Sheep farms with different size flocks

Relevance of the thesis. Shepherding has an important place in Lithuania‘s agriculture. There are suitable enviromental conditions, established cattle herding traditions and accumulated experience needed for this sector‘s further development in the country. The area of animal husbandry is activity known for its multisectoral and multifaceted production, many aspects of which has great economical and social significance for Lithuanians. This area is also very significant when providing Lithuanian consumer with eatables, furthermore it is very important branch of Lithuania‘s export. Products of animal origin takes big part in a balanced diet. They contain many components, vitamins and minerals which human body requires daily. Husbandry has important economical, social, enviromental and ethnocultural function in the Republic of Lithuania, thus it has priority in Lithuania‘s economy. It has capability not only to provide quality eatables for citizens, but also to export some. Sheepherding sector is growing, even though the growth rate is not very pronounced. The demand for meat grows; wool and fur processors are recovering. In Lithuania average sheep farm is very small when comparing with farms in other western countries. Most livestock owners don‘t have a lot of sheep. Furthermore, there are only few who make business out of it. However the small farmers seem to be increasing their flocks. If this business were introduced to advanced sheep herding technologies as well as cultivating perspective breeds of sheep it might expect succes in the future. The object of the thesis: sheep farms with different size flocks The purpose of the thesis: to analize how the size of farm influences sheep production quantities and quality, as well as lamb growth rate. Tasks of the thesis: 1. To compare structures of two different sized sheep flocks; 2. To compare the keeping and feeding of two different sized sheep flocks; 3. To compare sheep fertility, lamb weights and death statistics of two different sized sheep flocks; 4. To analize wool quantity and quality statistical data of two different sized sheep flocks; 5. To analize sheep butchering statistical data of two different sized sheep flocks; 6. To evaluate sheep body condition of two different sized sheep flocks. The method of research and its structure. By using Microsoft Office „Excel 2013“ version and R statistical package I biometrically evaluated data used for analysis of sheep breeding, offspring weight, productiveness (of meat, wool) and body condition of ewes. To assess the dynamics of variables in 2011 – 2013 period, the indicators of variation were computed. Variables of farms were compared by assessing the Student criteria. Reaserch thesis was completed in the period of 2013 – 2014, in Lithuanian University of Health Science, Veterinary Academy, Faculty of Animal Husbandry Technology, Department of Animal Husbandry. Research was carried out in two sheep farms located in Šakiai and Kaunas districts. For research purposes sheep farms that were selected had the same breed of sheep, in addition to that their flock sizes were taken into account. In the farms there were evaluated sheep productiveness, fertility, growth rate of lambs, body condition of ewes, conditions of sheep keeping and feeding. Three most corresponding to average lambs were selected from each farms ewes. Control slaughter was accomplished, then carcass yield was calculated. There was analyzed quantity and quality of obtained wool, as well as wool production change in three years period. Results of the thesis: 1. In the first farm‘s flock there are too many rams, they amount to 6,5 percent, that is 3,2 percent above the recommended norm. In the second farm the amount of rams is 20,0 percent above the recommended norm. 2. Second in both the analyzed farms all technology groups considered as sheep without conditions, except that the small farm is not installed on the lambing stall. 3. According to the ewes‘ food rations composed in the first farm, the lack of crude protein is 13 grams or 2,8 percent, fiber content is lacking by 8 grams or 1,4 percent. In the second farm‘s food rations for ewes the lack of crude protein is 37 grams or 39,2 percent, the lack of crude protein for lactating ewes amounted to 10 grams or 7,9 percent, fiber content was lacking by 104 grams or 14,8 percent. In the food rations for the offspring the lack of fiber content amounted to 84 grams or 17,9 percent. 4. Sheep in the first farm were more fertile by 7,1 percent in comparison to the second farm. In the second farm 6,06 percent of mated ewes did not get pregnant. 5. Lambs born in the first farm were heavier by 0,18 kg or 5,11 percent than lambs in the second farm. When weaning lambs in the second farm weighed by 1,16 kg or 4,43 percent less than lambs in the first farm. Lamb loss was 12 units or 18,1 percent lower in the first farm than in the second. 6. There was sheared 0,55 kg or 15,4 percent (P<0,05) less wool and it was shorter by 0,93 cm or 10,58 percent in the second farm when comparing to the first farm. 7. In the first farm during the period 2011 – 2013 wool production was decreasing by 2,32 percent, that is 0,64 percent less than in the second farm during the same period. In the first farm the length of wool increased by 3,01 percent per annum, in the second farm it decreased by 2,80 percent per annum. 8. Larger carcass yield was noted from lambs in the first farm (48,18 percent) or 2,06 percent larger than the second farm lamb (P