Feeding barley to sheep

[farmer92]

I’ve got some barley left over in the grain store and I was thinking of feeding it to the ewes. Should I put it through the mill to roll it or can I feed it whole? Also have some wheat but unsure if I can feed them that?

Cheers

 

[Nithsdale]

Feed ewes both no bother.. doesn't need rolled, either.

just get them onto it slowly, or you'll fetch on barley poisoning.

 

[farmer92]

Feed ewes both no bother.. doesn't need rolled, either.

just get them onto it slowly, or you'll fetch on barley poisoning.

Thanks for the reply. Any advice on introducing these to their diet? A little of both mixed in together starting small? Don’t want to upset their stomachs!

 

[Nithsdale]

Will you be mixing it into anything else? If this is for in-lamb ewes, protein is pretty low... you'd need something like a distillers grain or soya meal to raise % IMO.

Mixed together or separate (use one up, then the other) it won't really matter. Start off feeding a week or 2 earlier than usual with the barley, and at very low levels... maybe only 1/4lb/ewe then just gradually increase the ration over that week or 2 upto what you'd be inclined to normally feed.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Don't feed the wheat...... that is not for beginners,........ its for experienced use or within compound feed

 

[Bury the Trash]

Thanks for the reply. Any advice on introducing these to their diet? A little of both mixed in together starting small? Don’t want to upset their stomachs!

Barley. .....very,very small amounts ......a very light scattering in a trough .....for several days

or else at best they will scour brown or even grey ...go off their feed .....(counter productive ).....and at worst they will blow up ...............

.starting with oats then add bit off barley is best for sheep.


and leave it whole.....