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In recent weeks, lambing has begun, and many sheep have lambs at their feet. It is important not to forget how much energy ewes need to maintain lactation and feed those lambs. Energy demands increase significantly from gestation to lactation. On average, dry ewes need to consume about 2% of their body weight each day to grow and do well. However, with a lamb or, in the case of twins, lambs at foot, feed intake for the ewe increases to 4% of their body weight. Ensuring ewes have enough quality feed available to meet this intake is key to maintaining condition of the lactating ewe and enabling lambs to grow and develop.
In a normal year, there would be enough pasture to form base of this diet for ewes, with smaller amounts of supplementary energy and protein required. However, given the late start we have had this season, with a false break followed up, finally, by the true break, coupled with very low temperatures, supplementary feeding is required. Last week we spoke to a farmer who had just had 5 frosts in a row. There have been many photos in social media of frozen water troughs, and several stories of frozen pipes on the household water supply (with which we are all too familiar!). This type of weather presents less than ideal growing conditions for plants and the effect of this cold snap on pastures and crops is becoming very evident. Pasture and crop growth slows, if not ceases altogether, and we all know that after a couple of frosts spraying of weeds is often a waste of time.
The implication for grazing livestock is that when pastures stop growing, the Feed on Offer (FOO) significantly reduces. Furthermore, livestock burn more energy during very cold weather, in an effort to thermoregulate and maintain body temperature. We need to remember that sheep still need feed. When it is cold and they have lambs at foot, and their energy requirement is at its peak, they will eat all there is, often grazing struggling pastures to bare ground. To help preserve pasture for growth during the spring, and to also fulfil ewe feed requirements, it is a good time to visit your local Milne Feeds depot and collect a load of EasyOne®.
EasyOne® is a safe, economical, easy-to-use 9mm pellet that can be easily trail-fed in the paddock or fed through feed troughs to provide lactating ewes with the necessary protein, energy, vitamins and minerals to ensure optimum body condition, lactation, and growth in lambs. The fibre technology used in Milne Feeds pellets means that ewes can go on to feed with no need for an introductory period. This ensures ewes and lambs can start gaining weight from day 1.
Milne sales manager, Paul Nenke, says supplementary feeding at this time of year makes good commercial sense. Not only will supplementing with EasyOne® reduce grazing pressure on pastures, it will also help meet ewe energy and protein requirements to improve milk production for lambs, or ensure optimum weight gain and body condition for meat and wool sheep.
The following table from the Ag Department website is a handy guide showing the energy requirements for ewes during lactation.
For more information about feeding solutions for sheep and ewes, or to discuss your individual feeding set up, call Paul Nenke on 0407 720 040.
