Innovations for rapidly improvement of dairy sheep farm economics | ИНОВАЦИИ ЗА БЪРЗО ПОДОБРЯВАНЕ НА ИКОНОМИКАТА НА ОВЦЕФЕРМИТЕ ЗА МЛЯКО
2013
Todorov, N,, Thracian University, Stara Zagora (Bulgaria) | Simeonov, M., Institute of Forage Crops, Pleven (Bulgaria) | Nedelkov, K., Thracian University, Stara Zagora (Bulgaria)
Number of sheep in Bulgaria is decreasing dramatically during the last 20 years, moreover, this trend is continuing. Main reasons are small profit and lack of certain market. At the same time, many innovations in dairy sheep farming are not applied in Bulgaria. The aim of this paper is to show innovations, which are easy to apply and do not need large investments. They will increase income immediately, within one year and will increase competitive ability, viability and sustainability of the dairy sheep farms. Based on several experiments of the authors it is recommended early weaning of lambs at 20 – 25 days of age, and 8 – 9 kg live weight, instead of current practice to keep lamb suckling up to selling for slaughtering at 45 – 70 days of age, and 13 – 18 kg live weight. After adopting lambs to dry feed, it is better to sale them at 25 – 27 kg live weight as light lambs, still at a good price. The authors have developed cheap feeding scheme with whole grains maize, barley or wheat plus pelleted protein concentrate in a ratio of 1:1 before reaching 16 kg and 1.5:1 after that. This scheme is cheaper than commercial lamb starter. The early weaning and raising the lambs, as well as adjusting sale when lamb prices are the highest, is facilitated of synchronization of estrus by the ram effect. Fecundity can be improved by adequate flushing. Saving of all live born lambs requires the use of preserved colostrum for drenching and glucose for intraperitoneal injection of hypothermic lambs. The culling of barren ewes is recommended, because many of them will never get pregnant next season. To save one-year unproductive period is recommended first conception at 7 – 8 months of age rather than at 18 months. By the application of suggested practices and improved management of dairy sheep farms, it is possible to increase the net profit from a ewe with 130 BGN per year.
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