- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Bit in TSF on Friday - condition is the most important thing pre lambing. I tend to agree.
ME sources are vital.
ME sources are vital.
Seen tmr fed to ewes years ago when keenan first came out, works exceptionally well, just need clean silage with no soil ie moles.We have housed our March lambing flock and for the first time ever they're getting just silage for a while. I can't believe how stress free it is for both us and the sheep. It's got me onto thinking about feeding TMR. Could we just mix ewe nuts with silage? Obviously this would involve buying a s/h mixer wagon but wouldn't need anything fancy. Anyone doing it?
How much silage would a 70kg ewe eat between 1st jan 1st april ?
Inside.Inside or outside?
We used to house 1500 ewes and feed with TMR.using rolls,nuts or even bruised barley didnt work as the first ones in would pick out the hard feed. When the more timed ewes got there turn at the feed barrier only silge was left.cured it with high protein meal mixed in with silage and liquid mollasses.worked really well and an easy way to feed housed sheep. Dont do it it now as sold the sheep and upped the cow numbers and got a life.We have housed our March lambing flock and for the first time ever they're getting just silage for a while. I can't believe how stress free it is for both us and the sheep. It's got me onto thinking about feeding TMR. Could we just mix ewe nuts with silage? Obviously this would involve buying a s/h mixer wagon but wouldn't need anything fancy. Anyone doing it?
yes i worked out that the only way it may work was with very fine meal or liquid feedWe used to house 1500 ewes and feed with TMR.using rolls,nuts or even bruised barley didnt work as the first ones in would pick out the hard feed. When the more timed ewes got there turn at the feed barrier only silge was left.cured it with high protein meal mixed in with silage and liquid mollasses.worked really well and an easy way to feed housed sheep. Dont do it it now as sold the sheep and upped the cow numbers and got a life.
Silage needs to be leaf not bents well chopped and 30% dm no dryerwhen i did it ewes went in scrum down to pick all the concentrates out .if yiu did not have full face access it was a desaster . how come you guys dont have this
Feeding the cattle from the clamp makes it doable to keep the freshest /best silage for the ewes .. something thats much harder to do without, or a large flock using it quick enough....I have written on a previous thread about this. These are only my thoughts of how it worked when |I did it.
1) The mixer was used for the cattle as well else very expensive fixed equipment. auger mixer rather than paddle.
2) do need a headspace for each sheep. mine was a heath robinson outdoor affair but worked well.
3) ewes much healthier than with cake and bales
4) only fed 24 hrs at a time - let them clean up - access to a ring feeder of clean straw.
5) keep water troughs regularly clean
6) used a meal mix. thought it would be a great idea to mix all straights but actually a ball ache.
7) maize silage made the ewes milk beautifully
8) very relaxed lambing shed - no evening feed which was bliss.
9) fed the same ration outside pre lambing so no stress from housing at the last minute
I don't think I saved a great deal on ingredient costs, but ewes much happier and shepherds much happier.
and be able to use it quick enough..... so the face doesn't go offSeen tmr fed to ewes years ago when keenan first came out, works exceptionally well, just need clean silage with no soil ie moles.
Both things I suppose we take for granted I supposeand be able to use it quick enough..... so the face doesn't go off
Feeding the cattle from the clamp makes it doable to keep the freshest /best silage for the ewes .. something thats much harder to do without, or a large flock using it quick enough....
This niggles me as i don't like feeding baled stuff.
yes it would. and not getting it too dry. and plus additive as well i suppose.Would putting a division wall up the pit, halving the face (Making 1 pit into 2) work?
We feed tmr in individual pens and then put them in yards with their lambs until the weather is nice enough or more to the point there is enough grass then feed with concentrate that we mix up so it’s exactly the same but with no silage fed in bags. We tend to leave them in with lambs a fair time because it’s easier to feed them than running around with bags etc. we feed in hoppers though after lambing as lambs jump through feed fencesMight as well revive this thread instead of starting my own. Just planning for next year lambing now and looking at starting TMR ration for my sheep have big enough shed which I can easily put feed barriers on got the wagon for cows so no cost there work with pit silage bruised barley and pot ale for calves so should be able with maybe a tweek of ingredients to get sheep diet easy enough. My main question for all is after they have lambed and you put them out do you keep them on TMR or do you go back to feeding concentrate?
Might as well revive this thread instead of starting my own. Just planning for next year lambing now and looking at starting TMR ration for my sheep have big enough shed which I can easily put feed barriers on got the wagon for cows so no cost there work with pit silage bruised barley and pot ale for calves so should be able with maybe a tweek of ingredients to get sheep diet easy enough. My main
Ours get nuts and hay in the individual pens for handiness then go straight out to grass the change from tmr doesn't effect themquestion for all is after they have lambed and you put them out do you keep them on TMR or do you go back to feeding concentrate?
There is normally a good 6/8 weeks from lambing starting to grass appearing here and unfortunately not enough roof space for the ewes and lambs to keep them on very long.We feed tmr in individual pens and then put them in yards with their lambs until the weather is nice enough or more to the point there is enough grass then feed with concentrate that we mix up so it’s exactly the same but with no silage fed in bags. We tend to leave them in with lambs a fair time because it’s easier to feed them than running around with bags etc. we feed in hoppers though after lambing as lambs jump through feed fences View attachment 1115409
That's good to know as I feel after lambing it would be easier feeding nuts and hay in the field still, hopefully for a shorter period if I can rest the fields by having the sheep off them for longer period.Ours get nuts and hay in the individual pens for handiness then go straight out to grass the change from tmr doesn't effect them