Dagestan ram: breed description, pros and cons, diseases and diet
Each region of Russia breeds its own breeds of sheep. In Dagestan, local fine-wool sheep of the meat-wool direction are common. Consider the description and characteristics of the Dagestan ram, its purpose and productivity, advantages and disadvantages. As well as the rules of maintenance, care, nutrition, breeding. What diseases can Dagestani sheep suffer from and how to prevent them in the household.
History of the breed
The breed was bred in Dagestan, selection work was carried out from 1934 to 1950. Coarse-haired local sheep and Württemberg sheep were used.Their offspring began to be bred "in themselves", kept on free pasture in the mountainous regions of Dagestan. The breeders set a goal to get fine-wooled animals adapted to the mountain climate.
Description and productivity
Dagestan breed of meat and wool direction, fat-tailed. The constitution of animals is strong, the body is large, proportional, the peculiarity is the sacrum is low. Weight of sheep - 45-50 kg, rams - 75-80 kg. Wool white color, homogeneous structure. Its length in males is 8-10 cm, in females - 7-8 cm. Wool yield - 50-58%, volume in rams - 2.8-5 kg, in sheep - 1.5-2 kg.
The fertility of the Dagestan breed as a percentage is 125-130%. Cheeses are made from milk and colostrum, including cheese.
Pros and cons
Despite the shortcomings, the breed is widespread in the homeland. Because Dagestan rams and sheep with a thin fleece are adapted to grazing, effortlessly overcome long distances along slopes and stones.
Maintenance and Care
Dagestan sheep and rams do not need special maintenance. In the summer they are kept on grazing, where they are constantly. They have a thick coat, so the animals do not suffer from temperature extremes, cold or heat. In winter, animals should live indoors - warm, bright, spacious. It should maintain a relatively constant temperature and humidity.
Sheep and lambs should be bedded with straw or hay. Change it regularly. In the sheepfold there should be feeders for hay and other feed and drinkers. Their size should be such that each animal has at least 35 cm.
In addition to the closed premises, for sheep of the Dagestan breed, it is necessary to equip a walking area. They are not afraid of the cold, so you can walk them even in cold weather.
Sheep feeding
Lamb feeds on milk until 2 weeks of age. Then it needs to be fed with bran and oats. By the age of one month, you can add grated vegetables, root crops, soft thin-leaved hay. At 3 months, lambs are weaned.
Adult animals are grazed on grass, hay and silage are given in winter. They feed on vegetables, melons, root crops. From roughage, in addition to hay, they give straw and haylage. Concentrates, grains of various types, bran, legumes, soybean and sunflower cake are fed.You can grow Dagestan sheep on a complete feed.
For fattening animals for meat, it is recommended to feed concentrates with a high protein content: peas, corn, barley. This contributes to the fastest build-up of muscle mass.
In caring for the Dagestan breed, not only the diet is important, but also the frequency of feeding. During the stall period, feed 3 times a day, give nutritious food in the morning and afternoon. After each feeding, water the animals. Give grain after drinking, before it - juicy food. In the summer, if the flock is grazed on pastures rich in grass, there is no need to give extra feeding to the sheep. The he alth and growth of young animals, the productivity of adult animals depend on how food is organized. If the females eat well, the number of cubs in the litter increases.
How are they bred?
The mating of Dagestan sheep and rams is timed to August-September. Females can occur at 1.5 years of age, although puberty occurs by 6-8 months. By the time of mating, they should weigh like adult animals. There can be 3-4 dozen females per 1 ram.
Pregnancy lasts 5 months, during gestation, the female needs to be fed heartily and often. With a lack of nutrients, lambs are born weak, the mother may refuse them. There are 1-2 lambs in a litter, rarely more, a maximum of 5 cubs. To obtain thoroughbred offspring of Dagestan sheep, it happens with Dagestan rams. Males are used for crossing with sheep of other breeds as improvers. Hybrids inherit the best qualities of both parents.
Diseases
Suffer from infectious diseases of small ruminants. They are able to spread rapidly from one animal to another, especially when crowded.Infections lead to a sharp decrease in the productivity of the flock, an increase in deaths. Treatment after diagnosis should be immediate. Antibiotics are used to fight infections. In addition to infections, helminths and external parasites harm sheep. Lice and fleas not only bother animals, but also spoil the quality of wool and skins.
Prevention - keeping sheep and rams in a clean room, changing bedding, cleaning and disinfection of feeders, drinkers and equipment. Keeping new animals in quarantine. Separate from the rest of the flock keeping females with lambs up to 3 months of age.
Dagestan breed gives meat and wool. It is adapted to keeping in mountainous areas, but will also feel comfortable in regions with a similar climate. The breed can be kept in the household to obtain meat, milk, shear soft, warm wool from sheep.
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