What to feed ewes

[Sheep92]

Hi all, I am feeding twins and triplets on this clamp silage through the wagon they're in great condition, any advice on weather I'd get away with adding just soya or sopralin? for some protein, local feed company who I buy off did the analysis.

The ewes are just over 6 weeks away from lambing.
Thanks.

 

[Woolless]

Did they not give you a figure for energy, mjme/kg I think the unit is?

 

[Sheep92]

Did they not give you a figure for energy, mjme/kg I think the unit is?

No they didn't, they just said it was high in energy, maybe i should go get it tested somewhere else

 

[Woolless]

No they didn't, they just said it was high in energy, maybe i should go get it tested somewhere else

If I'm getting fodder tested, I send it to an independent lab. At least I know the result is definitely unbiased. I would always have a question mark in my head about a sample done by a feed company. I don't know why the exact energy level should be a secret?

 

[Sheep92]

If I'm getting fodder tested, I send it to an independent lab. At least I know the result is definitely unbiased. I would always have a question mark in my head about a sample done by a feed company. I don't know why the exact energy level should be a secret?

That's true, I'm not sure I thought maybe that's the way they do it, but your right, I suppose they don't want me buying less feed anyway!

 

[d-wales]

That's true, I'm not sure I thought maybe that's the way they do it, but your right, I suppose they don't want me buying less feed anyway!

Tell them you'll pay them once they give you the energy value of it. It's pritty useless without it.

 

[Mc115reed]

They’ve litrally left out the most important bit

 

[neilo]

If I'm getting fodder tested, I send it to an independent lab. At least I know the result is definitely unbiased. I would always have a question mark in my head about a sample done by a feed company. I don't know why the exact energy level should be a secret?

Every time I’ve had fodder tested by a feed company, the result has come from the same lab that I’d probably have sent it too anyway. Unless the rep contaminates the sample with some straw, I fail to see how they can knobbly it tbh.

But yes, strange there isn’t an energy level in the OP’s test result. Protein level not high, so I suspect the ME isn’t going to be particularly high either?

 

[daithi]

In Ireland it's the DMD figure that we work of, above 75 is considered very good, yours at 83 must be excellent, though your protein is low

 

[Shep1]

That's a questionable test. It's unusual to see such high DMD and such low protein.

I'd get another test done somewhere else if it was me

 

[Agrivator]

That's a questionable test. It's unusual to see such high DMD and such low protein.

I'd get another test done somewhere else if it was me

ME = Digestibility x .16

Which gives an ME of over 13. Better than most cakes!!

 

[Sheep92]

ME = Digestibility x .16

Which gives an ME of over 13. Better than most cakes!!

That explains a bit, I enquired about the ME value, they said the way they test it, they use the dmd figure for energy, hard to find much info on Google,
In fairness to then, I tested the silage when the pit was opened and it was 81 dmd and 11 protein then, now half way through and not much change so must be fairly accurate

 

[Bury the Trash]

That explains a bit, I enquired about the ME value, they said the way they test it, they use the dmd figure for energy, hard to find much info on Google,
In fairness to then, I tested the silage when the pit was opened and it was 81 dmd and 11 protein then, now half way through and not much change so must be fairly accurate

might not be far out , if its very stable then thats consistent with the low ph on the analysis
just add soya to add the protein and some energy to cover if that energy figure is not accurate
fairly simple really and good clean clamp silage is so good for in lamb ewes