Even with the recent rain, ewes will still need supplementary feed. ‘Green pick’ is still a couple of weeks away and farmers remain under significant pressure on ewe condition leading into lambing.
Following travel across the Wheatbelt, including Wagin Woolorama and Darkan Sheep Fest, it's clear paddock feed availability remains limited. While rain will improve conditions, any pasture that does emerge is likely to be low in nutritional value, creating a real challenge for producers.
Ewe condition score at lambing is one of the biggest drivers of lamb survival, birthweight and overall flock performance. Industry recommendations consistently highlight maintaining ewes at around condition score 3 through late pregnancy to optimise lambing outcomes.
When ewes fall below this level, producers can expect lighter lambs, poorer mothering ability, reduced milk production and, ultimately, lower marking percentages. To help manage this, many farmers are turning to Milne Feeds’ EasyOne pellets, with increased production capacity ensuring supply is available.
Supplementary Feeding is Essential
Pasture alone is rarely enough to meet energy and protein requirements. Western Australian guidelines highlight that supplementary feeding is often required through late summer, autumn and into winter to prevent excessive liveweight loss in pregnant ewes.
Strategic feeding is not just about maintaining weight. It is about supporting the high nutritional demands of late pregnancy and ensuring ewes are set up for successful lambing.
A well-balanced ration such as EasyOne provides a consistent supply of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals, helping stabilise ewe condition when pasture falls short.
Grain Feeding Challenges
While grain feeding is commonly used, it is not always the most efficient option in dry paddock conditions.
Feeding grain directly on the ground can result in significant wastage. In paddock feeding situations, grain can be:
Missed grain can also lead to volunteer cereals in following crops, which is a common issue.
In dry conditions, where ground cover is low and uneven, these losses are often increased.
Pellet Advantage: Consistent Intake, Minimal Loss
The 9mm pellet:
This improves feed utilisation and ensures more of what is fed is converted into ewe condition, rather than being wasted.
A complete pellet also removes the variability often seen with grain feeding, where sheep may selectively eat or miss key nutrients. With a balanced pellet, every mouthful delivers consistent nutrition.
Setting Up for Lambing Success
With recent rain across WA, maintaining ewe condition must remain a top priority. The cost of underfeeding ewes is far greater than the investment in supplementation, with impacts seen in lamb survival, growth and overall flock performance.
Using a consistent, efficient feed source such as EasyOne helps:
In these early seasonal conditions, the focus should be on efficiency and outcomes, ensuring every tonne of feed delivered is doing its job and contributing to the farm.
For more information on EasyOne, call Paul Nenke on 0407 720 040.
