First year feeding in lamb ewes here. Just looking for a few opinions on a silage analysis for feeding to ewes. They are 4 weeks off lambing and housed. They have been getting good quality hay until now but it is running out so I’m going to change them over to the silage. Most ewes would have a BCS of 3 to 3.5. I’m also going to start feeding some concentrates this week but unsure how much they need with this silage.
Silage quality for ewes
- Thread starter Andyt880
- Start date
- Location
- Ceredigion, wales
Which of the two samples are you feeding them? The second sample is bloody good stuff. We are feeding half a kg per lamb with silage of a similar analasis to your fourth cut but ours is first cut and slightly stemmy.
With your third cut I think you could probably halve it to .25kg per lamb.
With your third cut I think you could probably halve it to .25kg per lamb.
Both those cuts of silage are in one pit. Fourth cut on top obviously. I will be just using the silage in blocks. I think I’ll try and stick to one or the other. The third cut should be fairly good for them then? What would the dry matter be like for them?
- Location
- Ceredigion, wales
I think they will prefer the dryer stuff but there's nothing much wrong with the fourth cut mind. We try and take top layer off pit (and around the sides) to the cattle and chose nice stuff from the middle for the sheep.
Woolless
Member
- Location
- Berwickshire, Scottish Borders
Slightly OT but where did you get your silage tested and was it a good service? I sent samples to SAC last year and they took an eternity to come back to me with results.
Anyone else got a recommendation for good, independent forage analysis?
Anyone else got a recommendation for good, independent forage analysis?
- Location
- Ceredigion, wales
You rarely regret over feeding. Under feeding causes nothing but problems and extra work.
The silage actually belongs to a friend, I’m just getting some off him to see the ewes out this year. So I can’t answer that I’m afraid.
bobajob
Member
- Location
- Sw Scotland
Your ewes look well. Only comment I would make would be the same as GTB we wouldnt feed silage from the top of the pit to ewes for fear of it having more spoilage on it and moulds/ listeria.
I would feed them slightly less of the 3rd cut, it looks good silage on paper, so long as at that dry matter it is quite well consolidated (again thinking of mould) It will prob go off quite quick at that DM as well so keep it fresh.
I would feed them slightly less of the 3rd cut, it looks good silage on paper, so long as at that dry matter it is quite well consolidated (again thinking of mould) It will prob go off quite quick at that DM as well so keep it fresh.
Thanks @bobajob. I had the choice of round bale silage also. It was around 50% dry matter. I have been feeding it to cattle and it hasn’t been keeping very well so I decided not to use it for the sheep. How much mouldy silage would it take to cause problems?
- Location
- South West
Too high a dry mater can lead to prolapsing in sheep and hay can be a nightmare if add lib. Don't feed any mould or soil contamination as sheep are way more prone to issues compared to cattle.
bobajob
Member
- Location
- Sw Scotland
I don't know how much mould it would take to cause problems with listeria, not a lot I would be the short answer.!
Listeria affects their brain- usually = death!
Listeria affects their brain- usually = death!