Straw in a ewes diet

[jjm]

The mule ewes are 4 weeks off lambing and are currently being fed a barley/oat/concentrate blend at 18% through 3-1 feeders at 350g/day and ad lid hi quality silage. We have already had 3 prolapses out of this batch of 365 ewes and two deaths as a result of them pushing everything out. Ewes are fairly fit as a result of a mild winter. The issues are with both the doubles and triplets but not the singles. I was wondering if I should replace the silage with wheat straw in order to limit the actual bulk they are eating. Would this help with the prolapse issue?. Thanks

 

[IH 684]

Hay only for sheep. Wouldn't even consider silage.

 

[sticky]

If you replace the silage with straw you will have to up the concentrates to avoid twin lamb I would think. I would tip a bale of straw in the yard and leave it for them you will be surprised at how much they will pick at.

 

[dazza b]

How fit are they I've not given any concentrate pre lambing they condition scored 3.5-4 so more than fit enough and no need for cake, it sounds to me as they are being pushed hard, if the silo is good, I presume you've had it tested, it should be able to stand on its own.

 

[Renaultman]

We use barley or oat straw treated with molasses pre lambing

 

[copse]

sounds like the problem is more to do with ewes being fat than silage. Fed silage here for years and don't get much trouble.