Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Although feeding at an expected time is important for all sheep, for preg-
nant ewes it also makes a difference what time you feed. In some university
trials, regular feeding of ewes at around 10 a.m. helped reduce the incidence
of night-to-early-dawn lambing. Other recent tests suggest that late-afternoon
feeding is better; shift to even later times as lambing approaches. Both feed-
ing schedules concentrated lambing into primarily daylight hours.
Types of Feed
Although pasture should be a primary feed source, grains, hay, and a vari-
ety of vegetables can also be put to good use. Remember, though, no sudden
changes in diet — an abrupt change can paralyze a sheep's digestive system
and cause death from acidosis, an impacted rumen, enterotoxemia, or bloat.
FEED VALUES AND GROWTH STAGES
Feed values vary based on stage of growth. Hay or pasture is the
best “base” feed, and grain mixtures can be used to adjust an
animal's diet as needs change. The symbols shown below are used
to show relative scale.
MAINTENANCE
INTAKE
FLUSHING AND
PRE-BREEDING
FIRST 15 WEEKS
OF GESTATION
LAST 6 WEEKS
OF GESTATION
Ewe
Ram
Lamb
 
 
 
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