1. Introduction
1.1 Sheep contributes to food production, rural employment and gross national product by converting roughages into meat, wool and skin. There is an increasing demand for mutton and scope for export of meat.
1.2 Under the existing small ruminant production system the slaughter weight of lambs and kids in the country is lower and age at which usually achieved is much higher. The system of raising lambs for meat under grazing with supplementation although is cost effective, the procedure has not been largely adopted by the farmers due to their poor economical background and age old traditional practices. Grazing with supplementation has potential for still higher production. The major advantage of this programme is that the sheep owner can rear the animals only for six months and not for the whole year. He will get handsome profit after six months, which is at par with the lambs reared for 11-12 months under extensive grazing system. This technology would help the farmers in reducing the time period of rearing from 11-12 months and getting almost same profit per animal in addition to avoiding the mortality risk and unnecessary rearing of lambs for the whole year.
2. Objectives
- To rear the lambs with improved feeding for gaining desired body weight in a shorter period.
- To avoid the risk of high mortality in lambs
- Weaning age can be reduced from 90 to 60 days
3.Technical Feasibility
3.1 Scheme Area
This programme can be implemented in States having large population of sheep like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and North and Sourashtra regions of Gujarat. The selected area should be nearer to veterinary aid, livestock market and bank branch.
3.2 Selection of lambs
Fat lamb production is a commercial programme. The profit earned after 6 months of rearing after weaning under semi intensive system is at par with or more than that earned after rearing lambs for 11-12 months under range condition. By selective breeding and intensive selection in some of the important indigenous sheep breeds of Malpura, Sonadi Muzafarnagari, Madras Red, Mandya, Nellori, Deccani, Marwari, Patanwadi and Dumba, lamb fattening programme can be successfully implemented in these breed tracts and in the States having large sheep population.
3.3 Housing
Normally sheep do not require elaborate housing facility. They should be protected against inclement weather and predators. Shelter should be provided with gunny bags or temporary removable protections made of thatching material and bamboo.
3.4 Feeding
In India sheep are traditionally maintained on extensive range management with supplementation of top feed resources during lean season. Due to progressive shrinkage of grazing land and market requirement of quality meat for local consumers as well as export market, fattening lambs are to be maintained on grazing / feeding on roughages with supplementation of concentrate feed on 80:20 basis.
3.5 Management of lambs
- The lamb should be taken care of to a maximum extent for better survival during the early period of life.
- Weaning can be done at two months of age.
- Lambs may be ear tagged or tattooed on the ear for identification.
- Use sterilized and clean knife for castration and docking and resort to proper legation and antiseptic dressing.
- During castration, keep the lambs on perfectly dry, clean and hygienic site so as to minimize the risk of loss from tetanus.
- The lamb should be protected against ecto and endo parasites by first month and vaccinated against enterotoxaemia and sheep pox. They should be protected against the vagaries of climate and predators.
- Intensive application of flock health technology to be followed instead of treating individual lamb
3.6 Marketing
Shepherds generally market their animals through rural agents or village weekly markets on rough estimates of weight or the appearance of the animal. The lambs can be marketed through Sheep Cooperative Societies, Meat Development Corporations of the State Government on weight basis wherever they exist and a regular marketing channel has to be established where sheep farmer can not be exploited.
4. Model economics of lamb fattening unit
4.1. Unit cost ( two batches of 50 lambs in a year) is given in Annexure I.
4.3 The techno-economic parameters and flock schedule are given in Annexure II and III respectively.
4.4 Cash flow statement along with net benefits generated is given in Annexure IV.
5. Lending terms
5.1 Margin Money
Minimum down payment varies from 5 % in case of small farmers to 15% in respect of other farmers.
5.2 Rate of Interest
As determined by the financing institution. However, a rate of interest of 12% is considered in the present model.
5.3 Security
As stipulated by RBI.
5.4 Insurance
The financing bank may ensure that the beneficiary takes adequate insurance of the assets.
5.5 Repayment period
Depends on the gross surplus generated and in the present model 4 years is considered as adequate, with first year as grace period, to repay the bank loan. (Annexure V)
LAMBFATTENING - Annexure I
LAMBFATTENING - Annexure II
LAMBFATTENING - Annexure III
LAMBFATTENING - Annexure IV
LAMBFATTENING - Annexure V
|
