In this week's management notes we discuss feeding requirments for early lambing flocks, ram lamb management after the breeding season and options for finishing store lambs
Early lambing ewes: Flocks lambing from January onwards are now only six weeks from lambing and as such will have an increasing nutritional requirement. Supplementation rates will be influenced by litter size and the quality of roughage offered. Table 1 details typical supplementation levels for a twin bearing lowland ewe in good condition. Supplementary feeding will need to be introduced about two weeks earlier for triplet bearing ewes and likewise supplementation can be delayed for one to two weeks for single bearing ewes in good body condition. Supplementation rates listed should be increased/reduced by approximately 30% for triplet and single bearing ewes respectively. The difference between the supplementation rates required at varying silage quality levels shows the importance of accurately determining silage quality. Where silage quality is very poor (60 DMD or lower), supplementation levels required will rise to practically ad lib levels in the final weeks pre lambing. Once feeding levels exceed 0.5kg per head per day, split the feeding routine to twice daily. This week’s sheep pages, page 38 and 39, give information and advice on selecting feeds and formulating high energy/protein rations. Scanning on time and determining the litter size is also central to adequately meeting a ewe’s nutritional requirements. The recommended time to scan is approximately 80 days post ram turnout.
Ram lamb management: Ram lambs and especially those who have carried out high levels of work during the breeding season should be given preferential treatment once the breeding season has finished. Avoid leaving ram lambs to run with ewes long term. In the absence of good quality grass, it is advisable to supplement with 0.3kg to 0.5kg of concentrate until rams have recovered adequate body condition. Remember to carry out necessary health treatments such as worm and fluke treatment.
Finishing store lambs: Mid-season lambing flocks should have the greatest percentage of their lambs drafted for sale (80% plus). Avoid retaining lambs for too long and competing for grass that would be better used for grazing ewes. The store lamb trade remains positive with a good trade in particular for short keep lambs. Can lambs be finished outdoors or brought to a more marketable weight by stepping up feeding levels for a short period? Where putting lambs indoors for intensive finishing remember that the most economical finishing regime is where lambs can be finished after a period of 50 to 60 days. Long term feeding will quickly result in high volumes of concentrates being fed with lowland lambs eating on average 1.2 to 1.4kg per day once eating ad lib meals. Hill lambs will consume from 1kg to 1.4kg concentrates daily depending on weight. Do the sums to establish what the best fit for your farm is.
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Early lambing ewes: Flocks lambing from January onwards are now only six weeks from lambing and as such will have an increasing nutritional requirement. Supplementation rates will be influenced by litter size and the quality of roughage offered. Table 1 details typical supplementation levels for a twin bearing lowland ewe in good condition. Supplementary feeding will need to be introduced about two weeks earlier for triplet bearing ewes and likewise supplementation can be delayed for one to two weeks for single bearing ewes in good body condition. Supplementation rates listed should be increased/reduced by approximately 30% for triplet and single bearing ewes respectively. The difference between the supplementation rates required at varying silage quality levels shows the importance of accurately determining silage quality. Where silage quality is very poor (60 DMD or lower), supplementation levels required will rise to practically ad lib levels in the final weeks pre lambing. Once feeding levels exceed 0.5kg per head per day, split the feeding routine to twice daily. This week’s sheep pages, page 38 and 39, give information and advice on selecting feeds and formulating high energy/protein rations. Scanning on time and determining the litter size is also central to adequately meeting a ewe’s nutritional requirements. The recommended time to scan is approximately 80 days post ram turnout.
Ram lamb management: Ram lambs and especially those who have carried out high levels of work during the breeding season should be given preferential treatment once the breeding season has finished. Avoid leaving ram lambs to run with ewes long term. In the absence of good quality grass, it is advisable to supplement with 0.3kg to 0.5kg of concentrate until rams have recovered adequate body condition. Remember to carry out necessary health treatments such as worm and fluke treatment.
Finishing store lambs: Mid-season lambing flocks should have the greatest percentage of their lambs drafted for sale (80% plus). Avoid retaining lambs for too long and competing for grass that would be better used for grazing ewes. The store lamb trade remains positive with a good trade in particular for short keep lambs. Can lambs be finished outdoors or brought to a more marketable weight by stepping up feeding levels for a short period? Where putting lambs indoors for intensive finishing remember that the most economical finishing regime is where lambs can be finished after a period of 50 to 60 days. Long term feeding will quickly result in high volumes of concentrates being fed with lowland lambs eating on average 1.2 to 1.4kg per day once eating ad lib meals. Hill lambs will consume from 1kg to 1.4kg concentrates daily depending on weight. Do the sums to establish what the best fit for your farm is.
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