Lambs ad lib better inside or outside?

[Kazak]

Have around 100 lambs left on ad lib outside.. Weather has been good and dry they are thriving away..
Wet weather forecasted will they do better inside? Or will they do as good outside?? Costs inside rise a bit with straw but looking like drowned rats here this morning i wonder about thrive if fleeces wet constantly!

 

[It was already broken.]

Where are you @Kazak?

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Do better inside, but don't put anything that's lame in and footbath the sound ones before they go in.
Edit - they'll do ok outside but they'll fly inside as long as you keep lameness at bay and feeding quality grub.

 

[Kazak]

Ireland, east side of the country

 

[Sheep92]

As posted above, theyl do quicker inside once you keep lameness at bay

 

[beeftug]

Are you using a stright lamb finisher nut? I'm using whole barley in the 3 in 1 feeder, outside, on some tup lambs but they will not finish. Heard some people feeding ad lb maize silage? Will you dose the lambs when you bring them in?

 

[neilo]

Are you using a stright lamb finisher nut? I'm using whole barley in the 3 in 1 feeder, outside, on some tup lambs but they will not finish. Heard some people feeding ad lb maize silage? Will you dose the lambs when you bring them in?

What else are they eating outside? Straight barley is very low in protein, so unless the forage is high in protein (lush Autumn grass/fodder crops), the diet will be low in protein. Ad-lib hogget finishing rations are generally around the 15-16%CP mark, as a guide. If the ration isn't balanced, they will take much longer to finish.

 

[beeftug]

They are on a grass ley that was sown this spring, been grazed in July, left to grow back August and moved these lambs onto it beginning of September, I'm strip grazing them as the grass has got long but is very leafy. Think I'm best to invest in some protein to mix with barley?

 

[GTB]

Re the OP, once it starts getting cold/wet the lambs will be far better inside. Just worm and vaccinate before bringing them in.

 

[neilo]

They are on a grass ley that was sown this spring, been grazed in July, left to grow back August and moved these lambs onto it beginning of September, I'm strip grazing them as the grass has got long but is very leafy. Think I'm best to invest in some protein to mix with barley?

If it's long/old grass the protein & digestibility will have dropped. Are you ad-lib feeding with the 3-in1, or restricting to a small amount? Mins/TE's will likely be low in wet Autumn grass too, and not added from whole barley alone.

 

[Kazak]

Have them in 15% protein fairly good ration...Ufl 1.12 so high enough in energy too.. Being using it for years and works well..
Used barley and soya hulls one year and wasnt that happy with it.. They went fat but didnt grow if i make any sense..( lack of protein i thought).
How mych LW should they b putting with good ration ad lib??

 

[neilo]

Have them in 15% protein fairly good ration.. ( rolled barley, beans, rape pellets and flaked maize of top of my head) Ufl 1.12 so high enough in energy.. Being using it for years and works well..
Used barley and soya hulls one year and wasnt that happy with it.. They went fat but didnt grow if i make any sense..( lack of protein i thought).
How mych LW should they b putting with good ration ad lib??

When we used to do hogget she on ad-lib, they seemed to stand still for a week when they went onto it (from forage only) then took off. IRRC they used to average 3-350g/day after that. I guess genetics would play a big part in potential gains/response to concentrates though.

 

[beeftug]

@neilo ive opened the 3 in 1 up so its not ad lib but on a high setting. Bolused with a mayo high cobalt bolts and they have rock salt free access. I have a 34% protein nut I put in a cattle finisher ration, be OK to add that to barley?

 

[neilo]

@neilo ive opened the 3 in 1 up so its not ad lib but on a high setting. Bolused with a mayo high cobalt bolts and they have rock salt free access. I have a 34% protein nut I put in a cattle finisher ration, be OK to add that to barley?

As long as there's no copper in it (cattle ration?) and it will physically flow through the feeder, it should work well enough, not that I've tried it personally. Plenty using Promol (34% protein pellet/blend) & cereals to make a sheep ration.

 

[pine_guy]

@neilo ive opened the 3 in 1 up so its not ad lib but on a high setting. Bolused with a mayo high cobalt bolts and they have rock salt free access. I have a 34% protein nut I put in a cattle finisher ration, be OK to add that to barley?

If a cattle nut, check the copper level ass probably high and not suitable.