Do You Need a Breeding License to Raise Sheep on Barren Hills? A Detailed Guide to Breeding Precautions

Barren hills refer to hills that have not yet been reclaimed or developed, or to remote, sparsely populated hills. In our rural areas there are a great many such barren hills, and using them to graze sheep is a good choice. This is because sheep grow better when they live in mountain forests overgrown with weeds. So do you need a breeding license to raise sheep on barren hills? What breeding precautions are there?

1. Do you need a breeding license to raise sheep on barren hills?

The answer is yes. To build a breeding farm on barren hills, you must first go to the township animal husbandry station and the land and resources management office to consult, and bring your application for the land you intend to use for breeding (stamped with the official seal of the villagers' committee) to these two departments. The two departments will visit to learn about the situation and measure the land, and apply to the higher-level department. If the conditions are met, the approval procedures will be issued; otherwise it is not permitted.

2. What breeding precautions are there for raising sheep on barren hills?

1. Selection of sheep breeds

In rural areas and on the outskirts of towns, breeders should, in the process of selecting breeding stock, choose breeds suited to the local climate, and at the same time select healthy-growing rams and ewes for breeding. In addition, during the selection process, care should also be taken that the breeding sheep have received the corresponding vaccinations, to ensure the health of the breeding sheep. Through the self-breeding of breeding sheep within the farmers' breeding area, the quality and yield of the sheep can be improved, and at the same time the resistance of the young sheep can be increased, preventing other pathogens from entering the breeding system.

2. Pay attention to the hygiene of the breeding environment

The traditional management of sheep by herders is usually extensive and simple, with a filthy, damp, messy environment. This not only causes mosquitoes, flies and other insects to multiply in large numbers, but also breeds pathogenic microorganisms and parasites, and further contaminates the sheep's feed and drinking water, thereby leading to the occurrence and spread of disease.

Large-scale sheep raising must attach importance to improving environmental hygiene conditions, frequently sweeping the ground, replacing bedding straw, and paying attention to ventilation, keeping the sheep pen clean, dry and hygienic. Sheep manure and waste should be piled up for fermentation.

3. Key points of feeding

When the season enters winter and spring, because the pasture enters the withered-grass period, the nutritional content of the stored pasture declines. During the breeding process, relying only on grazing makes it difficult to ensure that they take in sufficient nutrition, so in this season's breeding process other nutrients need to be added for feeding. During the feeding process, straw, feed, green hay and agricultural by-products can be used for feeding. The flock should be given supplementary feeding, especially lambs. During supplementary feeding, special attention should be paid to the balance of nutrition, with the active addition of protein and minerals.

4. Pest elimination and disinfection

During the raising of fattening sheep, the flock must be regularly disinfected and dewormed. During growth, the flock is very prone to infection by external parasites, causing slow growth and reduced resistance, with various diseases occurring frequently. Therefore, during the breeding process, the flock should be regularly disinfected and dewormed every year according to the incidence pattern of the parasites. The sheep house floor, walls, fences, the sheep's exercise area, as well as the utensils and machinery and equipment commonly used for sheep, must all be disinfected regularly. Under normal circumstances, disinfection should be carried out once or twice a week. If there is an epidemic situation, disinfecting 3 to 4 times a week is most appropriate. Commonly used disinfectant drugs should be rotated regularly for better effect.