Animal feed requirements
The animal feed requirements in the following tables assume that they are being grazed
on relatively easy country, in a moderate climate and with water in close proximity. If
they are being grazed on harder country e.g. steeper, colder country, which will have less
subdivision, feed requirements will increase. If they are on intensive well subdivided
properties that involve less walking, etc , feed requirements will decrease.
Feed requirements for different classes of stock are easily compared using the stock unit
system. The stock unit (s.u.) conversion relates the energy requirements of various
classes of stock to the requirements of one 55kg breeding ewe producing one lamb per
year.
One stock unit requires 1kg DM/ day for maintenance.
Stock Unit table
Sheep
SU
Breeding ewe
Hogget
Ram Hogget
Ram
1.0
0.7
1.0
0.8
Cattle
Calf
Rising 1 yr heifer
Rising 2 yr heifer
Breeding cow
Rising 1 yr steer
Rising 2 yr Steer
Rising 3 yr steer
Bull
Dairy cow (Jersey)
Dairy cow (Friesian)
2.0
3.5
4.5
6.0
4.0
5.0
5.5
5.5
7.5
8.5
1
Feeding requirements of sheep for optimum production
1. Flushing – The increased feeding of ewes at tupping/mating.
Every 1 kg of liveweight gain of ewes at tupping/mating should result in
approximately 3% more lambs weaned. Ideally ewes should be ‘flushed’, with a
feeding level of 1.5 times maintenance, three weeks prior to the introduction of the
ram, through to one week after the withdrawal of the ram. At this feeding level the
ewes should gain approximately 1kg every 10 days.
Initial Ewe Liveweight
45kg
Kg DM/head/day
1.20 to 1.28
55kg
1.35 to1.5
2. Early to mid pregnancy, (2-3 months before lambing) foetal lamb(s) have little
effect on ewe feed requirements. Ewes are typically fed maintenance providing
they are at the required liveweight.
Ewe liveweight
45kg
3 mths before lambing
0.89-0.90 kg DM/day
2 mths before lambing
0.90 –0.95kg DM/day
55kg
0.95 –1.05
1.0 –1.10
65kg
1.10 –1.20
1.15 –1.25
3. Late winter/ start of lambing, During the last 6-8 weeks of pregnancy, the
growth of the foetal lamb(s) place extra requirements on the ewes feed
requirements. If the extra feed requirements are not met, the ewes body reserves
are used to provide for the foetus and there is the risk of pregnancy toxemia
(sleepy sickness) and hypocalcaemia (milk fever).
Ewe liveweight
55 kg
1 mth before
lambing
1.05 –1.10 kg
DM/day
1.15 –1.25
2 wks before
lambing
1.15-1.20 kg
DM/day
1.25-1.35
1.30-1.35kg DM /
day
1.40-1.50
65 kg
1.30 –1.40
1.40-1.50
1.55-1.65
45 kg
Start of lambing
Twin bearing ewes require 20 to 25% more feed
After the ewe has lambed feed three times her normal maintenance, e.g. a 55 kg ewe with
one lamb will require 3 kg DM per day up to weaning.
2
4. Lambs – feed requirements (kg DM /head/day)
Initial
Liveweight
Growth/Liveweight Gain (g/ day)
20kg
0 gain
0.55-0.6kg
100g
0.85kg
150g
1.0kg
200g
1.15kg
300g
1.4kg
30kg
0.75-0.80kg
1.2kg
1.35kg
1.55kg
1.9kg
40kg
0.95-1.0kg
1.45kg
1.7kg
1.9kg
2.35kg
5. Daily feed requirements of young growing beef Steers.(kgDM/head/day)
Initial
Nil gain 0.25kg/day 0.50
0.75
1.0
Liveweight
gain
(kg)
100
2.0 kg
2.4 kg
2.8 kg
3.2 kg
3.7 kg
DM/Day DM/day
DM/day DM/day DM/day
150
2.5
3.0
3.6
4.2
4.8
1.25
1.5
4.1 kg
4.6 kg
DM/day DM/day
5.3
5.9
200
3.0
3.7
4.4
5.1
5.8
6.5
7.2
250
3.5
4.3
5.1
5.9
6.7
7.6
8.5
300
4.0
4.9
5.8
6.7
7.7
8.7
9.7
350
4.4
5.5
6.5
7.5
8.6
9.7
10.8
400
4.8
6.0
7.1
8.3
9.5
10.7
11.9
450
5.3
6.5
7.8
9.1
10.4
11.7
13.0
500
5.7
7.0
8.4
9.8
11.2
12.6
14.0
For heifers add 5% to the above table
For bulls deduct 5% from the above table
3
6. Feed requirements for dairy cows
Cow
Liveweight
370 kg (J)
1.7 kg M.S.
(18-25 litres of
milk)
15 kg DM/day
470 kg (F)
17kg DM/day
1.4 kg M.S.
(15-20 litres)
1.0 kg M.S.
(11-15 litres)
0.7 kg M.S.
(7-10 litres)
13
11
9
15
12
10
4