Sheep represent an important animal species on a global level; there are a total of about 1.2 billion sheep worldwide. Most of this is held in Asia. There are between 800 and 1000 varieties and variants. Keeping sheep has some advantages and disadvantages over keeping other animals.
Benefits of keeping sheep
Living space
Sheep are suitable for colder, temperate and subtropical areas. They mainly live on large spread plains, but they can also live fine on marginal mountainous soil types. These mountainous areas would otherwise not be used for anything. An advantage over goats is that sheep do not or hardly cause erosion in an area. Sheep can also live well in brackish water areas. These are areas that have been reclaimed by, among other things, reclamation of the sea.
Sheep disperse their excrement better than cattle. This is advantageous in less fertile areas such as: heather, brackish water area and sandy areas. They also graze the grass a lot shorter than cattle. As a result, they are often put on pastures after cattle have already been on it. Shorter grass cutting improves the condition of the grass.
Sheep are not leaf-eating ruminants, this has the advantage that they can also stand on land where shrubs grow. Cattle are also not ruminants, the advantage over cattle is that the processing of roughage in their digestive system works very differently. It works a lot more effectively, their excrement is therefore not wet but granular.
production
Sheep produce a variety of products such as milk, wool, hides and meat. These products can be extracted at different times of the year.
Disadvantages of keeping sheep
Living space
In humid tropical areas sheep can live less well than cattle, they are less able to withstand the heat. Sheep have a very great herd instinct, they prefer to live in groups. Because they live together in large groups, they are very sensitive to contagious diseases. Parasitic diseases such as liver fluke, fly larvae and gastrointestinal worms can quickly cause serious damage.
production
Sheep have maintained their seasonal production. The ewes (female sheep) only become rut in the autumn months, this is when the day length decreases. After about five months of pregnancy, the lambs are born in the spring. The closer you get to the equator, the smaller the differences in day length, the less fertility.
The selling prices of wool, lamb and mutton are usually very low and the price fluctuates considerably with regard to various economic and political factors. When there is war in a country where a lot of mutton is eaten, the demand will decrease. There is a surplus of mutton, so the price falls.
Meat consumption is much more dependent on local eating habits than beef meat. England is a very large consumer of mutton. Very little mutton is eaten in North America and Western Europe. In countries where many Muslim people live, the consumption of mutton is high, this is because they do not eat pork.
The benefits of sheep’s milk
Vitamin B and D are present to a greater extent, as are the minerals calcium and phosphorus. The higher calcium content is good for people who have less strong bones or no calcium production themselves. Vitamin D ensures a better immune system, which is also useful for many people.
The drawbacks of sheep’s milk
Sheep’s milk contains at least twice as much fat as cow’s milk. It is certainly not suitable for people on a leash. The milk also has a higher lactose content and is therefore not suitable for people with lactose intolerance.