Did you know farmers raised almost 65 million sheep in the year 2012? And India ranks 6th in farming sheep across the world?
Sheep farming supplies almost 8% of total agricultural food products. Additionally, the abattoir employees slaughter approximately 540 million sheep in a year across the world. The data clearly shows the popularity of farming sheep throughout the world.
This article will discuss how to invest in this farming technique, arrange funds, earn profit, the advantages, and requirements. So, stay hooked!
What is Sheep Farming: A Brief Introduction
It is the process of raising sheep for the purpose of deriving products that have high market values. Typically, it involves the breeding of sheep for the collection of meat, milk, and fiber.
The key to making this farming endeavor profitable is to select the right breeds. However, farmers invest in different sheep breeds depending on the region and market demands.
The Popularity of Sheep Farming in The World & India
It is a widely popular farming practice worldwide. According to a data report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, five countries are the top producers of sheep. The countries include India, Iran, China, Australia, and Sudan. A data survey shows that in 2013, mainland China was the top producer of sheep.
The History Associated with Sheep Farming
A long backstory is linked with this farming process. History says primitive people started to domesticate sheep at first. The practice started first in Mesopotamia around 11000-9000 BCE. Similarly, the practice of breeding wooly sheep started approximately 6000 BCE.
The trading of sheep with Asia introduced the concept of farming sheep to Europe. Also, the economy of the ancient civilizations of the Greeks & Romans relied on this farming technique to some extent.
In America, Christopher Columbus introduced sheep during the second voyage. Moreover, the Australian inhabitants imported the first Merino sheep in 1797 from the Cape of Good Hope. In the year 1996, Scotland’s Roslin Institute’s scientists first cloned a sheep called Dolly. This event explored a new direction for genetic research.
The breeding of white-fleeced sheep started around 3000 BC in Mesopotamia. However, the farming of modern sheep breeds started in Western Asia around 2300-600 BCE.
How Does The Farming Process Work: The Steps Involved
The farming of sheep involves some stages.
Lambing
Lambs are usually born in the Winter, Fall, or Spring naturally or through artificial insemination. Although ewes usually need hormone therapies for induced ovulation. The Fall-born lambs are usually weak due to heat stress. Contrarily, spring-born lambs can grow naturally; sometimes with supplemental support. Farmers can wean the Winter-born lambs in the Spring. Also, they grow quickly and farmers send them to slaughterhouses in the Summer.
Lamb Marking
Carry out lamb marking when the lambs are in a few weeks. They attach ear tags with attached numbers or apply earmarks for sheep identification. Moreover, they also invest in tail docking for welfare purposes. Mulesing is important to avoid the risks of flystrike. Additionally, they perform castration when they do not want some male sheep to breed.
Healthcare & Nutrition
The farmers feed them on pasture roughage. They sometimes offer them supplemental feed as well. Sheep also feed on corn and hay. Moreover, the farmers & producers also take care of their health for better sheep farming experience. They invest in disease prevention and provide the livestock with vaccines and medicines.
Shearing & Crutching
The producers shear the ewes for market profit and before lambing. They use shearing machines or manual blades. They often do this for hygiene purposes from the face and buttocks. Generally, the process is known as crutching.
Slaughtering
Farmers usually send sheep to slaughterhouses that fail to produce enough wool or milk. Basically, they sell them for meat consumption. The ideal age for slaughtering sheep is usually between 4 to 12 months.
4 Features of Sheep Farming
It is profitable due to certain facts. Let’s check out some of the unique features of farming sheep.
Easy to Manage
Sheep possess strong herd instincts. They are excellent ranching animals & the flocks are easy to manage. Specifically, their unity protects them from wild predators.
Strong Survivors
Sheep can survive in semi-starvation and extreme weather conditions like drought. They seldom get affected by diseases like ectoparasites & others
Better Resource Management
Sheep graze on weeds & other species harmful to other pasture crops. Their manure fertilizes the soil & boosts fertility. It helps maintain the biodiversity.
Less Capital Investment
The farming practice does not need a huge capital to invest. You can start small by purchasing a small land and a few breeds. The ROI is quite high.
How to Manage Funding for Sheep Farming?
It does not require a huge investment. Rather, you need to invest small capital to initiate small-scale farming. You can try out a few things to manage the fund.
Bank Loans
The first thing you can do is to ask for loans from banks. You can avail refinance facility from NABARD to initiate the business. All you need to do is fill up the forms provided by Commercial, regional Rural, Small Finance, or Cooperative banks.
Formulate Schemes
You can consult the State Animal Husbandry Department, Sheep Development Corporation & other federations & commercial farmers. Next, you can formulate the investment schemes & learn about the probable profitability.
The Essential Requirements for Making Sheep Farming Profitable
Quality Breeds
Selecting the right breeds is crucial for success in farming sheep. Some of the popular Indian breeds include Jaisalmer, Cholla, Marwari, Nali, Magra, etc. Other breeds popular in Southern regions like Karnataka are Mandya & Hassan.
Pasture
Sheep feed on small pastures filled with grasses or fodder trees. Around 6 to 10 sheep can feed on an acre of hay. You need around 30 acres of pasture for 100 sheep.
Proper Shelter
Providing the sheep with adequate shelter is essential for raising sheep. They can live in 12 to 16 square feet of space. However, producers should provide them with fresh water for consumption.
Feed & Medicine
Apart from fodder trees, sheep feed on grains, silage, and hay. They might need protein & nutrient supplements for growth. Additionally, they also feed on grasses, alfalfa, clover, legumes, shrubs, chicory, etc.
Initial Investment
For farming sheep, you need to invest a minimum budget for purchasing a few essentials. And instance, you have to provide the sheep with proper shelter, fencing, water, medicines, supplements, etc. For raising 100 sheep, you need around INR 8 to 10 Lakhs.
5 Tips to Start Sheep Farming
Select The Right Breed
Raising the right breeds can earn you significant profit. Farmers usually prefer local breeds for this. However, for large-scale farming, sometimes they invest in high-grade international breeds. Some of the best breeds include East Friesian, Polypay, Suffolk, Dorset, Montadale, Deccani, Lacaune Shee, etc.
Start on A Small Scale
You can start farming sheep on a small scale. Usually, less investment is enough for modern farming. Limiting the number of sheep will help you to avoid new diseases. You can also raise them in smaller farmland and it involves less human labor. They generally feed on pasture land which reduces the feed cost associated.
Involve Your Family Members
Farming sheep together with your family members will make the endeavor exciting. Also, it will reduce the involvement of human labor.
Offer Salt & Mineral
Adequate salt & mineral supply can support hoof health, maintain health, and build stronger immune systems of the sheep. Also, if you find them troubled with worms or pawing at the land, it might be due to a lack of minerals.
Be Prepared with Medical Equipment
Have all those medical emergencies handy! You need to have wonder dust, Hydrogen Peroxide, needles, syringes, wormers, hoof knives, shears, nipples, etc. Also, do not forget to vaccinate them with CD&T twice a year.
4 Advantages of Sheep Farming
Multiple Products
Sheep can provide the market with multiple valuable items. They provide the human population with meat, skin, wool, manure, milk, etc.
Employment Opportunities
The different stages of farming sheep require the involvement of human labor. It creates multiple opportunities to generate revenues. Subsequently, the local inhabitants can find a lot of earning opportunities through sheep farming.
Land Management
Sheep and their grazing reduces pasture loss. They trample and foul on pasture land & it increases the re-growth of pasture through defoliation. Moreover, the framing practice aids in carbon sequestration. They naturally control weeds by feeding on them and they hardly damage trees.
Fertilizer
Their manure can organically fertilize the soil. Also, crop-growing farmers can get access to natural fertilizer from the nearest sheep farm
4 Challenges Faced During Sheep Farming
Shortage of Grasslands & Feed
Limited areas of pasture can sometimes create challenges for the sheep to feed on. Farmers may face obstacles in managing quality feed that can result in poor animal performance.
Epidemic Diseases
Sheep are prone to some epidemic diseases that need preventive medical measures. They often suffer from foot & mouth diseases, Pneumonia, pleurisy, Q fever, scabby mouth, etc. Some other diseases include bluetongue, PPR, OJD, Barber’s pole worm, etc
Lack of Wool Marketing Opportunities
There should be markets in demand for wool. Lack of marketing opportunities can reduce the profit amount earned by the producers.
Insufficient Infrastructure
Producers often face challenges while arranging pasture lands, finding trained shepherds, and getting technological assistance.
The Marketing Aspects of Sheep Farming
Marketing the sheep-derived products the right way is highly important to earn profit. But for that, devising a solid marketing plan is crucial. Gradually, you can aim to create a brand. Marketing your products while focusing on unique aspects like organically raised or pasture-raised is always more profitable.
Above all, analyze the buyers’ interests & improve your marketing orientation depending on that. Alternatively, you can also sell your sheep at sale barns or livestock auctions for maximum profit.
Technological Advancements Transforming Sheep Management
For easy management of sheep flocks, you can use flock management software. The advanced sensors around them can track their movement and activities. Furthermore, AI & Machine Learning can help you track the production and usage of resources.
Electronic Animal Identification systems are highly beneficial for livestock farming. It can help you identify the individuals from a flock of sheep. In addition, drones equipped with cameras & sensors can help you manage the flocks easily.
Robotic-sharing tools can efficiently reduce the stress levels of the sheep & the producers. It also helps the operators manage fleece cuts & other physical labor-oriented activities effortlessly.
Should You Invest in Sheep Farming?
It is considered a highly profitable agro-business. The low cost & human labor associated with this farming technique make it an easy-to-start farming practice. Additionally, the feed is also low-cost and provides the producers with a lot of income sources.
They do not damage crops & the manure can make the soil fertile. Above all, their adaptability to different weather conditions makes it an ideal farming endeavor to invest in.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Ans: The intensive farming process involves raising flocks of sheep on a smaller grazing land. It focuses on raising maximum livestock for meat consumption and deriving other animal products.
Ans: Farming & raising sheep is highly profitable. However, you need to have a proper infrastructure to raise lambs. You need to arrange for pasture, clean water resources, shelter, preventive medical care, etc.
Ans: Sheep usually feed on grains. For one sheep, you need around 900 grams of grains every day. If you have around 24 sheep, you need approximately 22 kgs of grains each day. You will get 22 kg grain bags for INR 1350/- & INR 5400/- for 88 kg of grain bags, enough for a month.
Ans: The farmers can earn money primarily by raising flocks of sheep & selling the lambs. Other ways to earn money by sheep farming include selling their wool, milk, skin, manure, and meat.