Basic Physical Needs of Sheep

Transcription

1 Need to Know: Basic Physical Needs of Sheep Things you need to know about what sheep need. As animals that rely on people for daily care, sheep need the same things that all domestic animals need: Food and water Shelter and health care Protection from harm or abuse Freedom from pain, freedom to move and be social, freedom to be sheep. Sheep were among the first animals to be domesticated by humans. Domestic sheep are part of the agricultural practices of cultures around the world. Sheep are herd animals with a strong instinct for flocking, or staying together with their group. They also have a strong instinct for returning to a pasture that is familiar to them. Over thousands of years, people have harnessed these instincts to keep sheep as a source of wool, food and hides. Sheep need people who look out for their welfare and make an effort to learn how to handle and care for them properly. WHAT SHEEP NEED EVERY DAY: ACCESS TO GOOD QUALITY WATER Sheep need access to good quality water at all times. In particular, lambs and ewes who are lactating need to have access to a good source of water. How much water a sheep drinks will depend on: Its health, age and diet Whether it is pregnant or nursing a lamb The temperature and humidity in the air. Snow should not be relied upon to fulfill the water requirement. Healthy sheep will drink up to four litres of water every day. They will voluntarily drink more water if the food they are eating has more salt or protein in it, or if the feed is dry. In winter, sheep might not drink as much water. Although snow and highmoisture feed provide some of the water sheep need, they do not replace the need for a good water source. Snow should not be provided as a water supply as it will not meet a sheep s daily needs. Alberta SPCA 2012 albertaspca.org Permission granted to duplicate for classroom use 1

2 If the sheep are confined in a barn that uses water bowls or nipple drinkers, there should be one bowl or nipple for: Every 10 rams Every 40 to 50 ewes Every 40 ewes with lambs Every 50 to 75 feeder lambs. The difference in the number of animals per water bowl reflects the difference in the size of rams, ewes and lambs. Bigger animals need more water. If a water trough is the only source of water, the trough should have at least 0.1 square metre for every 40 sheep. Sheep need access to water in a place that s easy to reach. Water troughs and bowls should be placed at a height that prevents the water from becoming fouled by animal waste (urine and feces). These receptacles should also be installed at a height that is easy for lambs to reach but not so low that a lamb might fall in and drown. In Alberta, farmers should make sure the sheep s drinking water does not become frozen. Water Requirements of Sheep by Weight Daily Water Requirements - Litres Rams 7.6 Dry Ewes 7.6 Ewes with Lambs 11.3 Lambs (2.25 to 9 kg) 0.4 to 1.1 Feeder Lambs 5.7 What does the Code of Practice say about water for sheep? Sheep require a supply of good quality water. Voluntary water consumption is 2 or 3 times dry matter consumption and increases with highprotein and salt-containing diets. The table below provides a general guideline for the daily water requirements of sheep. 2 Alberta SPCA 2012 albertaspca.org Permission granted to duplicate for classroom use

3 WHAT SHEEP NEED EVERY DAY: THE RIGHT KIND AND AMOUNT OF FOOD TO MAINTAIN GOOD BODY CONDITION WHAT SHEEP NEED EVERY DAY: ACCESS TO CLEAN FEED THAT IS FREE OF CONTAMINANTS AND PESTICIDES Sheep belong to a broad class of animals called ruminants. This means that, like cows, sheep are grazing animals and have four stomachs. Sheep should have access to enough of the right kind of food to maintain a good body condition. A healthy ewe needs to eat.68 to.9 kilograms of forage a day. Forage refers to the plant leaves and stems that make up the diet of grazing animals. This amount of forage helps keep a sheep s digestive system healthy. Sheep will require about eight hours of grazing time every day. Sheep prefer the tender parts of plants. They prefer short, green grass to tall, dry grass. They use their lips and tongues to find the tender parts of plants that are a staple of their diet. If you give sheep a choice between eating dry hay and fresh grass, they will graze the plants in a field right down to their roots. Sheep may also need to have salt and minerals added to their diet, depending on the nutrition they get from eating food grown in their region. The trace minerals in the soil are different in different parts of the province. Farmers feed sheep in one of three ways: Grazing in pasture Semi-confined feeding operation (a combination of pasture and confined feedlot) Confined feeding operation. In all three types of feeding, sheep need to have enough food and the right kind of food. Testing the feed helps sheep farmers figure out the right nutrition for animals being raised in Alberta. The best formula balances the amount of forage and grain. Sheep owners who feed their sheep a high-energy diet must also take care to avoid grain overload, bloating and other diseases. Digestive issues are less common with a diet of whole grains compared to processed (ground, rolled or cracked) grains. Sheep owners should prevent sheep from grazing when they are applying fertilizers, pesticides or other types of top dressing to the pasture. These are contaminants that should not get into the milk of ewes or into the meat of sheep that will be slaughtered. Sheep owners should also be aware of contaminants that might come from flooding or air pollution in pastures. Sheep need to eat enough forage to keep their digestive systems healthy. Sheep need access to feed that will keep them free of contaminants. Feed should also be free of animal wastes and other contaminants that might be introduced if sheep can jump into feeders. Alberta SPCA 2012 albertaspca.org Permission granted to duplicate for classroom use 3

4 What does the Code of Practice say about feeding? Whether the flock is grazing, semi-confined or confined, sheep owners must ensure that adequate feed is available. The diet of a flock should meet the basic nutritional requirements of sheep. Accurate rations of food should be formulated with the help of laboratory analysis and industry specialists. Salt and minerals formulated specifically for sheep should be available as required. Feeder space requirements vary according to sheep size, fleece length and type of feed. When free-choice, or self, feeding occurs, all sheep, including the smaller and more timid animals, should have as much access to feed as they want. Flock dynamics should be monitored to ensure all sheep get adequate feed. WHAT SHEEP NEED EVERY DAY: SHELTER, LIGHT, FRESH AIR AND ROOM TO MOVE Sheep need little, if any, housing other than some shade from the sun when it is hot and protection if the weather is extreme. Shelter from extreme weather can be as simple as a row of trees or a windbreak. Sheep may also need overhead protection from rain and snow. Fences are often used to protect sheep and keep them in one area. Fencing should be safe and wellmaintained. As sheep can become easily frightened and run into fences that enclose their living area, barbed or electric fencing should not be used. Sheep pens and barns can be used to provide shelter for sheep. However, they should be built in places where it is possible to avoid problems such as flooding. These shelters must also provide for fresh air, light and adequate room to move. Ventilation is very important. Barns should not be closed up, as respiratory problems, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, can result from poorly ventilated spaces. Ventilation can be provided naturally, with openings for fresh air, or mechanically, with fans. Sheep must have a dry and draft-free area for lambing. Sheep should be provided with clean, dry straw for bedding. Damp and soiled straw should be removed daily and replaced with fresh straw. Sheep need shelter that is safe, clean and comfortable. 4 Alberta SPCA 2012 albertaspca.org Permission granted to duplicate for classroom use

5 What does the Code of Practice say about shelter needs for sheep? Sheep require shelter from the extremes of weather. This may be as simple as a shelterbelt tree plantation, or a windbreak. Where a building is used to supply shelter, it should be designed to provide clean, well-ventilated and sanitary conditions. Sheep should have access to a well-drained area for rest and rumination. This area must be large enough to accommodate all the sheep at the same time. The Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Sheep will be updated and completed by the summer of Information on the progress of this new Code can be found on the National Farm Animal Care Council website at Priorities for the updated Code include the use of snow as a source of water and flooring materials for housing. Excerpts from the Recommended Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farm Animals - Sheep ( 1995) have been used with permission, Canadian Sheep Federation. The process for the development of updated Codes can be accessed through the National Farm Animal Care Council at Alberta SPCA 2012 albertaspca.org Permission granted to duplicate for classroom use 5