Sheep farming is a separate agricultural sector, which has been practiced in Russia for a long time. It is especially developed in regions with the presence of lush, green pastures. Raising animals as a business is a cost-effective activity. However, its payback is possible only with good processing systems and a constant market. Therefore, in order not to take risks, rural residents often contain sheep flocks for their own needs. Each owner, of course, cares about how many sheep live in home mini-farms. In this article you can find the answer to this question. And also we will tell about animal species and suitable conditions for their keeping.
Habitat
Farmers with practical experience know how important the quality, vastness and condition of pastures are. How much sheep live depends a lot on this factor. In this regard, it is necessary to first calculate the number of individuals purchased per area. It has long been known that animals spent most of their lives in green meadows. That is why they are famous for great endurance and unpretentiousness. Being in freedom, the sheep quite successfully find their own food. When arranging a domestic shepherd and territory for walking, it is necessary to take into account the natural needs of pets.
What affects the life cycle of an animal?
Like any pet, sheep have their own characteristics regarding nutrition. Since this process is intensive in them, a large load is placed on the teeth. With age, they disappear, and this, in turn, negatively affects the digestive system. Inadequate food intake leads to the fact that animals weaken and suffer from various ailments.
How many years live sheep, it’s hard to say for sure. The age at which pets begin to show signs of aging also depends on the location of pasture farms. If the grass grows on sandy soil, destructive processes in the body of the animal begin earlier. In mountainous regions, the life span of individuals is shorter compared to sheep feeding on chernozem soils where there is no sand or the diet is not too rough.
How many sheep live, in particular, depends on how much the owner measures them, and this is determined by the focus of the economy. For example, there are still villagers who breed animals for wool. It is used as a material for knitting warm clothes. In this case, the animal can live up to the age of twenty, and sometimes more. Animal milk is used to make sheep’s cheese.
The value of business goals
For meat production, they try to quickly feed and send animals for slaughter. How many years have sheep and rams lived under such circumstances? The second ones are slaughtered after the first removal of wool, after about 18 months. It is not recommended to keep pedigree individuals for more than 5 years, since their reproductive abilities are manifested precisely during this time. There are breeds that preserve them and more and can please the breeder with a litter for 8 years.
First of all, a novice farmer needs to determine the kind of livestock occupation. If you plan to keep sheep for milk and obtain wool yarn, then their age will be about 10 years, for rearing for meat - no more than three years.
Kinds
A lot depends on the choice of modern animal breeds, because each class has its own species features. The breeder needs to be guided by how many sheep live on average. According to the observations of professionals, this figure is about 22 years.
There are three main classes of sheep:
- types of meat and wool purposes;
- Romanov breeds;
- meat and greasy sheep.
Sheep are also distinguished by the type of coat:
- coarse-haired species;
- fine-fleeced sheep;
- semi-fine-grained rocks.
Fine-fleeced species are bred for the production of wool. If you are engaged in sheep farming in this direction, then these breeds are considered the most profitable, they really have the highest quality of wool.
Semi-fine-crowned sheep are famous for their large size and early maturity. These are productive animals that are best kept for meat.
Coarse sheep are suitable for meat and sheepskin. They include the Romanov breed, which is considered universal. Farmers of the central part of the country, as well as northern regions, are engaged in the breeding of such species of animals.
Advantages of the Romanov breed
Romanovsk sheep were known in the XVIII century. They were obtained by crossing the best short-tailed individuals, characterized by high quality fur. Currently, animals can serve as a source of valuable wool and tasty meat.
For individuals of this species are characterized by straight lines of the back and sacrum, a rounded trunk and muscular legs. They have an elongated head, large eyes and a humpbacked nose. A broad chest and withers are also a species sign; ears are set upright.
The state of young offspring as a whole depends on the characteristics and condition of the male. Ram of the Romanovskaya breed is a handsome maned man with gray-blue hair and a body weight of up to 70 kg. Unlike other species, they are more flexible and calm.
The main advantages of the breed include:
- unpretentiousness;
- precocity
- high fecundity (4 lamb can be obtained from a female at a time);
- endurance;
- beautiful coat.
What are the criteria for choosing a sheep?
When buying animals, pay attention to their physique, physical condition and be sure to specify the period of life of the sheep. The body of an individual of any breed should be proportional - the back and chest are wide, and the limbs - even and stable. The head needs to fit the size of the body. The ridge should be parallel to the abdominal line. When buying an adult animal, you should always pay attention to the condition of his teeth. After five years of age, they become yellow, begin to crumble and stagger.
In the course of the article, we will discuss all the factors that influence the capacity of animals. After all, their correct content shows how many years sheep live in caring owners. This type of animal is philanthropic and responds positively to attention from its owner. By showing proper guardianship in relation to the pet, you can extend its life cycle for the period that you will need.
Sheep breeding base
The content of sheep flocks is a serious and rather complicated issue. Regardless of the extent to which you intend to engage in animal husbandry, a novice farmer needs a clear and concrete business plan. Shepherd and pasture must be arranged in advance. They must be ready before acquiring sheep.
Walking area should be divided into several sections. They will have to be alternated, since from spring to late autumn the herd will often be outdoors. Therefore, it is advisable to rest the designated pastures to restore green vegetation. It is advisable that there is a reservoir near the territory.
Winter premises need to be well insulated and equipped. This involves the conduct of electricity, the installation of heating batteries, the creation of ventilation. It is imperative to attach a corral to the winter shepherd. The place for walking needs to be protected by a strong fence.
The next step is to buy the sheep. To get used to running a new economy, at first it is better to do without a male producer. You can have several female individuals and carry out their fertilization by artificial means. A good option is to collaborate with other farmers - the female will be able to happen with a sheep from a neighboring flock. Over time, it would be nice to get rams and breed animals on their own.
What does a beginner breeder need to know?
Beginners may be interested in the question of how many sheep and sheep live when kept together, will the presence of new individuals affect the usual way of life of pets? In fact, the conditions for raising sheep on a domestic mini-farm are no different from the natural needs of males. Warm shepherd and separate areas for walking are necessary for both sheep and females. They are simultaneously grown for meat production, therefore, they are transferred to a balanced diet that provides the body of pets with all the necessary substances. A special regimen and food should contribute to the rapid weight gain of animals.
Several rams are identified as male producers and kept separate for some time. Although sexual activity in females begins at 6 months, males can be allowed to access them only at the age of one year. Here it is important to observe one condition: the female must have a body weight, which is 70% of the total weight of an adult. An offspring can be expected 5 months after insemination. Sheep give birth on their own, without the intervention of a farmer, usually 1-2 babies.
Feeding Features
Due to the fact that the sheep’s stomach is multi-chamber, and the digestive system is powerful, the digestion of food occurs quickly. Animals are able to absorb a large amount of food, roughage and weeds. Although sheep are undemanding in choosing a diet, they will not use bitter grass, they will eat sweet and sour greens with pleasure. With the help of a well-developed sense of touch and vision, they themselves choose the right vegetation.
Keeping a flock in the livestock yard for the farmer is very profitable. The content of other animals does not affect how much live sheep live. They can be driven together to pastures, which significantly saves the use of economic resources. Sheep can eat almost all types of existing feed.
In order to prolong the sheep’s life, vitamin mixtures and additives with useful components can be mixed into the feed. They are made with different dosages of the necessary elements, taking into account the age and condition of the animals. For example, there is special food for the feeding period or mating time. Feeding animals must be carried out at the appointed time.
Diet for pregnant lambs and lambs
In order for the offspring to turn out healthy, the uterus needs to provide an enhanced diet. In the second period of pregnancy, the need for nutrients increases, so feed should be concentrated. Crowding of animals must not be allowed so as not to harm future offspring. How many sheep live depends to some extent on the adherence to the above tips.
Babies feed on maternal colostrum for the first week of their lives. In emergency situations, this food can be replaced with cow's milk or special mixtures. The lamb's milk diet usually lasts up to 60 days. By this time they are transferred to two meals a day. Concentrated feed in dairy products begins to be added from the age of one month of lambs (not more than 50 g). Further, the rate of saturated additives should be 140-150 g.
Conclusion
We hope that in our article you have found an exhaustive answer regarding how many years live sheep at home. Obviously, the animal’s life cycle is in the hands of its owner. If you intend to grow hardy and at the same time sensitive animals, follow the recommendations of experienced farmers and make a profit.