Sheep are a type of livestock that has many benefits, such as meat, milk, skin and wool. In Indonesia, there are several types of sheep kept by the community, both from within the country and from abroad. However, the most common and typical type of sheep in Indonesia is local sheep.
What are the characteristics of local Indonesian sheep? How do you raise and care for local sheep? Come on, take a look at the following explanation, Champion Friends!
Characteristics of Local Sheep
Local sheep are sheep native to Indonesia which are able to adapt to tropical environments and have the characteristic of being able to give birth throughout the year. Local sheep have small bodies, mature slowly, have coarse hair, and produce relatively little meat.
Reporting from Animal Science, Local sheep are divided into two types, namely local thin-tailed sheep and local thick-tailed sheep. These two types of local sheep have different characteristics, both in terms of physical and productivity.
1. Local Thin Tail Sheep
Local thin-tailed sheep have the following characteristics:
- Small and thin tail
- Ears are wide and pointed downwards
- Body weight ranges from 25-30 kilograms
- Male sheep have horns, while female sheep have no horns
- Hair color on the body is a combination of several colors (white, brown, and black)
Local thin-tailed sheep have low productivity, both in terms of growth, meat quality and reproduction.
2. Local Thick Tail Sheep
Local thick-tailed sheep have the following characteristics:
- Big and thick tail
- The ears are short and located behind the horns
- Body weight ranges from 30-40 kilograms
- Male and female sheep both have horns
- The hair color on the body is white or black
Local thick-tailed sheep have better productivity than local thin-tailed sheep, both in terms of growth, meat quality and reproduction.
Apart from that, local thick-tailed sheep also have another advantage, namely that they have fat deposits at the base of their tails which can be used as energy reserves during the dry season or when there is a shortage of feed.
How to Raise Local Sheep
Launching the page Smart Pet, How to raise local sheep for beginners is as follows:
- Choose quality, healthy broodstock that match the characteristics of local sheep.
- Mating the sheep at the right time, namely when the ewe is in heat. Generally, ewe sheep come into heat once every 17 days and last for 24-36 hours.
- Taking good care of sheep, such as providing balanced and nutritious feed, bathing sheep regularly, shearing sheep every 6 months, cutting sheep's hooves every 3-6 months, and grazing sheep in large, grassy areas.
- Pay attention to the cleanliness of the cage, such as cleaning the dirt and cage regularly, maintaining the sanitation of the cage, and making holes for collecting dirt and drainage channels around the cage.
- Carry out vaccinations and deworming according to schedule, and isolate sick or injured sheep from healthy sheep.
- Carrying out harvest, post-harvest, and marketing of sheep in the correct way, such as determining the right harvest time, handling sheep meat and skin hygienically, and looking for potential markets.
How to Care for Local Sheep
So that your livestock productivity is optimal, you need to understand how to care for local sheep. Reporting from Tani Nature, Here are some ways to care for local sheep:
- Wash the sheep regularly once a week with clean water and soap, so that their bodies don't get dirty and they avoid disease.
- Shave the sheep's fur every 6 months, so that the fur doesn't clump and become a nest for germs and parasites.
- Trim the sheep's hooves every 3-6 months, so that the nails don't get too long and interfere with walking and the sheep's health.
- Provide balanced and nutritious feed, such as grass, bran, corn and concentrate.
- Provide clean and sufficient drinking water, around 5-10 liters per day per head.
- Pasture sheep in a wide, grassy area, so that the sheep can exercise and get vitamin D from sunlight.
- Maintain the sanitation of the cage by cleaning the dirt and cage regularly.
- Carry out regular health checks and provide vaccinations and deworming according to schedule.
- Isolate sick or injured sheep from healthy sheep, to prevent infection.
- Selecting quality seeds, both mothers and rams, to produce healthy and productive lambs.
Now, How about Champion Friends? Increasingly interested in raising sheep? Come on, consult with Champion here. Champion also provides sheep rearing needs ranging from feeders, broodstock, feed to sheep pen equipment.
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Reference:
1. THE PROFILE OF LOCAL SHEEP IN JAVA IS VIEWED FROM THE PHENOTYPIC AND GENETIC CHARACTERISTICS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE SOCIETY. URL: https://etd.repository.ugm.ac.id/penelitian/detail/199657 (accessed 12/31/2023)
2. Study of Qualitative Characteristics of Local Sheep in Several Regions of Indonesia. URL: https://repository.ipb.ac.id/handle/123456789/59902 (accessed 12/31/2023)
3. Guide to How to Raise Sheep for Beginners and the Benefits. URL: https://peternakrakyat.com/panduan-cara-ternak-domba-lengkap/#google_vignette (accessed 12/31/2023)
4. Basic guide to sheep farming. URL: https://alamtani.com/ternak-domba/ (accessed 12/31/2023)
5. LOCAL INDONESIAN SHEEP. URL: https://www.ilmuternak.com/2015/03/domba-lokal-indonesia.html (accessed 12/31/2023)