Sheep keeping is a rapidly growing agricultural industry. This is due to the fact that sheep are unpretentious animals. They can get along in almost any climatic conditions, and all thanks to their high level of endurance. A prerequisite for their life is the presence of pastures. Beginning breeders are often interested in how long do domestic sheep live and is it profitable to keep them?
How many years do sheep live on average?
The lifespan of sheep, first of all, depends on their habitat (domestic and wild), the purpose of cultivation, and the conditions of detention.
Wild
Sheep and rams in the wild try to live in herds on remote hills. Females and males live in separate herds and unite for mating during the cold season.
| Wild | Lifespan |
| Sheep and rams | 15 years |
Homemade
On average, domestic sheep live 12-14 years, in good conditions this figure increases to 25. They live on farms for 7-8 years; it is not advisable to keep them for longer, since over time their teeth wear out and their wool becomes unusable , and the meat is tough.
| Homemade | Lifespan |
| Sheep and rams | 12 – 25 years |
Factors affecting lifespan
Sheep are herd animals that are raised for several reasons: wool, milk and meat. They are easy to maintain, so they are in great demand in many parts of the world. There are several factors influencing their lives, namely:
- Conditions of detention.
- Nutrition.
Conditions of detention
In order to maximize the lifespan of an animal, it is necessary to create conditions in which it will have excellent health and strong immunity. In such conditions, the animal lives much longer.
Stalls
There are two types: group and single:
- One ram needs at least three square meters of space.
- One sheep - at least 1.5 square meters.
- A female with lambs needs a separate stall, which will be separated from the rest. The area for comfortable living is 2.5 square meters. For one lamb – 0.8 sq.m. Their stall should be equipped with heaters to maintain optimal temperature, as well as a ventilation system.
They prefer to group in large herds and huddle closely together. That is why the entrance to the stalls should be wide. When building a pen, you should consider a system for cleaning the room, as well as ventilation. The lack of fresh air negatively affects their health. Appetite disappears, immunity decreases, this affects the quality of wool and milk.
There should be fresh air in the home, but drafts should not be allowed. If windows serve as ventilation, then there should be no gaps in them. The ideal location is considered to be close to grazing.
Long troughs are suitable as feeders; their number should be calculated based on the number of heads in the pen. For one sheep - at least 35 centimeters of trough length, this is the optimal distance at which the animal will not experience discomfort.
Nutrition
The main factor in quality animal care is its diet. Immunity and productivity depend on it. Particular attention should be paid to the quality of the feed; it should consist of natural products, without the addition of chemicals. They need to be fed at least four times a day. Feeding must have a strict regime. The diet includes hay and straw; silage or root vegetables can be supplemented. Feeding occurs in stages:
- first - hay and straw;
- then drink water;
- at the end - concentrates and roughage.
Before closing the stall for the night, two bundles of hay should be left out. Soda and useful minerals are added to the water. This is because one animal drinks between seven and ten liters of water per day. The liquid must be fresh; in cool seasons it must be warmed.
How can you increase the lifespan of an animal?
The optimal lifespan of sheep directly depends on the purpose of rearing.The purposes for which they are kept are:
- milk;
- wool;
- meat.
To obtain renewable reserves (milk and wool), there is no point in holding for more than 6-10 years. With age, the wool becomes stiffer, milk begins to lose its beneficial properties, and volumes decrease. If the goal is to obtain meat, then the lifespan is 2-3 years. During this time, the sheep gains the necessary mass. And its meat is soft and tasty, in comparison with older sheep.
In rare cases, an animal is allowed to live more than 10 years. This may be due to the fact that it produces healthy lambs. There is no point in increasing the life expectancy of an animal. In order for it to live up to 20-25 years, it is important to adhere to the recommendations listed above.
