Selecting Sheep Species for Animal Husbandry

In general, there are two ideal types of sheep, namely the meat type and the wool type. The type of wool sheep is currently not in demand by breeders in Indonesia. This is probably because meat production is still a top priority and Indonesia's tropical climate is not suitable for wearing wool. Based on these conditions, the selection of meat sheep is more suitable for Indonesian conditions. Moreover, coupled with the demand for meat in Indonesia that has not been met. The demand for lamb meat for aqiqah and satay stalls/restaurants is still largely unfulfilled. In addition, the need for Eid al-Adha which is celebrated by Muslims every year can double. The need for exports is no less large, even reaching millions of head each year, such as during the Hajj season for the dam it is estimated that the need will reach 2 million heads.

Southdown sheep

Sheep of the meat or slaughter type have the following characteristics: dense body shape, wide and deep chest, short neck, and straight back and waist lines. In addition, it also has short legs and the whole body is densely muscled. Some of the sheep that belong to the meat type include Southdown, Hampshire and Oxford. Indonesian native sheep cannot be classified into one of the ideal types of the two types above. Even so, sheep in Indonesia generally tend to the type of slaughter or meat. Several sheep are considered native to Indonesia because they have long been cultivated in Indonesia, namely the thin-tailed sheep, fat-tailed sheep, Garut sheep, Wonosobo sheep (dombos) and Batur sheep. 

Dorper sheep

Improvement of genetic quality to increase livestock productivity is also carried out through crossbreeding, for example Suffmer sheep resulting from crossing Merino sheep and Suffolk sheep, then St Croix sheep resulting from crossing West African sheep with local sheep in the Virginia islands in the United States, then Katahdin sheep the result of crossing 3 types of sheep namely St. Croix with Suffolk and Shire sheep. And the popular sheep in Indonesia recently namely Dorper is a cross between the Black Head Persian sheep and the Dorset Horn sheep.

Sheep and goats, although they are quite similar, are actually (species) different. A number of regions in Indonesia have a favorite menu of sheep while other areas have goats. The Special Region of Yogyakarta is an area that has a favorite menu of lamb meat, and you can find lots of stalls or restaurants serving lamb dishes, especially satay. Uniquely in Yogyakarta, even though the name of the stall reads goat satay, the fact is that what is slaughtered or used is lamb. Meanwhile, in areas that are developing Bali cattle breeding, sheep cannot be kept or are prohibited from being raised for fear of Jembrana disease. Areas such as the provinces of South Kalimantan and East Kalimantan are examples of areas where sheep farming is prohibited because it breeds Bali cattle.

Large-scale sheep farming has been carried out in Europe and this should also be done in Indonesia. Integrating sheep farms with energy plantations is a surefire way to create these massive sheep farms. Wood from energy plantations will be a wood pellet product with an export orientation. According to Hawkins Wright's data, from 2020-'21, the demand for wood pellets for the global industry grew by 18.4%, with production only growing 8.4%, especially now with the disappearance of Russia whose volume reached nearly 3 million tons, more details can be read here. While the leaves are used for animal feed, especially sheep farming or it can also be processed into animal feed products such as feed pellets. With the global population predicted to reach 9 billion people in 2050, the need for food, especially protein such as meat, is also increasing as the population increases. Sheep farming and animal feed production are very important as part of fulfilling this food, especially protein, for more details can be read here.   

Sheep Farm Based Startup Business

Lamb meat is the best meat for human consumption. Prophets and Messengers of Allah SWT must have been herdsmen. There are many lessons from the pastoral activity, for more details, you can read here. Increasing consumption of lamb and even become a favorite food is something that is encouraging. A number of satay shops and also offers a number of lamb dishes are always crowded. It is estimated that around 250 satay shops yand processed sheep are scattered throughout Yogyakarta special province, Indonesia. The high interest and consumption of lamb meat will also have an effect on the high supply of sheep needed. Other cities in Indonesia should also follow it. Surely this will be an interesting opportunity, including the pattern of business startup. Even when the supply of sheep increases, the export market is also ready to wait.

In Indonesia, grass cultivation is certainly not difficult, even without planting grass has grown thick and filled our gardens. Unmanaged grass is just annoying and causes problems. But on the other hand, if the growth of grass is well designed and managed so that the sheep grazing area will certainly be a different story. In any livestock industry the feed factor is the highest cost component. If the sheep are managed by herding in the pasture, the cost of feed will be minimized so that the profits are maximized. Rotational grazing is a grazing technique that can maximize these benefits.

In addition to grass which can be regarded as a staple food for the sheep, additional food in the form of supplements is also needed to get the best quality meat. Energy plantation such as the calliandra plantation can support the sheep farm. Leaves from the energy plantation harvest can be used for additional feed. Calliandra leaves with high protein content will be nutritious feed for the sheep. In addition, wood from energy plantations can also be used for the production of charcoal briquette. By using charcoal made from energy plantations wood that means it does not damage the environment such as cutting down forest wood and so on. The quality of charcoal briquette (sawdust charcoal briquette) is also better than ordinary charcoal that is not briquetted, because it is denser, has a uniform size and a longer burning time.

At a large capacity these sheep can also become export commodities. Extensive grasslands and energy plantations can be made for many of these export purposes. Utilization of technology is increasingly needed for such large capacities such as drones to monitor the movement of these sheep. Locations outside of Java and can even be integrated with large plantations have huge potential, for additional information can be read here. Indonesia as the owner of the largest palm oil plantation in the world with an area of ​​12 million hectares has the potential to integrate this sheep farm. Previously we have also heard that cattle farming has been integrated in a number of oil palm plantations, for more details, please read here. In addition to the sheep which will become an export commodity as well as sawdust charcoal briquette from the energy plantations.

Lamb satay in packaging

The sheep-based startup business will encourage improving the quality of our food and at the same time improving the environment. And so that various regions can also easily get the supply of lamb meat, lamb meat can also be packaged in the form of ready satay, so it is also easy if you want to consume lamb satay every day. At the time of Eid al-Adha, this business startup also supports the provision of sacrificial animals, as part of upholding Islamic law (QS. Al-Kautsar: 2; QS. Al-Hajj: 34) which will continue to exist until the Day of Judgment. Even sheep is permitted for qurban animals that are still six months old, entering seven months old (jadza'ah) while other qurban animals are eligible if they are at least one year old or more (mussinnah) such as goats are tsany (one year old, enter second year ), two-year-old cattle, entering the third year and camel five years, entering the sixth year. Furthermore also the need for halal food is an absolute necessity for all Muslims so running a business for the fulfillment of halal food should also be the domain of Muslims as well as the business of Umrah and Hajj to halal tourism. Moreover, there are many verses in the Qur'an concerning the superiority of sheep over other livestock, for more details, please read here. Let us be part of the world's food and environmental solutions and uphold the Shari'a of Allah SWT.

Satay and Processed Lamb Meat anytime!

Eating satay and processed lamb meat products is delicious, so how delicious if you can eat it often. Some of our people can enjoy these dishes only during Eid al-Adha. Of course this must continue to be improved because the average meat consumption of the Indonesian population is still low. Even though protein is one of the essential nutrients we really need. And for that lamb meat is the best meat despite many myths that oppose it. In Al Qur'an Surah 6: 143-144, eight pairs of animals (4 pairs) are two (a pair) of sheep, a pair of goats, a pair of camels and a pair of cows. Of the series of livestock mentioned in the verses above, sheep are first mentioned, then goats, camels and cattle.

The rules in the Qur'an, the first one has virtue over afterwards. Now, this is where sheep have superiority compared to other livestock mentioned in the verses, although all these animals are halal meat eaten. Other indications of the virtue of sheep can also be found in the Qurban event, namely when Prophet Ibrahim was ordered by Allah SWT to slaughter his son Ismail, then by Allah SWT saved Ismail and replaced him with a large sheep. Then we commemorate this event every year and become the Shari'a of Qurban on the Eid al-Adha feast every year in 10 Dzulhijah. Besides that, all Prophets are sheep shepherd, is another indication that lamb is the best meat and the sheep that are grazed are the best treasures. 

The next question that can arise is is there another guide more specific about diet, especially protein? The Qur'an also indicates the source of protein from large livestock occupies the largest portion of poultry and fish. The source of animal protein that is from large livestock is revealed in at least 7 verses or 64%, from fish revealed in 3 verses or 27% and from poultry revealed in 1 verse or 9%. So that the fulfillment of protein needs is the priority of large livestock, especially those that are grazed, because in addition to producing cheap protein, it also fertilizes the land for various human needs.

So that satay and processed lamb meat can be eaten anytime and anywhere, food innovation is needed. We are certainly familiar with various canned foods so that they can last longer such as gudeg, rendang and so on. Of course this is also very possible for lamb. It is also to further promote the best meat, so that when it is called meat, the community will later associate it to lamb instead of beef or chicken as happened today. If the conditions are like that, then the sheep farming industry will grow rapidly. Sheep farming can be integrated with various large plantations and for more details can be read here.