FARMER'S NOTEBOOK
Profitable sheep farming by efficient lamb care
M.J. Prabu
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Ewes must be fed green grass and nutrients during gestation period
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— PHOTO: K.K. Mustafah
IDEAL BREEDING: For mating, usually three to four healthy rams are needed for a flock of 100-150 ewes
PROFITABLE SHEEP farming is largely dependent on the number of lambs weaned from an ewe (female sheep) in a year. Lamb survival is a result of proper ewe care during gestation, during and after lambing.
Desi breeds such as, Madras red, Kilakarasal, Ramnad white, Mecheri and Sandyno are popular in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, according to Dr. F.R. Sheriff, Director of Extension Education, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS).
Gestation period
Healthy ewes and rams must be selected for mating. Ewes come to heat three times in a year, during the months of March-April, June-August and October-November. Usually three to four rams are needed for a flock of 100-150 ewes.
"Gestation period in ewes lasts for 150 days during which time, they must be fed with plenty of green grass and a nutritional mixture made from maize, groundnut oil cake and vitamins.
"It is important that pregnant ewes be dewormed from the third month and vaccinated against any bacterial infections," said Dr. Sheriff.
At the time of delivery, pregnant ewes must be kept in separate enclosures with dry straw bedding with adequate light and water. Ewes normally give birth to one or two lambs at a time.
Immediately after birth, the mucous around the mouth and nostrils of the newborn lamb must be manually removed to help breathing.
"The umbilical cord should be cut about one centimetre below the body and antiseptics administered to prevent infections," said Dr. T. Senthil Kumar, Assistant Professor, TANUVAS.
He said, the newborn lamb must be made to suckle its mother's milk immediately, as it is rich in colostrum and prevents infections. Deworming of the newborn should be done in a week's time.
A major problem
A major problem, which results in the mortality of newborn lambs, is hypothermia or loss of body heat. Affected animals appear weak and may be unable to hold their heads up. "Lambs delivered in damp pens or in the open are more prone to hypothermia," said Dr. Sheriff.
To prevent this, farmers can make the mother lick the body of the newborn animal immediately after delivery. If the mother is weak, then the lamb should be wrapped in a woollen blanket or covered with dry straw for a day or two.
"Lamb starvation is another problem, which results in lamb mortality. It normally occurs during the first three days of life," said Dr. Senthil. "It may be caused due to a number of factors such as inadequate intake of colostrum, rejection by ewe, mastitis in the ewes teats, inadequate milk production by the ewe, limb injury or sore mouth."
Foster care
In some cases, when the ewe dies during lambing or due to other infections, the newborn lamb can be made to be adopted by a foster ewe that is milking. When such ewes are not available, the lambs should be fed on cow's or buffalo's milk.
After twenty days, the lambs should be fed on a mixture of groundnut cake, fishmeal, rice, bran in small quantities. Green foliage should be given after a month.
"When the lambs are three months old they must be housed in separate enclosures. They should also be made to join the flock. Vaccinations for foot and mouth diseases, sheep pox should be administered on time to prevent major fatalities," Dr. Senthil said.
An adult ewe of 8-9 months age, can fetch a price of about Rs.1,000 and the males fetch a price starting from 1,500 and above based on their weight and age, according to Dr. Sheriff.
For more information, readers may contact the Director of Extension Education, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), Chennai 600051, Tamil Nadu, Phone: 5551579, e-mail: deetanuvas@vsnl.com.
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