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The key technologies that need to be mastered in raising sheep
To achieve successful sheep farming, it is essential to focus on the careful selection of breeding stock and leverage the benefits of crossbreeding. Depending on the production goals, both ewes and rams must be carefully chosen. As the saying goes, "If the ewe is good, she will have a strong nest; if the ram is good, the flock will thrive." High-quality male and female sheep can produce superior offspring. For example, two-way crossbred sheep such as Charolais x Small-tail Han, Small-tail Han x Henan Fine-wool Sheep, and Henan Dairy Goat x local goats can significantly improve productivity and bring higher returns for farmers.
In addition, it's important to make full use of locally available feed resources. Rural areas are rich in roughage like wheat straw, soybean stalks, sweet potato vines, and corn stalks. Unfortunately, many of these materials are burned or used as manure, which is a waste of potential value. Local communities should actively promote advanced techniques such as ammoniation, alkali treatment, and silage of corn stalks to convert these materials into nutritious feed for sheep, thereby increasing efficiency and profitability.
Beyond standard feeding practices, modern feeding and management techniques should also be adopted. First, ensure that sheep housing is located in a sheltered, sunny area with good ventilation, and take proper measures in winter to prevent weight loss. Second, provide proper feeding equipment such as troughs and hay racks instead of scattering grass on the ground, which helps reduce waste and prevent disease spread. Third, during the late stages of pregnancy, ewes should be grouped according to their sex, strength, and size to avoid aggression and reduce the risk of abortion. Finally, maintain a regular and measured feeding schedule to ensure balanced nutrition.
Disease prevention is crucial. Neglecting this can lead to severe losses if an outbreak occurs. Common diseases such as sheep pox, foot-and-mouth disease, enterovirus, dysentery, oral plague, pneumonia, and brucellosis require constant monitoring and timely intervention. Farmers should not underestimate the importance of vaccination, hygiene, and early treatment.
Lastly, promoting the fattening and slaughter of lambs within the same year is key to overcoming seasonal feed shortages. Due to the uneven availability of roughage throughout the year, many farms face the issue of "overfeeding in summer, losing weight in winter, and being weak in spring." By focusing on raising and slaughtering lambs in the same year, farmers can optimize growth, improve meat quality, and maximize profits. This approach ensures better resource utilization and more stable income.