Sheep & Goat Feeding and Flushing

Proper feeding is the foundation of successful sheep and goat farming. Balanced nutrition ensures good growth, reproduction, milk production, and overall health. One special feeding practice called flushing plays a crucial role in improving reproductive performance in sheep and goats.

Importance of Feeding in Sheep and Goat Farming

Feeding provides essential nutrients required for:

Maintenance of body functions

Growth and development

Milk and meat production

Reproduction and fertility

Disease resistance

Sheep and goats can utilize roughages efficiently, but balanced feeding is necessary for higher productivity.

Basic Principles of Sheep and Goat Feeding

Feeding should be based on age, body weight, and production stage

Provide a balanced ration containing energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins

Green fodder should be preferred whenever available

Ensure clean and fresh drinking water

Avoid sudden changes in feed

Use locally available feed resources to reduce cost

Nutritional Requirements of Sheep and Goats

1. Energy

Required for maintenance, growth, pregnancy, and milk production

Sources: cereals, grains, crop residues, dry fodder

2. Protein

Essential for body growth, milk production, and reproduction

Sources: oil cakes, legumes, green fodder

3. Minerals

Important minerals: Calcium, Phosphorus, Salt

Prevents bone disorders and reproductive problems

4. Vitamins

Vitamins A, D, and E are important

Green fodder is a natural source

Feeding Systems in Sheep and Goats

1. Grazing System

Animals graze on natural pastures

Low cost but depends on land availability

2. Stall Feeding

Animals are fed in sheds

Suitable for intensive farming

3. Grazing + Stall Feeding

Most common system

Grazing supplemented with concentrates and fodder

Feeding at Different Stages

Lambs and Kids

Colostrum within first 1–2 hours after birth

Gradual introduction of green fodder and concentrates

Growing Animals

Adequate protein for fast growth

Balanced ration essential

Pregnant Animals

Extra nutrition during last trimester

Prevents weak lambs/kids

Lactating Animals

High energy and protein requirement

Adequate water supply is essential

What is Flushing?

Flushing is the practice of providing extra nutritious feed to ewes and does before and during the breeding season to improve their reproductive performance.

Objectives of Flushing

Increase ovulation rate

Improve conception rate

Increase number of twins

Improve overall reproductive efficiency

When Flushing is Done

2–3 weeks before breeding

Continued 2–3 weeks after breeding

Feeds Used for Flushing

Concentrates (grains, oil cakes)

Good quality green fodder

Mineral mixture

Energy-rich feeds

Benefits of Flushing

Higher fertility rate

Increased lambing/kidding percentage

More twin births

Healthy offspring

Improved farm profitability

Precautions During Flushing

Do not overfeed

Ensure gradual increase in feed

Provide clean drinking water

Maintain proper health management

Difference Between Normal Feeding and Flushing

Normal Feeding Flushing
Routine feeding Extra nutrition
Maintains body condition Improves reproduction
Given throughout year Given before breeding

Normal Feeding	Flushing
Routine feeding	Extra nutrition
Maintains body condition	Improves reproduction
Given throughout year	Given before breeding

Conclusion

Efficient feeding and proper flushing practices are essential for profitable sheep and goat farming. Balanced nutrition supports growth, health, and production, while flushing significantly improves reproductive performance. Farmers should adopt scientific feeding and flushing practices for sustainable livestock production.

1. Feeding cost in sheep and goat production accounts for about

A. 20–30%
B. 30–40%
C. 55–60%
D. 70–80%

✅ Answer: C
Explanation: Feed cost is the major expense (~55–60%) in small ruminant production.
❌ Others underestimate or overestimate actual feeding cost.

2. Sheep are primarily

A. Browsers
B. Grazers
C. Omnivores
D. Scavengers

✅ Answer: B
Explanation: Sheep prefer grasses and ground vegetation.
❌ Goats are browsers, not sheep.

3. Goats are better classified as

A. Grazers
B. Mixed feeders
C. Browsers
D. Carnivores

✅ Answer: C
Explanation: Goats prefer shrubs, leaves, tree fodder.
❌ Grazers mainly consume grass.

4. The term “flushing” refers to

A. Cleaning reproductive organs
B. Deworming before breeding
C. Increased nutrition before breeding
D. Hormonal treatment

✅ Answer: C
Explanation: Flushing is a nutritional practice, not medical or hormonal.
❌ Others are unrelated.

5. Flushing is mainly practiced to

A. Increase milk fat
B. Improve wool quality
C. Increase ovulation rate
D. Reduce gestation length

✅ Answer: C
Explanation: Higher energy intake increases ovulation.
❌ Milk, wool, gestation not directly affected.

6. Flushing should begin

A. On the day of mating
B. 1 week before breeding
C. 2–4 weeks before breeding
D. After breeding

✅ Answer: C
Explanation: Ovulation responds to improved nutrition before estrus.
❌ Late feeding has no benefit.

7. Main nutrient increased during flushing is

A. Protein
B. Minerals
C. Vitamins
D. Energy

✅ Answer: D
Explanation: Energy stimulates reproductive hormones.
❌ Protein is secondary during flushing.

8. Body Condition Score ideal for breeding is

A. 1.0
B. 2.0
C. 3.0
D. 5.0

✅ Answer: C
Explanation: Moderate body condition ensures optimum fertility.
❌ Too thin or too fat reduces conception.

9. Flushing is most effective in

A. Obese animals
B. Lean or average animals
C. Pregnant animals
D. Lambs

✅ Answer: B
Explanation: Lean animals show maximum response.
❌ Obese animals gain little benefit.

10. Average increase in lambing/kidding percentage due to flushing

A. 2–5%
B. 10–20%
C. 30–40%
D. 50%

✅ Answer: B
Explanation: ICAR-recommended improvement is around 10–20%.
❌ Higher values are unrealistic.

11. Maintenance ration is meant for

A. Growth
B. Lactation
C. Maintaining body weight
D. Pregnancy

✅ Answer: C
Explanation: Maintenance ration supports basic metabolism only.

12. Pregnancy nutrient requirement increases mainly during

A. First month
B. Second month
C. Third month
D. Last 6 weeks

✅ Answer: D
Explanation: Fetal growth is maximum in late pregnancy.

13. Nutrient requirement during late pregnancy increases by

A. 10%
B. 25%
C. 50%
D. 100%

✅ Answer: C
Explanation: ICAR recommends ~50% increase.

14. Highest nutrient demand occurs during

A. Dry period
B. Early pregnancy
C. Early lactation
D. Weaning

✅ Answer: C
Explanation: Milk synthesis demands maximum nutrients.

15. Roughages mainly supply

A. Protein
B. Energy and fiber
C. Vitamins only
D. Minerals only

✅ Answer: B

16. Concentrates are rich in

A. Fiber
B. Water
C. Energy and protein
D. Minerals only

✅ Answer: C

17. Which system relies only on grazing?

A. Intensive
B. Semi-intensive
C. Extensive
D. Zero-grazing

✅ Answer: C

18. Semi-intensive system includes

A. Stall feeding only
B. Grazing + supplementation
C. Grazing only
D. Concentrates only

✅ Answer: B

19. Pregnancy toxemia is caused due to

A. Protein deficiency
B. Mineral imbalance
C. Energy deficiency in late pregnancy
D. Vitamin A deficiency

✅ Answer: C

20. Goat feeding differs from sheep because goats

A. Eat less
B. Prefer tree leaves and shrubs
C. Cannot digest fiber
D. Need no concentrate

✅ Answer: B

21. During flushing, concentrate supplementation is about

A. 50–100 g/day
B. 150–200 g/day
C. 250–400 g/day
D. 1 kg/day

✅ Answer: C

22. Flushing mainly affects

A. Gestation period
B. Milk yield
C. Estrus and ovulation
D. Sex ratio

✅ Answer: C

23. Mineral mixture is important mainly for

A. Energy
B. Reproductive efficiency
C. Fiber digestion
D. Water balance

✅ Answer: B

24. Clean water should be provided

A. Once a day
B. Only in summer
C. Ad libitum
D. During lactation only

✅ Answer: C

25. Sheep and goats are classified as

A. Non-ruminants
B. Small ruminants
C. Large ruminants
D. Pseudo-ruminants

✅ Answer: B

26. Excess fat in breeding females causes

A. Early puberty
B. Reduced fertility
C. Higher milk yield
D. More twins

✅ Answer: B

27. Legume fodder used in flushing is

A. Sorghum
B. Maize
C. Berseem
D. Paddy straw

✅ Answer: C

28. Main objective of feeding during dry period

A. Weight gain
B. Maintain body condition
C. Increase milk
D. Increase wool

✅ Answer: B

29. Goats require more concentrate than sheep because

A. Higher milk fat
B. Higher metabolic activity
C. Short gestation
D. Smaller rumen

✅ Answer: B

30. Flushing is continued

A. Until kidding
B. Until lambing
C. Early breeding period
D. Entire pregnancy

✅ Answer: C

31. Which vitamin deficiency affects reproduction most?

A. Vitamin C
B. Vitamin B
C. Vitamin A
D. Vitamin K

✅ Answer: C

32. Major function of protein in feeding is

A. Energy supply
B. Growth and tissue repair
C. Thermoregulation
D. Digestion

✅ Answer: B

33. Sheep digest fiber efficiently due to

A. Small intestine
B. Rumen microbes
C. Liver enzymes
D. Saliva only

✅ Answer: B

34. Best feeding practice on day of lambing/kidding

A. Heavy concentrate feeding
B. No water
C. Light feed + plenty of water
D. Only dry fodder

✅ Answer: C

35. Colostrum feeding importance is

A. Energy only
B. Immunity transfer
C. Growth hormone
D. Wool quality

✅ Answer: B

36. Feeding green fodder improves

A. Milk color
B. Palatability and vitamins
C. Fiber only
D. Water content only

✅ Answer: B

37. Pregnancy period in sheep is approximately

A. 120 days
B. 150 days
C. 180 days
D. 200 days

✅ Answer: B

38. Pregnancy period in goat is about

A. 120 days
B. 135 days
C. 150 days
D. 180 days

✅ Answer: C

39. Flushing improves

A. Wool fiber length
B. Multiple births
C. Growth rate
D. Milk fat only

✅ Answer: B

40. Sheep require less concentrate than cattle because

A. Smaller size
B. Efficient fiber digestion
C. Short lifespan
D. Lower appetite

✅ Answer: B

41. Feeding during last trimester prevents

A. Mastitis
B. Milk fever
C. Pregnancy toxemia
D. Bloat

✅ Answer: C

42. Mineral deficiency causing weak estrus

A. Sodium
B. Phosphorus
C. Iron
D. Chlorine

✅ Answer: B

43. Best indicator of nutritional status

A. Body weight
B. Age
C. Body Condition Score
D. Height

✅ Answer: C

44. Over-feeding concentrates may cause

A. Better fertility
B. Digestive disorders
C. Longer gestation
D. More wool

✅ Answer: B

45. Goats tolerate browsing because of

A. Long legs
B. Mobile lips and tongue
C. Sharp teeth
D. Strong horns

✅ Answer: B

46. Feeding management affects

A. Growth only
B. Reproduction only
C. Overall productivity
D. Disease only

✅ Answer: C

47. Energy deficiency before breeding results in

A. Early estrus
B. Silent estrus
C. Twin births
D. Early conception

✅ Answer: B

48. Flushing is not useful when animals are

A. Lean
B. Already in excellent condition
C. Underfed
D. Average

✅ Answer: B

49. Feeding ad-libitum means

A. Limited feeding
B. Controlled feeding
C. Free access
D. Night feeding

✅ Answer: C

50. ICAR recommends feeding based on

A. Age only
B. Breed only
C. Physiological status
D. Color and size

✅ Answer: C

Conclusion

Efficient feeding management is the foundation of successful sheep and goat production. Balanced rations supplying adequate energy, protein, minerals, vitamins, and water according to the physiological needs of animals ensure optimum growth, reproduction, and productivity. Flushing of ewes and does, by increasing the plane of nutrition 2–4 weeks before breeding, significantly enhances ovulation rate, estrus expression, conception, and multiple births, especially in animals of average or low body condition. Adoption of scientific feeding practices and strategic nutritional interventions such as flushing not only improves reproductive performance but also increases economic returns to farmers. Therefore, a sound knowledge of sheep and goat feeding principles and flushing practices is essential for students, farmers, and animal husbandry professionals, particularly for ICAR and university examinations.