Greythundercloudys
Member
Do these buckets make any difference or just marketing ploy.
Lifeline buckets?
- Thread starter Greythundercloudys
- Start date
I swear by them used at the right time but who knows. Bloody good marketing ploy as most farmers used tubs of some sort. I have a couple of old neighbours who dont use any tubs, vaccinate for nothing, use cheap basic wormer once a year and only offer rock salt. They seem to have less problems with the sucklers than me and im doing all the "correct" things.
I know another old timer who lambs ewes on tubs and oats who makes a mockery of most local young go getters with all the ewe nuts and drenches etc.
I know another old timer who lambs ewes on tubs and oats who makes a mockery of most local young go getters with all the ewe nuts and drenches etc.
Always used to use buckets when lambing indoors, but tempted to go with none this year (we now lamb outside)....may bottle it in the last few weeks and buy some for triplets and those in poor nick.
Not sure about lifeline vs other buckets. As far as I can tell, crystalyx, maxx and optilix are all very similar.
Vs those brands, I don't think Lifeline has any urea, and is made softer so should have higher intakes around lambing time....however, I've left one out with the rams as they came back from tupping in back nick. Intake has been ridiculously low and barely touched it (despite having very poor forage in front of them). I think someone else on here made similar comments about lifeline recently.
I'm not sure if lifeline has any mag?
Ive had identical rehearsed comments from both internal and external sales reps about how lifeline made "easy, slippery lambs" vs other brands....obviously with little to back it up other than anecdotes
Not sure about lifeline vs other buckets. As far as I can tell, crystalyx, maxx and optilix are all very similar.
Vs those brands, I don't think Lifeline has any urea, and is made softer so should have higher intakes around lambing time....however, I've left one out with the rams as they came back from tupping in back nick. Intake has been ridiculously low and barely touched it (despite having very poor forage in front of them). I think someone else on here made similar comments about lifeline recently.
I'm not sure if lifeline has any mag?
Ive had identical rehearsed comments from both internal and external sales reps about how lifeline made "easy, slippery lambs" vs other brands....obviously with little to back it up other than anecdotes
beardface
Member
- Location
- East Yorkshire
I chuck one out in each lambing paddock over lambing. Find if grass is doing well they barely touch them, so one bucket often lasts until end of lambing. Find it gives milk a boost.
Woolless
Member
- Location
- Berwickshire, Scottish Borders
I've used them previously and found them good but they are expensive and you get more bang for you buck using the money to buy ewe rolls. The plan this year is for twins and triplets to go on a pre-lambing grazing rotation, singles left on sacrifice field. Might buy a few buckets for them to save getting the snacker out.
Shows you how good fodder beet is,
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
I've gone the other way - used to just give the singles Hi energy buckets but I've scrapped it and feeding them with the snacker as it's considerably cheaper... only giving them about 1/3lb as it's all they need.
I did the maths 2 winters ago, before everything really started increasing in price!
1st time using it and ewes are fit just thought a bit of protein would benefit them
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Lifeline buckets are good but remember they are NOT a lick like Crystalix or the Rumenco/Dowland extra high energy buckets - they are FEED buckets, so they are by design softer with intended higher intakes.
You might need them/see a benefit, or you might not - it really depends what the ewes are grazing and what other feeding you're giving them - not all pellets/rolls/feed is equal and paying more for concentrates simply is not a guage to any level of quality or feed value!!
You might need them/see a benefit, or you might not - it really depends what the ewes are grazing and what other feeding you're giving them - not all pellets/rolls/feed is equal and paying more for concentrates simply is not a guage to any level of quality or feed value!!
Skintagain
Member
- Location
- Perched on the Pennines
Me too no tubs or buckets at all just started caking ewes at 5 weeks out. They had a small maxx bucket in each batch for tupping as I had a few left over from last year just to give a decent scan as I was worried. Gone cold turkey on tubs and blocks now as they have gone into orbit price wise
Skintagain
Member
- Location
- Perched on the Pennines
Has the grass greened up to them in last fortnight? Surprising how it lifts them off the beet and hay
I think I've got a pretty good grass wedge in front of them, so not worried about protein. Do people think there is a good argument that they still need 'energy' to balance out the protein in twin bearing ewes (i.e. from a lick), or is that a bit of feed sales nonsense?
Skintagain
Member
- Location
- Perched on the Pennines
Some ewes will manage some wont
Woolless
Member
- Location
- Berwickshire, Scottish Borders
Yes, I did the same sums. This is just a time saving ploy, although they might be in with weaned calves who would need fed anyway.
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
That's the thing - buckets/blocks you are paying for convenience.
- Location
- Ardrossan Ayrshire
The benefits of a low stocking rate maybe?