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.