How long do sheep live: average years of domestic and wild animals

Sheep keeping is a rapidly growing agricultural industry. This is due to the fact that sheep are unpretentious animals. They can get along in almost any climatic conditions, and all thanks to a high level of endurance. A prerequisite for their life is the presence of pastures. Novice breeders are often interested in how long domestic sheep live and is it profitable to keep them?

How long do sheep live on average?

The life expectancy of sheep, first of all, depends on their habitat (domestic and wild), on the purpose of growing, on the conditions of detention.

Wild

Sheep and rams in the wild try to live in herds, on remote hills. Females and males live in separate herds and come together to mate during the cold season.

Sheep and rams15 years old

Wild	Lifespan

Homemade

On average, domestic sheep live 12-14 years, in good conditions this figure rises to 25. They live on farms for 7-8 years, it is not advisable to keep them for a longer period, because over time their teeth are erased, the wool becomes unusable and the meat becomes tough.

Sheep and rams

12 - 25 years

Factors affecting lifespan

Sheep are herd animals that are bred for several reasons: wool, milk and meat. They are easy to maintain, so they are in great demand in many parts of the world. There are several factors affecting their lives, namely:

1. Containment conditions.
2. Food.

Containment conditions

In order to maximize the lifespan of an animal, it is necessary to create conditions in which it will have excellent he alth and strong immunity. Under such conditions, the animal lives much longer.

Stables

There are two types: group and single:

1. One ram needs at least three square meters of space.
2. One sheep - not less than 1.5 square meters.
3. A female with lambs needs a separate stall, which will be isolated from the rest. The area for comfortable living is 2.5 square meters.For one lamb - 0.8 sq.m. Their stall should be equipped with heaters to maintain the optimum temperature, as well as a ventilation system.

They prefer to group in large herds and huddle closely together. That is why the entrance to the stall should be wide. When building a corral, you should consider a system for cleaning the premises, as well as ventilation. The lack of fresh air negatively affects their he alth. Appetite disappears, immunity decreases, this affects the quality of wool and milk.

The dwelling should have fresh air, but drafts should not be allowed. If windows serve as ventilation, then there should be no gaps in them. The ideal location is close to a pasture.

Long troughs are suitable as feeders, counting their number is based on the number of heads in the paddock. For one sheep - at least 35 centimeters of the length of the trough, this is the optimal distance at which the animal will not experience discomfort.

Food

The main factor in quality animal care is its diet. Immunity and productivity depend on it. Special attention should be paid to the quality of the feed, it should consist of natural products, without the addition of chemicals. They need to be fed at least four times a day. Feeding must be strict. The diet includes hay and straw, silage or root crops can act as additives. Feeding occurs in stages:

• first - hay and straw;
• follow up with water;
• at the end - concentrates and roughage.

Before you close the stall for the night, two bundles of hay should be left. Soda and useful minerals are added to the water. This is because one animal drinks seven to ten liters of water per day. The liquid must be fresh, in cool seasons it must be warmed up.

How to increase the life span of an animal

What is the optimal life expectancy of sheep depends on the purpose of rearing. The purposes for which they are kept are:

• milk;
• wool;
• meat.

To obtain renewable supplies (milk and wool), it makes no sense to keep more than 6-10 years. With age, the wool becomes stiffer, the milk begins to lose its beneficial properties, and the volumes decrease. If the goal is to obtain meat, then the life span is 2-3 years. During this time, the sheep is gaining the necessary mass. And its meat is soft and tasty, in comparison with an older sheep.

In rare cases, an animal is allowed to live for more than 10 years. This may be due to the fact that it brings he althy lambs. There is no point in increasing the lifespan of an animal. In order for it to live up to 20-25 years, it is important to adhere to the recommendations listed above.

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