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Level II Agricultural Business Operations
Appropriate management and nutrition to achieve optimum performance from The pregnant ewe Lactating ewe
Overview of feeding properties of a range of feedstuffs
Identify the most suitable feed options/levels for the pregnant/lactating ewe
Proper nutrition is central to◦ Productivity◦ Health◦ Welfare
Based on◦ Body condition score◦ Pregnancy scanning
Influences future production
Ewes are very sensitive to stress caused by handling, poor weather or health
Maintain body condition score in early pregnancy to maximise embryo viability
Maintain a level plane of nutrition
Ewes above target BCS (4.0+) can afford to lose some condition
Placenta development occurs
Placenta size and development is critical to Lamb birth weight
Ewes should not gain or lose more than half a BCS or 5% bodyweight
70% of foetal growth takes place in the last 6 - 8 weeks
Energy demand goes up dramatically
Ewes appetite drops 30% in the last 6 weeks due to increasing foetal growth.
POSSIBLE NEED FOR CONCENTRATED
ENERGY
Ensure viable even-sized lambs at birth
Adequate colostrum
Prevent metabolic disorders
Minimise cost by maximising use of suitable forage
Majority of lamb losses happen within 48 hours of birth
Deaths during lambingHypothermia (exposure)Hypothermia (starvation)
AbortionPoor nutritionStress
Infectious disease
Size of lambColostrum
Requirement
Large single lamb (5kg) 250 ml/feed 4 X daily
Medium lamb (4kg) 200 ml/feed 4 X daily
Small lamb (3kg) 150 ml/feed 4 X daily
BreedNutritio
n
No of lamb
s
Total lamb
weight (kg)
Colostrum Production (ml)
1 hour post
lambing
Total after 18
hrs
Blackface
Well fed 2 7.90 715 1805
Blackface
Underfed
2 6.43 160 990
Selenium
Vitamin E
Iodine
Copper (breed dependent)◦ Essential for hill breeds◦ Toxic in excess to breeds such as Suffolk/Texel◦ Never feed cattle mineral to sheep
Supplemented ewes ◦ Needed less assistance at lambing◦ Ewe body weight and condition maintained
more efficiently◦ Higher lamb output
Lambs from supplemented ewes had ◦ Lower mortality at lambing◦ Higher growth rates avg. 2kg heavier at
weaning
Why Source
Energy Maintenance requirementsGrowthLamb development & birth weight
CarbohydratesStarch
Protein Udder development & colostrumLamb development & birth weightAdequate brown fat
Fibre Healthy rumen function
Vit & Mins Functional immune system
Meal is concentrated energy
Feed(Average)
Dry Matter (%)
Energy (MJ/Kg DM)
Protein (% in DM)
Spring grass 20 11.6 18-22
Clamp silage 25 10.5 12-14
Baled silage 35 10 12
Hay 85 8.8 9.0
Wheat straw 85 5.0 4.0
Forages; especially silage must be good quality
Protein ££ Energy ££ Fibre £
Soya bean meal Barley Oats
Rapeseed meal Wheat Beet pulp
Peas & Beans Maize gluten Citrus pulp
Linseed Maize (yellow meal)
Soya hulls
Vegetable/fish oil Straw
Do not give sheep cattle feed or cattle minerals Be aware of distillers present in rations as they
may increase copper levels above desired threshold
Level of feeding pre lambing depends on… Season of lambing Grass supply / stocking rate Expected lamb numbers / scanning result Forage quality OR no forage available Condition score
To assess feed value
Predicted animal performance and the need for supplementation
To identify early the stability of the silage and possible impacts on waste and animal health
Dry matter – left after water removal pH – acidity, fermentation quality Ammonia N – fermentation, <10 Protein – grass maturity ME – usable energy D Value - digestibility
Value Silage clamp quality Bales
High Good Average Poor High
Metabolisable energy (ME) (MJ/kg DM)
>12 11.5-11.8
11.5 -10.5
<10.5 10-12
Crude protein (CP) (%)
>13 11-13 10 – 11 <10 10-12
Dry matter (DM) (%)
> 30 25 – 30
20 – 25 <20 30-35
Feed value of baled silage will depend on both
Analysis Characteristics eg. Chop length
Silage 1
Silage 2
Silage analysis & attached Feed report based on analysis
Weeks before
lambing
Precision chop silage Big bale
Excellent quality
(12 MJ)
Averagequality
(10.4 MJ)
Poor quality (9.6 MJ)
Excellent quality
(11.7 MJ)
4 - 6 0 0.2 0.40 0.25
2 - 4 0.35 0.53 0.70 0.55
0 - 2 0.50 0.82 1.0 0.70
Total fed kg 12 20 30 21
Post lambing feeding Ewes with twins -1 kg per day until grass is 5-6 cm Ewes with singles can be fed 0.4 kg per day
Weeks before lambing
Excellent quality
(11.7 MJ)
Averagequality
(10.4 MJ)
Poor quality (9.6 MJ)
4 - 6 0 0.2 0.40
2 - 4 0.35 0.53 0.70
0 - 2 0.50 0.82 1.0
p/ewe/day 21 25 29
£/6 weeks 8.80 10.80 12.5
Individual costs Silage £35/tonne good quality £30/tonne poor quality Concentrate £250/tonne
Highly stocked sheep only farms - no need for silage
Possibly reduce labour Release covered silos etc to hold more
sheep Good value concentrates are essential? 0.5m of feed space per ewe required Water supply essential
Weeks pre lambing (kg/d)
6 4 2 1Wheat straw 0.42 0.49 0.56 0.56Soya hulls 0.8 0.92 1.1 1.1Soya bean 0.14 0.16 0.23 0.23Cost pence/ day 0.23 0.27 0.33 0.33£/week 1.61 1.89 2.31 2.31£ for 6 weeks 11.62
Straw £100/tonneSoyabean £380/tonneSoya Hulls £166/tonne
Flat Rate Feeding can be introduced 6-8 weeks pre-lambing
At 0.4kg/day to twin bearing ewes.◦ (50 days = 20kg fed)
If feeding more than 0.4 kg/day then split over 2 feeds
6 Weeks prior to lambing 20 kg
6 weeks post lambing 42 kg◦ 1kg/day/6 weeks
Total 62 kg
Cost £250 per tonne Cost per ewe £15.5 Cost per lamb @1.50 % = £10.30
Feed blocks contain - Energy (Sugars and fats) - Protein - Vitamins and minerals
Mineral blocks contain - No energy or protein - Minerals and vitamins
A ewe requires 3 x as much energy in early lactation compared to maintenance
Energy supply comes from – ◦ Grass◦ Silage◦ Concentrates◦ Body fat
Restrict energy supply and milk production will drop and lamb growth will suffer
Lambs are very dependent on ewes milk for up to 6 weeks
Peak milk yield of the ewe is 3 to 4 weeks post-lambing
Appropriate feeding is essential to ensure good lamb growth
If ewe loses a lot of condition it will affect performance
If sufficient grass is not available ewes and/or lambs may require supplementation
Offer twin bearing ewes up to 1kg/head/day until grass growth reaches potential (least 5cm)
Once grass is above this height, feed levels can be reduced
Be aware with lush spring grass there is a high risk of staggers, provide supplementary magnesium
Early spring grass◦ 11MJ/KG DM◦ 18-22%CP
Potential to support ewes needs without feed
Target swards at 4-5cm
Stocking rate-twin bearing ewes◦ 12ewes/ha 5ewes/acre
Grass is approximately ¼ the price of meal.
Early spring grass 18% CP mix
ME (MJ/kg DM) 11.6 12.5
CP (% DM) 20.5 20.9
Correct nutrition will ◦ Reduce ewe and lamb mortality◦ Benefit lamb growth◦ Result in lambs being sold sooner
Sample your silage
Examine your ewe concentrate
Plan ahead to have early grass