How to Raise Hu Sheep? A Detailed Explanation of the Key Points of Hu Sheep Farming Technology in 2019
The Hu sheep is a white lambskin sheep breed unique to China, mainly distributed in the Hangjiahu Plain of the Taihu Lake basin, and adapted to year-round barn feeding. Below is a detailed explanation of the key points of Hu sheep farming technology for 2019.
I. Breed selection for Hu sheep
In order to increase the economic value of raising Hu sheep, some farms, when selecting breeds, simply emphasize the body size of the breed and blindly pursue larger-bodied Hu sheep breeds with thicker legs and crowns. However, most sheep with these characteristics are not purebred Hu sheep, which leads many farms to introduce Small-tailed Han sheep that resemble purebred Hu sheep, and naturally they fail to achieve the economic benefits of Hu sheep farming.
During the breed selection process, purebred Hu sheep should be introduced from regular farms, and it is best to choose those sheep breeds that have pedigree records and obvious breed characteristics. Only purebred Hu sheep can truly breed Hu sheep flocks of excellent breed quality and good economic benefits, thereby enhancing the economic benefits of the farm.
II. Stocking density of Hu sheep
The temperament and characteristics of Hu sheep determine that they are more suitable for barn feeding and not for grazing, otherwise fractures, miscarriages, or allergic reactions from mosquito and insect bites may occur, reducing the economic returns of Hu sheep farming.
Therefore, special attention must be paid to stocking density. Generally speaking, about 5 Hu sheep can be raised per mu of garden land. Exceeding this number will cause far-reaching harm to the environment and is not conducive to the sustainable development of Hu sheep farming.
III. Daily management of Hu sheep
1. Feed supply. Hu sheep have rather omnivorous feeding habits. Various kinds of green grass, crop straw, vegetable leaves, blighted grain, tofu dregs, rapeseed cake, silkworm droppings, rice bran, and so on can all be used as feed. At the same time, actively develop new feed resources, apply sheep-raising techniques such as “ammoniation, alkalization, and silage,” and use winter fallow fields or other vacant land to grow high-yield, nutritious artificial forage to feed the sheep.
2. In addition to routine management, focus on the following points.
3. Ensure a sufficient supply of clean drinking water, and add a little table salt appropriately.
4. Tap the lactation potential of ewes and implement the technique of “one mother raising twin lambs or multiple lambs.”
5. Pay attention to timely weaning of lambs. The nursing period is generally controlled within 45 days of age.
6. Before selling meat sheep (especially old sheep), they need 1-2 months of intensified feeding to improve meat quality, increase meat value, and boost sheep-raising benefits.
IV. Disease prevention and control of Hu sheep
1. Sheep black disease and rapid death disease: inject the “sheep black disease, lamb dysentery, sheep enterotoxemia, and sheep sudden death” quadrivalent vaccine for prevention. Treatment results after onset are relatively poor.
2. Disease No. 5: inject the “Disease No. 5” vaccine for prevention.
In short, if abnormal conditions such as standing blankly, not eating, or lethargy occur, once discovered, targeted measures must be taken immediately to keep the adverse effects within the smallest possible range.
V. Breeding and seed selection of Hu sheep
The breeding season for Hu sheep is generally scheduled for mating in spring from April to May, with lambing in autumn from September to October, one litter per year. However, some sheep can also have their breeding season appropriately adjusted, with mating scheduled from September to November and lambing from February to April of the following year, so as to achieve “two litters per year or three litters in two years.” However, sheep mated in autumn and lambing in spring are not suitable to be kept for breeding and may only be used for meat sheep production.