Feed ration for hopefully bred ewes

[Wollett]

Ewes have made it back from the boyfriend visit, I am giving them 1/2 bale for the three ewes we have plus a pound each of grain. If I understand correctly will this get me to lambing time then do we increase the grain and how much. I have a better(greener) bale that I'm saving for after lambing also. Any advice greatly appreciated. Also we have a open sheep mineral available do the need salt as well or is the mineral enough. Thx Steve


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[Maxpowers]

We talking half a 50lb bale per day? Plus the grain would be roughly 9lbs per day. That's quite a bit.

If you google it you can find all sort of information out there. Some gets pretty complex, this link makes it kind of simple http://www.sheep101.info/201/nutritionreq.html

Here's another simple plan http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles...uidelines.html

None of these are exact, your results will always vary but should give you a good start.

[Callieslamb]

what kind of sheep? My small finns don't need a pound each a day even through pregnancy and nursing. Larger sheep might. I go by the condition of my sheep. If they start to get thin, I add feed. If they start to get fat, I remove some.

[J.T.M.]

save your grain for the last 4 - 6 wks. Even mediocre hay is good enough at this point ...

[Wollett]

thx for the feedback


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[Wollett]

Beginner question do you literally weigh out the hay? Even though the act like they are starving ween them slowly of the grain for now?


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[Two Tracks]

Hi, What type of sheep are they? my 150-200 lb ewes get each 1 flake in morning, one flake evening of good green grass/alfalfa hay...plus I add 1 extra flake every 6 ewes, no grain till last month of pregnancy, then it's a gradual build up till 1 lb of mix (oats, corn, soymeal, dried stock molasses)

Don't make them fat, it will make things hard on them come lambing, I learned that the hard way my second year!

[Wollett]

We have two Dorset and one Hampshire sulfok mix. Trying to score them is difficult due to not having any reference beside pictures.


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[dlskidmore]

Don't score by pictures/eye. Get your fingers under the wool and feel the bones. You should be able to feel the transverse process, but not get your fingers between them. Get a score chart to take to the barn if you want to be more precise.

[dlskidmore]

Here is a tutorial on condition scoring: http://www.lifetimewool.com.au/conditionscore.aspx

[Wollett]

Great advice and links this a great community and support thank you all!!


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