What to feed my ewes

[neilo]

How long before lambing would you wait too start feeding corn if you were on good quality grass and plenty of it? Mid January lambing.....

That would depend on the breed, the weather, their condition nearer the time, and what ‘good quality grass’ was.
if they’re in good condition on a fresh bite of ryegrass, I likely wouldn’t give them anything until a fortnight out, and then only a bit to adapt the rumen ready for feeding at housing, and to boost colostrum production.

Grass must the most underrated feed available, with lots of shepherds going out and buying hard feed as cheap as they can, which is often not as good as the grass they’re replacing.

 

[Mc115reed]

That would depend on the breed, the weather, their condition nearer the time, and what ‘good quality grass’ was.
if they’re in good condition on a fresh bite of ryegrass, I likely wouldn’t give them anything until a fortnight out, and then only a bit to adapt the rumen ready for feeding at housing, and to boost colostrum production.

Grass must the most underrated feed available, with lots of shepherds going out and buying hard feed as cheap as they can, which is often not as good as the grass they’re replacing.

NC mules, suffolk mules, tex X Welsh ewes...They’re currently on August drilled reseeds not sure exactly what the mix is but they’re real nice lush grasses and the ewes are motoring on them never seen them so fit.. really want too leave it as late as i dare too start on the corn as it’s so bloody expensive had a lot of colostrum issues last year as there grazing was rough perm pasture type running into housing so want too get it right this year

 

[spark_28]

I’ve started feeling mine concentrates already . We’ve had a terrible month for rain, theres f**k all grass too and I’m stressing out what to do.

Some of the sheep are still very lean and I have 25 gimmers who are still in good nick but will eventually drop off like last years did probably .

Put a big hat bale out a few weeks ago and it rained so much that weekend it turned almost black.

Open to suggestions but I’m tempted to carry on feeding at about 250g a ewe per day until scanning and give them constant access to small bales as some dry matter. Obvs after scanning the amount of concentrate will go
Up or down depending on what they have.

Their all Lleyn ewes

 

[Skintagain]

we have seen more bother by spoiling ewes earlier leads to more problems as you end up with obese ewes that you have to put more feed into to keep them on their feet which makes them fatter in a vicious circle then the push their guts out.

I just wait to see what happens if weather turns like last year just get feed bag put sharpish to feed them through the weather.