Feed requirements Feed requirements of livestockof livestockDairy, Beef, Sheep and DeerDairy, Beef, Sheep and Deer

Working Out How Much Working Out How Much to Feed Livestockto Feed Livestock

For optimum production of meat, wool For optimum production of meat, wool and milk farmers need to ensure they:and milk farmers need to ensure they:

are feeding their animals properly and are feeding their animals properly and know how much feed they have at know how much feed they have at

various times of the year.various times of the year.

Grazing animals require:Grazing animals require:

MaintenanceMaintenance - a minimum amount of - a minimum amount of feed each day to maintain their body feed each day to maintain their body weight. weight.

Production - Production - additional feed for growth, additional feed for growth, milk, wool growth.milk, wool growth.

Minimum daily pasture Minimum daily pasture requirements sheeprequirements sheep

MaintenanceMaintenance

ProductionProduction Lambs - Lambs - 0.8kg DM0.8kg DM 1.2 kg DM 1.2 kg DM

(100g daily gain)(100g daily gain) EwesEwes 0.9 kg DM0.9 kg DM 2.5 kg 2.5 kg

DM (lactation)DM (lactation) EwesEwes 1.3 kg DM 1.3 kg DM (Late pregnancy)(Late pregnancy)

Recommended Minimum Pasture Recommended Minimum Pasture

Length and Feed IntakesLength and Feed Intakes

PasturePasture PasturePasture Feed IntakeFeed Intake Length (cm)Length (cm) DM (kg/ha)DM (kg/ha) (kg DM/day)(kg DM/day) EwesEwes Pre-lambPre-lamb 2-32-3 600-800600-800 1.31.3 With lambsWith lambs 4-54-5 1400-16001400-1600 1.81.8 Post weaning 1-2Post weaning 1-2 900-1000900-1000 1.0 1.0

(maintenance) (maintenance) LambsLambs WeanedWeaned 3-43-4 1200-14001200-1400 1.41.4

Daily Feed Requirements Daily Feed Requirements (DM/day)(DM/day)

AnimalAnimal MaintenanceMaintenance GrowthGrowth GestationGestation LactationLactation

Dairy Dairy cattlecattle

66 Heifers- Heifers- 66

99 1515

BeefBeef

CattleCattle

55 88 99 8.58.5

SheepSheep 11 Lambs – Lambs – 1.51.5

1.251.25 2.752.75

Red Red DeerDeer

2.52.5 33 2.72.7 4.54.5