What kind of forage is best for sheep to prevent illness
Sharing some experience on the green plant maintenance aspect of what kind of forage is best for sheep to prevent illness, let's move on to the introduction by the editor.
What kind of forage is best for sheep to prevent illness
Sheep are omnivorous animals, and there are many types of forage suitable for them, such as alfalfa, sheep grass, awnless barley, tall fescue, ryegrass, Sudan grass, napier grass, sweet sorghum, clover, and giant reed, among others. As the saying goes, "sheep eat a hundred kinds of grass," and specific forage can be selected based on local varieties for planting. It is important to note that feeding only one type of forage cannot meet the growth needs of sheep.
It is said that sheep eat a hundred kinds of grass, but it's also true that we can't plant just anything! Alfalfa from the leguminous family, mat rush from the aster family, and annual ryegrass from the grass family. These types of forage, when combined, are ideal choices and are preferred by sheep, reducing the likelihood of illness after consumption.
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is known as the "protein king" among forages, and it contains high-quality dietary fiber, various vitamins such as B, C, and E, and a variety of beneficial minerals, saponins, carotenoids, and flavonoids. Therefore, it is the first choice for sheep farmers to plant forage.
The best seasons for planting alfalfa are spring and autumn, with autumn being better than spring. Since alfalfa seeds are small and have relatively weak germination ability, it is necessary to carefully cultivate the soil before sowing, with no manure or soil clumps left behind.
Also, due to the slow initial growth rate of alfalfa, it can easily be overwhelmed by other weeds. Therefore, it is best to treat the soil to remove weeds about half a month before preparing the land.
Planting alfalfa requires the use of herbicides such as pendimethalin or dalapon. If there are still many weeds after the seedlings have emerged, herbicides like imazethapyr, bentazone, or imazaquin can be used to eliminate them.
Alfalfa should be planted in drills with a row spacing of 15 centimeters and a planting depth of 1 to 2 centimeters, deeper in dry soil and shallower in wet soil. After sowing, it is best to press the soil to help the seeds germinate and prevent the seedlings from being pulled out by loose soil.
Mat Rush
Mat rush has high levels of crude protein and crude fiber, which are the substances sheep need to supplement the most. Therefore, it is a large-leaf forage that is suitable for sheep.
This grass also contains a high content of non-nitrogenous extractives, which are easily absorbed and utilized by sheep. Because of the high content of this substance, it is also beneficial for silage and is considered a high-quality silage feed.
Ryegrass
Ryegrass comes in different varieties such as winter ryegrass, annual ryegrass, perennial ryegrass, and multifloral ryegrass. It can grow well in late autumn, early winter, and early spring, and can be used as green supplementary feed during the dry season.
With proper management, the yield of fresh grass can reach about 20,000 jin per mu, equivalent to about 6,000 jin of dry grass, and one mu of land can support 8 sheep. For the ryegrass that is not eaten during the abundant season, it can be dried and stored.
The above is the full content on what kind of forage is best for sheep to prevent illness, hoping it helps green plant enthusiasts!