Ewe rolls or rolled barley?

[Jdunn55]

I've got the opportunity to have rolled barley at £170/t + delivery (we could collect though for very little expense). I can get an analysis done too to work out energy from it. We lamb from late january until the end of february so need to be thinking about ordering either the barley or some ewe rolls now.

Will the barley do the job? Or am I better off paying the extra to have the ewe rolls? He can also add molasses (extra cost) to the barley to up the protein to 16% but from my understanding it's the energy that's required rather than protein due to the ewes dmi decreasing and therefore not eating enough to get the energy intake leading to things like twin lamb disease and poor colostrum etc?

Thanks

 

[spin cycle]

first up don't use rolled barley....get it whole otherwise you'll risk acidosis

 

[Jdunn55]

first up don't use rolled barley....get it whole otherwise you'll risk acidosis

Glad I asked! Hes also just said hes got rolled oats but I'm guessing that's the same story?

Can you feed un-milled corn to sheep then?
We only got them last year and fed ewe rolls but it's fairly expensive so looking at ways to cut costs a bit. But having said that I'd rather get nutrition right rather than have issues ag lambing with colostrum etc

 

[dinderleat]

Easier to just buy the ewe rolls if you only need a couple tn never worth the hassle

 

[Al R]

How many sheep will be fed?
I’ve got away for years just feeding whole barley and oats 50/50. If I’m feeling generous to triplets they may get some ewe nuts but only up to 10% of their feed.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Rolled barley at £170, has he given you your pants back yet

 

[Jdunn55]

Rolled barley at £170, has he given you your pants back yet

Standard price down here. You wont find it cheaper unless you do bulk which might knock £10-20 off if I bought it from him regularly. Remember I'm down in south west cornwall. People down here dont grow corn.

 

[Jdunn55]

How many sheep will be fed?
I’ve got away for years just feeding whole barley and oats 50/50. If I’m feeling generous to triplets they may get some ewe nuts but only up to 10% of their feed.

About 100 ewes, possibly a few more but roughly that

 

[Bury the Trash]

About 100 ewes, possibly a few more but roughly that

Dont forget compounded In the nuts there should be other things that will help digestion also vits and mins and bits in the correct proportions
Simpler and safer to feed.

 

[Jdunn55]

Dont forget compounded In the nuts there should be other things that will help digestion also vits and mins and bits in the correct proportions
Simpler and safer to feed.

True but we always feed mineral buckets anyway as a just in case thing.

If it was just the energy the needed I was hoping this might save me a few quid but doesn't look like it from what I can gather

 

[Al R]

True but we always feed mineral buckets anyway as a just in case thing.

If it was just the energy the needed I was hoping this might save me a few quid but doesn't look like it from what I can gather

You won’t regret the nuts, it’s probably easier unless you have the grain anyway. They might take less from the blocks?

 

[Bury the Trash]

True but we always feed mineral buckets anyway as a just in case thing.

If it was just the energy the needed I was hoping this might save me a few quid but doesn't look like it from what I can gather

I wouldnt bother with the buckets just focus on the nuts ,they will deliver a steadier more reliable supply target their use. Amount and timing.with consideration of course to forage type fed.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Yes, barley or oats better fed whole to sheep.
You'll need some protein in there, particularly as you get closer to lambing. I'd be aiming at 18% ration depending on what else they're getting.

 

[yellowbelly]

If it was just the energy the needed I was hoping this might save me a few quid

If it was just energy you needed, feed companies, with in house nutritionists, wouldn't bother putting protein, min & vits, etc in their ewe rolls.

 

[glasshouse]

Barley needs to be fed in troughs
Rolls dont

 

[andybk]

as above dont feed rolled grain to sheep , and you need a protein source preferably soya and somewhere to store it , we fed whole barley , soya and SBP or oats for years (dont forget the mins ) , but now find it cheaper to buy nuts ( 3-5t bulk blown) bagged is just too expensive at around £7-10 a bag now .

 

[Jdunn55]

Barley needs to be fed in troughs
Rolls dont

We lamb indoors and feed in troughs regardless

 

[Jdunn55]

Thanks all, will just order some rolls then. Like I say was hoping to save a few quid as I expect once delivered rolls will be £300/t minimum they'll be on first cut red clover silage once housed and until then on some very nice grass winter keep

 

[Timbo]

Thanks all, will just order some rolls then. Like I say was hoping to save a few quid as I expect once delivered rolls will be £300/t minimum they'll be on first cut red clover silage once housed and until then on some very nice grass winter keep

Get some pricing for 16% / 18% rolls from acouple suppliers, then you'll know.

Rolled barley has a place, but not for feeding sheep.

 

[Jdunn55]

Get some pricing for 16% / 18% rolls from acouple suppliers, then you'll know.

Rolled barley has a place, but not for feeding sheep.

I can pretty much say without hesitation that it will be £300 minimum unless I order from a certain company who might sell it to me for 20 quid less but I dont like feeding barn sweepings