What are the key points for raising sheep in winter? Getting these right is crucial

Raising sheep is a relatively mature farming project in China, and sheep farming has different key points in every season. After entering winter, the feeding methods must also be changed appropriately, because forage is insufficient in winter, and without enough fresh feed, the growth of sheep will be affected to some extent. So what should be noted when raising sheep in winter? Below, the editor brings you the key points for raising sheep in winter. Let's take a look!

1. Cold protection and heat preservation

Cold protection and heat preservation are the primary key points of winter farming, because winter temperatures are low and sheep are prone to catching colds from wind. Therefore, after winter begins, we must check whether the sheep shed has leaks or places where wind enters, and repair them promptly to prevent cold wind from entering the shed and affecting the sheep's growth. Then add bedding to the sheep shed to improve its insulation capacity. If conditions permit, a lamb warming box can be added to ensure the lambs can successfully overwinter.

2. Protecting the pregnancy of ewes

Generally, the gestation period of ewes falls in winter, so preventing miscarriage in pregnant sheep is also very important in winter. It is best to raise the sheep in separate groups; raising them together will inevitably cause harm to the ewes, such as squeezing and trampling, which is extremely unfavorable for protecting the pregnancy of pregnant sheep. Also pay attention to the feed supply for pregnant sheep; do not feed moldy or spoiled feed. When grazing, pay attention to grazing in separate groups, and do not let pregnant sheep exercise or jump excessively, to prevent miscarriage.

3. Timely supplementary feeding

The temperature in winter is very low, but because the amount of pasture in winter is insufficient, a feed shortage is very likely to occur. In addition, sheep consume a great deal of energy in winter because they must carry out self-insulation. Therefore, we must prepare enough feed and carry out supplementary feeding for the sheep after grazing. Pay attention to the ratio of concentrated feed to green feed to improve the sheep's nutrient absorption, prevent malnutrition, and prevent failure to successfully overwinter.

4. Drinking water management

Drinking water for sheep in winter is very important; sheep must never be allowed to drink ice water or cold water. Drinking water that is too cold will affect the sheep's digestive system, causing indigestion, lowering their immune system, and leading to gastrointestinal diseases or even epidemic infectious diseases. Therefore, when feeding drinking water, we must pay attention to the temperature of the drinking water to avoid stress reactions in the sheep that affect growth.

5. Immunization and disease prevention

Because winter temperatures fluctuate greatly, and the temperature difference between day and night also fluctuates considerably, this is very unfavorable for the growth of sheep and can trigger various infectious diseases. Therefore, before winter begins, we must strictly follow the immunization program to immunize every sheep. Also, we must understand the common infectious diseases of winter and do the injection and immunization work well, such as foot-and-mouth disease and sheep triple vaccine. Strengthen disease prevention work, improve the sheep's immunity, and ensure healthy growth.

The above is a brief introduction to the key points for raising sheep in winter; in fact, these are also the management points. Winter is the most important season in the process of raising sheep, because it is the gestation period for many ewes, and whether the ewes can grow normally is the key to ensuring continuous and efficient farming. Therefore, everyone must do these management tasks well in winter to avoid unnecessary losses. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for reading and supporting.