A
number of sheep management systems have been described in Nigeria. These
management systems range from free range to tethering in subsistence production
to confinement in semi-intensive and intensive systems.
Extensive or
traditional system
In Nigeria the system of husbandry is
mainly traditional with individuals keeping 2 to 4 animals on which investment
is minimal but potential returns are still high. These systems of husbandry are
characterized by trekking and exposure to high ambient temperatures. Animals
lose body weight while moving. The traditional system of management is
characterized by high incidence of diseases and parasitism, together with the
adverse effects of tropical climate. Other characteristics include losses to
stealing motor accidents poisoning by crop farmers and conflicts between
livestock owners and crop farmers losses to predators and indiscriminate
mating.
Semi-intensive system
The semi-intensive management system
is intermediate between the intensive and the traditional management system.
The system involves grazing of the animals on any available herbage during the
day and housing them during the night. On the other hand the sheep is still fed
in the morning and in the evening. Animals were observed for disease problem
and veterinary care was provided.
Intensive system
The intensive system would involve
complete confinement of the animals either in pastures or in pens where feed
and water are provided. Here crop residues such as rice straw and bran cassava
peels brewers dry grain are provided. Improved nutrition could be achieved
through the use of cut and carry grasses legumes or browse supplemented with
salt slicks. Under this situation adequate nutrition is ensured and the welfare
of the animals is constantly monitored with full veterinary care being
provided. The greatest advantages of this system are effective conversion of
crop residues or supplement to products of high biological value such as milk
and meat. There is control of reproduction improved performance and hygienic
conditions collection and use of faecal materials as farm yard manures
reduction in cases of parasitic diseases control of sheep against auto-knock downs
and little or no damage to the environment.
Nutrition
Sheep must be adequately fed for
optimum performance poor nutrition is one of the major factors limiting the
productivity of indigenous ruminants in Nigeria. In order to develop a viable ruminants
industry animals should be fed properly. Though sheep feed mainly on roughage
(grasses legumes brose etc). it is necessary to give them supplements in order
to improve their production. Proper management of the breeding flock improves
productivity and reduces lamb mortality. Essentially feeds contain energy
protein fibre minerals vitamins and water feeding of sheep depends the age of
the animal physiological state of the animal (lactation pregnancy) and the
quantity of the roughage being fed.
Feeding of Adult
Animals
Hay or crop residue should be provided
always in addition 1-2kg. animal/ day of legume hay e.g. groundnut haulms beans
pod cowpea residue. Animals at this stage need feed for maintenance. It is
therefore not necessary to over feed them.
Feeding of pregnant
sheep
In addition to supply of hay a farmer
should feed good quality legume hay at the rate of 1.5-2.5kg/ Animal/day or
concentrate can be fed at a daily rate of 200 -300kg/ animal/day. But higher
levels of feeding can be maintained especially during the last month of pregnancy
when the foctus grows very rapidly and causes an increased demand on the
mother’s food supply Good feeding results in the following.
-
Provides
nourishment for the developing foctus and usually results in a strong kid lamb
at birth.
i.
Good
feeding enhances the development of the udder and ensure adequate milk production
ii.
It
builds up body reserves of flesh on ewe.
iii.
It
prepares the dam for the difficult task of parturition
This
practices of enhanced feeding just before parturition is referred to a steaming
up.
Feeding of Nursing or
Lactating females.
This group of animals can be fed like
pregnant females but the level of feeding should be slightly increased. This is
to ensure that the dam produces enough milk for feeding the offspring. In
addition hay and concentrate supplement should be provided at the rate of
300-500gm/Animals/day. Adequate feeding of lactating ewes increases the
survival rate of the lambs increases the resistance of diseases of the
young-ones and ensure a fast growth rate.
Feeding of Growers
A supplement of 0.5-1kg legume
hay/Animal/day in addition to free choice feeding of roughage is sufficient for
this class of animals.
Feeding of Breeding
Males
When males are not in service they
should be maintained on good grazing or crop residue ad lib plus 1-2kg legume hay/animal/day. About a month to being
used for service they should be place on good grazing or crop residue plus
300gm of concentrate mixture. This practice of enhanced feeding prior to
breeding is referred to as flushing.
This
has the following advantages.
i.
In
males it increases the quantity and quality of semen produced.
ii.
In
females it increases the number of ova shade.
iii.
Ensures
a greater chance of turning/triplets in the dam.
iv.
Increases
the conception rate.
Care
should be taken to prevent the overfeeding of the male as this will lead
fattening which is not desired in breeding males.
Housing equipments
and other facilities
Housing is important requirement for
intensive sheep production. Housing is essential for overnight shelter and
provides security against predators for the sheep. Also it provides protection
against rain and cold. Some of the importance
of sheep houses are.
Protection from
adverse weather condition
The major function of a sheep house is
to protect the animal from adverse climatic condition such as sunshine rain
wind or cold. For the most part adult sheep are equipped to withstand cold due
to heat produce during the fermentation process but young lambs have not yet
develop this mechanism and should therefore be protected sheep do not like
being drench be heavy rain nor excessive such particularly when the sun is at
its height. These can clearly be seen by the attempts the animals make to seek
shelter from excessive sun or rain.
Better surveillance
When sheep are kept together in a
house the owner can better observe them. He is therefore in a better position
to notice sick animals and treat appropriately before the disease is spread.
Protection from
predators
By the provision of a house sheep are
protected from predators such as dogs snakes thieves accidents and other
harmful vices.
Easy handling
Handling is easier animals can be
caught and flock management is improved because it allows for certain
management practices such as isolation of rams outside breeding season and weaning
to be carried out. Other management practices such as identification docking
and castration can be done easily.
Feeding of
supplements is easier
This is because animal of the same age
physiological state such as yearlings gestation fattening weaning can be kept
in the same group. This improves performance since each animal receives
supplement meant to meet its particular production requirement.
Provision of housing leads to overall
improvement in the performance of the animals. Sheep housing can vary from a
low mud-wall building with thatched roof to a prick or concrete wall with
corrugated iron sheets roofing. Also corruaged iron walled building could be
used. Such housing should be located on a well-drained soil. It should be well
ventilated to avoid dampness. The floor can be of cement or rammed earth it
should be easy to clean and should be covered with good bedding material such
as straw or wood shavings which can be changed from time to time.
The building may be divided into pens.
Floor space requirements for lambs and adult sheep are about 0.4 and 1.7m2
respectively in addition floor space should be provided for feed and water troughs. There should be more
pens per building or more than one building with separate for males females and
weaner.
A store and a hay could form part of
the building. Alternatively the hay barn could be a separate structure. A run
(enclosure) made of chain link wire waist-high may be construed in front of the
pens. Divided into at least two sections for males and females if housed in
different pens in a single building. Water supply can be from a well tap and
bore hole or river. It should be clean and in sufficient quantity.
Feed and water troughs should be
provided in every pen, either built-in or moveable type. A rectangular feed
trough measuring 4 x 0.3 x 0.15m is adequate for 10 adult sheep. Simple feed
troughs could be made by cutting a drum lengthwise into two halves. If cut
drums used the edges should be made blunt to avoid injuries to the animals.
Large plastic basins are better as water troughs a age unlike metal drums they
do not corrode.
A foot-bath is required for the
prevention and treatment of foot-rot, a very common problem with sheep on wet
grounds. The most common types is the walk-through type which is a shallow long
receptacle. Where a small number of sheep is involved a bucket of basin may be
used.
A dip is an essential structure in a
sheep farm. The walk-in short-swim type is the most common. In this type the
animal enters the vats are best made with concrete.
A vat measuring 6 x 1.2 x 0.75m has a
capacity of about 2000 litres. It is necessary to put a roof over the vat to
prevent rain from diluting the chemical. In small-sized flocks a 200-liter drum
opened at one end can be used. The animals are immersed, one at a time in the
dipping solution contained in the drum for about 30 seconds. A knapsack sprayer
can also used.
Handling sheep
Handling in sheep management could
simply be defined as a way in which the husbandman drag, push or carry the
animal to where they will be fed, administered drug for research purpose for
observation and study of their behavior. Good handling of small ruminant will prevent
the animal from being injured and
guarantee the safety of the handler. If sheep are to be caught and
handled for any reason they should be confined to a small corral or shed
appropriate way to handle sheep are:
1. Husbandman or attend and must know
how to relate with the animals since animal communicate in one way or the other
e.g. if a ram use its leg to scratch the ground continuously it simply means it
is ready to attack anybody.
2. Sheep may best be caught around the
neck by the hind leg or by the rear flank. They
should be carried by allowing the hind leg to fold towards the front
while using the other hand to hold the remaining leg. Never should they be
caught by the wool.
3. The young animal should be carried close to the chest depending on
the age weight and body conformation.
Generally what matter
most is the good relationship with the animals as this will facilitate good
handing.