A Detailed Guide to Black-Boned Sheep Lamb Prices, Feeding Habits, Profits and Free-Range Methods

Black-boned sheep, also known as Pumi black-boned sheep, is a fairly common type of sheep in China. Because its meat is delicious, its nutritional value is high, and it has strong adaptability and fast growth and development, it is widely raised. So how much does one black-boned sheep lamb cost on the market? What does it eat to grow up? How much can you earn by raising one? How do you raise it free-range?

Latest market price:

The market price of black-boned sheep lambs is generally around 300 yuan each, but regional differences will cause price differences, so it is best to consult your local market in detail. Black-boned sheep have strong adaptability, a wide feeding range, and tolerance for coarse feed. They can eat various coarse feeds such as weeds, branches and leaves, straw, vine stems, and pasture grass. This sheep grows and develops quickly and has a large body size; adult sheep can reach 38-58 kg.

What does it eat?

Black-boned sheep have a wide feeding range and can eat various livestock feeds such as weeds, tree leaves, and pasture grass. Hybrid giant napier grass, alfalfa, hybrid napier grass, and ryegrass are all very suitable for feeding black-boned sheep.

Analysis of breeding costs and profits:

1. Breeding sheep cost: one black-boned sheep lamb costs about 3000 yuan, 1 sheep × 3000 yuan = 3000 yuan.

2. Sheep shed cost: raising 1 sheep requires a sheep shed area of about 10 sq m. The cost of an ordinary sheep shed is about 200 yuan per sq m, so the sheep shed cost for 1 sheep is 2000 yuan.

3. Feed cost: the average daily feeding cost per sheep and the discounted ratio of coarse and fine feed is 0.8 yuan per day. The feed cost for 12 months is 1 sheep × 65 days × 0.8 yuan = 52 yuan.

4. Total cost: the cost of raising 1 sheep is 3000 yuan + 2000 yuan + 52 yuan = 5052 yuan

Free-range techniques:

1. Spring grazing: because the sheep have gone through the long winter and spring withered grass, the sheep are in poor condition and greedy, and are prone to overgrazing on young grass, causing diarrhea, or accidentally eating poisonous grass and being poisoned, or bloating on green grass (rumen bloat). Therefore, spring grazing must first prevent sheep from “running after green grass”; second, prevent sheep from “bloating.” There is often a saying: “If you graze sheep by holding back the head, they get a belly full of fat; if you graze sheep without holding back the head, they run into skinny monkey horses.” Spring grazing requires a tight hand. At the beginning, you can first graze on old grass slopes or feed some dry grass, and then graze on green grass slopes. Spring grass is tender and high in water content, and the mornings are cold, so sheep must not eat dew-covered grass, otherwise it easily causes diarrhea. In spring, after the sheep graze on green grass, feed salt once every 5-6 days. When feeding, stir-fry the salt until it is slightly yellow, and add some crushed heat-clearing, appetite-stimulating feed and necessary additives. This can help digestion, increase appetite, and supplement nutrition. At the same time, the flock must be given drinking water at least once a day.

2. Summer grazing: the climate characteristics of summer are hot weather, heavy rain, and many mosquitoes, so work to prevent heatstroke and lower temperature should be done well. When grazing, attention should be paid to going out early and returning late. At noon when it is hot, prevent sheep from “huddling together,” and let the flock rest in a ventilated, shady place. When necessary, give appropriate rest during grazing. At the same time, do a good job of preventing mosquitoes and deworming. Give the flock more drinking water and feed salt appropriately.

3. Autumn grazing: in autumn, the sky is high and the air is crisp, pasture is abundant, and grass seeds gradually mature, so it should be the season of “good sheep grazing all over the mountains and plains.” Autumn is the season for the flock to gain fat and breed. During grazing, pay attention to letting the sheep eat their fill and graze well. This is important not only for fattening and marketing in winter, but also for safely overwintering and for sheep reproduction.

4. Winter grazing: in winter, the weather gradually turns cold, plants begin to wither, and there are rain, snow, and frost. During grazing, attention should be paid to cold prevention, warmth keeping, condition keeping, and lamb protection. In winter grazing, sheep are often allowed to eat some tree leaves and dry grass in front of and behind the village and around the sheep pen. On sunny days, let the sheep move and bask in the sun more. Pregnant ewes must never be made to cross ditches and ridges. At the same time, repair the sheep shed well. There is a saying, “a warm pen adds three parts of fat.”