Feeds and Feeding - Raising Sheep - page 180

Any kind of abrupt change of diet will disturb the rumen, and that type
of disturbance not only causes acute problems, like bloat, but can also cause
chronic problems. Sudden changes interfere with the synthesis of A and B
vitamins. Vitamin A in particular acts as an anti-infection vitamin. Insuffi cient
vitamin B results in lack of appetite, emaciation, and weakness.
Guidelines for Feed Changes
A good rule of thumb is to make any changes to a feed program no quicker
than 10 percent per day. If you're purchasing new sheep, try to fi nd out what
kind of feed they were eating before you get them home so you can slowly
switch them to your own program.
Feeding and Stage of Production
Nutrient needs vary according to an animal's stage of production. During
maintenance phases, animals require the least number of calories relative to
their body weight. During reproduction or growth, requirements are higher.
Ewes: Maintenance, prebreeding (see Flushing on page 272), early gesta-
tion, late gestation, early lactation (adjusted according to single, twin, triplet,
or litter births), and late lactation (also adjusted to number of lambs).
Lambs: Birth through weaning, weanling to fi nishing, fi nishing for feeder
or replacement.
Rams: Maintenance, prebreeding, breeding.
Feeding Program
Assuming you have good-quality pasture or high-quality hay, the following
general guidelines are appropriate. If your pasture or hay is of lesser quality,
you may need to feed a little more grain than the amounts specifi ed below. If
the reproductive cycle is timed to the peak of high-quality grass production
in the spring, you'll need little if any supplemental grain for lactation. If you
plan to lamb in the winter, though, you'll defi nitely want to follow the pre-
breeding guidelines.
1. Seventeen days before turning the ram in with the ewes, give up to
½ pound (0.23 kg) of grain per ewe, starting gradually for the fi rst few
days. This is called fl ushing, and it increases ovulation.
2. The ram should start receiving up to ½ pound of grain also, but you can
wait until about a week before he's turned in to begin supplementation.
After breeding season, begin reducing his feed until he's back to just hay
or pasture.