How to raise sheep? Breeding tips
Table of Contents
How do choose the breed of sheep to raise?
All species of sheep are not comparable depending on the use that one
wishes to make of these animals around the house. If you want to
recover the wool from the sheep you are going to welcome into your
home, you should favor breeds such as Merino. If it's mutton that
interests you, opt for a North County Cheviot, a Southdown, a Dorset
Down, a Hampshire, or even a Suffolk. Some species will allow you to
use the sheep's wool along with its meat. This is the case of
Columbia, Corriedale, Polypay, or Targhee.
Be aware that the breeds found in Europe are both meat, wool, and
milk breeds. A hardy breed like the Ouessant sheep is rather
recommended if you adopt this animal to mow your lawn. To choose a
breed of sheep, it is best to observe local practice: in any case,
approach a breeder near you to buy your sheep.
Although they can be adopted at any age, prefer a young sheep, which
has just been weaned. He will adapt much more easily to his
environment and to the animals around him. The sheep is a gregarious
animal that cannot stand loneliness. Adopt at least two at a time or
offer companions like a donkey or a goat.
Sheep habitat
It takes between 200 and 300 m² of land per sheep. The pasture of
the sheep must be necessarily fenced so that they do not escape and
to prevent the entry of predators. A resilient domestic animal,
sheep do not necessarily need shelter, especially if you choose a
breed that matches the weather in your area. However, your sheep
will appreciate being able to take shelter from the wind, rain, and
sun in summer.
Sheep feed
Sheep feed on the grass they find in their pasture. If the soil is
not rich enough, their diet must be supplemented with hay and
concentrated feed in the form of cereals that you will buy raw to
avoid GMO soy being present. To provide them with all the mineral
salts they need, it is necessary to provide sheep with specific salt
lick blocks for sheep. They should also always be able to drink
fresh, clean water. Please note: sheep are very fond of trees,
vegetables, and flowers in the garden and vegetable patch. Remember
to protect them well from your animals.
Sheep care
Before adopting sheep at home, you must bear in mind that these
animals require a lot of availability. Indeed, in terms of food
already, if the sheep cannot feed themselves properly on their
pasture, they will have to be provided with food every day. Then, if
you want to use sheep's wool in particular, you will have to take
good care of it and call on a shearer once a year between April and
June.
On the other hand, sheep are susceptible to diseases caused by
parasites, you must deworm them regularly. Sheep hooves are also
fragile and can cause pain in the animal's legs. It must therefore
be taken care of regularly.
Mandatory identification
The law obliges all owners of sheep to have an eight-digit
national holding number. This identification is assigned by the
Livestock Establishments (EDE) present in each department.
Following the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the UK in 2001,
identification tags fitted with transponders were made
compulsory for each sheep to ensure traceability. These earrings
must be placed on the animals' ears before they are six months
old.
Sheep breeding is also subject to the regulatory obligation to
keep a breeding register. The latter must include a "Global
identification sheet and plan of the farm" and a "Sheet
presenting the zootechnical health and veterinary supervision of
the breeding". All animal care must also be recorded.
Watch this video of a variety of sheep on our YouTube channel
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different pets