Today, we discuss the sheep farming business plan in India along with sheep farm management, sheep feeding methods, and sheep housing basics for maximum profits.
Sheep farming business is the raising and breeding of domestic sheep. Sheep farming is a branch of animal husbandry. Sheep are raised mainly for their meat (lamb and mutton), milk (sheep’s milk), and fiber (wool). They also yield sheepskin and parchment.
Sheep farming is profitable because of below-mentioned reasons:
Profitable Sheep Farming.
First of all, you can start the Sheep farming business with small investment and space. The Sheep farming business doesn’t demand huge capital in starting.
The Sheep business requires less labor for daily maintenance and care. So, you can run the farm with less working capital investment.
Generally, Sheep give birth to kids frequently. So, you can make a large size herd within a short period.
Sheep need less space for living. Even you can raise sheep with other livestock animals.
Additionally, you don’t want to build expensive housing for the sheep. So, it allows you to maintain cost early.
Sheep eat several kinds of plants. So you don’t need to present high-quality feeds all the time.
Sheep are hardy animals. They can adapt to all types of environment. Therefore, you can raise sheep in a wide range of temperate climates, including arid zones.
Finally, the products get from sheep-like meat, wool, and milk have high demand in the market. So, Sheep farming business is a commercially lucrative business for entrepreneurs who want to start a livestock business.
Advantages of Sheep farming:
The advantages of Sheep farming are given below;
Sheep do not require expensive buildings to house them and on the other hand, require less labor than other kinds of livestock. The foundation stock is cheap and the flock can be multiplied rapidly.
Sheep are easy to handle and normally require little input. Sheep production does not need elaborate facilities and equipment and sheep are economical converter of grass into meat and wool.
Sheep will eat several kinds of plants compared to other kind of livestock. This will make them excellent weed destroyer.
The production of wool, meat, and manure provide three several sources of income to the shepherd.
Mutton is one type of meat towards, which there is no prejudice by any community in India and further development of superior breeds for mutton production will have a great scope in the developing economy of India.
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Sheep farming business plan:
Below are some steps on the sheep farming business plan:
Selecting a suitable location for a sheep farm:
Selecting a suitable location for sheep farm is very important. Consider the necessary facilities for raising sheep, while selecting the place.
It is an important task in a sheep farm business plan. A suitable farm location has numbers of benefits. Always choose a place where there is an availability of the entire essential such as fodder stock. Availability of green fodder, good transportation, good medication, along with a good source of fresh water is important for starting your business.
Procure quality breeds:
Procure the quality sheep breeds either trusted breeders or responsible farmers. Generally, you can find several sheep breeds throughout the world. However, all those breeds are not fit for farming in all areas. So, you will want to procure the breeds according to the agro-climatic condition of your location.
Additionally, you will want to select the breed according to the specific demand. Some breeds are appropriate for commercial meat production and some breeds are suitable for wool production. So, choose suitable breeds according to desired production purpose. Some of the most popular sheep breeds for business are;
Bannur
Bellary
Dorset
Suffolk,
Cheviot
Deccani
Cordially
Montadale
Hassan
Merino
Rambouillet
South Down
Housing for Sheep farm:
Small-Scale Sheep farming does not need much space to start it. Also, there is no need for constructing an expensive house for them. The only need should be fulfilled is the need for fodder and need for freshwater.
Building the right housing for sheep farm is one of the main important aspects of establishing the sheep farm. You should provide housing that can protect the sheep from adverse climatic situations. You can give simple shade for fouse the sheep. However, you should construct the shade in an elevated area to prevent water stagnation. Additionally, you can produce the fodder trees around the shades and use the space as grazing land. Finally, the entire house should have sufficient ventilation facility.
For Commercial, construct a separate house for them to shelter them to protect them from the worst weather, pests, and diseases and also, from natural predators. Generally, for rearing sheep commercially, a shelter which is 20 feet long and 15 feet wider and having rooftop at 8 feet height is good enough.
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Feeding:
You must provide proper feeding for the best result sheep farm. Additionally, you will need to give the food according to gender and age. Good-quality hay or stored forage is a highly productive feed for a sheep farm.
Sheep Feeding.
Make sure of the good stock of fodder for sheep. Since proper feeding is necessary for proper sheep growth for producing maximum. Supplying high quality and nutritious food to them keeps them healthy, more productive and free from diseases.
Always give high quality and nutritious food to them keeps your sheep healthy, more productive and also free from diseases. Generally, all kinds of grasses, corns, and plants are favored food of sheep. Providing a sufficient amount of fresh water along with enough nutritious fodder is essential for earning a big profit.
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Fencing:
Make an appropriate fence around the pasture, if you allow them to graze on the pasture. Maintain the fence strong enough, so that they can’t go out, and stay safe inside. Good fencing helps to keep all types of predators out. You can make a wire or woven fence.
Sheep Care.
Care and Management:
You will need to provide good care and management to obtain the maximum profitability of your farm. Broadly, you will want to procure quality breeds, provide good housing and food. Additionally, maintain the cleanliness of your sheep farm. In addition to that, provide the right vaccination to sheep. If you notice any sick sheep, separate the animal promptly and give proper treatment.
Always try to purchase quality and productive breeds, feed them nutritious foods and create a suitable house for them. Vaccinate them timely to prevent them from several types of sheep diseases. And always maintain good relation with the vet, so that you can ask for help anytime.
To get the optimum profit, always tap the local market of the products. It helps to maintain the transportation cost minimum. Additionally, always think about the other marketing avenues to get the maximum profits from sheep farming business.
