Feed plays an important role for the success of the business of sheep. Not only measuring, farmers should be able to distinguish the types of feed needed for the sheep. In general, the type of feed used for sheep is forage, concentrate and feed supplement.
a. forage
Forage consists of two kinds, fresh forage and forage dry. Examples of such fresh forage grasses are elephant grass, grass Bengal, king grass and weeds. Examples of fresh forage in the form of leaves is lamtoro / banana china, soybean leaves, leaf green beans, sweet potato leaves, hibiscus leaves, jackfruit and cassava leaves.
While the dry forage is usually a straw that has a coarse fiber content. Examples are rice straw, sugarcane straw and hay corn shoots.
b. concentrate feed
Amplifier function of concentrate feed to cattle or sheep is as a complement protein needs. This feed should contain high nutrients, easy to digest and low in fiber. This feed also serves as a source of energy and protein for sheep.
Concentrate feed can be grains and tubers. Or it could also waste processed agricultural products such as soybean meal and tofu. Concentrate feed can be concurrent with forage or separated.
c. Feed additives and salt
Additional food needed to trigger the productivity of sheep. Supplementary feed usually consists of mineral salts, vitamins, hormones and probiotics. Additional feed besides mineral salts are not required to be given. Provide additional food on a regular basis if deemed beneficial.
Sheep feed requirements
Needs of local sheep forage usually range 3-5 kg / head / day. Forage can be given all the time. As for concentrate feed keburuhannya about 0.5 kg / head / day. Administration can be performed twice, at around 07.00 am and in the afternoon at 15.00.
Feeding should also pay attention to the age and size of the sheep. Needs of young lambs different from an adult sheep. Giving feed can follow benchmark below.
Needs sheep fodder per day:
Forage = 10-20% of body weight
Concentrate = 2-4% of body weight
The content of minerals (salts) = 1% of body weight
= 3-4 liters of drinking water per head
daily Care
Keeping the cage sanitation by cleaning dirt and cages regularly. Sheep droppings can be a source of income side, sold as manure.
Bathing sheep so clean and free from diseases, such as worms. Bathing the lamb is done every week. Clean sheep also will have an impact on fitness and appetite. Moreover, if the sheep will be bred, or sheep mated hygiene should be maintained.
Shave. Shaving can be done every 6 months or when the bristles look matted and dirty. Leave the hair on the surface of the skin setelab 0.5 cm.
Caring and cut the nails with a chisel or sharp knife clean. Cutting the nails should be done every 4 months.
