Feeding ewe lambs

[Thomas5060]

Evening folks,
Just here to pick a few brains decided to bring our ewe lambs in for winter, might aswell be in rather than out on the hill and easier for us to look after etc because we work out. There’s 53 of them (all blackface) and they currently are getting 2 close to 3 bales of hay a day and 10kg of premium ewe lamb feed and around 2.5kg of sugar beet nuts, main question is , is that enough for them? Would say average weight of them is 30-40kg just by working with them. They also have crystalyx blocks in with them. What’s peoples opinions?

 

[Ysgythan]

Do you need the ewe lamb feed and sugar beet and blocks? Reckon 2 out of those three should more than cover them. Does ewe lambs that aren’t tupped no harm whatsoever to have a winter store period in my view.

 

[Thomas5060]

Do you need the ewe lamb feed and sugar beet and blocks? Reckon 2 out of those three should more than cover them. Does ewe lambs that aren’t tupped no harm whatsoever to have a winter store period in my view.

The blocks are there because they were just brought down from the hill with them, probably won’t bother with them again when they are done

 

[Ysgythan]

The blocks are there because they were just brought down from the hill with them, probably won’t bother with them again when they are done

Fair enough, saves waste, but they’d balance the hay without the rest. Put it another way, I don’t think you need worry you’re under feeding.

 

[Thomas5060]

Fair enough, saves waste, but they’d balance the hay without the rest. Put it another way, I don’t think you need worry you’re under feeding.

We usually wintered them outside, but due to having a hill/bog and a lot of rain this year, there was poor grass growth, and lots of footrot problems, so decided to bring them in as we have plenty of hay. They are starting to look better and the feet are in better shape

 

[Ysgythan]

We usually wintered them outside, but due to having a hill/bog and a lot of rain this year, there was poor grass growth, and lots of footrot problems, so decided to bring them in as we have plenty of hay. They are starting to look better and the feet are in better shape

Ours are currently out on tack at a dairy farm. Plenty of grass but the wet weather is hammering them.

 

[Thomas5060]

Ours are currently out on tack at a dairy farm. Plenty of grass but the wet weather is hammering them.

You having any footrot problems?

 

[Mc115reed]

Could your foot rot problem be down to the amount of food your pushing on them? They certainly sound like there having a luxury time ...

 

[Thomas5060]

Could your foot rot problem be down to the amount of food your pushing on them? They certainly sound like there having a luxury time ...

Footrot started before they came in

 

[GTB]

If indoors then adlib hay and quarter/half kg of nuts should be more than adequate for dry ewe lambs of that weight. I'd suggest giving them a jab of footvax if footrot is an issue.

 

[Thomas5060]

If indoors then adlib hay and quarter/half kg of nuts should be more than adequate for dry ewe lambs of that weight. I'd suggest giving them a jab of footvax if footrot is an issue.

Hay is just put into racks and filled when they go empty. Have ran them through a footbath super hoof plus 2 suandays ago and the worst ones got a jag of hexasol on Sunday past, has made a world of difference.

 

[scottish-lleyn]

I would be giving them either the ewe llamb nut or the beet nut not both and the hay.

 

[Thomas5060]

I would be giving them either the ewe llamb nut or the beet nut not both and the hay.

How much meal would you be giving them?

 

[Dkb]

How much meal would you be giving them?

.5kg no more. It’s unnecessary to feed harder than that

 

[Thomas5060]

.5kg no more. It’s unnecessary to feed harder than that

For all of them or each?

 

[Devil's advocate]

Hay is just put into racks and filled when they go empty. Have ran them through a footbath super hoof plus 2 suandays ago and the worst ones got a jag of hexasol on Sunday past, has made a world of difference.

Thanks Thomas. What is Super hoof based on & who produces the product? Can it be used in an enclosed space?

I ask because our "handling system" is based on a 1930's woodern loose box/stables with a handy passage way to use a cattle type paxton foot bath. So formalin too dangerous we use zinc sulphate, which is reasonable if they walk through it slowly.

On original question. Decent hay or haylage & half a pound of nuts if you want to be generous, less would do. Important to supply minerals & salt of course.

 

[Thomas5060]

Thanks Thomas. What is Super hoof based on & who produces the product? Can it be used in an enclosed space?

I ask because our "handling system" is based on a 1930's woodern loose box/stables with a handy passage way to use a cattle type paxton foot bath. So formalin too dangerous we use zinc sulphate, which is reasonable if they walk through it slowly.

On original question. Decent hay or haylage & half a pound of nuts if you want to be generous, less would do. Important to supply minerals & salt of course.

http://www.kilcoint.com/en/product/super-hoof-plus/

Yea it can be used in an enclosed space, we used to use formalin but it cut the eyes out of us anytime we used it so we started using super hoof plus and can use it indoors just fine, seems to do a better job than formalin

 

[andybk]

problem with feeding now as lambs , is you wont get the compensatory growth in spring , would never consider feeding ewe lambs through winter , as @Ysgythan has said they need a store period , which will help develop the rumen , (unless you have been feeding since birth ) Put your effort in hitting the bad feet with AB

 

[Ysgythan]

You having any footrot problems?

Sometimes if they go out heavy with the slurry.

 

[Bones]

I would have thought hay on its own would be enough.