Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Grains
Whole grains are better for sheep than crushed grain. For instance, rolled oats
have so much dust that they can cause excessive sneezing, leading to prolapse
in heavily pregnant ewes and breathing problems in lambs. Unprocessed corn
and wheat still contain the valuable germ, or embryo, that's located within
the grain kernel and is typically removed during milling. This germ is rich in
vitamin E — a vitamin that helps ewes protect their lambs from white muscle
disease (more about this in chapter 8).
Whole grains, fed with hay, promote a healthy rumen, where the feed
gives better conversion to growth. On the other hand, a diet consisting mainly
of pelleted or fi nely ground feed causes the rumen to become infl amed.
Key:
hay or pasture
grain
handful of grain
EARLY LACTATION,
SINGLE LAMB
EARLY LACTATION,
TWINS
LATE LACTATION,
SINGLE LAMB
LATE LACTATION,
TWINS
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