Contents
- 1 The food eaten by sheep
- 2 Nutritional needs of sheep
- 2.1 Water needs of sheep
- 2.2 The energy needed by the sheep
- 2.3 How much protein does a sheep need?
- 2.4 Minerals that sheep need
- 2.5 Vitamins that sheep need
- 3 foods that should not be given to sheep
- 3.1 Animal protein
- 3.2 Food contaminated with mold or fungus
- 3.3 Some types of plants or herbs
- 4 The number of times a sheep is eaten per day
The foods that the sheep eat
The sheep eats seeds, herbs, and plants, like all ruminant animals that have a multi-chambered stomach, adapted to ferment cellulose before the digestion process, and to fully digest its food, it chews the food in its mouth and then re-chews it and swallows it, and this is called ruminant food in animals, meaning that sheep are considered animals Vegetarians do not eat meat, but do sheep eat bread? Bread can be given to sheep in very small quantities, and not rely on it as a source of food, because it contains unhealthy fats that may cause harm to the sheep and may lead to the sheep refraining from eating.
Lamb nutritional needs
Many things must be taken into account when raising sheep, including the following:
Lamb's water needs
Some types of sheep do not need a lot of water. For example, the great desert sheep get their water needs from eating plants, according to the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles. The amount of additional water that sheep need is determined by the following conditions and factors:
- the productive state of the animal; such as nutrition, growth, pregnancy, and lactation.
- temperature and humidity.
- Water level in the feed consumed.
- The amount of frozen water consumed as snow.
The energy needed by the sheep
The energy in the sheep’s diet is the main driver of its performance, as the sheep get their energy from pastures, hay, and grains, and if they do not get enough energy to meet their needs, the level of wool and meat production decreases, and the possibility of disease increases and the number of deaths increases, but how much does it eat sheep per day of fodder? It depends on the weight of the sheep and the rate of fattening that the sheep farmers want.
How much protein does a sheep need?
Sheep cannot maintain their weight when protein levels decrease in their diet, so they begin to mobilize body tissues to compensate for the deficiency. Low levels of protein in sheep's bodies also lead to reduced rates of fungal growth, pregnancy, lactation, and productivity.
Minerals needed by sheep
Minerals should always be available to the sheep in their diet; This is because it is an important and essential part to maintain its nutrition, as these minerals can be obtained in different forms. It is either liquid placed in the water inside the suspended drinkers, or by using solid mineral supplements. Phosphorus, sulfur, and calcium are the main minerals that sheep need to ensure that they remain healthy and strong, and produce high-quality wool.
The vitamins needed by sheep
Vitamins are essential compounds for the normal growth, health, and reproduction of sheep, as young sheep need many vitamins, but in small proportions, due to the type of feed they eat and the process of producing vitamins in their stomachs.
Foods that should not be given to sheep
animal protein
Animal protein causes poisoning in sheep, with the exception of lamb's milk, so no animal protein should be offered to sheep in their meals.
Food contaminated with mold or fungus
It is necessary to ensure the safety of the food provided to the sheep and that it is safe from the presence of fungus or rotting in it. Because that will lead to harm and harm him.
Some types of plants or herbs
The sheep feed on herbs, fodder, and hay, with the exception of some types of herbs or crops that may lead to poisoning, and from foods that must be kept away from the sheep. Azaleas, chrysanthemums, acorns, buttercups, daffodils, and elderberries, so you must make sure that they do not grow in places where sheep are, and make sure that they are not in sheep grazing areas.
The number of times a sheep eats per day
The sheep graze at an average of seven hours a day, distributed over three main periods, usually at dawn, in the afternoon, and when the sun approaches, but how many kilos does the sheep eat per day? The amount of food that sheep eat depends on their weight and health condition, and their food needs increase during pregnancy and lactation, and their needs vary between proteins, vitamins and minerals that affect their health and increase their productivity if the food is balanced and healthy.
