Author Topic: Over fat ewes (Read 1525 times)

perkhar · « **on:** February 25, 2017, 10:01:50 pm »

I have today separated my ewes for lambing 1lamb 2 lambs and 3 lambs. They are all in very good condition. My sister in law an experienced lamber says they are in very good condition if not over conditioned. I have just over 3 weeks to go.
She suggested to continue to feed the triplets and twins but to cut out the concentrates altogether for the singles... Looking for second opinions.

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #1 on:** February 26, 2017, 09:27:24 am »

How much are you actually giving them? Is it an 18% protein sheep nut? At this stage in the pregnancy you're not only feeding the growth of the lamb but also supporting good milking ability after it's been born.

perkhar · « **Reply #2 on:** February 26, 2017, 09:42:38 am »

I was giving them 2 hand full of ewe nuts each came to half a bucket between 9 of them and then filled the rest of the bucket with barley.

They also had ab lib hay at all times.

They are now indoors but as you say I don't want to cut them out altogether because I might stop the milk production. As it stands today I have them all on ab lib hay
Singles I didn't feed them today on concentrates
Twins I gave them 300g per head
Triples got 500g per head
Of ewe nuts

There not obese by the way i just don't want to make life to difficult at lambing

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #3 on:** February 26, 2017, 10:21:07 am »

It's difficult to advise without being able to put a hand on their backs to condition score. Mine are 11 days off the beginning of lambing and the singles are getting 150g nuts twice a day and doubles 400g twice a day. They're still out at pasture but with ad lib hay. There's one older, thin ewe carrying twins that's clearly got a problem with her teeth, judging by the way a lot of the nuts fall out of her mouth, and she's on 300g three times a day. Feed at this stage is unlikely to get laid down as fat but will go into the lambs. I've never had a problem with too-large twins, only big singles before I started this feed regime, which is why the singles' feed amount is less than half that of the doubles. This works for both my Down and Mountain breeds.

perkhar · « **Reply #4 on:** February 26, 2017, 10:31:03 am »

Well they are pure Cheviots and I'd say the condition score is 4. Maybe I should just keep the barley off them??? After all I was just giving it to them as a cheaper bulk feed. so you think that the ewe nuts aren't going to put any more weight on them as in fat stores???
I have lambed several times before. But this is my first time with Cheviots stock and they are pedigree. I have taken extra care with these girls this year.

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #5 on:** February 26, 2017, 11:47:56 am »

I think the advantage with ewe nuts is the protein content is a known quantity. We feed a barley/wheat mix to our finishing pigs to put on a layer of fat for crackling in the last four weeks - don't known how similar the physiology is, though! If you can keep them at CS 4 then ratchet the feed down the week after lambing milk production should take some of the condition off the ewes.

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #6 on:** February 26, 2017, 12:26:43 pm »

Hill sheep on good hay or grass shouldn't need help to produce a single. But you could cause more stress with a sudden change in diet. Personally I would gradually wean the singles off any cake at all.

I've never fed pure barley to sheep. I would hope that hill types bred pure really don't need lots of protein to produce a decent pair of twins. So if it were me, with Cheviots bred to a Cheviot tup, I would personally be feeding the twins a 16% stockblend to condition, with a pre-lambing lick available. But I wouldn't severely cut rations, so in your circs I might start to 'tone down' what they're getting - maybe replace some of the nuts and barley with some soaked sugar beet.

Triplets I probably wouldn't mess with. They'll need all the help they can get, and you certainly don't want to stress them by reducing their rations this close to lambing.

shep53 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2017, 12:34:34 pm »

Barley can have anything up to 18% protein on its own with 12% as the oft quoted figure . so if I read your post correctly you have been giving twins 600g of roughly 15% protein ? this would explain the condition and is to much for one feed . You say cheviot but which ones ? what age ? and I assume pure lambs . Reads as if your land or management is too good for the breed , they can put on condition very easily

shep53 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2017, 04:05:26 pm »

MY draft ( 6yrs + ) hill northies are 5 wks from lambing cs 3 and on 300gms per day singles and twins and the singles will stay on this amount right up to lambing