What are the efficient feeding methods for Boer crossbred meat sheep?
Efficient feeding methods for Boer crossbred meat sheep?
(Agricultural Wealth Network) Efficient feeding methods for Boer crossbred meat sheep?
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Timely supplementary feeding with high-nutrient feed Boer crossbred sheep produced with Boer goats as the sire have the characteristics of fast growth, high slaughter rate, and tender meat. Because crossbred sheep grow and develop faster than local sheep, especially from six to nine months after birth, when their body weight can double compared with local sheep, their nutritional requirements are also relatively higher. They cannot be treated the same as local sheep and should be given appropriate supplementary feeding on the basis of the local sheep diet. The amount of supplementary feeding is generally determined by the nutritional requirements for weight gain and the availability of green forage in different seasons. Generally, for crossbred sheep born in spring, in places with abundant forage resources, apart from appropriate supplementary feeding before and after weaning and for fattening before market, no supplementary feeding is needed at other times. However, crossbred sheep born in autumn and winter generally all need supplementary feeding; otherwise, early growth and development will be affected, and the heterosis will not be obvious. Supplementary feeding is generally carried out with mixed concentrate at 0.5%-1% of the crossbred sheep's body weight.
Feeding and management measures must be in place As a high-quality meat sheep breed, Boer crossbred sheep must be raised and managed with "good breed + good methods." Only by adopting scientific feeding and management methods can obvious breeding benefits be achieved. The feeding and management of Boer crossbred meat sheep mainly requires attention to the following points:
Do a good job of epidemic prevention Disease prevention and control are especially important for raising Boer crossbred meat sheep. For epidemic prevention, the "one sheep, two needles" and "triple vaccine, four preventions" methods are relatively effective.
Timely castration After castration, sheep are docile in temperament, easier to manage, and easy to fatten. It can also reduce mutton odor and improve mutton quality. Lambs are generally castrated at about two months after birth; delayed castration affects growth and weight gain.
Regular deworming Parasites can seriously affect the growth rate of crossbred meat sheep, so deworming of crossbred meat sheep is very important. Generally, flukes and nematodes are dewormed once each in spring and autumn, tapeworms are dewormed once every two months, and external parasites are dewormed once each in spring, autumn, and winter. To reduce the workload of deworming, avermectin-type deworming drugs can be used to eliminate both internal and external parasites at the same time.
Use short-term fattening technology Short-term fattening technology can effectively improve the growth rate and mutton quality of Boer crossbred meat sheep and increase economic benefits. The effect is especially prominent when crossbred sheep are given short-term fattening before market. Generally, one month before slaughter, under normal grazing conditions, crossbred sheep around 6 months old are supplement-fed daily with 150 grams of corn, 100 grams of bran, 50 grams of soybean meal, and 3 grams of bone meal. After about one month of fattening, they can gain 6 kg to 8 kg.
Raise in the same year and market in the same year Promoting commercial crossbred lambs to be raised in the same year and marketed in the same year is of great significance for reducing forage needs in winter and spring, avoiding "winter thinness and spring death," and increasing the commercial rate. The crossbreeding utilization of Boer sheep provides more favorable conditions for lambs to be marketed in the same year, because crossbred sheep grow especially fast in the early stage and generally can reach 25 kg to 30 kg in body weight at around 6 months old. Even for crossbred sheep born in autumn, as long as nutrition is strengthened and supplementary feeding is reasonable, they can grow to about 20 kg at around 4 months old. At this time, it is exactly the depths of winter and around the Spring Festival, which is the peak consumption season for meat sheep, and the prices of meat sheep and mutton are both high. In addition, reasonably arranging the mating time is also an effective measure to ensure that lambs are marketed in the same year and to obtain high returns.
Appropriate use of additives Boer crossbred meat sheep have relatively high nutritional requirements, and a normal diet cannot provide comprehensive feed nutrition for them, so some additives should be used appropriately. There are many types of additives, and their main roles are to supplement nutrients, promote growth, prevent diseases, and maintain good health. Commonly used additives for meat sheep include mineral additives, rare earth feed additives, and deworming and health-care additives. Appropriate use of additives can not only promote the growth of muscle and skin and fur, but also promote bone development. At present, the more widely used product on the market is made into lick blocks, which only need to be hung in the sheep shed for sheep to lick freely. However, it is strictly forbidden to use hormone-type additives prohibited by the state.
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Timely supplementary feeding with high-nutrient feed Boer crossbred sheep produced with Boer goats as the sire have the characteristics of fast growth, high slaughter rate, and tender meat. Because crossbred sheep grow and develop faster than local sheep, especially from six to nine months after birth, when their body weight can double compared with local sheep, their nutritional requirements are also relatively higher. They cannot be treated the same as local sheep and should be given appropriate supplementary feeding on the basis of the local sheep diet. The amount of supplementary feeding is generally determined by the nutritional requirements for weight gain and the availability of green forage in different seasons. Generally, for crossbred sheep born in spring, in places with abundant forage resources, apart from appropriate supplementary feeding before and after weaning and for fattening before market, no supplementary feeding is needed at other times. However, crossbred sheep born in autumn and winter generally all need supplementary feeding; otherwise, early growth and development will be affected, and the heterosis will not be obvious. Supplementary feeding is generally carried out with mixed concentrate at 0.5%-1% of the crossbred sheep's body weight.
Feeding and management measures must be in place As a high-quality meat sheep breed, Boer crossbred sheep must be raised and managed with "good breed + good methods." Only by adopting scientific feeding and management methods can obvious breeding benefits be achieved. The feeding and management of Boer crossbred meat sheep mainly requires attention to the following points:
Do a good job of epidemic prevention Disease prevention and control are especially important for raising Boer crossbred meat sheep. For epidemic prevention, the "one sheep, two needles" and "triple vaccine, four preventions" methods are relatively effective.
Timely castration After castration, sheep are docile in temperament, easier to manage, and easy to fatten. It can also reduce mutton odor and improve mutton quality. Lambs are generally castrated at about two months after birth; delayed castration affects growth and weight gain.
Regular deworming Parasites can seriously affect the growth rate of crossbred meat sheep, so deworming of crossbred meat sheep is very important. Generally, flukes and nematodes are dewormed once each in spring and autumn, tapeworms are dewormed once every two months, and external parasites are dewormed once each in spring, autumn, and winter. To reduce the workload of deworming, avermectin-type deworming drugs can be used to eliminate both internal and external parasites at the same time.
Use short-term fattening technology Short-term fattening technology can effectively improve the growth rate and mutton quality of Boer crossbred meat sheep and increase economic benefits. The effect is especially prominent when crossbred sheep are given short-term fattening before market. Generally, one month before slaughter, under normal grazing conditions, crossbred sheep around 6 months old are supplement-fed daily with 150 grams of corn, 100 grams of bran, 50 grams of soybean meal, and 3 grams of bone meal. After about one month of fattening, they can gain 6 kg to 8 kg.
Raise in the same year and market in the same year Promoting commercial crossbred lambs to be raised in the same year and marketed in the same year is of great significance for reducing forage needs in winter and spring, avoiding "winter thinness and spring death," and increasing the commercial rate. The crossbreeding utilization of Boer sheep provides more favorable conditions for lambs to be marketed in the same year, because crossbred sheep grow especially fast in the early stage and generally can reach 25 kg to 30 kg in body weight at around 6 months old. Even for crossbred sheep born in autumn, as long as nutrition is strengthened and supplementary feeding is reasonable, they can grow to about 20 kg at around 4 months old. At this time, it is exactly the depths of winter and around the Spring Festival, which is the peak consumption season for meat sheep, and the prices of meat sheep and mutton are both high. In addition, reasonably arranging the mating time is also an effective measure to ensure that lambs are marketed in the same year and to obtain high returns.
Appropriate use of additives Boer crossbred meat sheep have relatively high nutritional requirements, and a normal diet cannot provide comprehensive feed nutrition for them, so some additives should be used appropriately. There are many types of additives, and their main roles are to supplement nutrients, promote growth, prevent diseases, and maintain good health. Commonly used additives for meat sheep include mineral additives, rare earth feed additives, and deworming and health-care additives. Appropriate use of additives can not only promote the growth of muscle and skin and fur, but also promote bone development. At present, the more widely used product on the market is made into lick blocks, which only need to be hung in the sheep shed for sheep to lick freely. However, it is strictly forbidden to use hormone-type additives prohibited by the state.