Two Efficient Methods for Raising Small-Tailed Han Sheep

These two new raising methods for Small-Tailed Han Sheep in this article can reduce feeding costs, improve breeding efficiency, and are very beneficial to the growth of Small-Tailed Han Sheep.

1. Stomach-flushing method

During raising, Small-Tailed Han Sheep inevitably eat “dirty” feed and drink “unclean” water, causing them to suffer from parasitic diseases, diarrhea or other diseases, and even death. Therefore, flushing the stomach once at regular intervals (usually once a month) helps prevent disease and promote growth. The method is to feed the Small-Tailed Han Sheep a sufficient amount of salt; each adult sheep can consume 0.02-0.04 kg of salt per feeding. After feeding stops and the sheep have been thirsty for 2-3 hours, let them drink stomach-flushing water (warm boiled water).

Precautions for the stomach-flushing method

1. Salt should preferably be fed in the morning when the sheep are on an empty stomach.

2. Do not use on sick sheep, to avoid harming the stomach, intestines, spleen and kidneys.

3. The amount of stomach-flushing water must be sufficient, no less than 10 kg per adult sheep, with some left over after drinking as the standard. To make the sheep drink more, an appropriate amount of light concentrated feed such as wheat bran and cornmeal can be scattered into the stomach-flushing water.

4. 15-20 minutes after drinking, drive the sheep out of the pen to move around, promoting faster blood circulation, washing away turbid matter in the body, cleansing the internal environment, increasing excretion, and achieving the goal of disease prevention and body strengthening.

2. Fat-control method

If the sheep is too fat, the fallopian tubes are compressed, which is not conducive to egg release, conception and implantation; if the sheep is too thin, the uterus is shrunken and cannot store enough nourishment, which hinders fetal development and easily leads to deformed or dead fetuses, reducing the reproduction rate. Therefore, the sheep should be kept at a moderate level of fatness. The fat-control method is: 45 days after the ewe gives birth, fatten it rapidly for 15 days, then sharply reduce concentrated feed, suddenly increase roughage, let it drink more clean water, and lower the nutritional level, prompting the ewe to show the physiological phenomenon of “breeding in response to adversity”, making the reproductive system active, so it can come into estrus early, mate early, and improve the reproduction rate.

Precautions for the fat-control method

1. This method should not be carried out in winter.

2. It should not be carried out on sick, weak, disabled or inferior sheep.

3. The fat-control period is limited to 1 week.