Sugar beet pulp pellets for ewes

I have some red clover silage bales which have analysed at 9MJ and 14% CP (slightly worse than that on report but they'll discard some of the stalks so it should feed better). Thinking of feeding in-lamb ewes the silage plus molassed SBP pellets to boost the energy. On paper, they should have plenty of protein, report says the silage has 50% bypass protein. The ewes are in good condition. Any thoughts?
 
How’s the straw useage? I fed some to singles inside once for a week and they ate twice as much compared to standard haylage and used double the amount of straw, it was like housing cattle there was so much slurry 😂
Pretty minimal. 75 hoggs are getting through a bale of silage in a couple of days roughly and their dung is pretty well formed.
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
16% concentrates generally have poor energy levels to watch out dor

But remember, a higher protein % does not automatically mean it's a better feed - to keep the price down they often use crap 'fillers' to counter the price of the protein

A proper ingredients list/analysis is so important but feed companies don't always stick to what it says on the label
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
I have some red clover silage bales which have analysed at 9MJ and 14% CP (slightly worse than that on report but they'll discard some of the stalks so it should feed better). Thinking of feeding in-lamb ewes the silage plus molassed SBP pellets to boost the energy. On paper, they should have plenty of protein, report says the silage has 50% bypass protein. The ewes are in good condition. Any thoughts?

Had a think about this.

My opinion, which is all it is... buy rolled barley or wheat instead of beet pulp. Forget the inevitable arguments coming that it doesn't need rolled - if you're adding molasses, it does!

Feed value these are both ahead of oats, IMO... I've tried all 3 and am settling on rolled wheat. Only good thing about (rolled) oats is the amount of molasses it can soak up is way ahead of barley and wheat.


Beet pulp is your cheapest option but as I said last night you risk bloat causing prolapses, and also reducing silage intakes. Rolled grain is very light in comparison and you won't get this potential issue.

I don't think you need any 'ewe nuts' or expensive rolls.
 
But remember, a higher protein % does not automatically mean it's a better feed - to keep the price down they often use crap 'fillers' to counter the price of the protein

A proper ingredients list/analysis is so important but feed companies don't always stick to what it says on the label
A 16% where the protein is from soya is better than an 18% getting it from burnt maize gluten. Fish meal was rocket fuel for lambing ewes and hasn't had a like for like replacement since
 

gwi1890

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North wales
Just thinking about this again. Perhaps fodder beet would be a good combination with the silage? @neilo

I used fodder beet 2 years ago and ewes milked well used it for outdoor lambing ewes and indoor, lambs where on the big side that year though, it’s good stuff but I found even though I was tipping the loder bucket on a steep hill I still found them to poach the ground more with it .
 

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