Feeding tup lambs over winter

[Woolyleg]

Hi, got some tup lambs that I want to keep growing on over winter, grass is getting short now so wanting to know what everyone feeds their tup lambs over winter without stuffing them.

thanks

 

[Anymulewilldo]

If there’s still a bit of pulling for them then beet pulp will keep them going without stuffing them. Not cheap mind

 

[Lincs]

If you’re hoping to sell them as shearlings then a couple of kilos of 30% turkey feed should keep them ticking over until you start feeding them before the sales

 

[Ysgythan]

If grass is short trough feeding is counter productive because concentrates drive appetite. Buffer feed and if the fodder isn’t up to much supplement with the trough.

 

[andybk]

mine are pulling out some old grass with a crystalix with urea which they are hardly touching , no need to go mad or you wont get compensatory growth next spring which can give 10kg or more growth in a short time end of may or so , keep them full with hay/ haylage bales etc just handle occasionally for now , if they start going back ,as said above sbp or a few oats , or a bit of finishing ration which is higher in fibre than growing feed , to keep them ticking along.

 

[Shepherd12]

Hi, got some tup lambs that I want to keep growing on over winter, grass is getting short now so wanting to know what everyone feeds their tup lambs over winter without stuffing them.

thanks

What breed are they? And are you aiming them at the sales or off farm?

 

[Woolyleg]

What breed are they? And are you aiming them at the sales or off farm?

They’re beltex’s and the Sales

 

[neilo]

They’re beltex’s and the Sales

From what I saw when I ran them, most of the ‘top’ men will have them housed in poly tunnels by now, and keep them well fed right through.

Part of the reason they don’t last long of course.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I send a lot of legume Chicory Seed up North for Tup Breeders ,not that it would feed a lot over winter

 

[Agrivator]

I send a lot of legume Chicory Seed up North for Tup Breeders ,not that it would feed a lot over winter

Maybe you should advise them to sow the seed rather than feed it direct.

 

[Agrivator]

If you’re hoping to sell them as shearlings then a couple of kilos of 30% turkey feed should keep them ticking over until you start feeding them before the sales

If you feed them three or four times a day, they will eat at least 4kg and tick over even faster.

Why does a sheep always look bigger and fitter after its died?

 

[Woolless]

Tup hoggs for sale off farm as shearlings get hay and about 300g of decent cake here, housed as very little grass over winter. Keeps them moving in the right direction but still plenty of scope for compensatory growth.

 

[neilo]

Tup hoggs for sale off farm as shearlings get hay and about 300g of decent cake here, housed as very little grass over winter. Keeps them moving in the right direction but still plenty of scope for compensatory growth.

Probably a sensible protocol if you have to house on hay AND are selling on farm. The OP is heading for the sales though, so might want to tick them on faster in order to catch the eye of the fatty panter buyers?

I’ve heard of a flock in Aberdeenshire that just sticks them in polytunnels with Hogg hoppers that are kept filled with Harbro coarse ration all winter.
I guess it depends where you strike the balance between selling tups that go on and thrive, bringing repeat buyers, and having your name in lights for high prices (but not necessarily margins)?

 

[unlacedgecko]

Probably a sensible protocol if you have to house on hay AND are selling on farm. The OP is heading for the sales though, so might want to tick them on faster in order to catch the eye of the fatty panter buyers?

I’ve heard of a flock in Aberdeenshire that just sticks them in polytunnels with Hogg hoppers that are kept filled with Harbro coarse ration all winter.
I guess it depends where you strike the balance between selling tups that go on and thrive, bringing repeat buyers, and having your name in lights for high prices (but not necessarily margins)?

Fatty panter

 

[Ysgythan]

Having a store period over winter does them no harm at all. But they have to be able to keep a belly full. If grass is short then hay or silage, but you have the instant issue of how you feed them without them paddling up a hell of a mess.

 

[gatepost]

Mine are out on grass and nowt else, the grass is 900ft lower than I am though.

 

[neilo]

Mine are out on grass and nowt else, the grass is 900ft lower than I am though.

Christmas present?

 

[gatepost]

I'm just feeling high and mighty, just won at 'Articulate', I will be brought down to earth tomorrow no doubt

 

[AftonShepherd]

Articulate?

 

[gatepost]

Articulate?

Game very similar to the round in question of sport, how many answers in 30 sec, your partner has to describe something and you guess, noisy and stupid, so perfect really.