Sugar beet pulp pellets for ewes

[Woolless]

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?

 

[Al R]

Don’t feed red clover inside unless your on slats then it’s ideal

 

[Woolless]

Don’t feed red clover inside unless your on slats then it’s ideal

They're outside. I'm currently feeding it to ewe hoggs inside with no issues?

 

[Al R]

They're outside. I'm currently feeding it to ewe hoggs inside with no issues?

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

 

[Woolless]

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.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Oats would be just as good

 

[Nithsdale]

Got to watch Beet Pulp, it swells in the stomach which can lead to prolapses if you're feeding a lot of it

 

[Woolless]

Got to watch Beet Pulp, it swells in the stomach which can lead to prolapses if you're feeding a lot of it

I would reckon on feeding 0.5kg a day. Hopefully for the last week or two before kick off, they'll be on their lambing paddocks.

 

[Woolless]

Oats would be just as good

Yes, not as good for feeding on the ground outside though and they would definitely be keener to eat SBP.

 

[Macsky]

Got to watch Beet Pulp, it swells in the stomach which can lead to prolapses if you're feeding a lot of it

and possibly reduce intake of silage leading to lower protein intake?

 

[Woolless]

and possibly reduce intake of silage leading to lower protein intake?

Hmm, good point. Might be just as well with ewe rolls, although that excessive protein will have an energy cost to deal with. 16% CP ones would do the job and be cheaper, I suppose.

 

[Northumberland]

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

 

[Woolless]

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

Right, just not as good spec all round.

 

[Woolless]

Maybe 50% ewe rolls, 50% SBP would work?

 

[Pistonbroke]

We have 1/3 each of whole maize,beet pulp and 19%ewe cake. Go to 50%cake closer to lambing

 

[Nithsdale]

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]

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.

 

[Pistonbroke]

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

 

[Woolless]

Just thinking about this again. Perhaps fodder beet would be a good combination with the silage? @neilo

 

[gwi1890]

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 .