What to Do When a Ewe Does Not Come into Heat: Breeding Ewe Feeding Techniques
Sheep are a very common animal in our lives, and sheep are actually divided into male and female, which is what makes their reproduction possible. There are also a great many people raising sheep now, but when breeding them, some people may encounter the situation of a ewe not coming into heat. So what should be done about it? If you want to learn more, just read on below!
What to Do When a Ewe Does Not Come into Heat
1. One month before mating, supplement the ewe's feeding appropriately to raise her nutritional level, especially by supplying enough protein feed. For ewes in below-medium body condition, this can promote estrus and ovulation and induce twin births. According to reports, under poor body condition, for every 1 kg increase in ewe body weight before mating, the ovulation rate rises by 2%-2.5% and the lambing rate rises by 1.5%-2%. A relatively balanced and complete nutritional level will bring young ewes into heat earlier, and will also allow normal ewes to come into heat and ovulate normally. If their nutritional needs cannot be met, not only will they fail to come into heat and ovulate normally, but the duration of estrus and the estrous cycle of the ewe will also be abnormal.
2. Light is one of the main factors affecting estrus in ewes. Sheep are short-day seasonal breeding animals; when light duration shortens, the reproductive function of the ewe is in an excited and vigorous state, and the ewe comes into heat. Conversely, lengthening the photoperiod will inhibit estrus in ewes.
Feeding Techniques for Breeding Ewes
1. Feeding techniques for breeding ewes in the pre-mating period: The pre-mating period for breeding ewes can also be called the non-pregnant period. During this period the ewe has no burden of pregnancy or milk secretion, so simply fattening her up and restoring her condition is enough. This is because the main purpose of raising breeding ewes during this period is to prepare for mating. As long as breeding ewes reach full body condition before mating, their prolificacy and conception rate can be improved.
2. Feeding techniques for breeding ewes during pregnancy: A ewe's pregnancy lasts a total of five months, so the pregnancy period can also be divided into early pregnancy and late pregnancy. Early pregnancy is the first three months of pregnancy. During this time the fetus in the ewe's belly develops relatively slowly, so do not feed too much; just maintain a normal level. However, be sure to supplement vitamins, trace elements and minerals. Late pregnancy refers to the two months before lambing; during this time the feeding of the ewe must be strengthened, and providing her with sufficient nutrition is crucial. This is because during this period not only does the ewe herself greatly need nutrition, but the nutritional needs of the fetus in her belly must also be ensured. At this time the fetus develops relatively quickly, with bones, muscles, skin and internal organs all growing, so nutrition naturally cannot be lacking.
Technical Measures to Improve Ewe Fecundity
1. Ovulation control. This includes control of ovulation time and ovulation number. Estrus and ovulation are regulated by hormones, and hormone preparations can be used to control ovulation time. Generally, 8-10 hours after estrus and before ovulation, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue is used, such as Ovulation No. 2 or Ovulation No. 3, or human chorionic gonadotropin can also be used. This technique is helpful for carrying out timed artificial insemination and reduces the trouble of estrus detection. Control of ovulation number includes controlling the discharge of two eggs, twin births and superovulation in female animals. Superovulation is used for embryo production in donor females for embryo transfer.
2. Puberty control. Through nutritional means or hormone treatment, the ewe's puberty can be brought on earlier, so that she reaches sexual maturity and mating weight, mates and reproduces earlier, and increases the number of lambs produced. For example, at the Guanshan Sheep Farm in Fuxin City, Polled Merino sheep, through strengthened feeding and management, reached 40 kg in autumn of the same year as lambs, mated in September of that year, and lambed the following year, one year earlier than the normal mating at 18 months of age. For sexually immature young ewes that have reached a certain age in months, treatment with gonadotropins (such as follicle-stimulating hormone, or pregnant mare serum gonadotropin) can bring them into heat, mating and conception.
How to Prevent Insufficient Milk in Ewes
Ensure adequate nutrition, with forage as the main feed. Sheep feed should be based mainly on forage, with appropriate supplementation of concentrate. The roughage in the daily ration should be no less than 60%, and the concentrate no more than 40%. Also follow five principles:
1. Variety. The feed should be as rich and varied as possible, with green, rough and concentrate feeds rationally combined. Green feed, roughage and mixed concentrate should each include more than 5 kinds (of which 2 are legumes), 2 kinds, and 3 kinds respectively.
2. Quality assurance. The feed should be good in quality and fresh, and the forage must not carry dew (or be exposed to rain, etc.).
3. Sufficient quantity. Each adult sheep should receive 4-5 kg of green feed, 1-2 kg of roughage, and more than 0.5 kg of mixed concentrate per day.
4. Complete nutrition. The crude protein of the daily ration should reach 10%-14%, crude fiber should be kept within 20%, and mineral feed (or a lick block) should be added to the daily ration.
5. Stable supply. Green and rough feed must be supplied evenly throughout the year, and feed changes should go from less to more, with a gradual transition.
A ewe not coming into heat is generally related to light, nutrition and other aspects, so if you want to solve it, you need to strengthen measures in these two areas. When raising ewes, attention must be paid to feeding, and the nutrition required differs at different stages.