How to make money raising sheep? The nuances of breeding sheep at home for beginners How to properly breed sheep at home.

When growing livestock at home, preference should be given to species common in a particular area. Firstly, such individuals are better prepared for the climatic and food conditions of the region. Secondly, to replenish the livestock, sheep can be purchased from the nearest large livestock farms. And thirdly, the process of insemination is greatly simplified, since you can still find a good sire at the same local breeding stations.

From the article you will learn how to start breeding sheep, how to choose the right individuals for mating and breeding young animals, and what features this area of ​​animal husbandry has.

Breeding sheep at home - video

Breeding sheep at home is a profitable area of ​​agriculture. But, despite the calm nature and unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention, the sheep still need some care.

Features of care and breeding of sheep are shown in detail in the video. From it you will learn how to properly maintain animals, what to feed them and what other features sheep breeding differs from.

To produce healthy offspring, only healthy individuals of a strong physique are needed. Therefore, when selecting, the general state of health of the animal, its skeleton and the development of individual parts of the body are assessed.

In addition, breed-specific features also play an important role.:

• In individuals of the woolly direction, the skin and skeleton are well developed, and the muscle tissue and fiber are weak;
• In meat animals, the opposite is true: the main development is in muscles and fiber;
• Productive dairy sheep should have a well-developed udder and digestive organs;
• In one-year-old animals of fine-fleece breeds, the length of the coat should be at least 7 centimeters. Fine wool indicates a fragile physique of the animal, which is not suitable for breeding;
• Representatives of the meat-wool and semi-fine-wool direction should have a good body weight and thick hair covering the legs and head;
• For meat-fat breeds, the determining role in the selection of producers is played by the exterior, the size of the fat tail, its shape, as well as body weight;
• For Karakul sheep, the most important indicator is the quality of the smushka, but it can be assessed only in the first few days after the birth of the lamb. At other times, the score of the Astrakhan is not an objective indicator for the selection of queens and rams for breeding;
• When selecting sheep of the Romanov breed, it is necessary to pay attention to the ratio of awn and down in wool, as well as the level of fertility and milk production of females;
• Sheep of meat-wool-milk breeds are designed to obtain a large amount of meat and milk. That is why, when selecting, you need to choose animals of medium size and strong physique. Females should have a well developed udder, the coat should be white, rough, shiny and strong. The deposition of fat on the tail and belly should be moderate.

Figure 1 shows the characteristic features of sheep of various directions. If difficulties or questions arise during the selection process, it is best to consult a veterinarian or breeder. An important role for the replenishment of the herd is played by the age of the animals. If there is no relevant documentary data, you can determine the age of a sheep by its teeth.

Figure 1. Breeds and directions of productivity of sheep: 1 - meat and wool direction, 2 - sheep of the Romanov breed, 3 - sheep of the meat and tallow direction of productivity

Sheep have 32 teeth in total. Of these, 8 incisors on the lower jaw and 12 molars at the top and bottom. From the age of one year, the central teeth change from milk to permanent, they are larger and have an ivory color. With age, all other teeth change, and from the age of four, their destruction begins, and gaps appear between the teeth.

Basics of sheep breeding

In order for the breeding of sheep and rams to be successful, you need to draw up a business plan in advance and determine the main areas of activity. First of all, for cultivation, several pastures will be required, on which the flock will spend most of the time during the warm season. It is desirable that the grazing is located next to a natural body of water (Figure 2).

Note: The pasture for keeping sheep must be large enough, since one female with a lamb per year requires about a hectare of area. If there is no such site, you will have to purchase additional feed.

For winter breeding of sheep, it is necessary to build a sheepfold with a paddock. The building is insulated, and the walking area is fenced off. The room is equipped with ventilation and, if necessary, heating equipment is installed.

After preparing the pasture and sheepfold, you can begin to acquire the sheep themselves. At the initial stage, you can limit yourself to a few females without a sire, but in the future, for mating, you will have to take the females to the male or carry out artificial insemination.

Figure 2. Summer and winter maintenance

Sheep can be bred not only for meat, but also for wool. The average life expectancy of an animal is 20-25 years, but it is optimal to send them for slaughter at 7 years, since in the future both females and males significantly reduce productivity.

It is better to raise lambs under the female. Despite the high viability and the possibility of artificial feeding through the nipple, it is better for lambs to feed on mother's milk directly (Figure 3).

Note: Growing lambs under the uterus lasts an average of 4 months. After that, the young are transferred to a separate paddock and accustomed to an adult diet.

Figure 3. Keeping newborn lambs under the uterus

In addition, a separate warm room with clean feeders and constant access to water is equipped for lambs and queens. In the warm season, it is desirable for animals to be on the range most of the day, but since many lambs are born in winter, they spend a lot of time indoors. At the same time, it is impossible to reduce the number of walks and take young animals out into the fresh air every day.

Raising sheep for meat

Breeding sheep for meat is a fairly profitable area of ​​agriculture, since the animals quickly gain weight and are ready for slaughter in a few months. As a rule, young rams are selected for this purpose. The most active and viable are left to reproduce, and the rest are transferred to a special diet for rapid weight gain.

During fattening for meat, the basis of the diet is grain concentrates, which are supplemented with juicy, green and roughage. It is also advisable to shear sheep before fattening to increase appetite.

Conditions for breeding sheep

Females (bright) reach sexual maturity at about 7-9 months. But it is not recommended to carry out the first mating during this period, since the animal's body is not yet fully formed. Early pregnancy (pregnancy) will retard the development of the sheep, since all the nutrients will be absorbed by the growing fetus, and after its birth will be spent on milk production.

However, too late mating harms the animals. If pregnancy does not occur before 12-18 months (the most favorable age for the first pregnancy), the nutrients are transformed into fat mass. In the future, the overweight of the female will interfere with fertilization (Figure 4).

Sexual hunting in females is accompanied by estrus. It has the following features:

• The tissues of the external genital organs turn red;
• The mucous membrane of the vagina and cervix swells;
• Mucus begins to stand out, which first enters the vagina from the cervix, and then out;
• At the initial stage of the hunt, the mucus is transparent, but gradually becomes thicker, and at the end of the cycle it acquires a mushy consistency. It is by this indicator that you can determine the time of onset of ovulation.

Figure 4. The main symptoms of hunting in females

Often, hunting causes the maturation of germ cells, and the process ends when the egg leaves the ovary. The duration of the hunt can be from several hours to several days, depending on the breed, the general condition of the animal and the climatic conditions of its maintenance.

Determining hunting in sheep is quite easy. In addition to discharge from the genitals, the following signs are observed:

• Loss of appetite;
• Nervousness and restless behavior;
• The female does not run away from the ram and stands calmly when he tries to cover her.

Most ewes ovulate about 30 days after the start of the hunt. The last few hours of hunting are considered the most favorable for insemination, but since this period is quite difficult to determine, mating is carried out twice: at the very beginning of the hunt and a day after that.

Note: When selecting females for replenishment, it is important to consider that those who hunt for less than 24 hours often bring one lamb. If the hunt lasts longer, there is a chance of getting a multiple offspring.

If fertilization does not occur, the sheep will show signs of heat again in a few weeks.

To obtain a healthy and numerous offspring, both females and rams must be properly prepared for mating.

To do this, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

• Queens are allocated pasture areas with good food, they are watered at least twice a day;
• It is necessary to include mineral supplements in the diet, and, if necessary, concentrated feed. It was found that the uterus, which before mating ate high-quality green fodder, fertilized much faster than animals that were on a different diet (Figure 5).
• Sheep-producers are fed with oats, crushed barley and high-quality hay. In winter, when a non-coincident period sets in, the daily ration of a sheep should consist of a kilogram of hay, half a kilogram of concentrated feed and 3-4 kg of root crops;
• Sheep are necessarily fed with salt; During the breeding season, producers need to be given more concentrated feed (peas, barley, oats), and preparation for mating should begin one and a half to two months before it takes place.

Figure 5. Main feed for queens and rams (from left to right): juicy, concentrated feed, compound feed and lick salt

As a rule, mating in sheep occurs at the same time of the year: from late summer to mid-winter. However, in different climatic zones, these terms may differ. When carrying out mating, it must be taken into account that the suckling period should fall on the season with the greatest variety of feed.

Note: On home farms, mating is recommended at the same time as in large farms. To do this, you can conclude an agreement on the lease of a ram or the provision of artificial insemination services.

Depending on the type of mating, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work:

• Females are collected in one flock and kept in a separate pen next to the artificial insemination site;
• If free mating is carried out, rams and queens are kept in the same pen for one and a half to two months. In order for the ram to maintain sexual activity, it is allowed to the uterus only in the daytime, and at night they are transferred to a separate pen and fed heavily.

You can also give the ram a rest during the day, transferring it to the uterus at night.

Preparing and conducting lambing

For the birth of healthy and viable lambs, it is necessary to provide nutritious feed to pregnant ewes. At the end of pregnancy, the need for nutrient-rich feed increases by up to 75 percent.

Pregnant queens should never be given frozen or spoiled food, and the feeders should always be clean. In winter, pregnant females are kept in the yard during the daytime, and they are transferred indoors only in frosty weather and at night.

You also need to carefully monitor the condition of a pregnant sheep, and at the first sign of malaise, seek help from a veterinarian. This measure is necessary because many infectious diseases or helminthic infestations can cause abortion and death of the uterus.

You need to prepare in advance for lambing. Approximately ten days before the expected lambing, the room where the lambing will be held is cleaned. The floor is thoroughly cleaned of manure and covered with clean bedding. The room should not be damp or drafty. The internal temperature should be 15-17 degrees. It is also recommended to cut the hair between the hind legs of the queens.

Figure 6. The process of natural lambing in sheep

Often, childbirth in sheep is easy. The beginning of lambing is indicated by the restless behavior of the uterus, she begins to bleat, often looks back and constantly lies down. Such an animal must be transferred to a lambing room.

Note: Normal childbirth begins with attempts, during which the amniotic sac comes out of the genital tract. It bursts quickly and the front legs and head of the lamb can be seen. The average duration of labor in healthy and strong uterus is 40 minutes (Figure 6).

However, there are cases when the lambing is delayed and in this case the animal needs to be helped. Possible complications may include fetal size that is too large or malpositioned:

• The legs come out of the birth canal, and the head is thrown back;
• The legs are tucked under the chest of the lamb;
• The lamb comes out backwards with bent legs.

Possible pathologies during childbirth in sheep and cattle are shown in Figure 7. To facilitate and speed up lambing, you need to thoroughly wash your hands, lubricate them with iodine or vaseline oil and insert them into the sheep's vagina. Between attempts, the fetus is slightly pushed back and its position is straightened. If the lamb comes out backwards, the legs should be tied with a clean rope and the fetus should be slightly pulled out during the attempts. How to conduct a pathological lambing in a sheep is shown in a short video clip.

A qualified veterinarian will be able to provide proper assistance during lambing, so seek help in this case.

Note: Approximately two hours after birth, the afterbirth should separate from the sheep. In no case can it be cut or pulled, it must separate on its own. If the afterbirth does not come out within five hours, you need to seek help from a veterinarian, since the retention of the afterbirth can cause blood poisoning and death of the animal.

Figure 7. The course of pathological childbirth: 1 - turning the head to one side, 2 - throwing the head behind the back, 3 - legs bent at the wrist, 4 - legs bent at the hock joint

After that, the placenta and dirty bedding must be removed, the room must be disinfected, and the sheep washed with warm soda solution and wiped dry with a clean cloth.

Growing and caring for young animals

Newborn lambs are sometimes very weak, but even if the animal is healthy, it requires careful care. If complications arise, do the following::

• If the lamb does not show signs of life after birth, its nose and mouth should be cleared of mucus as quickly as possible. After that, the animal is placed on the bed and the air is inhaled through the mouth, while tucking in the front legs and patting the sides of the lamb until breathing appears.
• If the lamb was born in an unruptured amniotic sac, its membrane is pierced so that the animal does not suffocate.
• Normally, in newborn lambs, the umbilical cord separates on its own, but if this does not happen, it can be cut 8-10 centimeters from the abdomen, and the edge of the cut should be treated with an iodine solution.
• Immediately after the birth of the lamb, you need to warm and dry it. To do this, heaters are installed in the premises.

About forty minutes after giving birth, the ewe is ready to feed her young for the first time. The first few portions of milk must be milked in a separate jar and destroyed. In the first few days, the lambs suckle their mother every few hours, and in order for the baby to find the udder faster, it must be kept under the uterus during feeding.

After lambing, attention should also be paid to the uterus. Usually, after giving birth, animals are very thirsty, so after two hours they need to drink warm water. In the first few days after birth, the uterus is not given concentrated feed, and the basis of the diet is high-quality hay. Succulent feed, concentrates or other components of a complete diet can only be introduced 3-5 days after lambing.

Note: An hour and a half after each feeding, the uterus must be given water, and there should always be salt in the feeder. If the lamb does not completely suck out the udder, the sheep must be additionally milked.

In the first month of life, lambs need a lot of nutrients that they can only absorb with milk. Therefore, it is important to establish a complete diet for sheep. As the lamb grows older, they begin to feed: hay, concentrates and crushed succulent feed. Already from the second month of life, the amount of feeding is gradually increased, transferring the young to solid food.

Queens and lambs should be kept separately, and an open paddock for walking animals should be arranged near the premises. The site should be warm and calm. Separate maintenance of queens and cubs is necessary in order to preserve lactation as much as possible. With this method of keeping, the queens can eat in peace, since the lambs do not bother them. Cubs also get stronger from such maintenance, as they become accustomed to complementary foods faster and become more resistant to diseases (Figure 8).

To feed such a lamb, you need to follow these recommendations:

1. First of all, you should plant it in a high-milk uterus, which has only one lamb;
2. In order for the female to accept someone else's lamb, it is smeared with mucus from the uterus of a nursing sheep or lightly sprinkled with milk. So the uterus does not distinguish the smell of her lamb from someone else's;
3. It is better to feed someone else's lamb in the morning or in the evening, when the sheep are calm and have poor vision;
4. You can feed lambs from a teat using goat or cow milk. The initial daily allowance is 200 grams, and from the age of two weeks, the dosage begins to be doubled.

When the lambs reach three or four months, they are weaned from their mothers. Young rams are immediately transferred to a separate paddock, and females are weaned from their mothers for about two weeks, after which they can again be kept in the same paddock.

Figure 8. Room equipment for keeping and walking queens with lambs

To quickly stop lactation, after weaning the lambs, the ewes are given more dry food for a week and watered only once a day. Lambs after weaning are fed succulent feed and concentrates, and watered at least twice a day. It is better to graze lambs during the weaning period close to the paddock so that in case of bad weather they can be quickly transferred from open pasture to the premises.

Note: An important step in caring for lambs of fine-fleeced and semi-fine-fleeced breeds is tail trimming. The procedure is carried out on the 5th-7th day of the lamb's life. This measure is necessary because the long tail of lambs is constantly contaminated with feces and urine, which can lead to infection or damage to the wool.

Trimming the tail is a fairly simple process. One person holds the lamb by the legs, and the second, using a sharp disinfected knife, cuts off the tail at the border of the third and fourth vertebrae, after which the cut is treated with iodine.

It is also necessary to castrate rams unsuitable for breeding in time. Castration is carried out at two or three weeks of age. This will allow adult castrated rams (valukhs) to gain weight faster.

Sheep breeding for beginners

Breeding sheep at home is no different from raising sheep. Males, like females, need a constant pasture in the summer and a warm room for the winter.

The only difference is that in most cases rams are fattened for further slaughter for meat, selecting one or two for reproduction. The rest of the sheep are transferred to a special diet that promotes rapid weight gain.

Breeding sheep and rams is a good chance for a novice farmer to find his niche in the livestock business. These animals are hardy, have excellent health and are able to demonstrate high rates of productivity even with poor feeding.

In addition, this type of livestock is universal. Cultivation of yamok allows you to equally get meat, wool and milk. In this article we will try to answer all your questions. How to start a business, how to properly feed and care for these amazing animals.

Where to begin

Any experienced farmer to the question "where to start breeding sheep?" without hesitation will answer, of course, with the preparation of a business plan. This will help you better think about the financial costs of acquiring animals, building a sheepfold and pasture space. In addition, you can calculate the planned profit from the sale of products, thereby knowing the profitability of your business.

Then you need to choose a pasture where the animals will spend most of the year and for winter maintenance.

The choice of pasture directly depends on the number of flocks. For a comfortable grazing of one sheep with lambs, about one hectare of land per year is needed.

In addition, sheep grazing is best done in the immediate vicinity of a reservoir. One adult consumes about 10 liters of water per day.

For winter maintenance, it is necessary to build a sheepfold. To keep a dozen females with lambs, it is quite possible to limit yourself to a room of about 40 square meters.

Despite the fact that sheep are immune to temperature extremes, the room should be at least 9 degrees Celsius. In addition, it is necessary to take care of ventilation and the absence of drafts.

Having dealt with the conditions of keeping the flock, you can proceed to the acquisition of animals. You can buy sheep in farms. Many farmers recommend buying bright to start with.

Features of feeding

Shearing

Do not forget that raising sheep means obtaining not only meat, but also wool. Thus, there is a double benefit.

The wool of these animals is highly valued in production. Gloves, socks, sweaters, carpets, blankets are made from it.

It is recommended twice a year, before grazing and in late autumn, before the onset of frost. For these purposes, it is best to purchase a special one. This will allow you to process the entire flock with minimal effort.

Advice. Animals must be left without water and food for approximately 14 hours before shearing.

How to properly care for sheep

Caring for sheep at home, though troublesome, is not problematic. The main thing is to follow a few basic rules.

Caring for your flock begins with the mandatory vaccination of the entire livestock. This will reduce the risk of infections.

It is worth noting that the vaccine usually lasts about six months, so do not forget to repeat this event regularly.
Do not forget to regularly invite a veterinarian to examine your wards.

The fact is that some fatal diseases for sheep do not have pronounced symptoms in the initial stage. Therefore, only an experienced specialist can determine the disease.

Despite the fact that sheep endure low temperatures, they also have a weak point. These are hooves. Therefore, the floor in the sheepfold must necessarily be plank and covered with straw bedding. In addition, the hooves need to be cleaned and trimmed regularly, otherwise joint problems may begin.

It is useful to include salt in the daily diet. In addition, tree branches can be given to sheep as a source of vitamins.

Remember that you should not try to bring sheep into obedience by beating and grabbing for wool. This can cause stress in animals, which will negatively affect productivity.

Features of lambing

Sheep are very prolific animals. Some breeds are able to bring up to five lambs at a time.

It is worth noting the fact that the survival rate of young animals is very high, about 100%. Lambs do not need special conditions or additional care. Females have a very developed maternal instinct, so they usually take care of their offspring on their own.

Lambing usually goes without complications, but it is recommended to invite a veterinarian to be on the safe side. Human participation in the birth of lambs usually comes down to releasing the baby from the amniotic sac and removing mucus from the respiratory tract.

Remember that in the first 2-3 hours after birth, the lamb must be fed with mother's milk. If the female is unable to feed her cub on her own, the farmer needs to milk her and give her lamb milk to drink.

It is worth noting the fact that almost all varieties of domestic sheep during lactation can easily feed two or three babies.

Each female is able to give about 150 liters of milk during the feeding period. Therefore, some farmers slaughter newborn lambs (their skin is highly valued), and the sheep's milk is handed over to cheese dairies.

This type of business, although it takes place, does not bring large profits. The fact is that despite the fat content, sheep's milk in its composition is much inferior to cow's and goat's. Therefore, if you decide to build your business on the delivery of smushki (fleece of a newborn lamb) and milk, it makes sense to decide in advance on the sales market.

We hope that all of the above information will help you decide where to start raising sheep and how to care for animals in the future. Instead of concluding, we want to give you some useful tips for keeping sheep at home:

1. Choose a pasture away from busy freeways. The fact is that sheep are herd animals and cowardly. From sharp and loud sounds, the flock will instantly scatter. Moreover, the animals are also frankly stupid, they are not able to find their own way to a grazing place or a sheepfold.
2. For a more comfortable keeping of sheep in the pasture, you should think about purchasing. This device will protect your wards from predators and save on staff.
3. It often happens that the flock does not have a leader, so the lambs graze on their own. To keep them in subjection, you can get guard dogs or graze a flock along with goats.
4. In order to control the mating of animals, breeding rams are recommended to be kept separately.

Sheep breeding works well for those people who love animals, sheep in particular. Sheep are herd animals, they always graze together, they do not scatter far. You can graze them on any grass, even after passing cows. Many people let a goat into the flock so that there is a “leader”, because lambs and rams do not know their home well and will not go anywhere until someone confident in themselves leads them.

They are divided according to the quality of the wool into fine-wooled (their wool consists of only downy hairs), semi-fine-wooled (the wool is not so thin) and coarse-wooled (they are bred for meat and sheepskin skins).

The most popular breed in central Russia is the Romanov. She gives 4-5 lambs per offspring, while others give 1-2 lambs. This breed is also beneficial in that their sheepskin is more valued.

They live for a long time, up to 22-25 years, but they mate up to 8-9 years to get strong, healthy offspring.

Raising sheep during the grazing season

The beginning of the grazing season is in May, when the grass has already grown a little. In the morning they are watered and driven to pasture. At the beginning of the grazing period, they are accustomed to fresh grass, that is, they are not driven out to graze for the whole day, but for 2-3 hours, then they are returned to the sheepfold. And so for several days in a row.

When the grass has already grown well, all herbivores are driven out to pasture for the whole long summer day, and they are left to spend the night in paddocks with a canopy from the rain. Despite the fact that the young grass is quite juicy, they still need to be watered at least 2 times a day.

stall period

For the stall period, it is necessary to prepare at least 500 kilograms of good hay for one head, 500-700 kilograms of succulent feed (potatoes, root crops, silage) and concentrates, including salt, chalk, bone meal, 100 kilograms.

In the sheepfold, everything should be repaired for the winter, the walls should be sufficiently insulated, the doors and frames should be adjusted so that there are no drafts. If it is stuffy in the sheepfold in winter, then the glass is removed from the windows, and the opening can be tightened with a cloth, then the air will pass and there will be no draft. By the beginning of the stall period, you need to put feeders, drinkers. The room should not be cramped to avoid injuries and diseases of livestock.

In an insufficiently insulated and equipped barn, they can poorly tolerate the stall period, because in central Russia it lasts up to 7 months. The air temperature in the sheepfold in winter should not be lower than 6-8 ۨС, and when lambs appear, then up to 15 ۥС. Pregnant sheep should be kept separately. Sheepfold should be dry, clean, it is necessary to clean it regularly and change the bedding.

Feeding during the stall period

It is better to feed the lambs on the street, in a paddock, in bad weather under a canopy.

Best of all 3-4 times a day. If you feed them at a certain time, then between feedings they behave calmly, do not scream. At night, each bright tree is left with 1-2 brooms from branches with leaves harvested in the summer. Be sure to give them plenty of water, as they feed on dry food.

It is better to distribute the distribution of feed over time: give hay in the morning, hay, brooms plus succulent feed cut into pieces and sprinkled with bran in the afternoon, concentrates and hay in the evening. Individuals destined for meat are fattened with hay, mainly legumes and cereals. Don't forget to give them salt.

Possible diseases

To prevent the lambs from getting sick, it is necessary to adhere to the basic rules of sanitation, treat the premises in which a sick animal was seen with special substances, which are best consulted with a veterinarian. Separate sick animals from the rest and avoid contact with healthy individuals.

1. Diseases are not contagious

• Nutritional imbalance. Lambs may lack some minerals, as a result, they begin to eat wool from other lambs. After that, they die, as there is a blockage of the abomasum (part of the stomach in ruminants). With a lack of phosphorus and calcium, rickets may appear, and in adults - osteoporosis.
• Cold. One of the main enemies is dampness. It must be avoided in every possible way, both in winter and in summer. Animals get sick from it. A cold may appear if they are exposed to rain, as wet wool cannot dry for a long time, and everyone will get sick.
• Poisoning. They can be poisoned by poor-quality feed, some herbs, immoderate amounts of sugar beets.
• Wounds, fractures, bruises, mastitis in the uterus. In summer, flies and other blood-sucking insects (gadflies, gadflies) lay their eggs in any wound, from which larvae grow. They begin to corrode the skin, because of which the animals experience pain and itching, they are no longer up to grazing. These larvae are removed and the wounds are lubricated with iodine or other disinfectant. It is best to lubricate the wounds on the same day, for this animals need to be examined more often for their appearance.

2. contagious diseases

• Scabies
• Brucellosis
• coccidiosis
• Worms. In order not to infect your animals with worms, you need to graze them every week in a new place.

In all cases of ailments that are expressed in lethargy, poor appetite, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.

And we should never forget that lambs are the most defenseless animals, a wolf, a large dog can not only scare them, as a result of which milk can disappear from ewes, but also destroy an entire flock, as has happened more than once.

Sheep breeding

Yarki are ready for fertilization after six months of life, but this should not be allowed so early, as they may not withstand the load on a fragile body and get sick or die. Poor-quality offspring can also be born. You can mate at the age of 9 months and older. Best of all, after a year and a half.

Most begin to feel the hunt in the period from the second half of summer to the end of September. It depends on the length of daylight hours and air temperature.

Hunting is expressed by the fact that the genitals increase significantly in size, in some sheep they secrete mucus. The ewes become restless. This state lasts from 18 to 36 hours.

With signs of hunting, animals are separated from the flock and mated - they are left with a ram. In one day, a ram can cover 2-3 females. It is not worth giving more, so that he does not overwork, which can affect the quality of the offspring. If the bright women graze in a large flock, then 30-40 females should have 1 ram. In small flocks, a ram is needed for each flock.

We must not forget to make sure that there are no closely related cases, since the offspring suffer from this. To avoid this, it is necessary to replace the ram every 2-3 years. You can also change sheep between flocks.

So that no one gets infected with infectious diseases during mating, it is necessary to check them for these diseases at the veterinarian before this process.

artificial insemination

If necessary or at the request of the owner, artificial insemination of sheep is carried out. This is the highest quality insemination, which is done by qualified inseminators. This is done with the help of special devices.

To do this, an individual is identified during the hunting period and placed in a special machine, it is located in a room with a temperature of 20-24 ° C. Sperm, checked for quality and health, is injected into the uterus. Then they mark it with easily washable paint and release it into the flock. To get the best result, insemination is done again in a day, if she is still in the hunting period. After that, she is being watched.

If the bright is not fertilized during the first hunt, then she may want to again in 15-18 days. If the second time she remains unfertilized, then she may no longer be able to be fertilized, that is, she will become barren.

Pregnancy and childbirth

Many do not know how long a pregnant sheep walks. The gestation period is about 145-155 days. There are lambs, depending on the breed, from 1 to 5. Ewes lambs in the middle of winter, because. they roam in late summer - early autumn.

By the end of the gestation period, they become more and more rounded and slow. Three weeks before the birth of a sheep, the diet should become more easily digestible and plentiful.

The udder 1-2 days before birth increases significantly and fills with milk. The skin under the tail becomes more red and swollen. The tail becomes soft and thick.

Before lambing, the queens begin to show anxiety, refuse to eat and look for a secluded place. They need it for a calm birth. If possible, at this time the animal is transferred to a separate lambing area or to a fenced area.

The first lamb is born by the ewe lying down. Total birth lasts several hours, depending on the number of lambs and the health of the uterus. The birth of one lamb lasts up to 50 minutes. After the birth of the first lamb, the yarka licks it, licks off the waste of its birth: amniotic fluid and others. In the process of licking, she remembers his smell, so that later she will not be confused with anyone. The rest she gives birth while standing. They fall on the mat, but the fall does not harm them. She also licks the rest of the lambs. After 3-6 hours after the birth of the last lamb, the afterbirth comes out. This means that the lambing was completed successfully.

If a sheep with the birth of one of the lambs has problems or the afterbirth does not go away, not to mention the bleeding that has begun, it is urgent to contact a veterinarian or an experienced sheep breeder.

Newborn lambs begin to suck milk from the udder. This first milk (colostrum) is very beneficial for them. It contains a lot of substances necessary for just born babies. After 30 minutes, stronger babies can already stand, although, at the beginning, they sway a little.

The ewes stand still while feeding, waiting until the lambs are full. When this happens, the babies fall asleep. In the first few days, they suckle milk almost all the time and sleep. The ewe is also resting, she is also very tired.

Starting a farming business for newcomers to the industry will not be easy, but with the right approach, it can bring good returns. The most profitable entrepreneurial step, in terms of profit, is the decision to start breeding sheep. In order for a business to generate income, you need to draw up a business plan, invest a lot of effort and money in development, and it is desirable to have at least superficial knowledge in this area.

Successful sheep breeding requires some knowledge

Sheep are one of the fastest growing pets so there is good money to be made from this business. A few months after birth, the lamb weighs as much as half an adult ram, and upon reaching a year, it is only 10% inferior in weight to an adult ram. And sheep do not need any special care. To get high quality meat, it is recommended to choose meat breeds of sheep, of which there are quite a few today.

The most common breed of sheep, which is most often taken for keeping for meat, is Romanovskaya. It was bred back in the 18th century in Russia.

Young lambs up to a year already weigh more than 35 kg, when adults reach 90 kg, and sheep - up to 50 kg. It is because of its precocity and productivity that the Romanov breed has become so popular for breeding at home. Sheep of this breed bring lambs twice a year, and maybe three times, depending on the season.

Sheep of the Romanov breed are also distinguished by high milk yield. In 100 days, one sheep produces more than 100 liters of milk.

The content of these animals involves the construction of a corral, where they must spend all their time and sleep. Please note that the building must be reliable and insulated. Animals should have constant access to water and feed, and to ensure cleanliness in the paddock, it is better to use straw as bedding. This is how the business plan describes the place where the sheep live.

Sheep of the Romanov breed

Making a profit and fattening the lamb

An adult ram can be sold dearly, as its meat is highly valued among gourmets and is not only healthy, but also dietary.

But growing a lamb to the size of an adult animal will have to wait at least a year, or even more. During this time, a ram, with quality care, is able to grow good wool, which is cut and sold, bringing additional money to the breeder. This item must be added when drawing up a business plan, in the profit item, involving the maintenance of these animals.

At the initial stage of business development, you will need to purchase at least a hundred sheep. Considering that with a yearly content, a ram of any breed is sheared at least once, or even twice, having received 6 kg of wool at a time, selling which you can make a profit, which is also included in the business plan.

The Ladyzhenskaya farm calculated that one adult ram would have to spend 1.5 kg of grain and 4 kg of hay per day. And if we calculate the cost of feed for the year for 100 heads, then they will amount to 54,750 tons of grain and 146,000 tons of hay. The sheep still need to be pastured, as they need fresh grass and movement.

Sheep need fresh grass

Sale of lamb

Sheep can be taken as a whole, so carcasses can be cut at home. Such a sale will be much more profitable. It is also possible to sign a cooperation agreement with the owner of the restaurant, and regularly supply them with fresh meat.

Another good option is to interact with a meat processing plant, where lamb carcasses are regularly delivered.

Positive aspects of sheep breeding

For centuries, in many countries, even in Russia, farmers have been breeding sheep at home. Previously, it was impossible to imagine how in a fierce winter you can do without a fur coat or a sheepskin hat. Hardworking peasants always had at least two dozen sheep in their households. Their content bordered on the breeding of cattle, horses and poultry. Gradually, sheep breeding faded into the background, but today large farmers, having drawn up a business plan, understand how profitable this type of business is and continue to actively develop it.

Now there is an active revival of sheep breeding

The revival of the process of breeding sheep at home is undeniable and the Ladyzhensky sheepfold is an example of this. And the list of advantages of such a business includes:

• flexible adaptation to economic changes, compared with other animals. To start breeding sheep in a small amount, you do not need to have a lot of money, and making a profit will not take long.
• keeping sheep will not be difficult even in the country, if there is not much space to create a corral. Even a small sheepfold can provide a comfortable stay for a large herd in winter. Sheep of any breed are more comfortable with limited area and grouping than other types of livestock. They are not picky at all in content, which is very beneficial for farmers in winter.

If you want to breed sheep in the country, then it should be borne in mind that although the animals are not afraid of frost, they are very sensitive to dampness and cannot tolerate wet pastures.

A long stay in a damp room weakens the immunity of a sheep, exposing her body to serious diseases.

Breeding sheep at home can be considered a good business that does not require a lot of start-up capital. The taste characteristics of lamb and its dietary properties increase the demand for high quality meat. The business plan for sheep breeding notes the profit not only from the sale of meat, but also wool, which rural enterprises are willing to buy. And the rapid growth of lambs allows the business to actively develop and bring good income for a short time, even at home.

Lambs gain weight quickly

Sheep breeding methods

In sheep breeding, several breeding methods are used:

• purebred;
• through crossing.

The first type of animal breeding involves the mating of individuals of the same breed. It is used to obtain breeding offspring on sheep farms and those who work to obtain a certain product from a certain sheep. Karakul breeds of sheep can only be crossed among themselves, so as not to spoil the appearance of their wool.

With purebred breeding, the Ladyzhenskaya technique practices such an event as blood refreshment. For this, individuals of the same breed, which were raised in different conditions, also mate.

This method will help to cope with the depressive signs of sheep, with a decrease in productivity and its vitality.

When crossing, sheep of different breeds mate. Thus, at home, farmers can quickly influence the appearance and general health of future offspring, meat, namely its quality, breeding of a new breed, etc.

Breeding and keeping these animals is one of the most profitable agricultural industries for business, but if the business plan is correctly drawn up. Recently, lamb has become in demand, this meat is a delicacy that cannot be replaced. Their maintenance is not a troublesome and time-consuming matter, they can be bred without problems even in the country, if conditions allow. And making a profit with minimal investment will naturally please every businessman!

Breeding sheep at home is considered a profitable business. These animals are hardy, have good health and are highly productive. They are able to provide the owner not only with meat, but also with high-quality milk, fat and wool.

Each breed has its own characteristics. A novice farmer needs to decide what is more priority for him: obtaining meat, lard, milk or wool.

• Show all

  The best breeds of sheep for breeding at home

  Universal meat and wool varieties are very popular with farmers:

  • Romanovskaya. Great for home growing. Animals of the Romanov breed are characterized by rapid growth and are resistant to many diseases, they give the owner meat, milk and wool.
  • Kuibyshevskaya. Long-haired breed of sheep. They provide quality meat and wool.
  • Latvian. These are short-haired sheep that grow quickly. Breeding them is easy, and the meat is considered one of the most delicious.
  • Tushinskaya. These animals have good indicators of meat, wool and milk.
  • Karachaevskaya. Sheep have strong immunity, are able to endure frosts and rains.

  If the farmer's goal is to obtain meat, lard and wool, which will be used for felt, then he should acquire a fat-tailed breed of sheep. The most common are:

  • Hissar. These are hardy large animals, whose weight is about 200 kilograms.
  • Edilbaevskaya. An unpretentious breed that can live in arid and windy conditions. These animals, even with poor-quality nutrition, are able to eat fat tail fat.

  

  Sheepfold arrangement

  It is recommended to build a corral for livestock from brick or wood. The room should be spacious, warm, without drafts and excessive humidity. It is required that natural light penetrates into it, and the required temperature is about 10 degrees Celsius. Windows in a sheepfold should be installed at a sufficient distance from the floor so that animals cannot reach them. It is necessary to pay attention to ventilation, it should save the sheepfold from unpleasant odors and excess moisture. Floors should be hardened and covered with straw bedding. It is worth changing it from time to time and making sure that it is dry. The room needs regular ventilation and cleaning.

  

  One animal should have about 10 square meters. If individuals live in close quarters, this can provoke a number of diseases.

  

  Sheep nutrition

  In summer, animals spend most of the day on the pasture and feed on grass. You can feed them with corn silage and hay. As additives should be used:

  • chalk, which is a source of calcium;
  • salt (an adult should have 10 grams of the product per day, and 5 grams for lambs);
  • bone flour.

  In the cold season, in addition to hay, the following products should be included in the diet of animals:

  • wheat bran;
  • vegetables (carrots, beets);
  • beans;
  • cereals;
  • sunflower cake.

  Animals need plenty of food to gain weight faster and be healthy. Queens need high-quality fortified feed. 30 days before lambing, you should not give hay, but compound feed. Lambs in the first month of life can only eat mother's milk. Then concentrated mixtures are gradually introduced into their diet. Sheep should be provided with roughage, which should contain a large amount of protein.

  

  Common diseases

  Sheep have strong immunity, but if not properly cared for, they are affected by diseases.

  1. 1. Dampness causes pneumonia in animals. Its symptoms include:
  • elevated body temperature;
  • cough;
  • labored breathing;
  • loss of appetite.
  1. 2. Flatulence of the scar occurs due to improper feeding. Symptoms of this common disease:
  • bloating;
  • refusal of food;
  • nervousness.

  Treat sheep by piercing the scar.

  1. 3. Poisoning occurs when an animal has eaten a poisonous plant. Its features are:
  • unwillingness to eat;
  • diarrhea;
  • vomit.

  

  In case of poisoning, the stomach of the animal should be washed.

  1. 4. Purulent growths appear on the hooves of sheep and rams, which lead to lameness. To avoid this, give the animals nutritious food and keep them in a clean and warm environment.
  2. 5. Bezoar disease is a condition in which a sheep begins to eat its own wool, which clogs the animal's gastrointestinal tract. The reason lies in insufficient feeding.
  3. 6. The infectious disease listeriosis is caused by bacteria, is practically not treated and can kill the entire livestock of sheep.

  Features of lambing

  Sheep are highly prolific, large breeds bring five lambs at a time. The offspring quickly adapts to the conditions of detention and does not require additional care. Females have a maternal instinct, so the owner does not have to take care of young animals.

  It is desirable that a veterinarian be present at the birth of the lambs. This will avoid possible complications and save offspring.

  Lambs should receive their first milk no later than half an hour after birth. If the mother is weak and unable to feed her offspring, the owner must milk the milk and give it to the young.

  During this period, sheep bring up to 150 liters of milk. Some farmers dispose of newborns and sell it to cheese makers.

  Sheep milk has a high fat content, but there are fewer nutrients in it than in cow or goat milk.

  Shearing

  In coarse-haired and semi-coarse-haired breeds, the fleece should be removed in early spring. It is important to choose the right time, as in summer the process of molting begins in animals. Repeated wool sampling should be carried out in the fall.

  

  Fine-fleeced sheep should not be sheared early; in summer they practically do not shed. Their hair is enough to remove once a year.

  Lambs that were born in the spring are sheared after a year, and winter offspring in the fall.

  It is important that the hair of the animal during the haircut is not wet. Two weeks after the removal of the cover, the sheep are washed with disinfectants to avoid diseases.