Feeding Ram Lambs

[Greasley123]

Hi,
My texel ram lambs are currently out-wintered on grass, however I have just started feeding them a ration of 50/50 whole barley and oats as they are looking a bit thin. Is it okay if I add Multimix Sheep Pellets which are 30% protein at a rate of 20% (1:5 ratio) to increase protein content between 15-16% or will this give them Urinary calculi (stones) or copper poisoning? I was thinking of feeding them 1/2 kilo a day per ram as fodder is limited/poached.
Thanks for reading

http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/multimix-sheep-pellets-30-25kg

 

[neilo]

Hi,
My texel ram lambs are currently out-wintered on grass, however I have just started feeding them a ration of 50/50 whole barley and oats as they are looking a bit thin. Is it okay if I add Multimix Sheep Pellets which are 30% protein at a rate of 20% (1:5 ratio) to increase protein content between 15-16% or will this give them Urinary calculi (stones) or copper poisoning? I was thinking of feeding them 1/2 kilo a day per ram as fodder is limited/poached.
Thanks for reading

http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/multimix-sheep-pellets-30-25kg

As it’s meant for addition to lamb creep. It should certainly be OK as far as urinary calculi and copper poisoning are concerned.
Your link doesn’t appear to have any reference to mineral content though, so you may (or may not?) need minerals from somewhere as well. I’m not familiar with that product, but Promol and the like are certainly mineralised so that their inclusion in a mix gives a balanced ration. I would expect that product to be similar, but no mention on the website.

 

[yellowbelly]

Look on the label. The pellets we use contain ammonium chloride to protect against urinary calculi. If yours don't, you can add food grade sodium chloride at 1% of your finished mix.
If it's for sheep, it shouldn't have copper in.

 

[Greasley123]

Thanks for all your help I'll look into it more as I've just seen that denis brinicombe has a similar product (masterfeed STM) that also has full mineral spec.

 

[Bury the Trash]

That mole valley pellet hasnt got ammonium chloride in it .not like the ordinary lamb pellets.
There are high protein blend pellets sold by plenty of other suppliers with it in.
Even with that they want to be on conc. For as little time as possible of course.

 

[neilo]

I doubt @Greasley123 will have any issues with kidney stones if he’s only feeding 0.5kg/day. It’s only a problem with high levels. Presumably they’re fairly well grown now, rather than 30kg store lambs, so less of an issue anyway.

I’d be looking to have mins in the ration, and the protein balanced at near 15% in order to use the energy supplied. I wouldn’t be overly fussed about stones or copper at those feed levels.

 

[Bury the Trash]

I doubt @Greasley123 will have any issues with kidney stones if he’s only feeding 0.5kg/day. It’s only a problem with high levels. Presumably they’re fairly well grown now, rather than 30kg store lambs, so less of an issue anyway.

I’d be looking to have mins in the ration, and the protein balanced at near 15% in order to use the energy supplied. I wouldn’t be overly fussed about stones or copper at those feed levels.

If he likes mv feeds, what about just mixing in some of their ordinary multi lamb pellets @18% p
Easy enough to do.

 

[Greasley123]

If he likes mv feeds, what about just mixing in some of their ordinary multi lamb pellets @18% p
Easy enough to do.

Unfortunately it would take 3/5 of the ration to increase the protein so you dont save any money from just buying 16% concentrates

 

[Bury the Trash]

Unfortunately it would take 3/5 of the ration to increase the protein so you dont save any money from just buying 16% concentrates

1.barley 1 oats . 2 of mv 18% multimix pellets would give you a good quality conc. Feed of around 15 % .. and saving a bit of cost.. as long as you dont charge too much for mixing...
And they are outside with a bit of pick ? And a bit of dry ground too lie on

 

[andybk]

2 of mv multimix or 0.2

 

[Highland Mule]

Hi,
My texel ram lambs are currently out-wintered on grass, however I have just started feeding them a ration of 50/50 whole barley and oats as they are looking a bit thin. Is it okay if I add Multimix Sheep Pellets which are 30% protein at a rate of 20% (1:5 ratio) to increase protein content between 15-16% or will this give them Urinary calculi (stones) or copper poisoning? I was thinking of feeding them 1/2 kilo a day per ram as fodder is limited/poached.
Thanks for reading

http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/multimix-sheep-pellets-30-25kg

20% would be 4:1, not 5:1

 

[Skintagain]

Hi,
My texel ram lambs are currently out-wintered on grass, however I have just started feeding them a ration of 50/50 whole barley and oats as they are looking a bit thin. Is it okay if I add Multimix Sheep Pellets which are 30% protein at a rate of 20% (1:5 ratio) to increase protein content between 15-16% or will this give them Urinary calculi (stones) or copper poisoning? I was thinking of feeding them 1/2 kilo a day per ram as fodder is limited/poached.
Thanks for reading

http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/multimix-sheep-pellets-30-25kg

Are you feeding these to sell?

I rough my ewe lambs and my ram lambs through really they then blossom in the spring and continue to grow on naturally but I keep them myself all usually and they grown on into their second winter but it would be different scenario if you are selling as shearlings earlier on in the season.

 

[andybk]

Are you feeding these to sell?

I rough my ewe lambs and my ram lambs through really they then blossom in the spring and continue to grow on naturally but I keep them myself all usually and they grown on into their second winter but it would be different scenario if you are selling as shearlings earlier on in the season.

agree with that , if you do them to well through winter on concentrate you miss the compensatory growth next spring , have had rams put on 10-15kg+ in a month following may

 

[neilo]

Tbf, I don’t think the OP feeding 0.5kg/day, to make up for having little forage, could be construed as ‘doing them well’ particularly.
I know mine, currently trudging round on muddy turnips, would certainly benefit from such a feeding level, but not possible to do anyway, in fields where the quad is scrabbling for grip.

 

[Skintagain]

Tbf, I don’t think the OP feeding 0.5kg/day, to make up for having little forage, could be construed as ‘doing them well’ particularly.
I know mine, currently trudging round on muddy turnips, would certainly benefit from such a feeding level, but not possible to do anyway, in fields where the quad is scrabbling for grip.

Mine usually get mud and hay. Cracking diet. They are getting plenty of the former this year!!!

 

[Greasley123]

agree with that , if you do them to well through winter on concentrate you miss the compensatory growth next spring , have had rams put on 10-15kg+ in a month following may

Thanks for all your advice, I will be keeping a few for myself and the rest I'm selling, and I'm not trying to feed them corn to grow over winter, I just want them to maintain weight as a few have got a bit thin.

 

[Bury the Trash]

I wouldnt worry about protein so much as making sure theyve got enough energy,
Put out salt , or add it in like @yellowbelly said, keep nice clean water not too far away for them cours it Might also stop raining now for awhile

 

[Bury the Trash]

2 of mv multimix or 0.2

I part oats , 1 part barley, 2 parts multi mix 18% lamb pellet because that's got the stuff in to help prevent the calculi forming
Edit , i meant the 18% multi lamb pellets , not multi mix



...And not even feedhalf a kilo maybe just a third, if it s as a maintenance ration .

 

[andybk]

I part oats , 1 part barley, 2 parts multi mix 18% lamb pellet because that's got the stuff in to help prevent the calculi forming



...And not even feedhalf a kilo maybe just a third, if it s as a maintenance ration .

recon you would be better with straight soya ,mixed at about 10% of conc diet + mins and SALT ,

 

[Razor8]

Is it possible for month old ram lambs eating ewe nuts along with their mothers to get Urinary Calculi?