What problems should be paid attention to when raising sheep in winter
The temperature in winter is very low, and it is also a season that sheep farmers need to pay special attention to. This is because the winter environment is very unfavorable to the growth of sheep, and poor management can cause great harm to the growth of sheep. Therefore, when raising sheep in winter, we need to do a good job in management, and there are still many problems that require our attention. So what problems should be paid attention to when raising sheep in winter? Let's take a look together with the editor below!
1. Ventilation problems
The temperature in winter is very low, so many sheep farmers choose to seal the sheep shed tightly in winter to keep it warm. However, they neglect the ventilation of the sheep shed as a result. If the sheep shed is sealed tightly, although it keeps warm, the air circulation is poor. This leads to increased humidity in the sheep shed and increased levels of harmful gases, and the sheep are then very prone to various respiratory diseases. So in winter, we should not only do a good job in keeping the sheep shed warm, but also pay attention to ventilation and maintain a balanced relationship. At noon when the weather is better and the temperature is higher during the day, ventilate appropriately, and also do a good job in the sanitation of the sheep shed, clean up manure in time, reduce the humidity of the sheep shed, and reduce the content of harmful gases.
2. Hair loss problems
Hair loss is also a problem that often occurs in sheep in winter. Most hair loss in sheep in winter is caused by nutritional and parasitic reasons. For example, nutritional problems: in winter, because forage resources are relatively scarce, if supplementary feeding is not done well, then the sheep cannot eat their fill. Insufficient intake of nutrients such as trace elements and vitamins leads to hair loss, so attention should be paid to doing a good job in supplementary feeding, and adding an appropriate amount of premix and so on to the feed. As for parasites, they are mainly caused by sarcoptic mites, and deworming can be carried out by subcutaneous injection of ivermectin or by smearing and other methods.
3. Appetite problems
When raising sheep in winter, the appetite problem of sheep also requires our attention. The decline in sheep appetite in winter is mainly caused by poor feed palatability and too little drinking water. This is because green feed is very scarce in winter, and the feed is relatively monotonous. Moreover, some sheep farmers only feed sheep grain straw, and poor palatability leads to a decline in sheep appetite. So we should pay attention to rationally matching the feed and controlling the ratio of concentrate to roughage. An appropriate amount of salt can be added to the feed, which can effectively improve feed palatability. Then, after the sheep eat a large amount of dry feed, attention should be paid to providing them with sufficient drinking water to promote digestion, but attention should be paid to the water temperature, and cold water must not be fed.
4. Growth problems
The low-temperature environment in winter will naturally have a certain impact on the growth of sheep. However, it is also inseparable from factors such as feed. Usually, if the temperature is too low, then the sheep need to consume more nutrients to keep themselves warm. Relatively speaking, the nutrients used for their own growth will be reduced, thereby lowering the weight gain rate of the sheep. In addition, insufficient nutrition in the feed is also a main reason for the slow growth rate of sheep. So in winter we should pay attention to appropriately increasing the nutritional content of the feed, such as corn and other feeds, and at the same time add substances such as oils and fats to the feed, which can enhance the cold resistance of sheep.
The above is a brief introduction to what problems should be paid attention to when raising sheep in winter. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you everyone for reading and supporting.