How to Rear Sheep

Sheep is a gentle animal. They like to eat grass in the pasture land and move around together. Their breeding efficiency is high and they give birth 2 times in 15 months. So, if starting to rear sheep, farm size will be increased within few years and achieve profit in business. They can only live on grass. But if provided concentrate feed, well production can be achieved. Sheep is reared for wool and meat. There is not so good breed in this country. Sheep in Bangladesh produces coarse wool. So, they are not popular for wool. Sheep is reared here for meat. Although, sheep wool is very valuable and popular in the temperate zone of the world. Blanket, shawl, sweater, jacket are made of sheep wool. Coarse wool is used for making carpet. In spite of these qualities, sheep rearing is not popular due to lack of pasture land and steps.
Housing for Sheep
Housing for sheep is not so important. Because, they graze around the field all day long for feed, although housing is required for the following reasons:
  1. To take rest at night.
  2. To protect from wild animal.
  3. To protect from heavy wind and rainfall.
  4. To perform milking from high producing sheep.
  5. To take care for pregnant animal, parturition and for lamb.
  6. To clip sheep wool.
  7. To protect from thief.
Three types of houses are used for sheep rearing. Such as: A. Open or extensive B. Semi open C. Intensive. Housing for sheep is made for sheltering at night by considering weather and climate. Floor of sheep house should be either ground level or on slat.
  1. Open House: This house is suitable where rainfall is less. Open house can be prepared by making fence around a specific area. The house has no roof. A group of sheep take shelter here at night after grazing over day. Straw is used in the floor.
  2. Semi Open House: When a place with roof is prepared at the one corner of a specific place of open house is called semi�open house. Semi-open house may be used in the area where rainfall is not frequent.
  3. Intensive House: This type of house is more suitable in the area where excessive rainfall is common. Intensive house is fully covered by roof. Sufficient light and ventilation should be available in this house. Floor of the house may be concrete or semi-concrete.
Floor space allocation for sheep with different ages
Sheep weight/age
Floor on slat (square meter)
Floor on ground level with straw (square meter)
Ewe without lamb (45-68 kg)
0.75-0.95
1.0-1.3
Ewe with lamb (45-68 kg)
1.0-1.4
1.30-1.75
Ram (Adult male) (32 kg)
0.55-0.75
0.75-0.95
Ram (22 kg)
0.45-0.55
0.65-0.95
Lamb (6 weeks)
-
0.4
Lamb (2 weeks)
-
0.15

Caring for Sheep
Proper care should be required to keep sheep healthy, strong and active and to get more production. Sheep wool should be cleaned with the help of brush regularly. Dirt of wool will be come out. Sometimes, chemical has to be applied on the body of the sheep to destroy external parasites. Before clipping (cutting wool) of sheep, washing should be performed.

Feeds for Sheep
Sheep can live on any type of feed. It is a ruminant animal as like as cattle, buffalo and goat. Feed classification of sheep is similar to cattle and goat. The ration of sheep contains more roughage (fiber) than concentrates. More concentrated feed should be provided to mother ewe than pregnant ewe. Concentrated feed of 200-250 g should be added daily at feeding chart for ewe before one month of parturition.

Feed chart for meat producing sheep
Ingredients
Quantity (%)
Broken corn
40
Molasses
5
Wheat bran
10
Oil cake
9
Dried legume grass
36
Total
100

Feed chart for pregnant ewe:
Ingredients
Quantity (%)
Broken wheat
45
Oil cake
10
Molasses
5
Silage of maize
20
Dried legume grass
20

Feed chart for mother ewe:
Ingredients
Quantity (%)
Good quality dried legume grass
80
Broken corn
13
Oil cake
4
Wheat bran
3

Caring for Newborn Lamb
According to body weight, colostrums should be given to newborn lamb up to 3-4 days of parturition. It develops body immunity.

Prevention and Treatment of Sheep Diseases
Sheep is kept in a clean environment. Routine Deworming and vaccination program should be followed for all stages of sheep. Sheep is mainly affected by anthrax, black quarter, mastitis, foot and mouth disease, skin disease, worms, external parasites etc. Treatment should be provided to sick sheep according to the advice of Veterinary doctor.

Location: Khulna, Bangladesh

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