How can a ewe give birth twice a year? Shorten the lactation period and strengthen nutrition

AbstractTo make a ewe give birth twice a year, it is necessary to combine shortening the lactation period with strengthening nutrition. Within one week of birth, the lamb can be kept together with the ewe, but after one week of birth, it must be separated from the ewe during the day and only receive breastfeeding three times a day; the rest of the time it must eat feed on its own. Never force weaning, to avoid stress reactions in both the lamb and the ewe, which would delay the estrus period and thus make it impossible to produce two litters a year.

Having a ewe give birth twice a year can greatly improve the economic benefits of farmers and effectively raise the ewe's production level, so what is the method for a ewe to give birth twice a year? Attention needs to be paid to the following aspects.

1. Shorten the lactation period

A ewe's gestation period is about five months, and giving birth twice takes ten months. Because lactation in the ewe causes the anterior pituitary to secrete a large amount of prolactin and also raises the secretion level of the pituitary within the hypothalamus, both of which can cause a serious deficiency in the amount and frequency of luteinizing hormone secretion, ultimately preventing the ewe from ovulating early, so it cannot come into estrus early, making it impossible to achieve two births a year. Therefore, the ewe's lactation period must be shortened so that the ewe can produce a second litter.

2. Do not force weaning

One week after the lamb is born is the most critical period for its demand for breast milk. After the lamb is half a month old, breast milk no longer has much special effect on the lamb. If the lamb is suddenly force-weaned, both the lamb and the ewe will become restless and anxious, running, jumping, and bleating all over the rearing area, which will cause very serious harm to the ewe.

This stress reaction will cause the ewe to be in a maladjusted state for a period of time, so the ewe's body weight and physical strength will be affected, which in turn affects the ewe's next estrus. Although the lamb's weaning time is shortened, it also affects the timing of the ewe's estrus.

3. The best weaning day for lambs

Within one week of the lamb's birth, keep the ewe and lamb together for rearing, so that the lamb can freely suckle breast milk for one week. After the lamb is one week old, separate the lamb from the ewe during the day for rearing, providing breastfeeding only three times, in the morning, at noon, and in the evening, and the rest of the time teach the lamb to eat feed on its own.

After one month of this method, the lamb can fully adapt to weaning, and both the ewe and the lamb can avoid stress reactions. The ewe's lactation period is also shortened, allowing it to be in good condition for preparing for pregnancy.

4. Strengthen nutrition

Many breeds of sheep in our country are seasonal breeders, and the vast majority of sheep come into estrus and mate in autumn. You can mate the ewe in October of the current year, and it will give birth to lambs in February to March of the following year. After the ewe gives birth, nutrition must be strengthened, using most of the time to keep the ewe in pens and feed it, and a small part of the time to graze the ewe.

Then mate the ewe again in April to May, and by autumn it can give birth to lambs again. In this way, two litters of lambs a year are achieved.