Feeding ewes post-lambing?

[steveR]

Having to keep a few too many ewes and lambs about at present, but plenty of fodder still and enough shelter, at present.

On Haylage or good Hay with ad-lib molasses and ewe nuts. Not ideal, as Dr Green is aim ASAP, but how many grams for a 60kg ewe and 2-3 lambs? 2-300g/lamb/day?

 

[Devil's advocate]

Having to keep a few too many ewes and lambs about at present, but plenty of fodder still and enough shelter, at present.

On Haylage or good Hay with ad-lib molasses and ewe nuts. Not ideal, as Dr Green is aim ASAP, but how many grams for a 60kg ewe and 2-3 lambs/ day? 200g?

600 grams, but I might be wrong.

 

[neilo]

The Charollais twins in my mothering up pens (on hay) are on a kilo/day, waiting on a warmer spell to go out. You might replace some of that with the molasses, but hard feed would be better imo.

No good letting milk drop off at this stage, for the sake of a bit of short term feed.

 

[steveR]

600 grams, but I might be wrong.

Cheers. Meant to write 2-300g/lamb/day.....

So my guesstimate was probably not far out.

 

[steveR]

The Charollais twins in my mothering up pens (on hay) are on a kilo/day, waiting on a warmer spell to go out. You might replace some of that with the molasses, but hard feed would be better imo.

No good letting milk drop off at this stage, for the sake of a bit of short term feed.

Thanks Neil. Got some good lambs so not keen to see them drop condition. I will crank it up a bit accordingly.

 

[neilo]

Thanks Neil. Got some good lambs so not keen to see them drop condition. I will crank it up a bit accordingly.

I see it as priming them for peak production.

 

[yoki]

I'm doing about 800g per ewe with twins plus ad lib late May cut hay.

Thinking or reining it in a bit though as they're getting as fat as fools, although it may stand to them if they have to go out with the weather still middling.

 

[aangus]

Having to keep a few too many ewes and lambs about at present, but plenty of fodder still and enough shelter, at present.

On Haylage or good Hay with ad-lib molasses and ewe nuts. Not ideal, as Dr Green is aim ASAP, but how many grams for a 60kg ewe and 2-3 lambs/ day? 2-300g?

800g/ewe here

 

[steveR]

I see it as priming them for peak production.

Indeed. And looking at the EC x Char, that is what they should do here

 

[steveR]

I'm doing about 800g per ewe with twins plus ad lib late May cut hay.

Thinking or reining it in a bit though as they're getting as fat as fools, although it may stand to them if they have to go out with the weather still middling.

How long have you been feeding them indoors?

 

[M-J-G]

The Charollais twins in my mothering up pens (on hay) are on a kilo/day, waiting on a warmer spell to go out. You might replace some of that with the molasses, but hard feed would be better imo.

No good letting milk drop off at this stage, for the sake of a bit of short term feed.

This

 

[steveR]

The Charollais twins in my mothering up pens (on hay) are on a kilo/day, waiting on a warmer spell to go out.

Well it is warm enough... just, but do you see any decent turning out weather in the offing....? Saturday maybe for 48hrs....

From Simon Keeling.
*7/4/24 - 13/4/24*
Higher pressure builds north, low pressure south.
Mixed in south, some rain, but drier north.
Feeling chilly in east winds for many, milder south.

*14/4/24 -20/4/24*
Staying mixed.
Probably milder.
Less rain.

In other words, Dire!

 

[yoki]

How long have you been feeding them indoors?

Ewes came in 16th Jan, first lambs born 23rd Feb.

 

[puppet]

800g/ewe here

Still think in pounds of feed but kilos of sheep.

 

[Jockers84]

Are feed blocks an option for ewes with lambs at foot outdoors? I don’t like to use a box as the ewes and lambs seem to get muddled up and stressed.

 

[Skintagain]

The Charollais twins in my mothering up pens (on hay) are on a kilo/day, waiting on a warmer spell to go out. You might replace some of that with the molasses, but hard feed would be better imo.

No good letting milk drop off at this stage, for the sake of a bit of short term feed.

I thought them Charley lambs didn’t suffer with the weather?…

 

[neilo]

Are feed blocks an option for ewes with lambs at foot outdoors? I don’t like to use a box as the ewes and lambs seem to get muddled up and stressed.

Yes, they’re ideal for that situation, but you do pay handsomely for the convenience.

 

[neilo]

I thought them Charley lambs didn’t suffer with the weather?…

No more than anything else. They all struggle when they’re soaking wet, standing in a cold wind, myself included.

Biggest issues with pure Charollais turned out into this weather, is the utter lack of maternal instinct in the ewes. They stand in the middle of a windswept field with their lambs, rather than seeking shelter under a hedge.

I picked two dead pure lambs up today, in a field with a 30’ tall wood along one side and hedges around the other sides and a few trees dotted about too. The dead ones were right out in the middle, with their mothers stood over them.

 

[steveR]

Are feed blocks an option for ewes with lambs at foot outdoors? I don’t like to use a box as the ewes and lambs seem to get muddled up and stressed.

Instant dissolve IME.

I am using Wynnstay feed buckets, and drill holes in the bucket to loose the water out as they go down ;-)

 

[steveR]

No more than anything else. They all struggle when they’re soaking wet, standing in a cold wind, myself included.

Biggest issues with pure Charollais turned out into this weather, is the utter lack of maternal instinct in the ewes. They stand in the middle of a windswept field with their lambs, rather than seeking shelter under a hedge.

I picked two dead pure lambs up today, in a field with a 30’ tall wood along one side and hedges around the other sides and a few trees dotted about too. The dead ones were right out in the middle, with their mothers stood over them.

FFS...