Feeding Lambs
Adding weight to lambs is the value added
portion of most sheep operations.
Goal is to do it as cheap as possible.
DGM:ISU
Overview
Nutrient Requirements
How to Feed
What to Feed
Nutritional Disorders

DGM:ISU
Phases of Lamb Feeding
Pre-weaning
0-3 weeks
3 weeks - weaning
Post-weaning
Marketing Goals
Feed Resources
Facilities

DGM:ISU
0-3 weeks phase

Milk is the only source of nutrients
ewes in condition for milking
healthy udders
frequent observation for starve outs
DGM:ISU
3 weeks to weaning phase

Get lambs started on creep
palatable and fresh
corn, SBM, hay, molasses
creep
environment
nicest place in the barn
multiple
entrances
DGM:ISU
Rumen Development
Fully functional at 6-8 weeks of age
Before hay is of less value than for ewes
Lambs learn from mom’s to eat
Hay is effective in the creep
Rumen development starts as soon as
lambs begin eating.

DGM:ISU
Stages of rumen development
from The Ruminant Animal Digestive Physiology and Nutrition, Church
birth
6 weeks
2 weeks
4 weeks
8 weeks
Market lamb
Weaning Stress
Remove ewes and leave lambs
ideally out of sight and hearing
Do not change ration at weaning
Maintain same groupings
ie keep sibs together
Minimum interruptions

DGM:ISU
Post Weaning Decisions
How to feed
self-feeder or hand fed
What diet to feed
gain desired
relative costs
equipment to mix and handle
what form
Nutrient requirement

DGM:ISU
Self-feeder
•
•
•
•
•
Less labor
Lower cost for feeders
Equipment for filling
Sorting
Lamb observation
vs
•
•
•
•
•
hand fed
Control intake
Lamb observation
Use roughage
Stricter schedule
More bunk space
• 6-10 in /hd
DGM:ISU
What diet to feed?
Gain desired
targeted marketing date
maximum gain most efficient
Ex. 50 pound lamb
2.5 intake = gain .64 & FE of 3.9
2.0 intake = gain .46 & FE of 4.3

DGM:ISU
Comparison Shopping
Ration cost has the biggest single
effect on cost of gain
Currently ration costs should be
< $.17 per pound
Compare on cost of gain basis not cost
per pound of ration

DGM:ISU
Example Corn vs Oats
Corn serves as the Standard energy source
$7.28 / bu / 56 lb/bu = $.13 per pound
$.13 / .77 lb TDN/ lb corn= $.169 per lb TDN
Oats are worth:
32 pound bu X 68% TDN = 21.8 lb TDN
21.8 X $.169 = $3.68/bu
Standard Ration

Whole corn : pelleted protein supplement
superior FE
10-20% less feed
less processing cost
customized
downfall sorting
DGM:ISU
Feed form and Intake Level
on performance and carcass
Hamp Targee cross
ADG*
Feed Conversion
Dress %
BF
REA*
Fluharty etal.
Whole Corn
.76
4.25
52.6
Pelleted Corn
.59
4.81
53.0
.27
2.47
.23
2.70
1999
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Nutrient Requirements

Affected by:
Weight
Sex
Genetics
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Important Nutrients
Energy and Protein
Calcium
Phosphorous
H 2O
Selenium
Vitamin E
Frame Size, Growth
and Carcass Traits
Texas Rambouillet Wethers
Gain on Wheat Past.
Gain feedlot
Feed conversion
Feed cost of gain/cwt
Feed cost per head
Small
.14
.60
6.06
$36.36
$18.18
Medium
.15
.72
5.67
$34.02
$17.01
Large
.14
.73
5.88
$35.28
$17.64
Nichols etal. 1992
DGM:ISU
Why do Feed companies
Market Feeds by protein content?
DGM:ISU
Using the Information
Sort lambs by weight groups
Sort lambs by sex and/or growth potential
Adjust protein concentration frequently
(every 3 weeks or less)
Market lambs when ready
how do you know

How do you know what weight
lambs should be ready?
65 % of average weight of dams on
the dam and sire side.
Example:
Polypay ewe bred to Suffolk ram
(175 + 250) / 2 = 212.5
212.5 X 65% = 138 lbs
expected wt when lamb has .15 in. back fat
Cost of gain
Ration cost per ton
 Feed Conversion
genetics
death loss and over all health
waste
Average daily gain
Timely marketing

Nutritional Disorders
•Enterotoxemia/overeating
•poor vaccination program or bunk management
•White muscle
•inadequate Vitamin e or selenium intake
•Polioencephalomacia/thiamine deficiency
•screwed up rumen
•Coccidiosis
DGM:ISU
Additives
• Coccidiosis
• Bovatec
30 grams per ton
or
• Decox
22.7mg/100lb
about 10 grams / ton
• Enterotoxemia
• chloratetracycline
20-50 grams/ton
or
• oxytetracycline
10-20 grams per ton
Ralgro implants, 12 mg
Note: one can not legally feed Bovatec and antibiotics together
DGM:ISU
Summary
•Lamb feeding is common sense
•Nutrient requirements change
so should the ration
•Goal is to produce cheap gains
•Lamb finishing is the value added
portion of the sheep industry
DGM:ISU