Lacon sheep: breed description and characteristics, requirements for their content

The most widespread sheep of the breed Lacon (Lacaune) received in France. During the year, these animals give slightly less milk than the East Friesian breed, but the nutritional properties of the former are higher. For example, Lacone sheep's milk is used to make the famous Roquefort cheese. Breeding this breed is a necessary and sought-after activity, so scientists are constantly working to improve it, striving to increase productivity.

Description and characteristics of lacon

The origin of this breed is France. At first, the lacaune had low productivity, they were demanding in terms of care and maintenance. But after years of careful selection, they began to give more milk, gained resistance to various diseases.

Animals are raised only for milk, less often they are used for food (only lamb, since the meat of adult sheep is completely tasteless). They are also not suitable for obtaining wool, since the volume of the latter is significantly less compared to other breeds. The number of sheep in the world exceeds 1 million. Lacon is the best dairy breed in France, and she received her name in honor of the district of Mont-de-Lacon.

Because the lacaune is constantly improving, it was possible to achieve high milk yields - the average milk yield in France for 150 days of lactation is 280 liters per sheep.

The characteristics of the appearance of the lacaune are as follows:

1. Medium or large sizes. The average weight of sheep varies between 80-100 kilograms, while sheep weigh 55-60 kilograms.
2. The wool is white, fine in structure. At the same time, the head is bare.
3. No horns (except for the 2cm horns that males have).
4. The muzzle is elongated, thin.
5. The tail is long, thin.
6. Height at the withers for rams is 75 centimeters, for sheep - 70 centimeters.
7. The back of the body is well muscled.
8. Chest deep.

Remarkably, Lacone males are used to improve other breeds.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros and conshigh milk yield;excellent quality of milk;disease resistance;unpretentiousness.the inability to use sheep for meat and wool;susceptibility to a disease such as mastitis.

Maintenance and care requirements

This breed is unpretentious, but in order to achieve high productivity, it is important to provide animals with quality care. The conditions for keeping Lakon sheep are as follows:

1. In the summer, sheep are sent out for paddling (during the day) and driven into paddocks (at night). During cold weather, cattle are kept in a sheepfold.
2. Lactating females should preferably be kept in separate stalls. Place a heater if necessary. It is also very important to clean the room regularly and ventilate it periodically.
3. You should carefully prepare for the milking process. To do this, you will need specially equipped paddocks with an entrance and exit. The size of the room should correspond to the dimensions of the animal. It is important that the floor has a slightly inclined plane - thanks to this, the head of the animal during milking will be higher than the legs. This will ensure that the animal behaves calmly.

The milking process itself includes the following steps:

1. Sit on a chair on the side of the sheep.
2. Set the container under the udder.
3. Cover the container with double-folded clean gauze.
4. Knead the udder.
5. Proceed to milking: take 2 teats and alternately squeeze with your fingers.
6. Next move on to the next nipples.
7. At the end of the procedure, the udder is washed with warm water and wiped with a towel.
8. The milk is filtered again.

You also need to follow the rules:

• before starting the procedure, the container must be thoroughly washed, the same applies to the milkmaid's hands;
• wash the udder with warm water;
• drain the first streams of milk into a separate container to check its quality;
• milking takes a few minutes.

Feeding

The diet of representatives of the Lakon consists mainly of pasture (grass, grain). The menu is also diversified with special feed.

In winter, the availability of hay and silage, as well as root crops, is important. Animals are fed 3-4 times a day.

Subtleties of breeding

Lakayune is an early maturing breed: females reach sexual maturity at 7-10 months and are ready to mate. On average, 100 Lacones produce 131 lambs. The gestation period is 145 days. Most often in one litter - no more than 2 lambs. The next pregnancy occurs after 1 year (in November-January). Lamb lactation lasts about a month, after which the weight of young animals reaches 15 kilograms. Lakon sheep have a lifespan of about 25 years.

Possible diseases

Representatives of Lakon are characterized by increased resistance to diseases, infection with parasites. However, like most dairy breeds, Lacaunes are prone to mastitis. This disease is the basis for the culling of sheep.

Lacon is one of the best and most popular dairy sheep breeds. Cattle breeding is a profitable business if you approach it seriously and thoroughly.

Recommended