Breeding ewes is the foundation for the healthy growth of the entire flock. Proper feeding plays a crucial role in ensuring the flock's development and improving its overall quality. Breeding ewes must not only grow well but also have high fertility, be capable of normal conception, give birth to healthy lambs with good weight, and ensure high lamb survival rates. To achieve these goals, it's essential to provide proper nutrition and management during key stages: pre-breeding, pregnancy, post-pregnancy, and lactation.
The pre-breeding period is critical for ensuring that ewes are in optimal body condition, which helps them go into estrus, ovulate, and conceive properly. Nutrition during this time significantly affects their reproductive performance. Therefore, it's recommended to start short-term superior feeding 1 to 1.5 months before mating. This ensures they receive enough protein, minerals, and vitamins to maintain good health. This practice can lead to earlier estrus, multiple ovulations, more regular heat cycles, and a concentrated lambing season, ultimately increasing the conception and twinning rates.
The gestation period for sheep lasts about five months, with the first three months considered the early pregnancy stage. During this time, the ewe needs sufficient nutrients to support both her own health and the developing fetus. A balanced diet is essential to meet these dual requirements.
The second trimester, which occurs in the last two months before birth, is when the fetus grows rapidly. About 90% of the fetal weight is gained during this time. The fetus’s bones, muscles, skin, and internal organs develop quickly, requiring high-quality nutrients. Feeds rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals—such as green forage, hay, soybean meal, bone meal, and salt—should be provided. Each ewe should receive 0.25–0.5 kg of mixed feed daily. If undernourished during this stage, the ewe may give birth to weaker lambs with lower survival rates.
After giving birth, ewes are often weak and need extra care. Their diet should be rich in nutrients and easy to digest to help them recover and produce enough milk. At the beginning of lactation, focus on maintaining normal milk production and closely monitoring both the ewe and her lambs. Ewes with multiple lambs require more attention and higher-quality feeds. Lactation typically lasts 30 to 45 days. As milk production increases, the ewe’s body stores are depleted, leading to weight loss. Therefore, feeding conditions during this time greatly influence milk yield. Ewes should be given the best possible feed. A typical daily ration includes 2 kg of succulent feed and 0.25 kg of mixed feed. In late lactation, gradually reduce the nutritional level and control the amount of mixed feed to avoid overfeeding.
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