Feeding & Breeding Best Practices for Small Ruminants

Feeding practices for small ruminants depend on various factors such as the animal's age, physiological state (lactation or pregnancy), and the quantity of roughage being fed.

Feeding Adult Goats or Sheep:

In addition to 1-2kg of feed per animal per day, it is important to provide hay or crop residues. For instance, legume hay like groundnuts, haulms, bean pods, or cowpea residues can be given. Since animals at this stage require feed for maintenance purposes, overfeeding is unnecessary.

Feeding Pregnant Goats or Sheep:

Besides hay, high-quality legume hay should be provided at a rate of 1.5 to 2.5 kilograms per animal per day. Alternatively, concentrates can be given at a daily rate of 200 to 300 grams per animal. During the last month of pregnancy, when the fetus experiences rapid growth, it is recommended to increase the feeding rate to maintain the health of the mother and ensure a sufficient food supply. This practice is known as "steaming up."

Advantages of proper feeding for pregnant goats or sheep include:

1. Promoting the development of a strong kid/lamb at birth.
2. Enhancing udder development and ensuring adequate milk production.
3. Preparing the mother for the challenges of parturition.
4. Building up body reserves in the mother.

Feeding Nursing/Lactating Goats or Sheep:

The feeding of this group of animals is similar to pregnant females, but the feeding level should be slightly elevated to ensure sufficient milk production for the offspring. Additionally, hay and concentrate supplements should be offered at a rate of 300-500 grams per animal per day. Proper nourishment of lactating does/ewes enhances the survival rate and immunity of the kids/lambs, as well as promotes rapid growth.

Feeding Growing Goats/Sheep:

For this category, a supplement of 0.5 to 1 kilogram of legume hay per animal per day, along with free-choice feeding on roughage, is sufficient.

Feeding Breeding Males:

Males not involved in breeding should be maintained on good grazing or crop residue ad libitum, along with 1-2 kilograms of legume hay per animal per day. Approximately one month before being used for breeding, they should be placed on good grazing or crop residue and supplemented with 300 grams of concentrate mixture. This enhanced feeding practice before breeding is known as "flushing."

Advantages of flushing for goats/sheep:

1. Increases the quality and quantity of semen produced in males.
2. Increases the number of shades in females.
3. Improves the conception rate.
4. Increases the likelihood of twinning/triplets in the dam or mother goat.

Note: Care should be taken to prevent overfeeding of breeding males to avoid unwanted fattening.

Breeding Management of Small Ruminants:

Ewes and does come into heat (oestrus) at regular intervals of approximately 18 to 21 days if they have not been bred. Signs of heat in goats or sheep include frequent urination, uneasiness, tail shaking, swollen vulva with little mucus discharge, bellowing, mounting of other animals, reddening of the vulva, and restlessness.

Mating Methods in Goats and Sheep:

There are two main mating methods:

Natural service: This involves natural mating between a buck or ram and a doe or ewe. When males and females are housed together, there are no restrictions on mating. However, in situations where females are kept separate, careful observation is needed to identify females in heat for breeding.

Artificial insemination: This method replaces the traditional mating process with an inseminating syringe. However, there are certain limitations to the widespread practice of artificial insemination, such as the lack of semen banks, chemicals for large-scale semen preservation, proven males, and technical expertise.

Management of Breeding Females:

The management of breeding females can be divided into three main phases:

Dry Period (Weaning to Gestation):

This phase typically lasts for approximately three months. During this time, the doe or ewe is the least productive, allowing her to recover from the stress caused by the previous pregnancy and lactation. To prepare for the next pregnancy, it is important to provide the does or ewes with a higher level of nutrition.

Flushing during this period can increase the percentage of successful lambing. The recommended ratio for mating is 1 buck or ram to 20-40 does or ewes. With hand service, which involves isolating females in heat and introducing them to males, the number of females can be increased to 50 under intensive management.

Pregnancy Period (Gestation):

The gestation period for sheep and goats is approximately 5 months, from successful mating to parturition. During the first three months of pregnancy, fetal development is slow, and therefore, there is no need for a significant increase in feed supply.

However, in the last four to six weeks before parturition, it is important to provide higher-quality feed to meet the nutritional requirements of both the fetus and the dam. This enhanced feeding just before parturition is known as "steaming up."

The benefits of steaming up include reducing doe/ewe and kid/lamb mortality, greater development of udder tissues for high milk-yielding potential, and higher live weight gain in the young, resulting in heavier adult stock. Adequate water and minerals should also be provided.

Signs of Lambing/Kidding:

Signs that a goat or sheep is about to give birth include restlessness, constant standing up and sitting down, smelling the ground, enlargement of the udder, lack of appetite, and a slightly swollen vulva with some mucus discharge.

Lactation Period:

This is the period when the mother animal produces milk to feed her offspring. Feeding lactating animals aims to increase milk production to meet the needs of the young ones. Typically, the feed requirements of lactating females are greater than during pregnancy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, proper feeding practices for small ruminants depend on the age of the animal, its physiological state, and the quantity and quality of feed provided. Providing adequate nutrition during different stages of life, such as pregnancy and lactation, promotes healthy offspring, ensures sufficient milk production, prepares animals for parturition, and enhances body reserves.

Additionally, effective breeding management, including identifying signs of heat, understanding mating methods, and properly managing breeding females throughout different phases, contributes to successful reproduction and overall herd or flock health.