Alternative to Cake

[polk_farmer]

Looking to feed an alternative to cake for the triplets on turnips and the doubles for the last week or so pre lambing, and the time they are housed to lamb, generally a week.

Fed up with ewes going mental over the rustle of a cake bag, and I don't like the pushing and shoving element.

My options are some type of molasses. Or one of the many licks on offer, tempted by the MVF bucket with fish oil. But are the crystallix or rumenco alternatives really worth the extreme prices.

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

I might be wrong but ewes only go mental for cake if they are hungry, as feeding with the snacker they are bloody on top of you when hungry, and not keen on coming for it once they are getting plenty of other food ie grass,
so a bit of haylage or the likes of hay might help, and would be cheaper

 

[Man_in_black]

I might be wrong but ewes only go mental for cake if they are hungry, as feeding with the snacker they are bloody on top of you when hungry, and not keen on coming for it once they are getting plenty of other food ie grass,
so a bit of haylage or the likes of hay might help, and would be cheaper

I'd disagree with that. Mine out on grass, plenty of it too, certainly not hungry, also a lifeline bucket & supalyx. But if need to get hold of one (or my little girl is with me) I use bit of cake as treat, and they do go bloody mental, and for days after that any sign of me, with or without bag and they come tear arse down hill. Fear of mismothering is why I went to buckets.

@polk_farmer I was using the green lid mvf ones. No real complaints other than the ewes demolish them. The lifeline & supalyx lasting much much longer. Lot of it depends how close to their water supply buckets are.

 

[cotswoldcs]

I'm interested in options too. I've got a flock of twins out on grass that are going to be lambing outside in 5 weeks time. They've currently got access to some good (11.2ME) silage and crystalyx. I must admit it feels odd having only lambed indoors before and being used to feeding with the snacker pre-lambing.

I'm paying £17.50 for the 20kg Crystalyx bucket. How do MVF/ Lifeline/ Supalyx buckets compare? @Man_in_black - do you site yours close to or away from water troughs?

 

[Man_in_black]

I'm terms of how they compare, supalyx & lifelines seem to be lasting same amount of time, see more ewes/more regularly around supalyx tub. Mvf much softer but ewes did like them.

@cotswoldcs as silly as it sounds, I guess it depends on bcs & how much you want/need them to eat. I started my multiples on them with 6 weeks to lambing, the buckets right over other side of hill from water trough. I move them everyday anyway to avoid poaching round bucket, so gradually moving them closer to trough each day/week as lamb demands more from ewe. Dunno if I'm doing right but ewes all look good so far, got few friendly ones so easy to bcs and use that as rough idea, fit not fat.

 

[crazy_bull]

I just ordered 22.5kg blocks Super Energy & fish oil at £10.64 each and high mag feed blocks again 22.5kg at £10.10 each, these are MVF.

C B

 

[spin cycle]

big problem with blocks/buckets is how do you know they're all eating them?....at least if you feed conc you can spot ones not feeding for some reason?...buy cricket pads

 

[Man_in_black]

big problem with blocks/buckets is how do you know they're all eating them?....at least if you feed conc you can spot ones not feeding for some reason?...buy cricket pads

Yeah, true ya don't. Just have to keep tight eye on them, look for any noticeably worse off than others, catch her up and ask her why. Guess for brokers then rock hard buckets ain't gonna be much use either.

 

[Wbarker96]

big problem with blocks/buckets is how do you know they're all eating them?....at least if you feed conc you can spot ones not feeding for some reason?...buy cricket pads

You can spot the ones not feeding then what? Suerly just means you know there not eating. No benefit over a bucket just you dont know about it. If there not going to eat what can you do about it?

 

[Thick Farmer]

Biscuits?

 

[neilo]

Yeah, true ya don't. Just have to keep tight eye on them, look for any noticeably worse off than others, catch her up and ask her why. Guess for brokers then rock hard buckets ain't gonna be much use either.

If you've got 'brokers', I'd go for liquid feed every time. Don't need teeth to do well on that.

 

[cooksey]

what about fodder beet? or would people not agree with feeding it and silage in stead of cake i know its hard on teeth but so are feed blocks.

 

[neilo]

what about fodder beet? or would people not agree with feeding it and silage in stead of cake i know its hard on teeth but so are feed blocks.

Fodder beet is a great energy source and a bulk feed to replace fodder, but very low in protein. It needs a high protein feed alongside it.

 

[Man_in_black]

You can spot the ones not feeding then what? Suerly just means you know there not eating. No benefit over a bucket just you dont know about it. If there not going to eat what can you do about it?

Find out why, have a look in mouth/check teeth etc. Might be something obvious that once sorted means you've got another healthy profitable ewe, rather than leaving get an animal to carry on suffering & hungry.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

I'm paying £17.50 for the 20kg Crystalyx bucket. How do MVF/ Lifeline/ Supalyx buckets compare? @Man_in_black - do you site yours close to or away from water troughs?

Is that for the Wynnstay labelled ones? Are all the crystallix little buckets now 20kg ? Or have Wynnstay seen it as a way of sounding cheaper. Feel I've been had a little as I was quoted a price for little buckets (£17.50 as above) and presumed (not sure but even thought rep quoted for) 22.5kg buckets.

 

[Wbarker96]

Find out why, have a look in mouth/check teeth etc. Might be something obvious that once sorted means you've got another healthy profitable ewe, rather than leaving get an animal to carry on suffering & hungry.

I can see what you mean but if you mouth your ewes before tupping then its not likely to be a promblem

 

[taff]

Is anyone actually using blocks,tubs or whatever as a complete alternative to cake when feeding more intensive lowland inside lambing ewes I know alot use them as well but don't know anyone who isn't using cake at all?

 

[GTB]

Is anyone actually using blocks,tubs or whatever as a complete alternative to cake when feeding more intensive lowland inside lambing ewes I know alot use them as well but don't know anyone who isn't using cake at all?

Too expensive. Cake is cheaper for housed ewes.

 

[90hp farming]

I can see what you mean but if you mouth your ewes before tupping then its not likely to be a promblem

no cake here for 5 years, but they do have access to £750/tonne buckets all year round. My theory is if the buckets are always there is never a need to gorge. 400 ewes just finishing a pallet since September, so just over £2 / head. I know its been a lovely open winter and they will eat twice that plus if cold and snowy.
in lead up to lambing, Lucerne silage for protein, fodder beet for energy and hay to regulate intake. all outside. transfer to good fresh grass week or ten days before first lamb.

 

[Man_in_black]

Is anyone actually using blocks,tubs or whatever as a complete alternative to cake when feeding more intensive lowland inside lambing ewes I know alot use them as well but don't know anyone who isn't using cake at all?

Mine aren't having any cake until after lambing. Drifting lambed ewes into fresh paddock after 24 hours & then they'll have free access to lifeline and twice daily cake.