Grazing turnips upto lambing.

[neilo]

We suffered from some weak lambs last yr not on turnips mind. Put it down to being so wet. Probably best get some blood tests done. I did ask about this but fallen on deaf ears.
How do I go about this if it's low?
Like I said they are on lifeline buckets and will start some rolls next week with just under a month to go till lambing. Just don't want them getting too fat.

If they're grazing stubble turnips, I definitely wouldn't be giving them rolls as well or they will get too fat and have big lambs.
The only time I'd ever give hard feed on turnips is if I was transitioning the to come indoors for lambing.

 

[paul&mandy]

If they're grazing stubble turnips, I definitely wouldn't be giving them rolls as well or they will get too fat and have big lambs.
The only time I'd ever give hard feed on turnips is if I was transitioning the to come indoors for lambing.

I suppose plenty of buckets out be enough for them. I'll start some feed to transition them for when they go back to grass to lamb.

 

[neilo]

I suppose plenty of buckets out be enough for them. I'll start some feed to transition them for when they go back to grass to lamb.

If you've got half decent grass covers for lambing (set up from November here) on then then don't want hard feeding on that either. The grass, like the turnips, are better feed value than most concentrates anyway, so you're just paying to dilute that.

I don't use any buckets either, but trace elements are supplemented by other means (bolus & flexidine jab) already.
When I have tried those expensive red buckets, intakes have been so low as not to be providing anything anyway.
I've a couple of old/half eaten ones in with my Charollais singles currently, having nothing else but hay, and they're hardly eating them on that. Lambs plenty big enough already.

 

[paul&mandy]

If you've got half decent grass covers for lambing (set up from November here) on then then don't want hard feeding on that either. The grass, like the turnips, are better feed value than most concentrates anyway, so you're just paying to dilute that.

I don't use any buckets either, but trace elements are supplemented by other means (bolus & flexidine jab) already.
When I have tried those expensive red buckets, intakes have been so low as not to be providing anything anyway.
I've a couple of old/half eaten ones in with my Charollais singles currently, having nothing else but hay, and they're hardly eating them on that. Lambs plenty big enough already.

Spoke too soon. 1 dead right in gateway this evening. Just gone too. Probably chocked on a turnip or something...
Oh it's Sunday, that why.

 

[Troward]

We suffered from some weak lambs last yr not on turnips mind. Put it down to being so wet. Probably best get some blood tests done. I did ask about this but fallen on deaf ears.
How do I go about this if it's low?
Like I said they are on lifeline buckets and will start some rolls next week with just under a month to go till lambing. Just don't want them getting too fat.

Probably easiest thing to bring iodine up when close to lambing is a topical iodine. Mayo sell one and it's dirt cheap.

If it's a chronic problem like here, the flexidine injection is a longer term solution, but more expensive.

Iodine normally takes a few weeks for blood test results vs. other trace elements so may be a bit late for pre lambing.