Winter brings cold climates and various contagious diseases, making it crucial to provide proper nutrition and boost immunity in sheep to withstand severe cold. Additionally, adjusting the farming methods and ensuring warmth and protection is essential for maintaining breeding efficiency. Let's delve into the key points to consider when farming sheep in winter:
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Constructing Good Sheep Pens: As the winter weather is cold, the sheep pens used in summer are no longer suitable. Choose a location that is sheltered from the wind and sunny to build well-ventilated and insulated sheep pens. Keep the pens dry and clean, and hang grass curtains at the ventilation and exit points in the morning and evening.
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Timely Feeding: During the late pregnancy of ewes or in rainy or snowy weather when sheep cannot graze outdoors, promptly supplement them with grass and concentrate feed such as wheat and corn. Adult sheep should be fed approximately 1.5 kilograms of grass per day, while lambs should be fed until they are full.
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Seasonal Grazing: In winter, sheep should graze for about 4 hours a day, preferably around midday on sunny days. During grazing, adhere to the principle of "going against the wind when going out and returning with the wind," allowing the sheep to gradually adapt to the cold. Choose warm and sheltered pastures with good grass for winter grazing to encourage more grass consumption and less walking.
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Salt Supplementation: Feed salt to sheep once every 10 days, with each sheep receiving about 10 grams of salt each time. They should drink water before salt consumption. Feeding salt before water intake may lead to miscarriage due to "water top pregnancy."
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Watering: In winter, it's best to water sheep around 2 PM when the feed is dry. Ensure daily access to water (skipping a day can cause crowding in the flock). Provide warm water instead of icy water.
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Hygiene and Vaccination: Regular disinfection should be carried out in winter to maintain cleanliness and hygiene. Inspect the sheep pens frequently and ensure the cleanliness of the sheep's body surface. Additionally, regularly treat feces to prevent diseases. Implement effective parasite control and disease prevention measures.
These are the essential considerations for winter sheep farming. Maintaining the sheep's health and ensuring warmth are crucial. Avoid feeding spoiled feed, provide adequate water, timely supplementation, and maintain hygiene and disease prevention measures.
