The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Shropshirelass on January 05, 2025, 11:30:04 pm
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So I've gone & stocked up on a load of fodder beet to try & save a bit on nuts over the winter & apart from the ewes having a bit when its chopped up the ungrateful sods aren't really keen - I don't think they've had it before, I know my lambs haven't.
Any tips would be greatly appreciated as I've got half a tonne to get through of the stuff...
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I've got no ideas I'm afraid. Mine don't like carrots, even when chopped up !
It's been a major success this year, in getting them to eat rolls rather than nuts !
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My lot love coarse mix so I introduce my lambs and shearlings to fodder beet by chopping it up and mixing with a few handfuls of coarse mix. After a while they just get the chopped fodder beet. The ewes are well used to it and will tackle them whole if given a chance.
Perhaps you could try offering yours some chopped fodder beet mixed with a few handfuls of nuts to encourage them?
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Update: My tups & tup lambs apparently love them & don't mind them whole. I have been trying them chopped & whole & with nuts & some of the ewes are nibbling on them there's 1 I saw eating them whole, Hopefully if their hungry enough they'll start eating them.
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Fodder beet is excellent feed, and safe to feed whole to sheep (must be chopped for cattle, choking hazard). So I'm glad yours are getting the hang of it!
We had a load of fb one year. It was a lot of work chopping, so I'm afraid the experiment didn't get repeated. (Which was a shame, our cattle had never come through a winter so well.)