Detailed Explanation of Key Points for Rapid Fattening Technology of Small-Tailed Han Sheep

Crossbreeding Improvement

Using the prolific and high-yielding Lu sheep as the dam and excellent rams introduced from abroad as the sire to produce fat lambs, the slaughter rate can reach 54%.

Timely Castration

Lambs used for fattening should be castrated within 3 weeks after birth, which helps improve the meat quality of lambs and reduce mutton odor. It can also make the sheep docile in temperament, easy to manage, and easy to fatten.

Early Weaning

In production, lambs can be weaned and fattened at 2 months of age, which helps the ewes mate earlier, raising the breeding of breeding sheep from 3 births in 2 years to 2 births in 1 year, thereby improving the reproductive rate and meat yield of Small-Tailed Han Sheep.

Regular Deworming

Fattening lambs should be dewormed once after weaning and once in early autumn. Commonly used deworming drugs include: niclofolan, bithionol, and albendazole, administered orally at 4 mg, 35-75 mg, and 2.5-3 mg per kg of body weight respectively.

Fine Feeding

Change the traditional extensive feeding method to a housed fine fattening method, using a mixed feed with a reasonable combination of roughage and concentrate and comprehensive and balanced nutrition. Its formula is: green hay 35%, corn stalk powder 37%, soybean cake 10%, cottonseed cake 4%, cornmeal 14%. Starting fattening from weaning, by 5-6 months of age, lambs can reach a body weight of 36 kg, with an average daily weight gain of more than 200 g.

Timely Slaughter

Small-Tailed Han Sheep grow quickly in the early stage and slow down in the later stage. If meat lambs are raised to over 1 year of age before slaughter, not only will the feeding cost be high, but there will also be more fat deposition. Therefore, the best slaughter period for rapid fattening of lambs is 5-6 months of age.