Silage amounts

[will6910]

Have counted up I have 72 bales silage left. Currently using a bale and a half a day roughly. I'm not great and counting up like that so just wondering how many bales would I need to keep me going till start of April ?

 

[jemski]

10.5 per week X 10wks = 105

Do you house everything until April or start turning out after lambing? If you start turning out in March you will need less

 

[will6910]

Usually once lambed they go out if weather good. First Ones start in 5 weeks. Limited to bale silage when there on mesh to fit in chopper but once lambed if can't go out can use hay to

 

[alex04w]

To put it another way - 72 bales will last you for the next 48 days if you use them at a rate of 1.5 a day.

48 days from today is Saturday 11th March.

 

[will6910]

My second main batch is due to start on the 10th march. First group of 40 should mostly be lambed and outside by then

 

[Sheep92]

Will, your ewes will start eating alot less silage when you up the concentrates so take that into account id say you might get away with it?

 

[will6910]

Was thinking of getting fed bales hay for ewe lambs that are on straw and keep the Silage for ewes ? Getting hay could be the problem tho

 

[Northeastfarmer]

You can buy silage below COP so don't panic

 

[will6910]

Finding some around here could be hard part.going to ask neighbours first. Better to have to much than to run out and have to change diet for ewes close to lambinf

 

[Sheep92]

Bought good hay down the road at 20 euros a bale, it would cost as much to make it, seem to be plenty of stuff around, hard to know what your buying with silage, at least you can see the hay

 

[will6910]

I'm limited to silage bales when on mesh so can use chopper. Or clamp silage

 

[M-J-G]

As they get closer to lambing they will eat less.

Upping concentrates will allow you to stretch silage out. Not ideal, but if you can't source any silage it's about your only option.

 

[new/man]

how many sheep eating a bale and a half a day?

 

[will6910]

133 ewes and 30 ewe lambs currently

 

[It was already broken.]

Looks like you are having to put your hand in your pocket whatever. Have you considered getting to market with a few in lambers to reduce your feed requirements. Just a thought if no feed available in your area at reasonable cost.

 

[daithi]

Finding some around here could be hard part.going to ask neighbours first. Better to have to much than to run out and have to change diet for ewes close to lambinf

Have a look on done deal or the dealer. There is a lot of silage for sale. The only problem in buying bales is the quality can be variable. Another option would be to restrict silage and up the meal.

 

[will6910]

Thanks. Not keen on selling ewes as already 50 ewes down from deaths and empty ones at scanning

 

[mineshalffull]

deaths haven't arisen from overfeeding have they that's enough silage to feed fifty bullucks or perhaps you need to speak to your baling contractor because that sounds like about 6kgs of silage a day each

 

[will6910]

I was always told 1 bale feeds 100 ewes inside full time a day. They'd
Eat more if let. I just chop it and fork it to them twice aday

 

[Baker9]

Will, are you sure your figures are correct? Bale and a half per day seems very high to me. I would feed about a third of the number you have inside from mid February until they all lamb and a bale of chopped silage does four days graiped forward to them three times per day. They are also getting some meal. According to my counting the number of bales you should be feeding is about 3 bales every for days, so the number of bales should last at least until the end of March even feeding one a day.
Have you had the silage analysed to see what the feed value is?
Like you I am running Lleyn ewes.