influential role in some fields of science. In particular, the Roslin Institute of Edinburgh, Scotland used sheep for genetics research that produced groundbreaking results. In 1995, two ewes named Megan and Morag were the first mammals cloned from differentiated cells. A year later, a Finnish Dorset sheep named Dolly, dubbed "the world's most famous sheep" in Scientific American,[135] was the first mammal to be cloned from an adult somatic cell. Following this, Polly and Molly were the first mammals to be simultaneously cloned and transgenic.

text: As of 2008, the sheep genome has not been fully sequenced, although a detailed genetic map has been published,[136] and a draft version of the complete genome produced by assembling sheep DNA sequences using information given by the genomes of other mammals.[137] In 2012, a transgenic sheep named "Peng Peng" was cloned by Chinese scientists, who spliced his genes with that of a roundworm (C. elegans) in order to increase production of fats healthier for human consumption.[138]

text: In the study of natural selection, the population of Soay sheep that remain on the island of Hirta have been used to explore the relation of body size and coloration to reproductive success.[139] Soay sheep come in several colors, and researchers investigated why the larger, darker sheep were in decline; this occurrence contradicted the rule of thumb that larger members of a population tend to be more successful reproductively.[140] The feral Soays on Hirta are especially useful subjects because they are isolated.[141]

text: Sheep are one of the few animals where the molecular basis of the diversity of male sexual preferences has been examined.[142] However, this research has been controversial, and much publicity has been produced by a study at the Oregon Health and Science University that investigated the mechanisms that produce homosexuality in rams. Organizations such as PETA campaigned against the study, accusing scientists of trying to cure homosexuality in the sheep.[72] OHSU and the involved scientists vehemently denied such accusations.[72]

text: Domestic sheep are sometimes used in medical research, particularly for researching cardiovascular physiology, in areas such as hypertension and heart failure.[143][144] Pregnant sheep are also a useful model for human pregnancy,[145] and have been used to investigate the effects on fetal development of malnutrition and hypoxia.[146] In behavioral sciences, sheep have been used in isolated cases for the study of facial recognition, as their mental process of recognition is qualitatively similar to humans.[147]

text: Cultural impact

text: Sheep have had a strong presence in many cultures, especially in areas where they form the most common type of livestock. In the English language, to call someone a sheep or ovine may allude that they are timid and easily led.[148] In contradiction to this image, male sheep are often used as symbols of virility and power; the logos of the Los Angeles Rams football team and the Dodge Ram pickup truck allude to males of the bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis.

text: Counting sheep is popularly said to be an aid to sleep, and some ancient systems of counting sheep persist today. Sheep also enter in colloquial sayings and idiom frequently with such phrases as "black sheep". To call an individual a black sheep implies that they are an odd or disreputable member of a group.[149] This usage derives from the recessive trait that causes an occasional black lamb to be born into an entirely white flock. These black sheep were considered undesirable by shepherds, as black wool is not as commercially viable as white wool.[149] Citizens who accept overbearing governments have been referred to by the Portmanteau neologism of sheeple. Somewhat differently, the adjective "sheepish" is also used to describe embarrassment.[150]

text: Religion and folklore

text: In antiquity, symbolism involving sheep cropped up in religions in the ancient Near East, the Mideast, and the Mediterranean area: Çatalhöyük, ancient Egyptian religion, the Cana'anite and Phoenician tradition, Judaism, Greek religion, and others. Religious symbolism and ritual involving sheep began with some of the first known faiths: Skulls of rams (along with bulls) occupied central placement in shrines at the Çatalhöyük settlement in 8,000 BCE.[151] In Ancient Egyptian religion, the ram was the symbol of several gods: Khnum, Heryshaf and Amun (in his incarnation as a god of fertility).[6] Other deities occasionally shown with ram features include the goddess Ishtar, the Phoenician god Baal-Hamon, and the Babylonian god Ea-Oannes.[6] In Madagascar, sheep were not eaten as they were believed to be incarnations of the souls of ancestors.[152]

text: There are many ancient Greek references to sheep: that of Chrysomallos, the golden-fleeced ram, continuing to be told through into the modern era. Astrologically, Aries, the ram, is the first sign of the classical Greek zodiac, and the sheep is the eighth of the twelve animals associated with the 12-year cycle of in the Chinese zodiac, related to the Chinese calendar.[152] In Mongolia, shagai are an ancient form of dice made from the cuboid bones of sheep that are often used for fortunetelling purposes.

text: Sheep play an important role in all the Abrahamic faiths; Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, King David and the Islamic prophet Muhammad were all shepherds. According to the Biblical story of the Binding of Isaac, a ram is sacrificed as a substitute for Isaac after an angel stays Abraham's hand (in the Islamic tradition, Abraham was about to sacrifice Ishmael). Eid al-Adha is a major annual festival in Islam in which sheep (or other animals) are sacrificed in remembrance of this act.[153][154] Sheep are occasionally sacrificed to commemorate important secular events in Islamic cultures.[155] Greeks and Romans sacrificed sheep regularly in religious practice, and Judaism once sacrificed sheep as a Korban (sacrifice), such as the Passover lamb .[152] Ovine symbols—such as the ceremonial blowing of a shofar—still find a presence in modern Judaic traditions. Followers of Christianity are collectively often referred to as a flock, with Christ as the Good Shepherd, and sheep are an element in the Christian iconography of the birth of Jesus. Some Christian saints are considered patrons of shepherds, and even of sheep themselves. Christ is also portrayed as the Sacrificial lamb of God (Agnus Dei) and Easter celebrations in Greece and Romania traditionally feature a meal of Paschal lamb. In many Christian traditions, a church leader is called the pastor, which is derived from the Latin word for shepherd.

text: Sheep are key symbols in fables and nursery rhymes like The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, Little Bo Peep, Baa, Baa, Black Sheep, and Mary Had a Little Lamb; novels such as George Orwell's Animal Farm and Haruki Murakami's A Wild Sheep Chase; songs such as Bach's Sheep may safely graze (Schafe können sicher weiden) and Pink Floyd's Sheep, and poems like William Blake's "The Lamb".

text: Gallery

text:
Didactic model of a sheep muscular system.

Didactic model of a sheep.

Didactic model of a sheep muscular system.

tag: ul


document_title: Morticia Addams

question_text: who played the mom on the addams family

question_tokens: who played the mom on the addams family

text: Morticia Addams

text: Cartoons[edit]

text: Morticia first appeared in Charles Addams' newspaper cartoons[1] as the stern, aloof matriarch of the Family. She often appeared with the rest of the family, and was, along with Gomez and Grandmama, one of the few members to actually speak in the cartoons.

text: Background[edit]

text: Morticia is the wife of Gomez Addams and mother of Wednesday Addams, Pugsley Addams and Pubert Addams. The character originated in the Charles Addams cartoons for The New Yorker magazine in the 1930s. In the cartoons, none of the family members had names. When the characters were adapted to the 1964 television series, Charles Addams' selection of her name was inspired by "mortician". Morticia's maiden name is "Frump" and she has an older sister named Ophelia (also played by Carolyn Jones). In the television series, her mother (Uncle Fester's sister) was named Hester Frump (played by Margaret Hamilton). Her mother-in-law is Grandmama Addams. In the 1990s Addams Family films, Grandmama is actually Morticia's mother, not Gomez's.

text: The real head of the family ... low-voiced, incisive and subtle, smiles are rare...ruined beauty ... contemptuous and original and with fierce family loyalty ... even in disposition, muted, witty, sometimes deadly ... given to low-keyed rhapsodies about her garden of deadly nightshade, henbane and dwarf’s hair ...[2]

text: Morticia is described as a witch; she is slim, with extremely pale skin and long flowing straight black hair. In one episode she is seen wearing a black pointed hat. She commonly wears black gothic dresses to match her hair, tightly form fitting, with a hobble skirt, with fringe of octopus-like cloth "tentacles" at the lower hem. According to Wednesday, Morticia applies baking powder to her face instead of actual makeup. In each episode, she easily allures her husband Gomez by speaking French (or any other foreign language for that matter). Morticia is musically inclined, and is often seen freely strumming a Japanese shamisen. She frequently enjoys cutting the buds off of roses, which she discards (keeping only the stems), likes cutting out paper dolls with three heads and making sweaters with three arms, collecting the mail from the hand-in-the-box Thing, and cooking unusual concoctions for her husband, including eye of newt. Her personal pet is Cleopatra, a fictitious breed of carnivorous plant called an African Strangler, and to which she feeds hamburger.

text: Morticia's family tree can be traced back to Salem, Massachusetts, and witchcraft is also implied at times in the television series.[3]  For example, Morticia likes to "smoke," an activity that does not involve cigarettes or cigars (like her husband frequently enjoys), but smoke instead emanates from below her.[4]

text: In 2009, she was included in Yahoo!'s Top 10 TV Moms from Six Decades of Television for the time period 1964–1966.[5] AOL named her one of the 100 Most Memorable Female TV Characters.[6]

text: In other media[edit]

text: Morticia was portrayed by Carolyn Jones in the television series of the 1960s and by Anjelica Huston in The Addams Family (1991) and its sequel Addams Family Values (1993). Huston's portrayal of Morticia was always illuminated by a ghostly glow around the eyes, which became most noticeable when she was standing or lying in dim light.  Daryl Hannah played Morticia in the 1998 film Addams Family Reunion. Canadian actress Ellie Harvie played Morticia in the revival series, The New Addams Family. In the first animated series made in 1973, Morticia was voiced by Janet Waldo. Jones also voiced this character in an episode of The New Scooby-Doo Movies that featured the family. In the 1992 animated series, she was voiced by Nancy Linari. In the 2010 Broadway musical, Morticia was portrayed by Bebe Neuwirth. Brooke Shields replaced her in the role of Morticia on June 28, 2011.

text: Morticia was also one of the inspirations for the Walt Disney character Magica De Spell, first designed and drawn by Carl Barks.[7]


document_title: Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye

question_text: who wrote that no way to say goodbye

question_tokens: who wrote that no way to say goodbye

text: Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye

text:
"Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye"Song by Leonard Cohenfrom the album Songs of Leonard CohenPublished
1967Genre
Contemporary folkSongwriter(s)
Leonard CohenProducer(s)
John Simon

text: "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" is a song by Leonard Cohen.  It was first released in November 1967, in a version by Judy Collins on her album Wildflowers.[1]   The following month, Cohen's own version was issued on his debut album Songs of Leonard Cohen.

text: Cohen wrote the song when staying at the Penn Terminal Hotel on 34th Street in New York City in 1966.  He wrote:

text: The room is too hot. I can't open the windows. I am in the midst of a bitter quarrel with a blonde woman. The song is half-written in pencil but it protects us as we manoeuvre, each of us, for unconditional victory.  I am in the wrong room. I am with the wrong woman.[2]

text: It was covered in 1969 by Roberta Flack on her debut album First Take, and has been recorded by many other singers.[1]


document_title: Longest rivers of the United Kingdom

question_text: what is the longest river in great britain

text: Longest rivers of the United Kingdom

text:
Rank
River
Length (miles)
Length (km)
Country

1
River Severn[1]
220
354
Wales/England

2
River Thames[1]
215
346
England

3
River Trent[1]
185
297
England

4
River Great Ouse[1]
143
230
England

5
River Wye[1]
134
215
Wales/England

6
River Ure/River Ouse, Yorkshire
129
208
England

7
River Tay[1]
117
188
Scotland

8
River Clyde
109
176
Scotland

9
River Spey
107
172
Scotland

10
River Nene[1]
100
161
England

11
River Bann / Lough Neagh
99
159
Northern Ireland

12
River Tweed[1]
96
155
Scotland/England

13
River Avon, Warwickshire
96
154
England

14
River Eden, Cumbria
90
145
England

15
River Dee, Aberdeenshire
87
140
Scotland

16
River Witham
82
132
England

17
River Teme
81
130
Wales/England

18t
River Don, Aberdeenshire[1]
80
129
Scotland

18t
River Foyle
80
129
Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland

20t
River Teifi[2]
75
122
Wales

20t
River Towy
75
121
Wales

20t
River Ribble
75
120
England

20t
River Avon, Bristol
75
120
England

24
River Tyne[1]
73
118
England

25
River Derwent, Yorkshire
72
115
England

26t
River Aire
71
114
England

26t
River Nith
71
114
Scotland

28t
River Tees
70
113
England

28t
River Medway
70
113
England

28t
River Mersey
70
113
England

31t
River Dee, Wales[1]
70
112
Wales/England

31t
River Don, South Yorkshire
70
112
England

text: There seems to be little consensus as to the lengths of rivers in published sources, nor much agreement as to what constitutes a river. Thus the River Ure / River Ouse can be counted as one river system or two rivers. If it is counted as one, the River Aire / Yorkshire Ouse / Humber system would come fourth in the list, with a combined length of 161 miles (259 km) and indeed, the River Trent / Humber system would top the list with their combined length of 222 mi (357 km).[3] Also, the Thames tributary, the River Churn, sourced at Seven Springs adds 14 miles to the length of the Thames (from its traditional source at Thames head). The Churn/Thames' length at 229 mi (369 km) is therefore greater than the Severn’s length - 220 mi (354 km). Thus, the combined Churn/Thames river would top the list. Sue Owen et al. in their book on Rivers generally restrict the length to the parts that bear the correct name. Thus the River Nene is quoted at 100 miles (160 km), but would be around 5 miles (8.0 km) more if the variously named sources were included. Many of the above lengths are considerably different from Sue Owen's list, some longer and some shorter.[1]

text: Where a river ends in an estuary the conventional British approach has been to use the end of the administrative zone. Thus the Severn ends at the mouth of the Bristol Avon and the Thames to the Yantlet Line. The currently accepted end of the Severn Estuary is nearly about 18.5 miles (29.8 km) further and the PLA's authority stretches now to Margate, 30 miles (48 km) further. Other countries have different conventions, making comparisons of limited value.