The PowerPoint presentation on the nutritional requirements of sheep and goats in India provides a detailed analysis of the dietary needs of these animals, emphasizing the significance of proper nutrition for their growth, reproduction, and overall health. It discusses essential nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals, outlining their roles in the animals' physiological processes. The presentation also delves into traditional feeding practices in India and highlights the importance of balanced diets and access to clean water. Furthermore, it addresses seasonal variations in feed availability and suggests strategies for adjusting diets accordingly. By identifying common nutritional deficiencies and health issues faced by sheep and goats, the presentation offers solutions to improve feeding practices and ensure the well-being of these animals, thereby enhancing their productivity and performance in Indian farming systems.

2. Introduction:
• In India, Sheep and Goats are vital livestock species
contributing to meat, milk, fiber, skins and manure
production as well as rural livelihoods.
• Proper nutrition and feeding practices are crucial for
health, growth, reproduction, and productivity of these
animals.
• Tailoring diets based on age, purpose and physiological
state and availability of feed and fodder is essential for
sustainable farming practices.
• The cost of feeding accounts from 60% to 80% of the
total production expenses, highlighting the significance
of efficient feeding practice for economic sustainability.

3. Comparative feeding behavior and digestive physiology in goats and sheep
S. NO. Characteristics Goats Sheep
1. Activity Can walk longer distances Walk shorter distances
2. Feeding pattern Browser; more selective Grazer; less selective
Variety in feeds Preference greater Preference limited
3. Salivary secretion Rate Greater Moderate
4. Recycling of urea in saliva Greater Less
5. Dry matter intake:
For meat production
For milk production
3% of body weight
4–6% of body weight
3% of body weight
3% of body weight
6. Digestive efficiency With coarse roughage higher Less efficient
7. Retention time Longer Shorter
8. Water intake per unit dry
matter
Lower Higher
9. Dehydration:
Feces
Urine
Less water loss
More concentrated
Higher water loss
Less concentrated

4. NUTRIENT REQUIREMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP
ENERGY REQUIREMENT
• Energy needs of sheep are influenced by their body size ( weight ), stage of
production, amount of exercise they get, fleece length and environmental factors
( temperature, wind chill, etc. ).
• An abundance of good roughage alone will supply sufficient TDN or NE for
breeding ewe’s upto about a month or six weeks before lambing.
• In pregnant ewes a small amount of grain or other concentrate can be fed for the
growth and development of foetus.
• TDN requirement of lambs is higher than that of adult sheep similarly the
pregnant, lactating and breeding ewes require more energy than non-pregnant
and non lactating ewes.
• As a thumb rule a non-pregnant, non-lactating ewe requires 10 gm TDN per kg
live weight for maintenance and wool production.
• Requirement will be 50% more at last 6 wks of pregnancy and 100% more at first
10 wks of lactation.

5. FACTORS AFFECTING ENERGY REQUIREMENTS
• Size, age, growth, pregnancy, lactation.
• Environment:-Temperature, Humidity and wind may increase or decrease energy
needs.
• Shearing decreases insulation and may increase energy losses.
• Stress of any kind appears to increase energy requirements.
• Energy deficiency: Reproductive failure, poor growth and loss in body weight
and may ultimately lead to death
• The energy requirements for maintenance - 98 kcal ME / kg W0.75 (ICAR, 1998).

6. PROTEIN REQUIREMENTS
• Wool fibres i.e. keratin is composed greater proportion of protein.
• Sheep can convert NPN substances into good quality microbial protein in rumen.
• Methionine is first limiting amino acid in microbial protein.
• When NPN substances like urea, biuret are used in sheep ration, the Nitrogen : Sulphur
ratio should be maintained as 10:1.
• A level of 10% protein in ration is adequate for wool production.
• Wool is very rich in cystine and methionine (sulphur containing amino acid ).
• Supplements high in cystine or methionine is beneficial (Blood meal is rich in cystine).
• Approximate daily DCP requirement for maintenance is 1/10th of the TDN or 1 gm for
every 1 kg of live body weight.
• This requirement increases by about 50% during pregnancy and 100% during lactation and
growth.
• Protein deficiency causes reduced feed intake and poor feed efficiency and may result in
poor growth and development of muscles, reduced reproductive efficiency and wool
production.
2.73 g DCP / kg W0.75.

7. Water requirement of sheep
• Water requirement increases during growth, gestation,
lactation and heat stress, when salt content of diet is
more or when animals are made to travel long distances.
• Normally a sheep will drink water approx. 2-3 lit./kg dry
feed consumed.
Dry matter requirement of sheep
• In general a adult sheep consumes 2.5 to 3% DM of
their live weight.
• However for a satisfactory growth, lambs require DM of
about 4 -5% of the body weight

8. MINERAL REQUIREMENT
Salt: Sheep consume more salt per 100 kg body weight than do cattle. Generally salt
is added at the rate of 0.5% in complete ration or 1% concentrate ration in sheep.
Calcium and Phosphorus: Sheep reared on good pasture or when 1/3rd legumes.A
phosphorus content of 0.16 - 0.19% in ration (an D.M. Basis) -ewes during pregnancy.
In milch ewe it should be 0.23%, where as in fattening lambs 0.17.
Cobalt: Deficiency leads to anemia, retarded growth rough hair coat. Drenches of
about 1.0 mg cobalt chloride twice a week correct deficiency.
Copper: It is essential in melanin production. It is observed that Cu reserve of the
lamb can satisfy wool (Keratin) formation up to 6 months of age after that Cu
supplementation is necessary.
Zinc: Clinical signs of zinc deficiency occurs in ram lamb manifested by impaired
testicular growth and complete stoppage of spermatogenesis
Sulphur: is present in wool and hair and its deficiency will lead to poor wool
production and quality.
Only 15 minerals are found essential for sheep. Out of
which 7 are major mineral i.e. Na, Cl, Ca, P, Mg, K & S.

9. VITAMINS REQUIREMENT
• In sheep some vitamins are synthesized in their tissues and some by
micro-organisms in their gastrointestinal tract.
• The symptoms of vitamin deficiencies are anorexia, reduced growth,
dermatitis, weakness and staggering gait.
• Vitamin E requirement is usually met with normal ration, how ever "Stiff
lamb disease" can be prevented by vitamin E supplementation.

10. Feeding of Lambs (Birth to 90 days)
Colostrum
• Immediately after birth feed the young ones with colostrum.
• The lamb should be allowed to suck its dam for the first three or four days so that
they can get good amount of colostrum
• After 3 days & up to weaning feed the lambs/kids with milk at 2 to 3 times a day.
Creep Feed
• This creep feed may be started from one month of age and up to 2-3 months of
age.( till weaning)
• The general quantity to be given to the lambs/kids is 50 – 100 gm/animal/day.
• Creep feeds should contain 18 to 20 percent crude protein and be low in fiber
(high in energy).
• A 2:1 calcium to phosphorous ratio is maintained in on-farm feed mixes by
adding feed grade limestone at 1 percent of the diet.

11. FEEDING OF PREGNANT EWES
• During the first half of gestation period the growth of foetus is not so
rapid and thus the maintenance requirements of nutrients can take care of
pregnancy during early half of gestation period.
• The concentrate mixture should be given to about 150-250 gm/day in
addition to 8-9 hrs of grazing on good pasture or grasses.
• The excessive energy intake during last 6 weeks of gestation leads to
fattening which results in birth difficulty in single bearing ewes.
• Where as low energy intake can result in low birth weight with reduced
viability in lambs, perhaps pregnancy toxemia may result in ewes.
• Further, Ewes should also receive available green fodder at the rate of
7kg per head per day or
• 600g of legume hay or 300g concentrate with 12% - 14% DCP and 65%
to 70% TDN during last 45 days of pregnancy.

12. FEEDING OF EWES AFTER LAMBING
• Immediately after lambing the concentrate ration for ewes should be
reduced this may otherwise lead to conditions like swollen udder and
other udder complications.
• During this period good quality hay, legume should be given along with
little quantity of concentrate (about 50-100 gm)

13. FEEDING OF LACTATING EWES
• Necessary for rapid growth of lambs
• During first 10 days after lambing legume hay may be fed.
• After 10 days upto weaning 250 gm of concentrate mixture may be
supplemented with good quality legume hay.
• After 3 months maintenance allowance is sufficient.
• The requirements of energy and protein are higher during lactation.
Feeding during the first 4 weeks of lactation is critical and affects
lactational performance of the ewes and thereby growth and survival of
lamb.
• Both energy and protein should be balanced in a diet of lactating ewe.
• Therefore feeding of 800gm good legume hay or 100-gm/day-
concentrate mixture for 75 days after lambing in addition to 8 hrs. of
grazing is recommended for feeding of lactating ewes.

14. FLUSHING OR FEEDING OF BREEDING EWES
• Flushing is the special nutritional care for improving nutritional status of
ewes 3-4 weeks before mating by providing additional concentrate
mixture or providing good quality leguminous hay or moving the sheep
to a good quality pasture for grazing.
• Nutrition of ewes should be stepped up to promote their body weight.
• Flushing brings ewes into earlier heat and also increases lambing rate
and incidence of multiple births in the flock
• breeding ewes should be given 250gm concentrate mixture or 500gm of
good quality hay/head/day 3-4 weeks before breeding is addition to usual
hours of grazing.

15. FEEDING OF BREEDING AND ADULT SHEEP
• Rams used for breeding purpose should not be too fatty, which may
influence rate of fertility and mating behavior.
• If breeding ram is fatty, the allowance of concentrate mixture should be
stopped completely and ram should be fed on dry fodder.
• This procedure should be followed for 8 weeks before ram is allowed to
mate with ewes.
Feeding of adult sheep
• Adult sheep should be allowed to graze freely on grass land and should be
supplemented with 100 gm of concentrate mixture
• When sufficient pasture land is not available and straw is available then
feeding of straw along with 300-400gm of concentrate mixture should be
done

16. REFERENCE
• Nutrient Requirement of Sheep ( Www.ndvsu.org )
• Feeding Management of Sheep and Goats (www.agritech.tnau.ac.in)
• Goat and sheep farming _Supplemental information (www.fiapo.org)
• ANIMAL NUTRITION – seventh edition – by P.McDonald

17. NUTRIENT REQUIREMENT AND FEEDING OF GOAT