Introduction of an improved management technology into the production process of growing preweaning lambs

The production of sheep products with minimal expenditure of material and labor resources is a pressing issue that requires a solution using various technological methods. The objective of the study was to develop an improved technology for keeping lambs during the preweaning period. Lambs were reared from birth to weaning using two technologies: traditional and improved, where a section for 100 ewes (10 sakmans) was equipped next to the winter shelter, separated from the common sheepfold shed by a beam and cellophane film. During lambing, the temperature in the winter shelter was maintained at 15–17 ºС using heaters, while in the equipped section it was 7–9 ºС, and indoors it fluctuated within 4–7 ºС. As a result of equipping an additional section during the transition period from an individual winter shelter to sakman groups, and then after 10–15 days to a common sheepfold shed, it was possible to reduce mortality by almost a half. By weaning, the survival rate of lambs using the improved technology was 91.5%, while using the traditional technology it was 87.2%. The increase in the survival rate of lambs to weaning (almost 5 lambs per 100 ewes) is a promising reserve for lamb production (an average of 45.0–47.5 kg of meat), which, given the current prices for mutton in the Trans-Volga region, means additional revenue of 27–30 thousand rubles. Consequently, improving the conditions for keeping ewes with lambs by equipping an additional section for adaptation to group housing, with a lower than in a winter shelter and higher than in a common sheepfold shed air temperature, as well as reducing drafts, contributes to an increase in the yield of lambs to weaning by 4.9% and an increase in their live weight due to a decrease in stress during the transition period by 5.3%, which ensures additional production and profit.

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