What are the common problems in rural sheep farming?

In rural areas of our country, farmers generally focus on crop cultivation and livestock breeding. In the past, science and technology were not advanced, and few people learned professional knowledge to raise sheep. Nowadays, agricultural science and technology have gradually become widespread, but few people go into breeding anymore. Many professionals have put down roots in the cities and do not go back. The following answers the problems that exist in rural sheep farming.

Poor awareness of scientific breeding

Many specialized sheep farmers have never received professional technical training and know very little about breeding knowledge. Moreover, in rural areas, as long as sheep are herded, they can grow naturally. Over time, many people mistakenly believe that raising sheep requires no technology at all.

Poor environmental conditions

In most rural areas, sheep pens are just in the farmers' own courtyards. Few people specially build a separate room for the sheep, let alone want to provide ventilation and cooling for them. Some even just put up a shed for the sheep in the yard, with relatively poor ability to keep out cold and heat. Normally they do not think of disinfection either, and rarely manage to isolate and treat sick sheep. This not only increases the chance of infection, but also reduces the income of farming friends, bringing them trouble.

Poor disease prevention system

Many specialized farmers have serious misunderstandings about sheep immunization programs. Some do not inject vaccines, and some simply do not know that vaccines are even needed. Improper transport and storage of vaccines can also lead to immunization failures.

Abuse of drugs

Some specialized farmers have poor awareness of disease prevention and treatment. When illness occurs, they do not go to a veterinarian for treatment. Instead, they learn from others on their own, do not investigate the cause of the disease thoroughly, and use drugs indiscriminately. For example, sheep are herbivores and cannot use antibiotic drugs, but many sheep farmers use oxytetracycline and tetracycline whenever sheep get sick, and the results often turn out contrary to their wishes.

No grouping by herd

Now many sheep farmers do not pay attention to grouping by herd, and keep large and small, male and female all together in one flock. This leads to the big bullying the small, the strong bullying the weak, and premature mating, causing breed degeneration and low economic returns. Sheep farmers mistakenly believe that sheep can only be grazed and cannot be raised in sheds. In spring and winter they eat dry leaves, and in autumn and summer they eat green grass, so there is no need to prepare forage at all. As a result, forage often runs out in winter and spring, causing sheep to become emaciated and even to develop diseases.