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