Sheep lifespan is a topic that interests many sheep farmers. The age of the animal affects the condition of the coat and the quality of the meat. The article will discuss what factors can affect the lifespan of these pets.
What affects the life expectancy of domestic sheep and rams?
Sheep are herd animals that are raised for wool, meat and milk. They are hardy and quickly adapt to external conditions.
The life expectancy of domestic sheep is influenced by a combination of factors, among which are:
- breed;
- food;
- breeding conditions.
Did you know? Sheep are mentioned about 200 times in the text of the Bible.
Breed affiliation
The life expectancy of sheep is affected by what breed they belong to. Most often they are divided by type of wool. It can be:
- coarse-haired – grown both for meat and for sheepskin;
- fine-fleeced – have the highest quality wool;
- semi-fine-wool – valued for their size, grown for meat.
The composition of the diet
High-quality and timely nutrition is the basis for keeping sheep and rams. Animals should be fed 4 times a day. At the same time, you need to monitor the diet: the food should be of high quality, without unnecessary additives.
Main food is hay or straw. You can give top dressing in the form of various root crops. At night, 2 bundles of hay and fresh water should be left at each stall.
You can drink them with water with the addition of salt or minerals. Sheep drink about 7 liters of water per day, so it is necessary to ensure that animals always have free access to it.
Animal breeding conditions
The conditions under which rams are bred affect both the lifespan and the quality of the product that the owner wants to receive.
First, you should make a spacious room in which the herd will live. It is divided into stalls, the size of which should be 2-3 m². It should be spacious and comfortable. In addition, you should ensure the flow of fresh air. Otherwise, sheep’s appetite, immunity and wool quality deteriorate. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that there are no drafts.
Important! Sheep have very sensitive hearing, so it is better to place the room away from loud sounds.
Do not forget about drinkers and feeders. For this, it is better to use oblong containers, with a calculation of 35-40 cm per individual.
Intended use
Life expectancy directly depends on the purpose of raising animals. More often there are two options for which sheep are bred:
- obtaining wool and milk;
- getting meat.
In the first case, life expectancy is 6-10 years. The average duration of breeds that are grown for slaughter is 2–3 years. Lamb meat is considered the most valuable: it is very soft and tender. In turn, the meat of adults is tough and requires a longer heat treatment.
Did you know? Snow sheep live up to 20–22 years.
Life cycle of wild animals
In the wild, sheep live in herds at higher elevations. Moreover, females and males create separate herds. They unite in the cold season for mating.
The pregnancy of a sheep lasts 5 months. Before giving birth, the female moves away from the herd. Usually 1-2 lambs are born, the weight of which ranges from 3 to 5 kg.
In the wild, sheep and rams live for about 15 years.
How long a domestic ram or sheep will live depends on the conditions of detention, the quality of nutrition and the purpose for which the animal is raised. Usually it does not live more than 10-12 years, while the coat turns yellow, and the meat becomes very tough.
