How much grain to supplement bred Katahdin ewes?

FarmerJeff · #1 01/31/10, 09:07 AM

Hi, we are in the initial stages of developing a Katahdin flock on our farm. We have raised a LOT of pigs on pasture, but are new to ruminants. We have 8 two-year old ewes that are due to lamb shortly. We have been feeding 95% good grass hay all winter (timothy, orchard grass, brome and white clover). Everyone keeps telling me that I am crazy to not be feeding grain.

We have been giving the ewes a small amount of Shepherd 16 as a treat and as a booster before very cold nights (1/2 pound each). The ewes are indoors, comingle, and are bedded on a deep pack system. We are trying for, ideally, a 100% grass-fed situation, but I don't want to be foolish and jeopardize the ewes or the lambs because I am being stubborn.

Thoughts and suggestions, please? Thank you for reading.

ErbcroftFarms · #2 01/31/10, 09:53 AM

They should be getting at least a pound a day before lambing, with a supplement mixed with grain so they are getting some vitamins before lambing. At least that is what we do. They may be fine on just the hay, but you might have to play catch up after they deliver if she has multiples as in the first month or so, the lambs will take a lot out of her and deplete her fat supplies quickly.

We have just been in it a year and were not feeding enough in the pre-lambing stage and are trying hard now to play catch up.

thequeensblessing · #3 01/31/10, 11:27 AM

We feed ours 1/2 lb of pelleted sheep feed per day while pregnant, and up that 1 lb a day while nursing. They also get a loose sheep mineral, and all the good grass/legume hay they can consume.

backachersfarm · #4 01/31/10, 12:18 PM

Our animals are mostly grass fed. We only feed grain a couple of weeks before we put the rams with them and a couple of weeks before they start lambing. We don't use any processed feeds so we mix our own grains. We feed about 1/2 lb per lamb they deliver after lambing is over. If you feed them too much food they will have such large lambs you will have more lambing troubles, on the other hand...if they don't get enough you will have milking problems