How to graze sheep: rules and norms of sheep per 1 ha, how much grass is eaten per hour

Grazing in the pasture is an economical way to feed sheep. Natural herbs are rich in vitamins and minerals. Free-range animals are more prolific, gain weight faster and produce he althy offspring. Modern sheep breeding includes seasonal selection of terrain, calculation of grass consumption rates and the number of heads per hectare. Although difficult to calculate, keeping and grazing sheep is beneficial for farmers and he althy for consumers.

Pros of grazing

Benefits of grazing sheep in the pasture:

• freedom of movement and communication of animals;
• natural free food;
• save time cleaning stalls.

Milk and meat from animals grazed in nature are valued higher and considered environmentally friendly.

Timing and organization of pasture use

How to use the pasture rationally:

• analyze grass yield;
• calculate the timing of animals eating plants;
• determine the allowable number of individuals per hectare.

The time of pasture use is limited by the maturation and restoration of the grass cover. So that the animals do not trample the grass too quickly, the territory is divided into squares and portable fences are installed. When the sheep eat the grass in one area, the partitions are moved to the next square and the animals are transferred there.The grass cover is restored within a month. Therefore, the flock is allowed to enter the first site not earlier than this period. The plot area is calculated so that the herd has enough food for a week.

Where is the best place to herd sheep?

When choosing a pasture, take into account the type of terrain. Various herbs grow in the mountains and steppes. The grazing path also matters.

Sheep don't like headwinds and blinding sun. Animals are comfortable walking upwind with the sun behind or to the side.

Natural pastures

In different seasons, the herd is taken out to the meadow or to the mountains. But the shepherd must carefully examine the area, since among the useful herbs there is feather grass that is harmful to sheep. The stems and leaves of the plant injure the mucous membrane of the mouth of animals, and the seeds cling to the fur, pierce the skin and cause feather grass disease.

Steppe

The most common type of pasture is the steppe.

Pros and consrich in spring forbs;on fertile soil, a nutritious green cover is restored after rain.suitable only for seasonal grazing;in open areas in the heat, a fire can occur.

In the summer, the grass burns out and the nutritional value of the pasture decreases.

Mountain

Grazing on the slopes of the mountains has a positive effect on the quality of meat, wool and milk of sheep.

Pros and consareas of growth of legumes containing fiber;nutritious herbs and clean air increase the immunity of animals.inconstancy of the weather;just for summer.

Alpine and subalpine pastures are the most valuable in the world.

Dry land

River watershed pastures are among the best natural grazing areas.

Pros and consprovide animals with food in spring, summer and autumn;snakes do not hide in the low grass cover.yield depends on the weather.

Natural upland pastures are highly valued as they have almost no disadvantages.

Forest

A type of pasture unsuitable for grazing - forests.

Pros and consshading;there are herbs that do not grow in open areas.the spread of ticks;poor vegetation;low grass yield.

Light forests with partial shade and wooded mountain slopes are suitable for grazing.

Swampy

Sheep are not constantly grazing in areas with high soil moisture.

Pros and consclose proximity to the reservoir;coolness in summer.an abundance of mosquitoes;high risk of infection transmitted from blood-sucking insects;distribution of helminths in the grass.

Comer, sedge, moss, reeds grow in swampy areas - plants that sheep do not like.

Water Meadows

The right time for grazing in the water meadow is the beginning of spring and the end of autumn, after the aftermath has been mowed.

Pros and consjuicy and dense grass cover;a zone of growth of cow parsnip, beloved by sheep.not suitable for year-round grazing;dangerous for animals in summer due to helminths, poisonous herbs and snakes.

Among the dense grass of the water meadow come across buttercups and horsetail. All plants of the Buttercup family contain toxic substances that irritate the respiratory tract of sheep. Horsetail in large quantities is harmful to cat sheep, as it can cause premature birth.

Artificial pastures

Pros and consthe spread of poisonous herbs is excluded;the most he althy nutrition thanks to the rational selection of plants.increase in financial costs for processing the field;you will need to remove weeds, fight pests.

The volume of eaten mass of plants on artificial pastures reaches 95 percent.

Grazing rules

Animals are gradually being transferred from stall keeping to pasture grazing.

Preparation

Sharp transition from winter barn to grazing causes indigestion in sheep. Therefore, the flock is prepared according to the following rules:

• let out to graze for an hour in the afternoon;
• feed hay before grazing;
• on returning to the barn, drink plenty of water.

General preparation rules:

• conduct a veterinary examination of animals, vaccination against ticks, parasites and infections;
• cut the hair on the hooves and around the eyes;
• divide the herd into flocks by age and wool quality.

The pasture is preliminarily inspected, places for rest and grazing are planned, and a transfer schedule is drawn up.

Daily routine

Sheep are released to pasture in late spring - mid or late May, depending on the climate. At the beginning of the month, the grass is still not tall enough and nutritious.

Grazing begins at dawn. Sample graph:

The day trip starts earlier on particularly hot days. If the weather is cool, cloudy, the herd is not distilled or they graze until noon Heat is on its way down 20:00-21:00 The flock is being led homeIn summer, the herd can stay in the meadow longer

Time	Action	Description
05:00	Flock driven out to pasture	Early in the morning not hot and no blood-sucking insects.
11:00-12:00	Sheep are driven into the shade, to the river for midday rest

During spring grazing, sheep are driven out to the legume field after the morning dew subsides and before the evening dew falls. Young, wet stems ferment in the stomach of animals, resulting in tympania disease.

Features of summer grazing:

• early arrival due to dew;
• transition to the shade for chewing grass;
• night grazing.

The animals are brought to the field at 18:00. They feed until one in the morning, rest for two hours, and feed again until ten or eleven in the morning. During the day, the herd rests in the sheepfold. In summer, dew softens the grains and helps them to digest better. But one should not graze a flock on wet alfalfa.

During winter grazing, the herd is released to pasture at 11 am. Covered parking lots with a supply of hay and water are equipped on the territory. In case of bad weather, animals are driven to shelters. In sheep breeding, methods of grazing without a shepherd are used. Animals are kept in open pens, through the fences of which current is conducted. Low voltage is safe for sheep, sheep and lamb, but will not allow the herd to scatter around.

Organization of a water hole

In the summer, it is harder for sheep to endure thirst than hunger. On hot days, the animals are fed three times a day. In autumn, the number of trips to the watering place is reduced to two times. On particularly cool days, sheep are given water once a day.

The maximum distance a herd can travel is 3 kilometers. If the reservoir is further away, water is brought to the pasture. Sheep that travel long distances every day gain less weight.

Tips & Tricks

How to start herding sheep:

• during the first grazing, do not often overtake from one place to another, so as not to disturb;
• young animals and breeding producers are brought to the best lands;
• graze in a deployed formation so as not to trample the area;
• when choosing a location, give preference to lands with a high content of white clover and timothy grass.

In the summer, campsites should be changed every 12 days to reduce the chance of infestation with worms and parasitic blowflies;

What difficulties may arise

Before you start grazing, you need to know that:

• spring grass contains a lot of potassium. From an excess of the substance, sheep suffer from convulsions. Excess potassium is balanced by sodium, which is contained in s alt. The daily norm for an adult animal in the spring is -10 grams;
• output on alfalfa alternate with feeding on a natural pasture. The stems of the plant are covered in the stomach with ordinary herbs and are better absorbed;
• not every clover is good for sheep. A plant with red flowers in the first year of growth contains a nerve poison. Sheep are allowed into the field with red clover after the aftermath has been removed for the second year;
• sheep tightly clustered and warm each other. The herd instinct is useful in winter, but dangerous in summer. Animals need to be separated to prevent heatstroke.

The he alth and fatness of sheep depend on the skill of the shepherd. An experienced shepherd understands useful and harmful herbs, determines the duration of grazing according to the weather.

Sheep grazing rate per 1 ha

Grass consumption rate depends on pasture type and number of sheep.

To calculate how many heads to graze on one hectare of field, use the following formula:

G=U / N x P

Formula variables mean:

• G - number of sheep;
• Y is the yield per hectare multiplied by the percentage of pasture use;
• H - the amount of green mass that sheep eat for grazing;
• P - pasture use period.

Natural lands are used by 60 percent, and artificial - by 90. Grazing lasts 6 hours without midday rest. One sheep eats 2 kilograms of greens per hour, or 12 kilograms per day on grazing.

Can I graze in the rain?

Animals suffer from indigestion from wet grass. Food swells in the rumen, the first of the four stomachs. The formation of gas and foam blocks burping.

Ruminants first collect grass in the rumen, and then regurgitate it and chew it. Without burping, food wanders in the stomach for a long time, causing bloating and shortness of breath. In a neglected state, animals die from suffocation. Therefore, sheep should not be grazed in the rain, immediately after a downpour and in the dew.

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