This book provides an outline for raising and fattening lambs and kids. It includes a comparative study of different breeds of animals best suited to this purpose. The authors offer a detailed examination of the principles of lamb and kids fattening.
They touch on the subject of feed and feeding regime as well as disease control, management, hygiene, housing, quality control, evaluation and marketing. Additionally, the authors provide the results of their own trials, which used 550 lambs and kids of different breeds.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: Introduction
CHAPTER 2: Principles of lamb and kids fattening
2.1. Production of Lamb & Kids
2.1.1. Age of the lamb/kids.
2.1.2. Condition of animals prior weaning.
2.1.3. Genetic Qualities.
2.1.4. Procurement price
CHAPTER 3: Feed and feeding regime
Balanced feed concentrate mixture
3.1. Procurement of feed
3.2. Nutritive requirements.
3.2.1. Energy (TDN)
3.2.2. Protein
3.2.3. Vitamins
3.2.4. Minerals.
3.2.5. Other requirements.
3.3. Composition of feed ingredients
3.4. Nutritive requirements of the fattening lambs/kids.
3.5. Proportion between digestible protein and total digestible nutrients
3.6. Composition of concentrate
3.7. Feeding regime.
3.8. Composition of concentrate ration on the bases of animal body weight
3.9. Feed quality control.
3.9.1. Visual appearance
3.9.2. Finger test.
3.9.3. Smell.
3.9.4. Taste
3.9.5. Chemical control
3.9.6. Procurement and storage of feed ingredients bags etc.
3.9.7. Procurement and storage of green and dry forage, bales, etc.
CHAPTER 4: Prophylactic vaccination and treatment, disease control and health care
4.1. Prophylactic measures.
4.1.1. Vaccination.
4.1.2. Treatment
4.1.2.1. Parasitic control.
4.1.2.2. Ectoparasitic diseases.
4.1.2.3. Guidelines for dipping.
4.1.2.4. Endoparasites
4.1.2.5. General measures for control of parasites during fattening.
4.1.2.6. Managemental diseases.
4.1.2.6.1. Lesions, injuries
4.1.2.6.2. Foot rot & care for claws.
4.1.2.6.3. Prevention of foot rot
4.1.2.6.4. Treatment of foot rot
4.1.2.6.5. Laboratory services.
CHAPTER 5: Hygienic requirements
5.1. Quality of air in the shed.
5.2. Temperature
5.3. Light
5.4. Humidity (Cleanliness of shed and moisture control).
5.5. Cleanliness (Cleaning utensils).
5.6. Controlling overcrowding
5.7. Principles of hygiene.
CHAPTER 6: Housing and Equipment
6.1. Buildings and facilities.
6.2. Floor space, watering, feeding and temperature maintenance requirements
6.3. Utensils and equipment
CHAPTER 7: Management during fattening
7.1. Arrival of lambs/kids.
7.1.1. Sample of data record.
7.2. Handling and control of animals
7.3. Weighing of the animals
7.3.1. Weighing methods.
7.4. Prophylaxis.
7.5. Availability of Feed.
7.5.1. Sample of feed recording sheet
7.6. Manpower requirements.
7.7. Record Keeping.
CHAPTER 8: Quality control and maintaining the production cycle
8.1. Quality consideration in fattening of lambs/kids
8.1.1. Age and weight.
8.1.2. Sex.
8.1.3. Length of fattening period.
8.1.4. Fattening system (Feed lot).
8.1.5. Maintaining a production cycle.
CHAPTER 9: Monitoring & evaluating performance
9.1. Evaluations and economics
9.1.1. Average daily weight gain. (ADWG)
9.1.2. Feed conversion ratio (FCR).
CHAPTER-10 Marketing
10.1. Urban Domestic Demand and Supply
10.2. Rural Domestic Demand and Supply
10.3. Export to Middle East Countries
CHAPTER 11: Fattening Trials (Technical Report)
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this handbook is to provide practical guidelines for the commercial fattening of lambs and kids in Balochistan, addressing traditional productivity limitations through modern nutritional and management techniques. The book explores sustainable systems to increase high-quality mutton production for both local consumption and export.
- Principles of animal selection and procurement for optimal fattening.
- Nutritional requirements and the formulation of balanced concentrate feed mixtures.
- Hygiene, prophylactic disease control, and health management strategies.
- Infrastructure requirements for intensive and semi-intensive housing.
- Monitoring performance through average daily weight gain (ADWG) and feed conversion ratios (FCR).
Excerpt from the Book
2.1.2. Condition of animals prior weaning.
Sound health and uniformity of animals for maximum output should be the criteria while selecting animals for fattening. Animals of varying size and height create great problems during fattening operation. The larger size animals don’t allow smaller ones to eat and always keep them pushing out during feeding. This results for many lambs/kids to become shy to participate in feeding thus unable to put on weight and they may even lose weight. Animals poor in health due to some sickness or having stunted growth due to malnourishment prior to weaning will comparatively give poor performance. Therefore for the economical lambs/kids fattening it is most important that the condition of the animal is very good. Weak, emaciated, undersized, underweight, sick and physically deformed lambs/kids should not be included for fattening. Above all the pre-weaning condition of the selected animal plays a major role in later on fattening.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER 1: Introduction: Discusses the traditional role of sheep and goat production in Balochistan and introduces modern fattening systems to address the needs of a growing population.
CHAPTER 2: Principles of lamb and kids fattening: Focuses on the selection criteria for animals, including age, health, and genetic potential, essential for profitable fattening.
CHAPTER 3: Feed and feeding regime: Details the nutritional requirements of animals and provides specific formulations for balanced concentrate mixtures using local ingredients.
CHAPTER 4: Prophylactic vaccination and treatment, disease control and health care: Outlines essential health management practices, including vaccination schedules and parasite control measures like dipping.
CHAPTER 5: Hygienic requirements: Establishes fundamental principles for shed environments, including ventilation, lighting, and cleanliness to ensure animal well-being.
CHAPTER 6: Housing and Equipment: Describes the design specifications for fattening sheds and necessary equipment for efficient farm operation.
CHAPTER 7: Management during fattening: Provides step-by-step procedures for receiving animals, weighing, and maintaining daily records of health and feed intake.
CHAPTER 8: Quality control and maintaining the production cycle: Discusses factors influencing meat quality and how to maintain a continuous production cycle for year-round supply.
CHAPTER 9: Monitoring & evaluating performance: Explains how to calculate and evaluate key performance indicators such as Average Daily Weight Gain and Feed Conversion Ratios.
CHAPTER-10 Marketing: Analyzes the demand for mutton in domestic and international markets, emphasizing the potential for exporting to Middle Eastern countries.
CHAPTER 11: Fattening Trials (Technical Report): Presents empirical data and findings from experimental fattening trials conducted on local sheep breeds in Balochistan.
Keywords
Lamb Fattening, Kid Fattening, Balochistan, Livestock Management, Feed Conversion Ratio, ADWG, Nutrition, Prophylactic, Mutton Production, Animal Health, Intensive Fattening, Concentrate Feed, Parasite Control, Indigenous Breeds, Commercial Livestock.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main objective of this handbook?
The handbook aims to transform traditional, low-productivity sheep and goat farming in Balochistan into a profitable, commercial enterprise by introducing modern fattening methods and technical management systems.
Which animal breeds are covered in the fattening trials?
The studies primarily focus on three indigenous sheep breeds from Balochistan: Bibrik, Balochi, and Harnai.
What is the recommended age for starting the fattening process?
The text suggests that lambs and kids should be approximately 4 months old and weaned before starting the fattening cycle for optimal weight gain performance.
What constitutes a balanced concentrate mixture?
A balanced mixture typically includes a combination of crushed cereals (like barley or maize), protein sources (like cotton seed cake), wheat bran, molasses, urea, and necessary mineral and vitamin additives.
Why is the "Feed Conversion Ratio" (FCR) important?
The FCR is a critical performance indicator that measures the efficiency of converting consumed feed into body weight gain, which is vital for evaluating the economic profitability of the fattening system.
What are the primary health measures recommended?
Recommended health measures include strictly adhering to a vaccination schedule against contagious diseases and implementing regular parasite control through dipping and deworming.
How does the "intensive" fattening system differ from traditional grazing?
The intensive or "feed lot" system relies on controlled stall feeding with a high-energy, high-protein concentrate mixture, whereas traditional methods rely on pasture grazing, which is often less efficient for rapid weight gain.
What is the significance of the "Eid-ul-Azha" in this production cycle?
The book notes that coordinating the fattening production cycle to finish around the time of the Eid-ul-Azha festival is highly profitable, as animals can be sold at a 10-15% price premium.
- Citation du texte
- Phd Muhammad Kamran Taj (Auteur), PhD Rahim Dad Khan (Auteur), 2015, Lamb and Kids Fattening. A Handbook, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/307559
