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
Infectious
disease
Abortion
Poor nutrition
Stress
Deaths during lambing
Hypothermia (exposure)
Hypothermia (starvation)
Size of lamb
Colostrum
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
Breed
Nutrition
No of
lambs
Total
lamb
weight
(kg)
Blackface
Well fed
2
Blackface Underfed
2
Colostrum Production
(ml)
1 hour
post
lambing
Total after
18 hrs
7.90
715
1805
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 requirements
Growth
Lamb development & birth weight
Carbohydrates
Starch
Protein
Udder development & colostrum
Lamb development & birth weight
Adequate brown fat
Fibre
Healthy rumen function
Vit & Mins
Functional immune system
Forage eg. Silage
Concentrate
27% Dry matter
86% Dry matter
73% moisture
14% Moisture
Meal is concentrated
energy
Feed
(Average)
Spring grass
Clamp silage
Baled silage
Hay
Wheat straw
Dry Matter
Energy
Protein
(%)
(MJ/Kg DM) (% in DM)
20
11.6
18-22
25
10.5
12-14
35
10
12
85
8.8
9.0
85
5.0
4.0
Forages; especially silage must be good quality
Protein ££
Soya bean meal
Rapeseed meal
Peas & Beans
Linseed


Energy ££
Barley
Wheat
Maize gluten
Maize (yellow
meal)
Vegetable/fish oil
Fibre £
Oats
Beet pulp
Citrus pulp
Soya hulls
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
Metabolisable
energy (ME)
(MJ/kg DM)
>12
11.511.8
11.5 10.5
Crude protein
(CP) (%)
>13
11-13
10 – 11
<10
10-12
Dry matter
(DM) (%)
> 30
25 –
30
20 – 25
<20
30-35

Average Poor
High
<10.5 10-12
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)
Average
quality
(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)
Average
quality
(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
1
Wheat straw
0.42
0.49
0.56
0.56
Soya hulls
0.8
0.92
1.1
1.1
Soya bean
0.14
0.16
0.23
0.23
Cost pence/ day
0.23
0.27
0.33
0.33
£/week
1.61
1.89
2.31
2.31
£ for 6 weeks
Straw
Soyabean
Soya Hulls
11.62
£100/tonne
£380/tonne
£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

Total
62 kg



◦ 1kg/day/6 weeks
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

Reduced labour required –remote locations

Useful where moderate lambing % is expected
and little concentrate is fed before lambing

Examine the energy and moisture content

Cost
◦ Crystalyx
◦ Supalyx
£844 per tonne
£755 per tonne

(2014 price)


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