Lambs on TMR going lame.

[Ciderman8961]

Currently have some lambs indoors hoping to finish on TMR.
Having problems with the going lame no scald visual but lame.
Mineral rep called round on Friday and was telling me of a dairyfarm that had changed ration and was having lameness issues turned out the new cheaper feed had no yeast in it and was causing laminitis.
Which got me wondering if this could be the cause of our lameness in the lambs.
TMR consist of haylage sugarbeet soyameal,rape meal, barley, molasses and minerals.
Anyone else had similar issues or can shed any light on the yeast effect?

 

[neilo]

I wouldn’t have thought the yeast would stop them going lame, just buffer the ration a bit.

Too much protein maybe (without knowing how much is in your ration)? Too much cereal/starch causing laminitis/acidosis? Or bacterial problem just kicking off?

Could try adding bicarb to buffer cheaply enough?

 

[spin cycle]

it's acidosis 100%

 

[Ciderman8961]

I wouldn’t have thought the yeast would stop them going lame, just buffer the ration a bit.

Too much protein maybe (without knowing how much is in your ration)? Too much cereal/starch causing laminitis/acidosis? Or bacterial problem just kicking off?

Could try adding bicarb to buffer cheaply enough?

TMR was done to match bale analysis i sent a sample away yesterday to do analysis on it trying to find out what the issue is.
How much bicarbonate would you think I'd need per mix?

 

[Ciderman8961]

it's acidosis 100%

Accidosis causing laminitis?

 

[spin cycle]

Accidosis causing laminitis?

perhaps i replied a little quickly in asserting accidosis per se.....but essentially a rich diet is linked to laminitus.....classic is horses of course.....feel for heat in hoof

last year i tried fodder beet and straw on housed ewes....soon had ewes of their feet,,,,treated with bicarb ....loxicom and adjusted diet and all recovered thankfully.....point is they were off feet and treating as per accidosis cured

 

[An ancient git]

I'd 'thin out' the concs amount first and see if job improves , then quietly increase again carefully . Bale analayses can be wildly inaccurate from one bale to the next ; if it's pretty dry , it tends to feed 'better' than analysis states . Given up analysing here and (ok , watch stock . but !) look at sh1t coming out of them ..... Easier with the cattle than sheep , but principle is same .....

 

[Ciderman8961]

perhaps i replied a little quickly in asserting accidosis per se.....but essentially a rich diet is linked to laminitus.....classic is horses of course.....feel for heat in hoof

last year i tried fodder beet and straw on housed ewes....soon had ewes of their feet,,,,treated with bicarb ....loxicom and adjusted diet and all recovered thankfully.....point is they were off feet and treating as per accidosis cured

How long did it take to show improvement and what quantity of bicarbonate did you use?

 

[spin cycle]

milder cases were up pretty quickly....some 3-4 days though......i can't remember the rate ....it wasn't very scientific....i just mixed some bicard and water in small empty wormer container...set rate to 20ml....gave each ewe 3 squirts 2-3 times a day

best have a quick word with vet perhaps.....if they're not down...just ease of concs for coupla days

 

[Bury the Trash]

As above ..... how about stop the soya ?

Also can I be and ask how you are mixing/ prepping the ration?, I'm interested as I've got similar ingredients but im not overly confident of putting them in my older auger type mixer wagon,

 

[Ciderman8961]

As above ..... how about stop the soya ?

Also can I be and ask how you are mixing/ prepping the ration?, I'm interested as I've got similar ingredients but im not overly confident of putting them in my older auger type mixer wagon,

All goes in the Keenan, sugar beet soya and rape come pre mixed in bags from mill so we just add the other bits.
Keenan has bale handler on so make using big bales real easy

 

[Bury the Trash]

Oh I see, sugarbeet pulp not the beet themselves.

I think I'll drop a bale of hay in the wagon and see what happens

 

[neilo]

TMR was done to match bale analysis i sent a sample away yesterday to do analysis on it trying to find out what the issue is.
How much bicarbonate would you think I'd need per mix?

Sorry, no idea on bicarb level. I’ve never owned, or want to own, a mixer wagon to do TMR. I’m sure the info is readily available with regards to beef finishing rations though?

What protein level are you working on? 15% is plenty for a lamb finishing ration, with plenty of fibre to keep the rumen working properly.