Description and characteristics of sheep of the Stavropol breed, diet and breeding
Meat and wool direction is one of the leading in sheep breeding. This group includes many new and old breeds with valuable characteristics. Consider the description of the Stavropol sheep breed, its characteristics, pros and cons. It will be useful for livestock breeders to learn how to feed animals, how to care for them, how to keep them, about the peculiarities of breeding at home.
History of appearance
The breed of Stavropol sheep was bred in 1915. New Caucasian merino sheep were taken as a basis. The animals of the new breed have inherited a coat of uniform structure and adaptability to unfavorable living conditions. Then the individuals obtained from such a cross were coincident with representatives of the American Rambouillet breed. The animals have improved conformation and coat, increased weight.
Description and characteristics of the Stavropol breed of sheep
Stavropol sheep have a strong constitution, harmonious constitution. Females are hornless, males with horns. The animals are large, the weight of rams is 100-110 kg, females are 50-60 kg. The coat is delicate, soft, strong and resilient. Its length in males is 11 cm, in females - 8 cm. The structure of the coat is uniform along the entire length, the color is white. Sheared wool from 1 animal: 14-19 kg from rams and 6-8 kg from females, the percentage yield is 50-55%.
Fertility of Stavropol sheep is 120-135%.
Main pros and cons
Advantages of Stavropol sheep:
- large size and body weight of animals;
- adaptability to dry climates;
- high wool productivity;
- thick, fine and soft coat.
Disadvantages of the breed:
- there are few breeding animals;
- non-purebred sheep do not inherit valuable qualities.
The Stavropol breed is bred in the Volga region, in the North Caucasus, in the Rostov, Orenburg and Voronezh regions.
Maintenance and care
From spring to autumn, animals can be grazed on pastures. For 1 female with lambs, there should be 1 hectare if the animals stay in one place during the season. There should be a reservoir next to the pasture where the sheep will come to drink. Animals need at least 10 liters of water every day. In winter, the flock should be kept in a warm, draft-free environment. For 10 females with small lambs, you need about 40 sq. m. area.
In winter, the flock should be allowed for a walk, despite the frost. Thick coat reliably protects them from hypothermia.Exercise is good for the physical and mental health of animals. Shearing of Stavropol sheep is necessary 2 times a year. First, they are cut before being sent to the pasture, then in the fall, but before the frosts come. It is convenient to remove wool with a special machine.
Drawing up a diet
Sheep of the Stavropol breed are unpretentious in food, they are fed with the usual food for this type of animals. In summer it is grass, in winter it is hay and silage. Sheep are given root crops and vegetables, vitamin supplements, mineral premixes.
Lamb, bred for meat, are fed with cereal mash with root crops, cake. Can be fed with compound feed. Sheep are fattened up quickly on compound feed, the production cost is low. You can score them after reaching six months of age.
Animal breeding
To obtain purebred Stavropol lambs, only purebred females and males are crossed. For mating, you can leave 10-20 females per 1 ram. Keep males separate from females so that there is no uncontrolled reproduction. They are released into the flock to the sheep only for the mating period.
There are 1-2 cubs in the litter, but the sheep are capable of producing more lambs. The survival rate is almost 100% due to the fact that the lambs are born strong and healthy. Females of the Stavropol breed take their responsibilities responsibly, independently feed and raise lambs before weaning.
Newborn sheep do not require any special care. Stavropol females take good care of the offspring, the lambs do not get sick under their mothers and grow quickly. The lamb passes without complications. Females have enough milk to feed 2-3 cubs. From each sheep, 150 liters of milk can be obtained during the feeding period. It produces excellent quality cheese.
Diseases and prevention
To prevent infectious diseases in the flock, animals are vaccinated. Animals develop immunity against common diseases. The duration of the vaccine is about six months, so the procedure must be repeated regularly.
In addition to infectious, Stavropol sheep can get sick with colds and digestive ailments. If they stand on wet and dirty straw, walk a little, hoof pathologies spread - they rot, the hoof horn grows.
You can prevent or at least reduce the likelihood of infections and diseases by following simple rules for keeping farm animals. The room where the flock lives should always be clean, dry and warm. To do this, you need to change the litter as soon as it gets dirty, clean and disinfect the feeders and equipment.
Ventilate the sheepfold, warm it up in winter in severe frosts. Eliminate drafts - the cause of colds. For animals that move little, trim and trim hooves.
The Stavropol breed of sheep is intended for growing and breeding for meat and wool. They are well adapted to live in dry climates, but they also tolerate cold, so they can be kept in households in any Russian region. The wool of Stavropol sheep is soft, and materials of excellent quality are made from it.
