Sheep farming has long been considered a lucrative industry in agriculture. Back in the old days, mountain nomadic peoples survived due to the productivity and endurance of these animals. Farmers like them because of their unpretentiousness and rapid growth. In this regard, the meat breeds of sheep have shown themselves especially favorably. The breeding base has replenished with new species of animals. This article will describe the breeds, the content and breeding of which are involved in domestic sheep farmers.
Sheep farming profitability
Several decades earlier, universal pets were considered the most valuable varieties of sheep, supplying their owners with skins, wool, meat, milk and healthy fat. Now they are clearly divided by the direction of productive returns, and many farmers find it profitable. Depending on the region and consumer demand, medium-sized farms cultivate the following breeds:
- meat and wool animals;
- individuals for dairy diet products;
- meat and greasy varieties;
- sheep and sheep, capable of providing high-quality skin and wool;
- meat breeds of sheep.
Sheep farms in some areas of the country are the only way to provide the majority of the population with jobs. Keeping animals for wool production in such regions is absolutely not profitable: it is quite problematic or impossible to realize it.
In Russia, sheep breeds of meat breeds are bred for the reason that they can withstand severe climatic conditions and sharp jumps in temperature. In this case, individuals are able to produce high returns. They endure difficult conditions due to the increase in a decent supply of fat. Such accumulations in animals are observed in the tail region, farmers call it fat tail. In addition, a fat pillow helps rams to survive the period when problems arise with food.
The country has a good demand for meat. For these purposes, long-haired breeds are grown - North Caucasian and Kuibyshev. Representatives with a short fur coat breed Lithuanian, Estonian and Latvian varieties.
Distinctive features
Beginners in this industry should be especially careful when choosing a breed of sheep. Breeding sheep in this case will provide the owner with a stable income throughout the year. We highlight the main advantages of meat specimens:
- unpretentiousness in leaving;
- the possibility of grazing at any time of the year;
- good fertility;
- fast growth of lambs;
- high rates of meat and fat;
- animals are not picky about food;
- resistance to cold and high temperatures in the summer;
- the ability to form a fat layer (even with poor nutrition);
- persistent immunity to various diseases;
- good activity of young animals.
Criterias of choice
The profitability of farming depends on the correct choice of variety and animal health. Therefore, when buying individuals, you should pay attention to the following signs:
- tribal affiliation;
- the degree of development of the animal;
- the ram must have a strong physique;
- possess sufficiently voluminous muscles;
- you need to check the skeleton so that it is thin;
- internal organs should not be enlarged;
- the breed is characterized by a thin skin (it is precisely because of this feature that the subcutaneous layer of fat accumulates);
- normal state of health.
Females have good milk characteristics. This is important in order to feed young growth and for its enhanced growth. Below you can find a description of the meat breeds of sheep and photos of animals.
Domestic breeds
Not all farms have the opportunity to purchase breeding animals abroad. Therefore, domestic farmers, in particular, specialize in the maintenance of individuals bred in Russia. Sheep meat breeds have spread throughout many regions of the country. The industry is well developed in the North Caucasus, Eastern and Western Siberia, the Volga region and the Urals.
Currently, on the farms you can observe traditional breeds, for example, Romanovskaya, Soviet - Kuibyshev, Gorky. There are those that were created relatively recently. These include West Siberian and Katum.
Traditional breed
Romanovskaya is the most popular and best breed of sheep. This is due to the fact that they are distinguished by high rates of meat, although they partially relate to the milk direction. Slaughter mass of an adult animal is on average about 90 kg. Females have established themselves as multiple sheep. The uterus is able to give birth to lambs twice a year (about 5 babies), their milk is fatty (up to 7%), nutritious. During this period they reach a weight of 45 kg. Young growth is rapidly gaining mass. The coat of animals is thick and long. Due to these characteristics, breeding animals are used for crossbreeding with other varieties.
North Caucasian
The youngest breed was obtained in the last century with the participation of three varieties - Stavropol representatives, Lincoln and rovings-march. Animals are unpretentious, prolific, like to spend time on pastures. The so-called ram breed has overall dimensions - a strong back, well-developed, powerful chest. The animal looks massive due to the structure of the cervical spine, which they have is too short, but fleshy. One sheep is able to provide the farmer with 45 kg of meat. The sheep have a rich winding fur coat of gray color, the coat is very long. For some households, this feature serves as additional income.
West Siberian
A modern breed with rare characteristics. Its main advantage is that the ewes are able to give birth to lambs in the off-season, while other individuals of the meat direction cannot continuously provide their owners with young animals. The progenitors of animals are producers of the texel variety and Kulunda sheep. The new breed has no horns, ears are erect, and the profile is even. The case they are barrel-shaped. The back, sacrum and chest are wide. Male individuals reach a weight of 100 kg, the uterus - up to 60. Lambs can be sent for meat in six months.
Gorkovskaya
It was bred with the participation of local coarse-haired sheep and hampshire. As a result, good characteristics were obtained: fertility, high productivity indicators (140%), accelerated growth of young animals, excellent quality of the resulting product. Sheep meat are famous for their powerful body constitution, voluminous muscles, and light bones. If the lambs feed on breast milk, then the increase in weight in them is observed up to 190-200 g daily. The weight of an adult male is 100-120 kg, females - 70 and above.
Kuibyshevskaya
Belongs to the number of modern varieties, it was possible to breed it by crossing females of the Romney march with inseminators of Czech breeds. The animals turned out to be hornless, with a short caudal process and strong hooves. They have their own unique feature in the exterior - the absence of wool on the face. Like most meat breeds, sheep are capable of good returns. The adult representative weighs up to 135 kg, it is bright - a little more, 80, the kids daily add 19-22 kg in weight. The disadvantage of the breed is that the animals have excessively soft hair, which is prone to rolling. When caring for an animal, you will have to fight with warlocks.
Overseas
The first foreign representative that cannot be ignored is prekos. A French breed ram appeared as a result of crossing a ramboule specimen with a British variety. As a result, breeders received animals with well-developed muscles. Prekos has a barrel-shaped body, rounded hips and a powerful sacrum. These parameters serve as indicators that the animal belongs to the meat type. At the same time, sheep and rams have rich wool. The meat is distinguished by high taste and even distribution of the fat layer. Based on the description of the breed, a French ram weighs about 120 kg, a female individual an average of 75. Young animals gain up to 30 kg by 120 days. At five months, the lactation period of the ewe ends.
Texel. The Dutch breed, which in its exterior features differs from the English and French representatives. Animals have a straight, long body. Ewes give birth to rather large, massive lambs, usually twofold. The breed appeared on Texel Island as a result of crossbreeding of local individuals with British varieties.
The average weight of a sheep with a competent content is 130 kg, sheep - 115-120. The meat has a pronounced structure, quite juicy, a specific smell is not observed. Animals are prone to single grazing, extremely resistant to infections, parasites.
Blue do maine. Another variety of narrow focus appeared in France, representatives were included in the ranking of the best meat breeds of sheep. The weight of the largest male reaches 160 kg, the sheep are also quite massive - 80-120 kg. Young growth develops very quickly. Lambs gain 0.5 kg daily in weight. Animals give tender, lean meat. They survive the harsh weather well and are quickly pulled into grazing mode. Sheep of this breed are hornless, their heads are elongated, their forehead is wide. The ears are located at the level of one vertical line, due to this feature, the animals look pretty pretty.
Vendee rams. The meat-and-wool variety has French roots. Animals are protected by a reliable fur coat, belong to the group of fine-wool. In appearance, they correspond to all the signs of the meat direction. The product obtained from them is lean, has distinct fat veins, has a marble structure. Farmers are attracted by the productivity of this breed. Rams are large, with good feed and pasture conditions, they reach 145 kg in weight.
The process of preserving tribal characteristics
The breeding process begins with the selection of breeding animals. The higher the characteristics of such individuals, the healthier the offspring will be. The preparation of the future breeding herd takes place in three stages.
- Among the two-week young animals, lambs are selected, distinguished by regular body shapes, strength.
- The second selection is carried out during the weaning of babies from the ewe. By this time they should be well developed. This criterion is estimated by the mass of lamb, the permissible indicator of which is 15-17 kg.
- At the next stage, six-month-old individuals are selected according to the quality of their wool. Culling is also carried out, unsuitable animals are allowed for meat. The remaining are divided into two parties: one is left as its own herd, the second - for the further preservation of the tribe and sale.
Breeding
The selection of elite representatives in sheep breeding is practiced in two ways:
- By group. The best batch of females is selected, for which a tribal inseminator stands out. This takes into account the productive potential of the sheep relative to the number of queens, there should be no more than 18.
- Individual way. It is used to improve the specific characteristics of the breed of sheep and sheep. In this case, the best producer stands out for an individual female.
The readiness of a female is determined by the increase in genital organs and secretions from them, their significant redness is also observed. The behavior of the future uterus becomes restless. During this period, sheep farmers run into the group of male probes. The farmer's task is to identify the willingness of the sheep, but at the same time to prevent insemination. Immediately before mating, a suitable manufacturer is admitted.
Three methods of reproduction are practiced:
The latter, in particular, used on large farms, is very time-consuming, but at the same time effective. The method makes it possible to examine the quality of male sperm and protects female individuals from infections.
Young stock
For newborn lambs, maternal care and milk are of the utmost importance. If for some reason the ewe cannot feed the babies, they must immediately be placed in another that is capable of doing this. Before giving the baby a new uterus, it must be coated with milk.
Due to the high fecundity (for example, in the Romanovskii breed), sometimes the ewe is not able to provide young animals with proper care and feeding. Therefore, artificial feeding may be required. Mother's milk is replaced by goat or cow.
On the eighth day after birth, the lambs are cooked oatmeal with the addition of barley. At the same time, feed is introduced into the diet. Silo can be given by the end of the month.
Young animals should be weaned from natural feeding gradually, by separation in different rooms with a sheep. At 3-3.5 months they should eat on their own. The feed rate in this period is at least 300 g.
Despite the fact that many farms are breeding different breeds of sheep, Romanovskaya still remains the best and most famous. She is characterized by unpretentiousness, high fecundity, and her females - by increased maternal feelings.