sheep and goat

1. SHEEP and GOAT
KNOW YOUR ANIMAL
Common sheep breeds
Deccani:
 Small and hardy, and well adapted to poor pastoral conditions.
 It possesses a coloured fleece, black and gray colours being more dominant.
 The average annual yield of wool being 4.54 kg per sheep.
 The wool is of a low grade and is a mixture of hair and fine fibres, mostly consumed
for the manufacture of rough blankets (Kambals).
 The flocks are maintained chiefly for mutton.
Gaddi
 Sheep are small in size, and are found in Kishtwar and Bhadarwah tehsils of Jammu,
and in summer they graze the highest elevations of them Pir Panjal Mountains, mostly
in the Paddar range.
 Rams are horned, ewes hornless; fleece is generally white with brown coloured hair
on the face.
 Wool is fine and lustrous; average annual yield is 1.13 kg per sheep, clipped thrice a
year.
 Undercoat is used for the manufacture of high quality Kulu shawls and blankets.
Common goat breeds
Jamunapari
 Its coat colour is white with tan or black markings at neck and ears;
 This is largest and most elegant of the long-legged goats of India.
 It has pronounced Roman nose having a tuft of hair which results in parrot mouth
appearance.
 Large sized goats, tall and leggy, with convex face line large folded pendulous ears.
 An adult female weighs between 45kgs to 60kgs, whereas an adult male ranges
between 65kgs to 80kgs.
 Average birth weight up to 4 kg.
 Average age at first kidding is 20-25 months.
 They have large udder and big teats and average yield is 280 kg / 274 days.
 They having the ability to yield 2 to 2.5kgs of milk per day.
 The fat content of the milk ranges between 3 to 3.5%.
 They thrive best under range conditions with plenty of shrubs for browsing.
Beetal
 Coat Colour is predominantly black; red, tan or black, heavily spotted on white also
occur.
 Average birth weight 3 kg.
 An adult female goat ranges between 40kgs to 50kgs, whereas an adult male ranges
between 50kgs to 70kgs.
 Age at first kidding 20-22 months.
 Average lactation yield 150 kg.
 They having the ability to give, 1kg to 2kgs of milk per day.

2.  Maximum yield being 591.5 kg in lactation period of 177 days.
Barbari
 The color of this breed is a mixture of white and purple.
 An adult female goat weighs between 25kgs to 35kgs, whereas an adult male goat
ranges between 35kgs to 45kgs.
 They having the ability to give 1kg to 1.5kgs of milk per day.
 These types of breeds have better reproductive capabilities.
 They will give, 2 to 3 kids in parturition.
 They are usually stall-fed and are reported to yield 0.90-1.25 kg of milk.(fat content
5%) a day in a lactation period of 108 days..
 They are prolific breeder and kid twice in 12-15 months.
 This type of breeds usually kids twice, at an interval of 12 to 15 months.
Black Bengal
 Coat colour is predominantly black, brown/grey and white with soft, glossy and short
hairs.
 Dwarf in body size
 Average live weight of buck 15 kg and doe 12 kg.
 Most prolific among Indian breeds.
 Multiple births common, two, 3 or 4 kids born at a time.
 Kidding twice a year. Average litter size 2.1.
 Average age at first kidding 9-10 months.
 Average lactation yield 53 kg. Lactation length 90 to 120 days.
 Its skin is great demand for high class shoe-making.
Changthangi
 Predominantly white and rest brown, grey and black. Undercoat white/grey; yields
warm delicate fibre, pashmina.
 Body and legs are small size, strong body and powerful legs.
 Average live weight of buck 20 and doe 20 kg; average birth weight 2.1 kg.
 Kidding is once a year, normally single;
 Average age at first kidding 20 months.
Determination of age of sheep and goat
Animal under one year old (no permanent teeth)
One year old (2 permanent teeth)
Two years old (4 permanent teeth)
Three years old (6 permanent teeth)
Four years old (8 permanent teeth)
Old animal, more than four years old

3. HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT
Sheds with mud floor are suitable for most of parts of the country except where high
rainfall is observed. Sheds are similar in design to cattle shed. In organised farms the
following shed should be constructed for housing different categories of animals
Table 20. Dimensions of different sheds in a sheep and goat farm
Name of
the shed
lx w x h (m) No. of animals
Housed
Remarks
Ewe/ doe
shed
15 x 4 x 3 60
For housing of adult breeding ewes and
nannies
Ram/ Buck
shed
4 x 2.5 x 3 8
For housing of rams or bucks
individually. Make partition length
wise
Lamb/ kid
shed
7.5 x 4 x 3 75
For housing of lambs or kids from
weaning up to maturity. Make partition
width wise
Lambing/
kidding
shed
1.5 x 1.2 x 3 1
For housing of pregnant ewes or nannies
individually. Provide manger and waterer
Isolation /
sick animal
shed
3 x 2 x 3 1
Sick animals are housed individually in
this shed. It should be constructed away
from the animal shed . Provide proper
ventilation and bedding materials
Shearing
shed
6 x 2.5 x 3 1
Required in farms where sheep are reared
for wool. Make arrangement for storage
of wool
Shepherd
house
6 x 4 x 3 -
It is meant for the caretaker. It should be
located at a convenient place in the yard.
It should be located nearer to flock
Milch doe
shed
1.2 x 0.8 x 3 1
The shed shall consist of stall for keeping
the milking doe. There shall be partitions
separating one stall from the other. The
stalls shall be arranged in two rows with a
passage in between them.
Dipping tank: To protect the animals from ectoparasites a dipping tank may be constructed
either of galvanized steel sheets or constructed of stone or brick in cement mortar. The
dipping tank may be at one side of the yard.
Floor space requirement per animal
Types of animals Minimum floor space per animal (sq.m)
Ram or buck in groups 1.8
Ram or buck - individual 3.2
Lambs or kids - in group 0.4
Weaner in groups 0.8
Yearling or goatlings 0.9
Ewe or doe in groups 1.0

4. Feeding and watering space requirement
Type of animal Space per
animal (cm)
Width of
manger/
water
trough(cm)
Depth of manger/
water trough
(cm)
Height of inner
wall of manger/
water trough (cm)
Sheep and goat 40 - 50 50 30 35
Kid/lamb 30 - 35 50 20 25
Care of ewes and does for breeding
The ewes and does should be bred at 18 to 24 months age. If the ewes are in low plane of
nutrition prior to breeding, additional supplementation for about one month ensures higher
conception rate. Vasectomised males are used to detect estrus early in the morning or
evening for one hour daily. For making mating more certain, shearing of lock of wool and
dirt from the dock of the ewe is required. Females detected to be in heat in the evening
should be mated next morning and hose found in heat in the morning should be mated in the
evening.
Care of the rams and bucks before breeding season
The breeding males should start getting extra ration with judicious exercise before two
months of actual date of starting the breeding programme. Each animal is given about 200 -
500 gm of extra concentrate per day depending upon its body weight. They should be
examined for health and semen viability before mating. They should be dewormed, feet
trimmed and inspected for foot-rot. The hairs around the prepuce are trimmed and the
prepuce is given a wash with 1% hydrogen peroxide to reduce the chance of microbial
contamination. The rams should be sheared completely two weeks before the start of the
breeding season.
Care during pregnancy
Pregnant females are fed and kept in the flock as usual. In the last 3-4 weeks of gestation,
extra feeding of concentrate about 100-400g will be beneficial. Pregnant animals should be
given regular mild exercise. Around 4 -5 days before the due date, wool/hair around anus-
vulval opening and tail is removed and animal is put in the lambing/kidding pens.
Lambing/kidding
Pregnant ewes and does have a gestation period from 144 to 152 days in the Indian planes,
while in hilly areas it is about 147 to 150 days. The lambing/kidding area is cleaned and
grounded lime stone or superphosphate can be spread over the floor. Symptoms of
approaching parturition include lagging behind in movement in group, vertical movement of
tail, scratching the ground with forelegs, restlessness and emergence of water bag from vulva.
A normal parturition occur within 30-45 minutes after this After parturition dispose-off
placenta, provide separate clean area in night enclosure, feed lightly on hay or fresh forages
with little amount of grains.
Care of Young Stock
After the lamb/kid is born, immediately clean the mucous from the nostrils and mouth
making sure that the lamb starts to breathe. Sometimes it may be necessary to hold the
lamb/kid by the hind legs to drain the fluids and mucous from the mouth and throat. After the
animal starts breathing, it should be offered to its mother for licking. If required, clean and
dry the young-one with a clean cloth. The umbilical cord should be dipped in some antiseptic
like 7% iodine solution. Make sure that animal receives colostrum within one hour after birth.
Ewe with lamb 1.5

5. Perform ear tagging/tattooing, tail docking and castration of male lambs/kids at the age of 2-4
weeks. Weaning should preferably be done at 90 days, although in breeds with low milk
production or where re-breeding is desired, it can be done around 60 days. Weaned animal
should be drenched against gastro-intestinal parasites by the first month, and vaccinated
against enterotoxaemia and pox.

6. FEEDING
Feeding of goats
Goats are normally reared on browse and pasture forage. They prefer to select from
the wide variety of feeds and vegetation because they are tolerant to undesirable phyto-
chemical compounds.
Tips for feeding goats
 Through range vegetation and green fodders, grazing goats can acquire most of needed
dry matter.
 Non leguminous fodder (e.g. Maize, Oat, etc) and leguminous fodder (e.g. Berseem,
Lucerne, etc) can be fed to goats in the ratio of 1:1.
 A balanced diet for stall fed goat normally contains dry matter through concentrates, dry
fodder and green fodder in the ratio of 1:1:1.
 Chopping of green forages or hays reduces the intake compared to whole forage, whereas,
pelleting of low quality roughage increases the intake.
 Water should be given ad lib especially during summer and feeding should be 3-4 times a
day.
 Goats have liking for leaves and prefer dry green feeds over succulent ones. Oats and
legume hay make a very good feed for them.
 Cheaper ingredients incorporating agro-forest byproducts and organic wastes where
applicable can be used for formulating concentrate mixture for goats.
Green fodder
Among cultivated green fodders, Berseem, Lucerne and Lobia are most common
cultivated fodders and can provide two to three cuts. Hybrid and multi-cut varieties of Bajra
are available and used for fodder production and provide 2-3 cuttings. Also, maize can be
used for feeding goats. These roughages can be fed either fresh or can be easily converted
into hay by drying in shade. Such hay can be preserved and fed to animals requiring high
nutrients or during scarcity period.
Dry fodder
The residues of Rice, Wheat, Arhar, Channa and Moong crops after thrashing can be
fed profitably along with hay from cultivated fodder/green.
Concentrate feed
The pod cover of pulses after thrashing, broken grains, cakes and gram choker are
rich in protein. Similarly wheat/gram by-products and those arising from grinding of Maize
and Barley or broken Bajra/ broken rice and Jowar can be good source of energy for goats.
Mineral mixture with major and minor minerals can be mixed with concentrates and can be
given to goats. The amount of concentrate that should be fed to different categories of adult
goats is presented in Table 1.
Table 1: Amount of concentrates for feeding different categories of adult goats
S.No. Category Amount
1 Maintenance ration 200-250 g daily depending upon body weight
2 Production ration 450 g for every 2.5 lit. milk/doe
3 Pregnancy ration During last 2 months of gestation, 220 g daily/doe
4 Stud buck 400 g daily
Feeding of newly born kids
Kid should be allowed to drink colostrum (first milk) immediately after birth as it
provides passive immunity. Afterwards the kid may be allowed to suckle its dam 5-6 times a
day in first week and subsequently twice a day. The kids may be offered hay and creep feed

7. primarily containing broken grains, ground oil cake and mineral mixture after two weeks of
birth.
Feeding of growing kids
Green fodder (such as oats, berseem, lobia, etc.) may be offered as hay or green
fodder at the rate of 60-80g per day to kid of smaller breeds and 100-120 gm to kids of larger
breed. The kids grow really well on supplementing concentrate.
Feeding Adult Bucks and Doe
Good quality hay and concentrates should be fed according to their body weights and
physiological conditions, Flushing may be started before the onset of the breeding season and
to late pregnant and early lactating does and before putting bucks to breeding and during
breeding season. In addition to good quality hay/green fodder, 250-500g of balanced
concentrate feed depending upon the weight may be given. This may be given in addition to
browsing for 8-10 hours.
Feeding of Pregnant Does
Proper feeding of pregnant does is necessary for proper development of the foetus
growing in the uterus of the mother and for subsequent lactation. During later part of
pregnancy, 500g of concentrate along with adlib hay/green fodder may be offered.
Feeding of lactating does
After kidding, the goats like other dairy animals, lose their body weight depending
upon the litter size and weight and would require adequate feed (both hay and concentrate) to
meet their requirement for maintenance and milk production as well as to allow gain of body
weight lost at kidding and after kidding. To achieve the same, adlib hay, along with 200-250g
balanced concentrate should be fed.
Feeding of breeding bucks
The bucks during breeding may be offered 500-800 g concentrate per day depending
upon their body weight. The concentrate mixture should be offered in addition to adlib
availability of good quality hay/green fodder. Since the buck has an important role to play in
causing conception and determining kidding rate, it is necessary that the buck is properly fed
and managed. Buck is half the flock as major genetic gains through selection especially in
sex limited traits is through the appropriate genetic selection of bucks on the basis of milk
yield of dams, collaterals and daughters.
Feeding and nutrition of Sheep
Sheep
Flushing ewes
Flushing is carried out about 2 weeks prior to breeding and continues at least 2-3 weeks in to
the breeding season. Nutrition of ewes should be stepped up to promote their body weight.
This practice will bring ewes into heat earlier in the season thereby giving early lambs.
Different flushing rations are furnished below and any one method can be followed
depending upon the availability of feed resources:
 A good mixed pasture of legumes and grasses plus 150 g of wheat bran per head per
day,
 Grass pasture plus 250 g of grains and 450 g of oil cakes,
 Legume hay full fed plus 100 g of wheat bran and 150 to 200 g of grains/grain
mixture and
 Green fodder at the rate of 10 per cent of body weight and 150-200 g of concentrate
per head per day. This period is usually during the latter half of May in India.
Feeding during early and mid-pregnancy
The early and mid-pregnancy period is not very critical nutritionally.
Feeding during late pregnancy

8. It is the most critical period nutritionally. During the first part of this period ewes may
be allowed to graze on crop aftermaths (crop stubbles), wild grasses and weeds. Their ration
must be supplemented with available green fodder fed at the rate of 5 kg/ head/day. Lack of
enough energy in the feed can cause pregnancy toxaemia in ewes. Therefore, molasses or
grains/gain mixture (barley, maize, oats, etc.) may be fed at the rate of 200 g/head/day.
Further, ewes should also receive available green fodder at the rate of 7 kg/head/day or 600 g
of quality legume hay or 300 g of concentrate during last 45 days of pregnancy.
Feeding at lambing time
As lambing time approaches or immediately after lambing, the grain allowance
should be materially reduced but good quality dry roughage be fed free choice. After lambing
the ration of the ewe may be gradually increased so that she receives the full ration in divided
doses six to seven times in a day. In general, bulky and laxative feedstuffs may be included in
the ration during the first few days. A mixture of wheat bran and barely or oats or maize at 1:
1 proportion is excellent. Soon after lambing, the ewe must be given just enough of slightly
warm water. As soon as first lamb is born, formulate the creep feeders with lamb 'starter'
ration. An ideal starter ration should contain 15-20 % locally available oil cakes and 80-85%
grains/grain mixture plus 1% mineral and salt along with adlib green/ dry fodder.
Feeding lactating ewes
Ration for ewes must be supplemented to maintain adequate milk production, which
is necessary for rapid growth of lambs. If they are provided good pasture, the requirements
are more or less met. When supplementary feeding is necessary, the amount of additional
feed may be calculated as follows:
 An average ewe's daily pasture requirements can be replaced by 50 per cent by 450 g of
good hay, 1.4 kg silage or 250 g of grains/grain mixture.
 If they are fed cultivated green fodder, 10 kg/head is sufficient or 400 g of concentrate
mixture or 800 g of quality legume hay/day for 75 days after lambing in addition to 8
hours of grazing.
Feeding rams for breeding
 Rams in normal condition require some additional nutrients during the breeding season.
 If separate feeding is practiced for the ram, it may be given 300-500 g of concentrate
mixture consisting of three parts oats or barely, one part maize and one part wheat per
day.
Lamb feeding
Feeding of suckling lambs
This is the early part of a lamb's life in which it is dependent on its mother's milk to a
considerable degree for its nutrition. This period ends when the lambs are weaned. It will be
most economical to put the ewes and lambs on good pasture. Grazing on good pasture will
sustain milk production of the ewes at a high level. Similarly, the lambs also will nibble at
succulent green forage. But, the pastures available are often of poor quality and poorly
managed. Under such circumstances, the rations of these lambs may be supplemented with
grains and oil cakes in addition to their mother's milk and pastures.
Feeding early-weaned and orphan lambs
Lambs are usually weaned at three months of age. These infant lambs should get good
pasture or high quality legume hay preferably in the pelleted form in addition to the grains. If
legume hay or good quality pasture is not available and if only poor roughage is fed their
grain ration should be supplemented with a protein cum vitamin supplement with
approximately 12% digestible crude protein. Complete pelleted ration consisting of roughage
and concentrate, is also advantageous. To start with, the pellets will have 65 to 70%
roughages but decreased gradually to 50% by ten to twelve weeks age. A few recommended
rations for the creep feeders and early weaners are:

9.  Maize 40%, oats 30%, barley 30% plus lucerne hay fed ad libitum.
 Oats 20%, maize 40%, barley 20%, ground-nut cake 20% plus vitamin supplementation.
 Maize 25%, oats 40%, wheat bran 20%, groundnut cake 15% plus vitamins supplements.
Feeding from weaning to market
The types of feeds used and the methods of feeding will vary with economic and
climatic conditions and the feeds available. In developing countries, the policy should be to
utilize grazing lands, waste lands and aftermath of grain crops as far as possible and
supplement whatever is deficient, with harvested good quality fodder, hay or concentrates.
An average lamb may be fed 200 to 450g of concentrate mixture listed below depending on
the grazing conditions. If there is plenty of grazing, 200g is sufficient. In over-grazed
grasslands they may be given 450g of the concentrate mixture plus ½ - 2 kg of good green
fodder.
HEALTH
Signs of a healthy animal
 The nose should be cool and dry.
 The rate of the pulse is 70 - 130 per minute in the adult sheep and goat. The pulse is
felt on the inside of the top of the hind legs.
 The healthy animal is active with bright eyes and responds to sound and movement.
 The animal must be ready to move and should walk easily and squarely on all four
feet.
Deworming and vaccination
Deworming
Round worms: Piperazine (45mg/100ml) 30ml orally. First dose to be given within 5-6 days
of birth. Repeat at 45 days interval.
Liver flukes and tapeworms: Fenbendazole at 5-7.5 mg/Kg body weight orally or
Albendazole 5-10 mg/kg body weight orally. Repeat every 4-6 months.
Control of ectoparasite
Pesticide application should be carried out in the farm at 4 month interval. These pesticides
used of ectoparasite control are poisonous and should be kept away from reach of children
and farm animals. Avoid application in adverse weather. Provide plenty of drinking water
before application to prevent animals from licking after application
Vaccination schedule for goats and sheep
S.No. Name of Disease Time Table
Primary vaccination Regular Vaccination
1. Anthrax At the age of 6 month
for kid or lamb
Once Annually (In Affected area
only)
2. Haemorrhagic
Septicemia (H.S.)
At the age of 6 month
for kid or lamb
Once Annually Before monsoon
3. Enterotoxaemia At the age of 4 month Before monsoon (Preferably in

10. for kid or lamb (If dam
is vaccinated)
At the age of 1st week
for kid or lamb(If dam
is not vaccinated)
May). Booster vaccination after
15 days of first vaccination.
4. Black Quarter (B.Q) At the age of 6 month
for kid or lamb
Once Annually (Before monsoon)
5. P.P.R. At the age of 3 month
for kid or lamb & above
Once in three years
6. Foot & mouth
disease (F.M.D.)
At the age of 4 month
for kid or lamb & above
Twice in a year (September &
March)
7.. Goat Pox At the age of 3 month &
above for Kid
Once Annually (December
month)
8. C.C.P.P At the age of 3 month &
above for Kid or lamb
Once Annually (January month)
Signs of Oestrus
Heat or oestrus is the period when the female will accept the male and mate.
Recognizing when the female is on heat means you will know when to put her with the male.
Sheep and goats come into first heat between 6 - 12 months of age. Most sheep and goats
come into heat at a particular time of the year (breeding season). Heat can be recognized by
looking for certain signs. The best time to look for signs that the female is in heat is early
morning or in the evening. Most females in heat will allow other animals to mount them. The
vulva becomes swollen and the area around the tail becomes wet and dirty. Restlessness and
calling loudly can also mean the female is coming into heat. Goats in particular become very
noisy. In goat’s heat lasts for 1 - 3 days. In sheep heat lasts for 1 - 2 days.
A healthy animal which was not mounted by a male or given artificial insemination
will come back into heat. Female goats and sheep will come back into heat after 17 days
(give or take a day or two).