Sheep Farming In Telangana For Beginners

Introduction to sheep farming in Telangana:

Let us discuss Sheep Farming In Telangana along with popular sheep breeds in the state of Telangana.

The raising of sheep breeds which are domestic is called as sheep farming. It is one of the popular businesses which are performed all over the world and also in the India. Let us know the Sheep Farming business in Telangana which is one of the states of India, in this state not only the native breeds are raised the neighboring state breeds are also reared. These sheep can be grown in all ranges of temperate climates and which include arid zones also. For these we need to care them a little more than other livestock as per their security, facilities and comforts. The total sheep population of the Telangana state is 1.74 crore in 31 districts of the state.  Sheep produces many products like wool, manure, milk, meat, and also the skin.

Scope and importance of Sheep Farming in National Economy:

There is a great contribution to the national economy, we sheep meat export contributes 8% of total export value of agricultural and also process food products. The total population of the sheep as an estimation in India is 71.6 million sheep.

1. The skin of the sheep is used for the leather jackets and also we can prepare leather products.
2. The milk is very help full in curing many diseases.
3. The manure of the sheep is used as the agricultural manure.
4. And the wool is used in making winter clothes like sweaters.
5. This sheep farming will give employment to many unemployed, illiterates, and also less skilled farmers.
6. The sheep can be reared by women, children and also by the landless people.

Read: Frequently Asked Questions About Goat Farming.

Loans and Subsidies for Sheep Farming in Telangana:

The loans and subsidies are offered to the farmers, as the central and state government offers many loans and subsidies for the farmers those are economical down. These loans and subsidies can be availed by visiting the nearby banks like rural, co-operative and also the central banks.

Note: For more information, we need to visit NABARD, State Animal Husbandry Department, Sheep Co-operative society/ union/ federation and also commercial farmers, and Sheep Development Corporation.

Advantages of Sheep Farming Business in Telangana

1. The sheep do not need expensive and high quality of facilities they just need shelter where they can stay from harsh animals and also from the uneven climatic conditions.
2. In the sheep farm the foundation stock is cheap and also the flock can multiply rapidly.
3. These are also known as economical converters of grass into milk, meat, and also the wool.
4. When compared to other livestock’s they eat a large variety of plants. As this will help the farmer as exc3ellent weed destroyer.
5. The sheep never damage and crop or tree, if the farmer is simultaneous is maintaining the agricultural sectors.
6. For the shepherd, if he invests in one sheep farm the shepherd will get income from four sources like wool, milk, manure and meat.
7. The lips of the sheep will help in cleaning the grain lost at the harvesting time and they will convert waste feed into the profitable feed.
8. These play an important role in the livelihood for a large scale farmers like landless labours, marginal and small farmers.

Sheep Breeds of Telangana:

• Deccani Sheep Breed

This Deccani sheep is found in some districts of Telangana State.

• Nellore Sheep Breed

These are found in some parts of Telangana State districts.

• Bellary Sheep Breed

This breed belongs to the boundaries of the Karnataka and Telangana

There are some other local red sheep breeds are raised in the districts of Telangana.

Sheep Feed Management:

For normal health and growth, reproduction of the sheep we need to balance the ratio of the feed which is fed to the sheep. The nutrients in the feed will help in achieving the nutrient requirement of the sheep. The sheep need protein, TDN (total Digestible Nutrients), Phosphorus, and also Calcium. As sheep are a ruminant animal the ruminant animal’s stomach is dived as compartmental as which contains reticulum, omasum and abomasums. In sheep farming business, feed management plays a major role. As this is one of the reasons for good growth and production of sheep.

The feed should be supplied to the sheep throughout the year. Feed materials like a pasture, well-cured hay is most common items. In winter, some supplements should be added to the hay while feeding them. Supplements like loose mineral, kelp meal and apple cider vinegar should also be provided. The milking breeds should be fed with leguminous hay such as alfalfa in daily portions, but for the kids and bucks the feed is different; they should be fed with grains and milk only. Kids should be fed milk till 2- 3 months of their age. Salt and fresh water should be supplied to dairy sheep along with the feed.

Read: Poultry Feed, Types of Poultry Feeds.

Legume Fodder crops for Sheep:

• Stylo
• Cowpea
• Desmanthus
• Hedge Lucerne

Tree fodders for Sheep: 

• Kodukapuli
• Velvel
• Agathi
• Subabul
• Arasu
• Karuvel
• Vagai
• Glyricidia
• Neem

Concentrated feed for Sheep:

• Skimmed milk powder
• Rice polish
• Broken rice
• Wheat
• Groundnut cake
• Maize
• Salt
• Mixture
• Sorghum

Sheep Housing Management:

For Sheep, depending on the stock density they can be reared in an open house or in a closed house, but the basic facilities like feed and water, ventilation, inlet and outlet for air, proper drainage, milk barn, proper fencing etc. should provide similar to sheep breeds. The bed area of each sheep should be around 15 square meters.

• The sheep house should dry and hygienic.
• Sheep farm should get good ventilation.
• The number of labour is very less for the sheep farm.
• The sheep should get enough space so that they can take rest well.
• Sheep waste should also be collected on the farm.
• In every season, we need to give sheep the warm water as the sheep are afraid of cold water.
• The house should be constructed at a higher elevation so that the floods will not affect the house.
• The floor, which used in the farm, should also be dry.
• The drainage facility should be good in the farm.
• As the sheep have the same requirements of human beings like growth and physical requirement so they need housing for their shelter.
• These sheep should be protected from the harsh animals and also from the uneven climates that are inoculated with environmental stress.

Read: Cattle Feed Information.

Basic Requirements of Housing:

• Food troughs
• Milk barns
• Doors
• Floor
• Storage
• Fencing
• Orientation
• Good location of housing / sheds
• Ventilation
• Proper drainage
• Air inlet and outlet
• Waterers

Sheep Breeding Management in Telangana:

• During breeding week and low productive female should not be used.
• The female which is breeding should have optimum body weight along with increased milk yield, faster growth rate and better health condition.
• A sheep can be used for 7-8 years for the breeding purpose.
• While selecting the females we should ensure that they should have good body weight at birth and weaning, growth rate and early puberty, a good structure of udder and inter calving period.
• In case of the sheep the castration is suggested at the age of 3 months.
• The breeding techniques are of two types the artificial and natural insemination.
• The breeding will increase the population on the farm.
• The farmers will get high returns due to the breeding process.
• The artificial insemination method is mostly preferred in commercial rearing of sheep.
• In sheep farming business the breeding is one of the essential tasks.

Sheep Diseases and Vaccination Management:

The health of sheep should be checked regularly and any illness should be treated during the early stages. The pulse should range from 50 – 115 for 83 minutes. Respiration should range from 15 – 20 per 29 minutes. Body temperature must be 39.7˚C.

The Sheep should be vaccinated regularly, the sheep should be observed regularly so that if there is any change in behavior or physical activities. If there is no proper care toward the sheep it might lead to the biggest loss of sheep and also the kids. Sheep farm should be maintained, clean and sanitized. The proper quality of feed should be given to the sheep. Regularly the hooves of the sheep should be trimmed; these should be trimmed about for every 6 -4 weeks. The farm should get plenty of sunshine for the sheep.

Endo – parasitic Diseases:

• Roundworm
• Coccidiosis
• Fluke infection
• Tapeworm

Ecto – parasitic Infestations:

• Tick, lice, etc.

Bacterial Diseases:

• Haemorrhagic Septicemia
• Anthrax
• Entertoxaemia
• Pneumonia
• Foot rot
• Mastitis
• Brucellosis

Viral Diseases:

• Peste Des Petits ruminants
• Sheep pox
• Foot and mouth diseases

Vaccinations:

The vaccinations which are given to the sheep are of 2 types. They are:

• Live Vaccine or Active Vaccine
• Inactive Vaccine

Read: Dairy Farming Courses, Fees in India.

Live Vaccine or Active Vaccination:

This vaccine attacks the organism until the organism loses its virulence. There are also capable of holding them as to provoke their immune to the sheep which they have targeted.

Inactive Vaccine:

These vaccines directly attack the organism fights with it until the organism becomes dead. These inactive vaccines produce toxins. The toxin which is produced can be used for vaccination purpose, then that toxin vaccine is called as Toxoid inactive vaccine. These vaccines will help the sheep to attain immunity.

Sheep Farming Tips for Beginners:

• In the farm there should be a first aid kit.
• To the farmers the sheep should be the first and major priority.
• The farmer should have basic knowledge regarding the sheep farms, farming and sheep.
• The female sheep is known as Ewe.
• The male sheep is known as Ram.
• Sheep belong to the herd.
• While selecting the breed we should have basic knowledge of good breed and good producing breed.
• The housing of sheep should be constructed strongly so that it can tolerate all types of climates.
• While trading the sheep, the sheep should be kept in a market where the sheep gives high returns and the sheep breed has high demand.

Read: Prawn Cultivation.