Optimizing Sheep Reproductive Performance through Nutritional Interventions

Abstract

Aims: Sheep farming in India is predominantly practiced by small and marginal farmers who depend on extensive grazing systems. However, nutritional deficiencies are a major constraint affecting reproductive performance, lambing rates, and overall flock productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of strategic nutritional interventions, including flushing, late-pregnancy supplementation, lactation feeding, groundnut oil supplementation, and tree fodder cultivation, on improving fertility, lamb survival, and ewe productivity in smallholder sheep farming systems.        Methodology: A total of 50 flocks, each consisting of 20 ewes and one ram, were selected, with different nutritional strategies implemented to evaluate their effects. Flushing was conducted by supplementing 100 g of concentrate per ewe per day for 20 days before breeding to improve conception rates. Late-pregnancy feeding included 100 g of concentrate per ewe per day during the last 60 days to enhance fetal growth and birth weight. During lactation, 100 g of concentrate per ewe per day for 60 days postpartum was provided to improve milk yield and lamb growth. Additionally, groundnut oil supplementation was introduced to enhance protein metabolism and energy utilization, while tree fodder cultivation was promoted to ensure sustainable feed availability during lean periods. Results: Flushing significantly increased the number of animals that became pregnant from 14.08 to 18.12 per an average of 20 ewes in a flock. Meanwhile, lambing rates increased from 12.92 to 17.75 lambs per flock. Late-pregnancy supplementation resulted in higher lamb birth weights, increasing from 2.12 ± 0.04 kg to 2.80 ± 0.04 kg. Lactation feeding improved lamb body weight at three months from 7.05 ± 0.21 kg to 9.32 ± 0.22 kg. Groundnut oil supplementation enhanced lamb weight gain, and the introduction of tree fodder ensured a cost-effective, sustainable feeding alternative to commercial supplements. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that targeted nutritional interventions significantly enhance reproductive performance, lamb survival, and overall flock productivity in smallholder sheep farming. The results highlight the importance of balanced nutrition in improving breeding efficiency and suggest that integrating locally available feed resources can enhance economic sustainability for marginal farmers.