How to raise sheep in pens so they grow fast
Pen-raising sheep is a farming model many people use nowadays, since there simply is not that much grazing land available. When fattening sheep in pens, many people feel the results are not as good as they hoped, and they always want a more effective fattening method. Below are a few methods to fatten sheep quickly when raising them in pens.
1. The right breed
Choosing the breed is very important. Sheep breeds include large meat sheep and small meat sheep. If you choose a smaller breed, the fattening results naturally will not be so obvious, because the maximum growth of the two is different. Although different breeds all advertise obvious fattening results, the ones that are truly obvious are just the better-known breeds, so if you want pen-raised sheep to do well, first decide on the breed!
2. Early weaning
Generally, fattening of young sheep basically starts with weaning and supplemental feeding. Before that, everything is basically laying the foundation for the young sheep. Do not count on the idea that the young sheep will wean themselves, because that will only slow down your fattening speed. The experience of many farmers has already proven that weaning young sheep early has no effect on later fattening; instead, it lets you start fattening a period earlier, so the sheep naturally grow faster. Just get the timing right and do not wean them too early.
3. Use feed additives reasonably
Feed is the key to fattening, and the sheep's digestion and absorption determine the fattening results. Sheep that digest and absorb quickly naturally grow well, and feed additives were created for exactly this situation. They can help sheep absorb nutrients faster during raising, but they must be used reasonably. Also, do not use illegal feed additives. The past use of clenbuterol and similar substances should be enough of a warning. Today's technology is very advanced, and these violations are easy to detect, so be sure to check which ones are prohibited.
4. Feed according to growth condition
Because of the way sheep's body functions work, the longer they are fed, the greater the differences between them become. So at this point, try to divide them into groups and feed according to growth condition: feed the ones growing well more, and the ones growing poorly less. Poor growth means their digestion and absorption capacity is relatively weaker, and feeding them too much can easily cause indigestion. Those growing well digest quickly, and when fed together they tend to go hungry. Mixing the two together only affects the raising results, so it is better to feed them separately, which saves feed and increases the fattening speed.
The above are some methods to help sheep fatten quickly when raising them in pens. You can use them for reference. Many people may also have their own tricks, but learning from others is never a bad thing!