This article addresses the issue of housing in sheep and goats. In the tropics and other regions, it is not common practice to house sheep and goats in special buildings, as this is of little practical value to traditional rural rearers.
Even in advanced countries, it has only been in the past three decades that attempts have been made to house sheep and goats permanently in environmentally controlled conditions to enable year-round lamb production.
This is achieved through artificial lighting patterns that enable ewes to produce up to two sets of lambs per year. When sheep rearing is considered in relation to improved husbandry, the construction of a sheep house becomes essential.
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Importance of Sheep and Goat Housing
The importance of housing for sheep and goats is discussed in the following sections.
1. Protection from Adverse Weather Conditions
The major function of a sheep and goat house is to protect the animals from adverse climatic conditions such as sunshine, rain, wind, or cold. Adult sheep and goats are generally equipped to withstand cold due to the heat produced during the fermentation process.
However, young lambs and kids have not yet developed this mechanism and should be protected. Sheep and goats do not like being drenched by heavy rain, nor do they tolerate excessive sun, especially when the sun is at its peak. These behaviors are evident in the animals’ attempts to seek shelter from extreme weather conditions.
2. Better Surveillance and Monitoring
When sheep and goats are housed together, the owner can better observe them. This allows for early detection of sick animals, which can then be treated appropriately before the disease spreads.
3. Protection from Predators
A house provides protection from predators such as dogs, snakes, thieves, accidents, and other harmful vices, ensuring the safety of the animals.
4. Easier Handling and Management
Handling becomes easier when sheep and goats are housed in a designated area. This allows for better flock management, including practices such as isolating rams outside of breeding season and weaning. Additionally, management tasks like identification, docking, and castration can be carried out more easily.
5. Feeding Supplements is Made Easier
Housing sheep and goats in groups based on their age or physiological state (e.g., yearlings, gestating animals, fattening, or weaning) improves performance. This approach allows each animal to receive supplements tailored to its specific production needs.
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Construction Materials for Sheep and Goat Housing
Various materials are available for constructing a sheep and goat house, with the primary factor being the resources (money) available to the farmer.
Concrete, galvanized iron, and wire netting should not necessarily be considered the best options. Sheep and goat houses constructed with such materials do not always yield the best animals. In many cases, better performance has been observed in sheep and goat houses made with thatched roofs supported by brushwood.
There is no universal solution when it comes to construction materials. Natural materials, which are readily available and renewable at low cost, may be better suited to most farmers.
It is not the materials themselves that determine whether a sheep and goat house is modern or traditional, but rather the design, location, quality of construction, and how well the house is maintained. Local materials such as palm, straw, mud, earthen floors, banana leaves, bamboo, rope, and planks can be used effectively.
Covered Shelter with a Yard
This type of housing appears to be the best option for sheep and goats, given the climatic conditions, the nature of the animals, and the economic circumstances of most farmers. While the covered shelter provides protection from adverse climatic conditions, the yard offers space for exercise.
In most cases, except during very wet conditions, drinkers and feeding troughs can be placed in the yard. The sheep and goat house should not be located in wet or waterlogged areas. It should be built on firm, even ground with a slight slope to allow rainwater to run off.
As sheep and goat houses can generate unpleasant odors, noise, and flies, they should not be situated in densely populated areas. Whenever possible, especially for larger flocks, the house should be located on the outskirts, with the shepherd’s house nearby.
The roof of the covered house should be low, descending to a height of 1 to 1.2 meters above the ground, to protect from wind. The ridge of the roof should be at a height of 1.8 to 2 meters, allowing for access by the shepherd.
If posts are made from brushwood, resistant varieties should be used to ensure durability. Such wood should be treated with waste oil to prevent insect infestation and should be set into a concrete base to protect it from soil moisture. The space requirements for various classes of sheep are as follows:
i. Adult sheep: 0.20 – 0.40 m²
ii. Ewe with lamb: 0.30 – 0.50 m²
iii. Young sheep: 0.15 – 0.20 m²
iv. Ram: 0.50 – 0.75 m²
The yard should offer 2 to 3 m² per head, with a minimum height of 1 meter. It is important to note that these space requirements are for tropical conditions, where animals are not expected to stay in the house for extended periods. Several yards can be placed alongside each other to separate different flocks. A gate with a width of about 2 meters should be installed to avoid jostling when sheep or goats enter or leave the yard.
Lambing and Kidding Unit
A lambing and kidding unit is a designated area used to isolate pregnant ewes and does a few days before and after lambing or kidding. This isolation allows for close monitoring of both the dam and the lamb or kid, ensuring that the newborn receives colostrum.
When constructing a lambing and kidding unit, the number of sheep and goats in the flock, the breeding method, and the body size of the breed should be considered.
The unit should be equipped with a feeding rack and water trough, and an unlimited supply of feed and water should be available to the dam. If this is not feasible, the dam should not be placed in the unit.
Maintaining high hygiene standards in the lambing and kidding unit is critical. Bedding should be replaced after each lambing or kidding, and particularly if the floor is made of rammed earth, the bedding should be burned to prevent the spread of diseases.
Sheep and Goat Handling Unit
An efficient handling unit is essential for any sheep or goat farm. This unit should include a race, dipping tank, and footbath, designed to allow all operations to be carried out quickly, with minimal stress or strain on both the animals and workers.
Key procedures carried out in the handling unit include dipping, spraying, foot care, closing, inoculation, and dragging. All handling systems should have the following features:
i. A gathering pen: Large enough to accommodate all sheep that need to be dealt with at one time.
ii. A forcing pen: This funnel-shaped pen directs the sheep into a single file, with gates to allow for sorting into separate pens.
iii. A dipping bath: With an adjacent draining pen.
iv. A footbath: For treating foot conditions.
v. Handling or treatment pens: Where sheep are treated.
vi. Holding or drafting pens: For sheep that have been treated or sorted.
The handling unit should be centrally located relative to grazing areas, free-draining, shaded, and easily accessible for loading and unloading. All construction should be free of sharp edges, and the working area should be rooted to facilitate operations under all conditions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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