Feeding for High Production
and Profit
Dan Morrical
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa
Nutrient Requirements
Reading
Stage of
Production
Maintenance
Body
Daily
weight gain or
lb
loss
125
0.02
150
0.02
175
0.02
200
0.02
225
0.02
Dry Matter
Intake
lb
% BW
2.3
1.8%
2.6
1.7%
2.9
1.7%
3.2
1.6%
3.5
1.6%
those charts
Energy
TDN
ME
lb
Mcal
1.26
2.07
1.45
2.38
1.62
2.66
1.79
2.94
1.96
3.21
Crude
CalPhosProtein cium phorous
lb
grams grams
0.22
2.3
2.3
0.25
2.6
2.4
0.28
2.9
2.7
0.31
3.2
3.0
0.33
3.5
3.2
Vit.
A IU
2800
3210
3610
3990
4360
Vit.
E IU
18
19
20
21
22
Nutrient Requirements

Using those charts

ex. 175 ewe 1.62 TDN and .28 CP

Alfalfa 50% TDN

3.2 X 16%CP = .51 lbs. of CP

MCS 19
1.62/.5 = 3.2 lbs.
Stages of Production
 Maintenance
weaning
until 14 days pre-breeding
 Flushing/Breeding
2
weeks pre-breeding till end of breeding
(49 days or more)
 Early/mid
gestation
Completion
of breeding until 4 weeks pre-lambing
(83 days or more)
Stages of Production
 Late
gestation
singles
2 weeks
twins 3-4 weeks
triplets 4-6 weeks
 Early
42
 Late
21
lactation
days
lactation
days
 Weaning
7
days
ration
Concerns During Early Mid Gestation

21 days of severe underfeeding

80 days of moderate underfeeding

Both result in smaller placenta leading to
reduced birthweights
Mid Gestation Nutrition Goals



Maintain condition - mature ewes
Yearlings and two year olds - increase condition
 Higher incidence of fetal loss in young ewes.
Specific nutrients
 Protein maybe
Other
species - protein deficiency severely impacts
placental size more than energy

Crop aftermath grazing - ?? protein
Recommendations for LG Feeding

Alfalfa hay based diets
 Corn
or other economical energy sources
 Guideline - 1 LB. concentrate per fetus

Limit roughage intake
 Mature
ewes with 3 fetus or more
 All ewe lambs


Low quality roughage as base ration require both
protein and energy supplementation
Low energy diets with poor roughage's may respond
to escape protein - MLC, 1983
Real Time Ultrasound Technology
 Opportunity
to fine tune the greatest unknown
of sheep production
which is ????
Australia Experiment
No. of Fetuses
0
1
2
3
4
Total Scans
Exp. 1
268
1276
1115
44
4
100
99.1
79.9
*20 of 21 classed as 2
** All classed as 3
Exp. 2
100
98.1
96.9
52.3*
0**
Feeding by Fetal Number
Objective

Control feed resource allocation

Modify birthweights
 smaller singles
 larger multiples
Increase
lamb vigor, survival and growth
Late Gestation
Secretory tissue development occurs.
Larger placenta  more placenta lactogen.
Ewes with multiples have larger
placenta weight.
Consequences of Underfeeding






Weak, small lambs with high mortality
Reduced colostrum quality and quantity
Retarded weight gain both pre & post weaning
Reduced peak milk yield and less total production
Decreased re-breeding success
Reduced wool production via fewer secondary follicles
Consequences of Overfeeding

Thin wallets

Fat ewes

Upper limit on birthweight
Lactation Nutrition
Highest nutrient requirement
 May be 50% of winter feed bill
 Tremendous intake potential

 self
feed big packages
Factors Which Affect Milk Production

Lactation Diet Energy Status

Lactation Diet Protein Status
Late Gestation Nutrition - precaution
Ewe Fatness or Condition
Prolificacy



Must Determine Yield Levels
One pound of lamb gain requires
4-5 pounds of ewe’s milk
Separate Ewes in to Production Groups
Example: singles Vs twins Vs triplets
Milk Production Relative to Body Fatness
7.5
4. 37 lb TDN
7
Max. Milk
Yield
lbs/day
6.5
6
2. 92 lb TDN
5.5
5
4.5
4
11
22
33
Fat in Body (lbs.)
44
Energy and Protein Vs. Yield
M
i
l
k
Y
i
e
l
d
8
1.86 TDN
7
2.35 TDN
1.28 TDN
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
.37
.52
.66
.83
.83
Protein Intake
.93
.93
1.10
Milk Yield Results from Additional
Protein
Protein Source
Urea .29
Protein Added
.18 lbs.
.44 lbs.
0
Nutmeal
.88
0
Soybean Meal
.88
0
Meat & Bone Meal
.88
0
Linseed Meal
1.32
0
Fish Meal
1.32
.55
Blood Meal
1.32
.74
145 lb. ewes rearing twins fed base diet 2.67 TDN 11.6% CP
Gonzalez et al. 1982
Value of Protein Sources for UIP
% CP
Grass Pasture
% Escape
Escape
Protein
Conc. %
6-20
10
2
Alfalfa Hay
16-24
15
2.7
Dehydrated Alfalfa
16-18
20
3.4
SBM 44, Solvent
44
25
11
SBM 44, Expeller
43
50
21.5
CGM
60
40
24
Blood Meal
85
80
68
Fish Meal
60
40-80
24-48
Efficiency of Fat Mobilization for Milk

Protein Deficient diet 50%

Adequate protein80%
Protein: Energy Relationship
 Inverse Relationship
 Less Energy Intake  More
Protein (UIP) to balance fat
mobilization.
 Minimum protein per level of
energy Intake.
 Minimal level increases with
increased yield.
 Protein above minimum will 
milk production if genetic
potential is not met.
Protein: Energy Relationship
 Minimal level increases with
increased yield.
 Protein above minimum will 
milk production if genetic
potential is not met.
Do My Ewes Need Escape
Protein?
Under weight loss - response will be
seen within 3 days.
No weight loss - response more
persistent yield.
Rules for Maximum Milk Yield

Must feed adequate energy to prevent
weight loss.

Otherwise ewes cannot express genetic
potential.
Requirements per Pound of Milk

Above Maintenance
Energy = .46 lbs TDN
Protein = .11 lbs CP
Mastitis Control

Start drying up before weaning
 feed
low protein and energy feed
5-10
 feed
days pre-weaning
low protein and energy feed
3-5
 wean
days post-weaning
cold turkey
Feeding Ewes
Requires balance between
Feed Costs
and
Meeting Requirements
Feed Costs
Know requirements
Use condition scoring
Test hays
Buy feeds on nutrient cost basis
Control waste
Extend grazing season by
improved management
Example Corn Vs Hay
Corn serves as the Standard energy source
$3.64/ bu / 56 = $.065 per pound
$.065 / 77% TDN = $.084 per pound TDN
Hay is worth:
2000 pound X 50% TDN = 1000 lb TDN
1000 X $.84 = $84 / ton
assumes no waste
Summary
All phases of production are important
One can not starve or feed a profit
Correctly feeding the flock requires more
than one pen
Lactation takes both protein
and energy
Ewes on accelerated systems
cannot lose much condition