Raising sheep can be a rewarding and profitable venture, but it requires proper knowledge and skills to be successful. Here are some experienced ways to raise sheep that can help you get started.
1. Choose a good breed.
Choosing the right breed of sheep is crucial for successful sheep farming. If you are breeding sheep for sale, you should focus on pure breeding.
For commercial purposes, you can use hornless Dawcett, Suffolk, and Charolais breeds for crossbreeding with small-tailed cold sheep and hornless Merino fine-hair sheep to get the maximum economic benefit.
2. Construct a comfortable shelter.
Shelter is an important aspect of sheep rearing. The shelter should provide dry ventilation, hygiene, cleanliness, warmth in winter, and coolness in summer.
You can either build a single-slope shed or a fully enclosed shelter. Adult sheep require an area of 1.5-2 square meters each, while pregnant ewes, lactating sheep, and breeding rams require slightly more space.
A sports field should also be included outside the shelter, which should be 2-3 times the size of the sheep shelter. The sheep can roam freely, eat, and breathe fresh air and sunshine while restoring the air quality inside the shelter.
3. Prepare sufficient forage.
The preparation and modulation of forage are crucial for the success of sheep farming. It is also the most important part of the cost of sheep farming and operation.
You should develop a suitable forage storage program to the requirements of localization, diversification, seasonal balance, and stage supply.
This will help to ensure that your sheep are getting the necessary nutrients for optimal growth and health.
4. Strengthen feeding management.
Designing a good food trough, water trough, and salt trough is essential to prevent the sheep from trampling on the grass and dirtying the water and salt.
It will also improve the utilization rate of the grass. Additionally, different sizes of sheep, male and female sheep should be separated.
Put the feed into the trough and let the sheep feed freely. The water in the trough should be changed every day, and each sheep must be supplemented with 5-10 grams of salt per day, which should be put into the salt trough for free feeding.
The sheep should also be appropriately supplemented with fine materials according to their different growth stages.
5. Pay attention to disease control.
Disease prevention is crucial in sheep farming. The first step is to focus on prevention, followed by early treatment of diseases.
You should combine feeding management with disease prevention and treatment. Hygiene and disinfection should be a priority, and daily feed and drinking water must be clean.
Do not feed them with moldy, spoiled, toxic, and foreign
Sheep farming can be a profitable and rewarding venture if you follow the above tips. Choosing the right breed, constructing a comfortable shelter, preparing sufficient forage, strengthening feeding management, and paying attention to disease control are all essential aspects of successful sheep farming.
