What should be noted when raising sheep in summer?
Natural forage in summer is the most nutrient-rich stage of the year, and forage at this stage provides meat sheep with enough feed and the nutrients they need. Summer is the best stage for fattening meat sheep; it not only saves feed, but also does not delay the final time to market, improving the original economic benefits. However, summer is also a period of high incidence of disease in meat sheep, because the wool on sheep is thick and plentiful, which easily affects the health of the sheep. There are many things to pay attention to when raising sheep in summer. Let's take a look below!
1. Comfortable living environment
Summer has high temperatures and frequent rain. Continuous rainy weather increases humidity, but sheep prefer a relatively dry environment and are very resistant to narrow, damp environments. Summer weather is changeable, and it is also the environment bacteria and parasites like best, which is conducive to their breeding and reproduction and can seriously affect the growth and fattening of meat sheep. The environment of the sheep shed should be adjusted appropriately according to weather changes to keep a suitable living environment for meat sheep. In addition, the breeding density should also be appropriately reduced. Excessive density will raise the temperature of the flock and make heat stress more likely.
2. Reasonable feed matching
The feed for meat sheep in summer also needs to be reasonably matched. If the requirements are not met, the growth rate of meat sheep will slow down, and instead of gaining fat, they will lose fat. Therefore, when choosing feed, choose feed with good palatability and high nutrient content, such as the leaves and stems of various vegetables. This high-quality feed is even more important for pregnant sheep and young sheep, and attention should be paid to mixed feeding of hay and green grass. Excessive green grass makes meat sheep prone to diarrhea, affecting their health. In addition, sheep are prone to water shortage in summer, so sufficient water must be ensured.
3. Scientific grazing and supplementary feeding
Spring and summer are when natural forage is most abundant and also the most suitable time for grazing, but when spring changes to summer, attention should be paid to group grazing and supplementary feeding. This is not only helpful for management during grazing, but also ensures that every sheep can eat evenly and gain fat. Grazing should be chosen when the sun is weak, for example before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m., which are the best time periods for grazing. During the time in between, the flock can rest and escape the heat in the sheep shed. Also, after returning from grazing, the flock should be given water and supplementary feeding in time, with concentrated feed supplemented to promote fattening.
4. Strengthen disease prevention
If meat sheep live in a humid environment for a long time, they are very likely to be harmed by pathogens and parasites and become infected with pests and diseases, which has a great impact on the growth and fattening of meat sheep. Therefore, the sheep shed should be kept dry and well ventilated, disease prevention work for meat sheep should be done well, a series of disinfection and immunization plans should be formulated, and every sheep should be vaccinated regularly. The flock should be dewormed, and in the early summer, sheep should be given medicated baths, which can sterilize and disinfect the sheep's body, but pregnant sheep must never be given medicated baths.
The above is the summer flock management method compiled by the editor. In summer, more grazing should be done so the flock can eat more fresh forage outside. However, it should be noted that when feeding outside, the probability of the flock becoming infected with disease also increases, so attention must be paid to disinfection and disease prevention for the flock. Diseases cause great harm to the flock and can lead to serious reductions in production. This article is for reference only, and I hope it is helpful to everyone.