SHEEP PRODUCTION

As a farmer it is important to always know the type of sheep breeds you have in the farm.

Here I have highlighted some of the characteristics you can check in a breed before purchasing.

• The scientific name of sheep isOvi aries.                                               
• The gestation period of Sheep is five months in 147-160 days and are kept in flat ground/pens.

There are various categories of sheep as follows:

  Wool Breeds-     Merino Breed

Lincoln breed

   Meat breeds- Red Maasai breed

                                -Black-headed Persian

                                – Somali Sheep

                                -Dopper

                                -Red Maasai.

Dual-purpose breeds-Dorper

Hampshire down

Corriedale

Romney marsh

                   Merino breed

• Origin from Spain and has a good flocking instinct
• White pure with high quality wool. Has white wool, hooves and horns
• Small body and angular in form with chopping hump and narrow chest
• Hardy breed and slow in maturity and it’s quite popular in upgrading the red Maasai sheep

Corriedale breed

• Has high quality wool and meat
• Its white in colour with black hooves and long legs all covered with wool.
• Has an open (bare) face with long large body

Romney mash breed.

• Suitable with high altitude areas wet permanent pastures.
• Resistant to foot and warm infestations
• Has a wide head, well covered with wool to the poll: unwooled legs
• It has a wide chest with a straight back and short length

Red Maasai sheep.

• Its indigenous and popular country wide due to the ability to utilize poor pastures
• Its colours varies from white to red

Black- headed Persian

• Indigenous breed and originated from Arabai
• It’s hardy with black headed neck and white body
• It’s well covered over the polled and forehead with wool.

Dorper breed

• Has quality carcass, more indigenous and hardy with a good growth rate.
• It’s highly prolific, white with black head and developed from crossing the dorcet horn with black head Persian

Duties and activities performed in in sheep production

Feeding

• This is a daily practice for production purpose; growth and also to boast reproduction and also for maintenance purpose i.e. digestion, osmoregulation etc.
• The sheep or flock is grazed/ fed on green grass/dry grass and also provided with mineral salts to boost mineral balance in their diet/nutrition.
• Water points are also provided in the basis of water troughs; where sufficient water is put for easy accessibility of the animals.
• The sheep are feed adilibitum i.e. adequately, sufficiently.
• Abundantly on daily basis through water enhances convenient digestion process and thus adequate nutrient absorption in the body of the animal feed troughs are used in the feeding section.
• This is a gradual exercise which is done to the lambs between 2 to 3 months old.
• They are allowed to have full maternal association within this period after which they can graze in the fields with the rest of the flock; or be supplied with feed in their pens/weaning pens if it’s intensive sheep production system.
• In these pens there must be water and feed troughs for the animals.

Identification

• This a routine practice aimed out on the sheep to enhance early identification during feeding, treatment and keeping of records for individuals breeds/animals.
• In sheep, it’s done through
• Ear tagging methods- ear tags
• Ear notcher – ear notcher i.e. v-shaped and u-shaped notcher
• Punching method – punching of the year edge using an ear edge using an ear punch
• Tattooing – tattooing outfit (a pair of pliers with letters). A permanent identification

Docking  

• This is cutting of the tail on 2 weeks old sheep.
• This helps to prevent blow fly infection i.e. myasis and also allows fat distribution in lambs.
• It also enhances easier mating in ewes due to good contact for the male and female genitals.

a) Docking methods – sharps knife tail cutting methods – sharp knife – the wound should and equipments be antiseptically treated.

b) Elastrator and rubber ring – its painless and thus no bleeding since it cuts while it heals so the wound is sealed.

c) Hot cloaking iron – Its bloodless when done properly since the heat cauterizes and disinfects the wound in one operation its safe and requires little checking for bleeding.

Hoof Trimming–

• This is the cutting of overgrown hooves (hoof care).
• Equipment used includes:

Hoof Knives

Using the hoof knives you carefully trim the hoof; cutting towards yourself beginning with the hind legs.

Hoof cutters

Hoof clippers

Hoo

As a farmer it is important to always know the type of sheep breeds you have in the farm.

Here I have highlighted some of the characteristics you can check in a breed before purchasing.

• The scientific name of sheep isOvi aries.                                               
• The gestation period of Sheep is five months in 147-160 days and are kept in flat ground/pens.

There are various categories of sheep as follows:

  Wool Breeds-     Merino Breed

Lincoln breed

   Meat breeds- Red Maasai breed

                                -Black-headed Persian

                                – Somali Sheep

                                -Dopper

                                -Red Maasai.

Dual-purpose breeds-Dorper

Hampshire down

Corriedale

Romney marsh

                   Merino breed

• Origin from Spain and has a good flocking instinct
• White pure with high quality wool. Has white wool, hooves and horns
• Small body and angular in form with chopping hump and narrow chest
• Hardy breed and slow in maturity and it’s quite popular in upgrading the red Maasai sheep

Corriedale breed

• Has high quality wool and meat
• Its white in colour with black hooves and long legs all covered with wool.
• Has an open (bare) face with long large body

Romney mash breed.

• Suitable with high altitude areas wet permanent pastures.
• Resistant to foot and warm infestations
• Has a wide head, well covered with wool to the poll: unwooled legs
• It has a wide chest with a straight back and short length

Red Maasai sheep.

• Its indigenous and popular country wide due to the ability to utilize poor pastures
• Its colours varies from white to red

Black- headed Persian

• Indigenous breed and originated from Arabai
• It’s hardy with black headed neck and white body
• It’s well covered over the polled and forehead with wool.

Dorper breed

• Has quality carcass, more indigenous and hardy with a good growth rate.
• It’s highly prolific, white with black head and developed from crossing the dorcet horn with black head Persian

Duties and activities performed in in sheep production

Feeding

• This is a daily practice for production purpose; growth and also to boast reproduction and also for maintenance purpose i.e. digestion, osmoregulation etc.
• The sheep or flock is grazed/ fed on green grass/dry grass and also provided with mineral salts to boost mineral balance in their diet/nutrition.
• Water points are also provided in the basis of water troughs; where sufficient water is put for easy accessibility of the animals.
• The sheep are feed adilibitum i.e. adequately, sufficiently.
• Abundantly on daily basis through water enhances convenient digestion process and thus adequate nutrient absorption in the body of the animal feed troughs are used in the feeding section.
• This is a gradual exercise which is done to the lambs between 2 to 3 months old.
• They are allowed to have full maternal association within this period after which they can graze in the fields with the rest of the flock; or be supplied with feed in their pens/weaning pens if it’s intensive sheep production system.
• In these pens there must be water and feed troughs for the animals.

Identification

• This a routine practice aimed out on the sheep to enhance early identification during feeding, treatment and keeping of records for individuals breeds/animals.
• In sheep, it’s done through
• Ear tagging methods- ear tags
• Ear notcher – ear notcher i.e. v-shaped and u-shaped notcher
• Punching method – punching of the year edge using an ear edge using an ear punch
• Tattooing – tattooing outfit (a pair of pliers with letters). A permanent identification

Docking  

• This is cutting of the tail on 2 weeks old sheep.
• This helps to prevent blow fly infection i.e. myasis and also allows fat distribution in lambs.
• It also enhances easier mating in ewes due to good contact for the male and female genitals.

a) Docking methods – sharps knife tail cutting methods – sharp knife – the wound should and equipments be antiseptically treated.

b) Elastrator and rubber ring – its painless and thus no bleeding since it cuts while it heals so the wound is sealed.

c) Hot cloaking iron – Its bloodless when done properly since the heat cauterizes and disinfects the wound in one operation its safe and requires little checking for bleeding.

Hoof Trimming–

• This is the cutting of overgrown hooves (hoof care).
• Equipment used includes:

Hoof Knives

Using the hoof knives you carefully trim the hoof; cutting towards yourself beginning with the hind legs.

Hoof cutters

Hoof clippers

Hoof trimmers

Hoof trimming helps in:

• Control of foot infection e.g. foot root
• Beauty maintenance
• Ensuring good posture/gait.
• Preventing injuries in handling i.e.) easy handling
• The animal is first restrained before the trimming exercise is done.

As a farmer it is important to always know the type of sheep breeds you have in the farm.

Here I have highlighted some of the characteristics you can check in a breed before purchasing.

• The scientific name of sheep isOvi aries.                                               
• The gestation period of Sheep is five months in 147-160 days and are kept in flat ground/pens.

There are various categories of sheep as follows:

  Wool Breeds-     Merino Breed

Lincoln breed

   Meat breeds- Red Maasai breed

                                -Black-headed Persian

                                – Somali Sheep

                                -Dopper

                                -Red Maasai.

Dual-purpose breeds-Dorper

Hampshire down

Corriedale

Romney marsh

                   Merino breed

• Origin from Spain and has a good flocking instinct
• White pure with high quality wool. Has white wool, hooves and horns
• Small body and angular in form with chopping hump and narrow chest
• Hardy breed and slow in maturity and it’s quite popular in upgrading the red Maasai sheep

Corriedale breed

• Has high quality wool and meat
• Its white in colour with black hooves and long legs all covered with wool.
• Has an open (bare) face with long large body

Romney mash breed.

• Suitable with high altitude areas wet permanent pastures.
• Resistant to foot and warm infestations
• Has a wide head, well covered with wool to the poll: unwooled legs
• It has a wide chest with a straight back and short length

Red Maasai sheep.

• Its indigenous and popular country wide due to the ability to utilize poor pastures
• Its colours varies from white to red

Black- headed Persian

• Indigenous breed and originated from Arabai
• It’s hardy with black headed neck and white body
• It’s well covered over the polled and forehead with wool.

Dorper breed

• Has quality carcass, more indigenous and hardy with a good growth rate.
• It’s highly prolific, white with black head and developed from crossing the dorcet horn with black head Persian

Duties and activities performed in in sheep production

Feeding

• This is a daily practice for production purpose; growth and also to boast reproduction and also for maintenance purpose i.e. digestion, osmoregulation etc.
• The sheep or flock is grazed/ fed on green grass/dry grass and also provided with mineral salts to boost mineral balance in their diet/nutrition.
• Water points are also provided in the basis of water troughs; where sufficient water is put for easy accessibility of the animals.
• The sheep are feed adilibitum i.e. adequately, sufficiently.
• Abundantly on daily basis through water enhances convenient digestion process and thus adequate nutrient absorption in the body of the animal feed troughs are used in the feeding section.
• This is a gradual exercise which is done to the lambs between 2 to 3 months old.
• They are allowed to have full maternal association within this period after which they can graze in the fields with the rest of the flock; or be supplied with feed in their pens/weaning pens if it’s intensive sheep production system.
• In these pens there must be water and feed troughs for the animals.

Identification

• This a routine practice aimed out on the sheep to enhance early identification during feeding, treatment and keeping of records for individuals breeds/animals.
• In sheep, it’s done through
• Ear tagging methods- ear tags
• Ear notcher – ear notcher i.e. v-shaped and u-shaped notcher
• Punching method – punching of the year edge using an ear edge using an ear punch
• Tattooing – tattooing outfit (a pair of pliers with letters). A permanent identification

Docking  

• This is cutting of the tail on 2 weeks old sheep.
• This helps to prevent blow fly infection i.e. myasis and also allows fat distribution in lambs.
• It also enhances easier mating in ewes due to good contact for the male and female genitals.

a) Docking methods – sharps knife tail cutting methods – sharp knife – the wound should and equipments be antiseptically treated.

b) Elastrator and rubber ring – its painless and thus no bleeding since it cuts while it heals so the wound is sealed.

c) Hot cloaking iron – Its bloodless when done properly since the heat cauterizes and disinfects the wound in one operation its safe and requires little checking for bleeding.

Hoof Trimming–

• This is the cutting of overgrown hooves (hoof care).
• Equipment used includes:

Hoof Knives

Using the hoof knives you carefully trim the hoof; cutting towards yourself beginning with the hind legs.

Hoof cutters

Hoof clippers

Hoof trimmers

Hoof trimming helps in:

• Control of foot infection e.g. foot root
• Beauty maintenance
• Ensuring good posture/gait.
• Preventing injuries in handling i.e.) easy handling
• The animal is first restrained before the trimming exercise is done.

f trimmers

Hoof trimming helps in:

• Control of foot infection e.g. foot root
• Beauty maintenance
• Ensuring good posture/gait.
• Preventing injuries in handling i.e.) easy handling
• The animal is first restrained before the trimming exercise is done.