Key Points on Feeding and Management Techniques for Small-tailed Han Sheep Breeding Rams

The Small-tailed Han sheep is an animal under the Bovidae family and Caprinae subfamily, and is a dual-purpose meat and fur sheep breed in our country. It has the characteristics of fast growth and development, early maturity, strong reproductive capacity, stable genetic performance, and strong adaptability. It has been designated by the state as a famous and superior livestock breed, and is praised by people as China“national treasure”, the world“super sheep” and “high-legged sheep”.

Feeding of breeding rams

Feeding of rams during the non-mating period

During the non-mating period, in addition to supplying sufficient energy, attention should also be paid to the adequate supply of nutrients such as protein, vitamins and minerals to breeding rams. For 80-90kg breeding rams without mating tasks, the daily requirement is generally about 1.5kg of feed and about 150g of digestible crude protein. During the non-mating period, breeding sheep farms supplement 0.4kg of concentrate, 2.0-2.6kg of hay, and 0.5kg of root feed daily, with bone meal and salt supplied year-round, while persisting in grazing and exercise.

Feeding of breeding rams during the mating period

During the mating period, the nutrients required for one ejaculation of 1mL by a breeding ram are approximately equivalent to 50g of digestible crude protein. Therefore, at this time more than 500g of concentrate must be supplemented daily. Practice has proven that when breeding rams obtain sufficient protein, their sexual function is vigorous, sperm density is high, and the conception rate of ewes is high. Therefore, 1-1.5 months before mating, the daily ration of breeding rams should be gradually increased from the non-mating period to the feeding standard of the mating period. For 80-90kg breeding rams, more than 2.0kg of feed units and more than 250g of digestible crude protein are needed daily, and as the number of daily semen collections increases, the feeding amount standard and other specially needed feeds (eggs, skim milk) should be gradually raised. During the mating period, breeding rams are supplemented daily with 0.8-1.0kg of concentrate, 0.5-1.0kg of milk, and 2-4 eggs, with an average daily amount of 10g of bone meal and 15g of salt supplied year-round. For breeding rams with relatively low semen concentration, the feeding amount of various animal proteins can be increased in the daily ration. For breeding rams with relatively poor sperm motility, the amount of exercise should be increased, combined with grazing and exercise every day, requiring fixed time, fixed distance, and fixed speed.

The requirements for breeding ram feed are high nutritional value, sufficient protein, vitamins and minerals, and easy digestion with good palatability. Good grasses include alfalfa, clover, green oat grass, etc. Succulent feeds include carrots, sugar beets or silage corn, etc. Concentrates include oats, barley, peas, black beans, corn, sorghum, soybean cake, wheat bran, etc. High-quality mixed grass-legume hay is the main feed for breeding rams and should be fed as much as possible throughout the year. In summer, supplement with half green-cut grass, and in winter supplement with an appropriate amount of silage. For any nutritional deficiency in the daily ration, supplement with mixed concentrate. In the concentrate, corn or barley should not be used in excess, and bran, peas, soybeans or cake residue should be used to supplement protein. Excellent rams with heavy mating tasks can be supplemented with animal feed.  In order to complete mating tasks, feeding must be strengthened during the non-mating period, exercise must be strengthened, and grazing should be carried out when conditions permit, laying the foundation for the mating period. Before the mating period, body weight should be 10%-15% higher than during the peak mating period. If this target is not met, mating will be affected. During the non-mating period, in addition to grazing, in winter generally supplement daily with 0.5kg of concentrate, 3kg of hay, 0.5kg of carrots, 5g-10g of salt, and 5g of bone meal. In summer, grazing is the main method, with appropriate concentrate supplementation, feeding 3-4 times daily and watering 1-2 times.  Feeding during the mating period is divided into two stages: the mating preparation period (1 month-1.5 months before mating) and the mating period. During the mating preparation period, the feed amount should be increased, giving 60%-70% of the mating feeding amount, and gradually increasing to the concentrate feeding amount of the mating period. During the mating period, rams are in a state of nervous excitement, often restless and not eating with peace of mind. Management during this period must be especially careful, rising early and sleeping late, giving less and adding frequently, and feeding multiple times. Feed quality must be good, and when necessary, some fish meal, eggs, and goat milk can be supplied to compensate for the large nutritional consumption during the mating period. If the protein quantity is insufficient and the quality is poor during the mating period, it will affect ram performance, semen quality and conception rate. The approximate daily feed quota during the mating period is: 1.2kg-1.4kg of mixed concentrate, 2kg of alfalfa hay or wild hay, 0.5kg-1.5kg of carrots, 15-20g of salt, 5g-10g of bone meal, and 5g of blood meal or fish meal. Give forage 2-3 times, and water 3-4 times. Daily grazing or exercise time is about 6 hours. The prepared concentrate should be evenly scattered in the feeding trough, and the appetite of breeding rams should be observed frequently so as to adjust the feed in time and judge the health status of breeding rams. Breeding rams should be kept far away from ewes, otherwise when the ewes bleat, the rams will stand at the door, climb on the wall, and look around, affecting feed intake. Breeding ram sheds should be selected in ventilated, sunny and dry places. Each ram needs about 2 square meters of area. High temperature and humidity in summer will have adverse effects on semen quality. During this period, grazing should be carried out on cool high ground, and they should rest in well-ventilated shady places.  Breeding and semen collection of breeding rams should be moderate. Generally, 1 ram can undertake the mating task of 30-50 ewes. Semen collection for breeding rams starts 1 month-1.5 months before mating, and semen quality is checked at the same time. At the beginning, collect semen once a week, then increase to twice a week, and at mating time 1-2 times daily, without continuous semen collection. For 1.5-year-old breeding rams, semen collection should not exceed 1-2 times a day, and 2.5-year-old breeding rams can collect semen 3-4 times daily. If semen collection frequency is high, there must be rest time in between, and rams should not eat too full before semen collection.