Based on this fact we can conclude that if we keep food costs under control, in other words, the sheep feed correctly, then the sheep producers will have greater opportunities to have profit, otherwise, they will go to waste. If food is not adequate then milk production will be lower increasing daily lambs will be smaller and, consequently, economic revenues will be significantly smaller. Requirements for nutrient sheep are not static or without variable, they vary depending on what stage of production are the sheep.
Nutritional rations must be balanced to maintain an optimal production, be economical and should not cause problems in terms of animal health.
To balance the daily ration, sheep producers first need to know how many are nutrient requirement then know the nutrient composition and quantity of food ingredient that should be provided in the ration, in order to meet requirements nutrient sheep.
How much and what foods should be fed sheep, is a question that often submitted.
To balance the daily ration, sheep producers first need to know how many are nutrient requirement then know the nutrient composition and quantity of food ingredient that should be provided in the ration, in order to meet requirements nutrient sheep.
How much and what foods should be fed sheep, is a question that often submitted.
How much and what foods should be fed sheep, is a question that often submitted.
The correct answer to this question depends on several factors:
• From the sheep body weight;
• From the physical condition of the sheep;
• From the stage production of the sheep;
• By the time or season of the year;
• quantity of wool from sheep and
• By type of food that we have available for feeding the sheep.
The correct answer to this question depends on several factors:
• From the sheep body weight;
• From the physical condition of the sheep;
• From the stage production of the sheep;
• By the time or season of the year;
• quantity of wool from sheep and
• By type of food that we have available for feeding the sheep.
Nutrients needed for sheep
Nourishment is of primary importance to feeding sheep are: Water, Energy, Protein, minerals like Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Sulfur, Copper, Selenium and Iodine Salt. Vitamins A, D and E are also essential to feeding the sheep.
Nourishment is of primary importance to feeding sheep are: Water, Energy, Protein, minerals like Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Sulfur, Copper, Selenium and Iodine Salt. Vitamins A, D and E are also essential to feeding the sheep.
Water – Water animal nutrition is very essential and often neglected. Sheep should consume clean water and sufficient amount. If it happens that sheep consume quantities of dirty water then there is no doubt that production will be greatly reduced because of nutrient consumption would be reduced. A reduction in the consumption of nutrients at the end of mbarsmërisë would reduce the weight of lambs at parturition and reduce milk production during lactation. The rule is known that sheep a day consuming water than food. If a sheep weighing 50 kg consumes 1.5 kg of hay, then it would drink 3-6 liters of water.
Energy – In batch mode, energy is the most important nutrient in the food of sheep. Primary energy sources are nutritious cereals, silage and other foods. Consuming enough energy from these sources results in more efficient reproduction, i.e. an increase of fertility, optimum growth of sheep and lambs, increased milk production and wool. Greater demands for energy are in the final phase of insemnation and during lactation. For this reason, farmers should be careful in these phases, because most farmers usually the plan firstborn sheep in winter, when sheep are fed mainly with food ready. Inadequate energy consumption causes slow growth, loss of body weight, reproductive failure, low milk production, low rebellion against diseases and parasites increased mortality of lambs and sheep.
Proteins – The amount of protein in the ration is more important than the quality of the protein. Inadequate consumption of protein, especially at the end of insemnation and during lactation, would reduce the level of production much. Pastures in the first stage of flowering have greater content of protein, so protein level decreases during the maturation of the plant. For this reason we must be careful in feeding the flock with food voluminous, as examble with hay, which usually feed our sheep insemination stage and at the time of lactation, where the demands are greatest precisely in these phases. If the protein level is low, then the level of production would be low. Also we should note that the protein sources are more expensive than energy sources and, for this reason, we must be careful not to be the amount of higher protein. Soya, sunflower and alfalfa are good sources of protein.
Calcium and Phosphorus – are the main minerals that should take care to be present at the meal. The amount of Calcium and Phosphorus in the ration of sheep depends on the stages of production of sheep and ranges from 2 to 10g of calcium per day. The ratio of Ca and P should be 2:1. Voluminous foods, such as alfalfa, have higher amounts of calcium, and concentrated foods or grains, such as corn, wheat, have high amounts of phosphorus, therefore, for this reason the ration must be balanced with food concentrated and voluminous foods.
Sheep farmers can make food preparation by mixing concentrated food sources of energy such as grains (corn, wheat, barley etc.), Food protein sources (Soybean marc, Sunflower marc etc.) and minerals and vitamins.
Sheep farmers can make food preparation by mixing concentrated food sources of energy such as grains (corn, wheat, barley etc.), Food protein sources (Soybean marc, Sunflower marc etc.) and minerals and vitamins.
Salt – Salt has several functions in the body of the sheep. If there is a lack of salt in the ration, sheep consume small amounts of food and water. As a general rule the sheep must have salt available at all times. Demand for salt sheep ranges from 7 to 14 grams per day for sheep, or can you give discretion or mixed in food.
Copper – Copper is a very important component of the body. Lack of copper to sheep and lambs causes chronic disease. As the cause of the illness, is insufficient copper in the ground (less than 6 to 15 mg per kg) and, less than 3 to 5 mg per kg of dry matter of food. Signs of lack of Copper in sheep are the loss of elasticity of wool sheep and lambs in the absence of copper do not add weight, are anemic and bones are weak and brittle. Lambs also noted the absence of copper and sensitivity to common bacterial infections. In granting the copper must be careful because in larger quantities can be toxic (poisonous) and can lead to death of lambs and sheep. For this reason the use of PREMIKS in feeding sheep we must be careful and use only PREMIKS that are for the sheep.
Selenium and Vitamin E – Lack of Selenium and vitamin E in the dietary causes white muscle disease. This disease usually encountered during the second half of winter and rarely in early spring. Lambs get sick more often, and mostly sick in the first days after birth, i. e. 3-6 weeks after birth. There are also cases where white muscle disease can also develop in the womb as a result of lack of Selenium and vitamin E in food. In this case the lambs are born weak and die within a few days or born dead. As a preventive measure in areas where white muscle disease is present, first base should improve food and animal keeping conditions.
Methods commonly used for disease prevention are different. They include: periodic injections, delivering concentrated foods, increase in dietary foods that contain Selenium and vitamin E. Providing the required amounts of Selenium 0.1 mg / kg feed and 30 to 50 mg of vitamin E per day for sheep conception can prevent white muscle disease. To prevent white muscle disease, lambs should take Selenium 4.5 mg 0:25 kg live weight. The most important minerals are: Calcium, Phosphorus, Salt (NaCl), and Selenium.
Feeding the sheep represents one of the biggest expenses in the production of sheep, which reach about 50-70% of overall spending in the sheep industry. For this reason, food preparation should be paid a great care, both in terms of quantity, but also in terms of quality.
