What are the key points to note for grazing sheep in the four seasons?
Sheep have a relatively plump body, and the wool on them is thick and abundant. Unlike goats, they can not only be raised as meat sheep, but their wool has also opened up a market with the development of the textile industry. As one of the most basic raw materials for textile products, wool has high economic value. When raising sheep, grazing is something we must do in our daily work. So as the seasons change, what do we need to note for grazing in the four seasons? Let's take a look together below!
1. Spring
After experiencing the cold winter, sheep grow more slowly, lack nutrition, and are relatively weak. So when grazing in spring, on the one hand we should aim to maintain and increase body condition, and at the same time restore the sheep's strength as quickly as possible, and do a good job of protecting the pregnancy of pregnant ewes. Also, in spring the forage grass has not yet fully matured, so when grazing, sheep will run around in search of edible green grass, not only consuming a large amount of energy but also failing to eat enough green grass. Therefore, when grazing in spring, the flock must be well managed and not allowed to run around looking for grass; if conditions permit, green grass can be placed manually on the pasture for them to eat.
2. Summer
After spring, the sheep's nutrition gradually keeps up and their constitution strengthens. Summer is when forage grass grows wildly, and it is also the season with the best quality forage grass, so the main purpose of grazing in summer is to increase body condition. But summer is also when various mosquitoes and flies are active frequently, so when grazing, care should be taken to choose pastures that are shady and cool, with an adequate supply of clean water. Grazing time can be appropriately increased, going out to graze in the morning and returning in the evening, and care should be taken to avoid the heat at noon. When the temperature is relatively high, the flock likes to crowd together, which affects feeding, so when grazing in summer, care should be taken to do a good job of grouping the flock.
3. Autumn
Autumn is the season when forage grass reproduces and produces many seeds, and this kind of forage grass is relatively good for the growth of sheep. Autumn is also the main season for sheep mating and breeding, so in autumn the focus should be on increasing body condition and breeding. The temperature in autumn gradually drops, and in late autumn there will still be dew and frost in the morning, so it is not suitable to graze in the morning in autumn; wait until the dew and frost have all melted and evaporated before grazing. Because the morning grazing time is missing, and it is not hot at noon in autumn either, there is no need to rest at noon, and grazing can continue to promote the sheep's feeding and do a good job of fattening them.
4. Winter
In winter the temperature has basically already dropped below zero, and the morning is usually the coldest time, so we should postpone grazing time to around 10 o'clock. In autumn most ewes have already successfully conceived, and the primary purpose of grazing in winter is to do a good job of protecting the pregnancy. When grazing, pay attention to safety, and do not bump, press, squeeze, or knock against pregnant ewes, to prevent premature birth or even miscarriage in pregnant ewes. After returning from grazing, supplementary feeding should be done in time, and pregnant ewes must not be allowed to eat on an empty stomach, otherwise it can very easily lead to miscarriage. Wait until the pregnant ewes have finished eating the feed, then feed them warm water.
The above are the key points to note for four-season grazing in sheep farming that I have compiled. Grazing can increase the sheep's amount of exercise and strengthen the taste of the mutton. But when grazing, note that you cannot choose places with pollution sources, unclean water quality, or farmland. Do a good job of grazing in groups to prevent stampede incidents caused by too many sheep, which can lead to sheep being injured and affect growth. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you all for reading and supporting.