A Detailed Explanation of Sheep Nutritional Requirements and Key Points of Scientific Feeding Management

1. Nutritional Requirements

Goats, like other livestock, require various nutrients for their life activities, mainly including protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and water.

(1) Protein

Protein is a nitrogen-containing compound, and its basic composition is amino acids. There are many types of amino acids, but only just over 20 kinds make up proteins. Protein is the main component of sheep body tissues and cells, and is a nutrient essential for maintaining normal life metabolism, growth, reproduction and the production of various products.

Since sheep are ruminants, they can use the microorganisms in the rumen to produce amino acids and synthesize high-quality microbial protein. Therefore, the quality requirements for feed protein are not very strict. Rumen microorganisms can use non-protein nitrogen compounds (such as urea and ammonium salts) and convert them into the protein needed by the sheep body. Based on this characteristic, an appropriate amount of urea can be added to the sheep's diet as a substitute for feed protein. Generally, when the protein content in the goat's diet is 6%-10%, the effect of adding urea is the best.

(2) Carbohydrates

The main function of carbohydrates is to provide energy for the body, participate in the synthesis of mucopolysaccharides, glycoproteins and the like, and they are essential substances for maintaining normal body temperature and life activities.

The carbohydrates in feed are mainly starch and fibrous substances, which are mainly decomposed and absorbed through the action of microorganisms in the sheep's rumen.

The digestibility of crude fiber by goats can reach 50%-90%. To improve the digestibility of crude fiber by goats, first, the crude protein level in the diet should reach 10%-14%; second, the crude fiber content in the feed must not be too high and should generally be controlled at 16%-18%; third, adding an appropriate amount of salt to the diet can improve the digestibility of crude fiber; fourth, coarse feed should be properly cut short before feeding, but if it is cut too short or crushed, it will instead reduce digestibility, so generally cutting it into 3 cm-4 cm is best. When Boer goats are kept in pens, some high-quality coarse feed such as sweet potato vines and peanut vines can be fed.

(3) Fats

Fat is an important component of livestock body tissues; for example, the composition of nerves, muscles and blood all contains fat. Fat can also be converted into energy, and fat is also a solvent for certain vitamins (such as vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, etc.).

Breeding sheep are generally not directly supplemented with fat, but crossbred sheep can be given a high-energy diet during the fattening stage.

(4) Vitamins

Vitamins include two major categories: fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, and water-soluble vitamins of the B group and C group. They play an important role in the body's metabolism, energy conversion and nervous regulation. When vitamins are deficient, they will have adverse effects on the body's health, growth and reproductive capacity, and in severe cases can cause death.

Sheep can synthesize B-group vitamins through microorganisms in the rumen, and can synthesize vitamin K through intestinal microorganisms. Therefore, generally only fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E need to be supplemented in goat feed. Especially in the winter and spring dry grass season and during pen-feeding periods, during the pregnancy of ewes and the peak mating period of breeding rams, some carrots, green hay, barley sprouts and the like should often be supplemented in the feed. Multivitamins can also be purchased directly from the local veterinary station and mixed into concentrate feed according to the instructions for feeding.

(5) Minerals

Many minerals are substances essential for the body's metabolism and life activities. The important minerals in goat nutrition mainly include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chlorine, sulfur, iron, copper, zinc, cobalt, iodine, selenium, etc., among which the most important are calcium, phosphorus and salt.

The sodium and chlorine contained in plant-based feed cannot meet the needs of goats, so sodium chloride (salt) must be supplemented in the feed. At the same time, salt supplementation can also stimulate the sheep's appetite. Generally, salt and other minerals that need to be supplemented are made into bricks for the sheep to lick freely. In seasons with better grazing conditions, calcium and phosphorus do not necessarily need to be supplemented, but pregnant ewes, lactating ewes, breeding rams and growing sheep, as well as during pen-feeding periods, need to be supplemented with a certain amount of calcium and phosphorus. Mineral feeds rich in calcium and phosphorus mainly include bone meal, calcium phosphate, etc. Generally, breeding rams need about 10 grams of bone meal per day, and other sheep and crossbred sheep need about 5 grams per day.

(6) Water

Water is one of the most important nutrients essential for animals, and it is also the cheapest feed component, but it is often easily overlooked by people. Various metabolic and life activity processes in the body require the presence and participation of water. If the body loses 10% of its water, metabolism may become disordered; if it loses 20%, the animal is at risk of death. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the water supply and pay attention to drinking water hygiene. Generally, for every 1 kg of dry feed consumed by a goat, 2 kg-4 kg of water is needed.

(7) Nutritional Requirements of Goats

At present, China does not yet have feeding standards for goats. Foreign goat standards also vary considerably.