Dwarf sheep: description of the 6 smallest breeds and content features

Dwarf breeds of sheep have long been domesticated and raised mainly by small farmers. These animals eat less than their closest relatives, although their productivity is much lower. It is beneficial to breed mini-sheep for summer residents and owners of country houses. Such animals do not require any special care, take up little space, and also play the role of companions or pets. Dwarfs can be raised for meat and wool.

Origin of pygmy sheep

Dwarf sheep are similar to "normal" animals, only slightly smaller. The height at the withers, even in adulthood, reaches only 40-50, a maximum of 60 centimeters.Yes, and such animals weigh no more than 10-20-37 kilograms. Their origin is quite natural. Most of the small sheep kept for decorative purposes in petting zoos or on private farms are creations of nature.

These are not dwarfs, sick with some kind of disease, but just small animals. Their appearance was influenced by habitat, food, climate, the need for camouflage and protection from enemies. Small sheep can be found on the French island of Ouessant or the Shetland Islands, in West and Central Africa.

European pygmy animals grew up in difficult climatic conditions, where it was their small stature that helped them protect themselves from the cold on windswept plains. African dwarfs, on the contrary, are adapted to poor nutrition and a hot desert climate.

Mini sheep are bred for wool, meat and as pets. They are herd animals that love company and eat mainly grass in summer and hay in winter.They grow up to three years. Then growth at around 50-60 cm at the withers stops. Life expectancy, under normal conditions of detention and quality nutrition, is about 15-20 years. It is profitable to keep and breed dwarfs, however, buying a mini-breed will cost at least $ 200.

Popular breeds

Most Popular Dwarf Sheep:

1. Decorative Cameroonian. They are reddish brown sheep with black spots on the belly and legs and are native to Cameroon. Height at the withers - up to 60 cm, weight - up to 37 kg. The rams have spiral-shaped horns growing to the sides, and the females are polled. These prolific animals give birth to 2-3 cubs at a time. Sheep have short hair. At home, they are bred mainly for meat.
2. Ouessant (Ouessant). This breed is also called the Breton dwarf. Animals come from the island of Ouessant, which is located in the Atlantic Ocean off the western coast of France.Harsh climatic conditions influenced the formation of this hardy breed. Height at the withers - 40-49 cm, weight - 13-22 kg. Coat color - black, but can be chestnut, brown, gray, white. Rams have large, spiral horns on their heads. Raised for wool and meat.
3. Dwarf Romney from New Zealand. Animals of a dwarf breed were artificially bred by New Zealand livestock specialists on the basis of Romney sheep from the UK. Dwarfs have an elongated body, short legs, white hair, and a long tail. Height at the withers - no more than 50 cm. Rams and sheep are polled. Dwarf Romneys are bred for wool and meat.
4. West African dwarfs (dwarf, Nigerian dwarf). These are sheep up to 50-60 cm high and weighing up to 37 kg. They have long been domesticated and live in West and Central Africa. Wool - short, color - white or piebald (white-brown, white-black). Sheep have horns, females are polled. Raised for meat.
5. Dwarf Cheviot. These mini sheep are from the UK. The breed is meat and wool. Height at the withers of the animal - 50-60 cm, weight - 20-40 kg, coat color - dark or light.
6. Shetland sheep. The animals are native to the Shetland Islands. Height - no more than 60 cm, weight - about 37 kg. Coat color - brown, light. Raised for meat and wool.

The smallest sheep

The smallest breed is Ouessant, or the Breton dwarf. This animal is from the French island of Ouessant. Rams and sheep do not grow above 50 centimeters. Sheep, even in adulthood, weigh like dogs - about 10 kg. Sheep are slightly larger.

Ouessants are raised for their wool and meat. The productivity of this breed is low. Animals have long, up to 12 cm, hair that can be cut in the spring. Most often, black sheep are bred. Sometimes the coat of dwarfs can be reddish, brownish or white.

The female, which is usually covered in autumn, gives birth to only one lamb in spring. The mass of a newborn cub is no more than 1 kg. At 3 months of age, lambs already weigh 4-4.5 kilograms.

Animals are bred by farmers and lovers of exotic breeds in Germany, France and the UK. Dwarfs have a friendly character, they are excellent companions, pets loved by children. By the end of the first year of life, sheep weigh about 20 kg, the slaughter yield of meat is approximately 50 percent.

Content Features

Dwarf sheep should be grazing outdoors in summer. Animals should eat green grass and be under the rays of the sun. For sheep, it is necessary to build a special room where they will rest at night, hide from the rain, and be kept all winter. You can give them your corner in the barn. One animal should have 1-1.5 square meters. m area.

Decorative mini-breeds are not recommended to be kept in a residential building or apartment. These animals will climb furniture, chew everything, besides, it is unrealistic to accustom them to the tray. The best place for dwarfs is a barn, a barn, a sheepfold and a shed. In the room you need to put a manger for hay, feeders for vegetables and grains, drinkers for water.

Dwarf sheep can be kept as a living lawn mower. They will trim all the grass on the lawn near the house. In summer, animals can be fed with leaves, finely chopped vegetables from the garden and fruits from the garden.

For the winter, sheep need to prepare hay (up to 300 kg per individual). In winter, animals must be kept indoors. They feed them 2-3 times a day. Vegetables are given in chopped form.On the day one sheep eats 1-2 kg of hay, 0.5 kg of root crops, 100-250 g of grain (barley, oats, corn), 1-2 kg of silage. Water dwarfs in between feedings (2 times a day). One sheep is given 2-3 liters of water at a time.

In winter, animals are fed with premixes, bone meal, chalk, oilseed meal, oil cake, pharmacy vitamins and minerals are always bought. S alt stone should be in the feeder all year round.

Breeding

For breeding, it is better to buy thoroughbred animals in a breeding farm. Dwarfs reach sexual maturity at 6-8 months. True, the mating of animals is led later. Sheep are covered at 1-1.5 years. The female's pregnancy lasts 5 months. She gives birth to 1-3 cubs (depending on the breed). Lambs up to 3 months old should live under a mother ewe and feed on her milk. Then the sheep are gradually transferred to hay and grass.

At 3 months of age, dwarfs are recommended to be vaccinated against the most dangerous diseases (foot-and-mouth disease, anthrax, smallpox, rabies).

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