The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Shnoowie on March 20, 2011, 05:21:16 pm
-
Hi all,
We have some ewes in lamb and have made sure they have the necessary lick - lifeline ewe and lamb this year. Since then the girls are getting through them at a rate of knots..5 ewes and around one lick per month. Is this normal? We don't want to under-nourish them, they must need it if they are easting it, but we don't want to overdose them on anything!
The have grass and the odd bit of hay and food when necessary, they're definitely not going hungry!
Any ideas, anyone? Is lifeline particularly more-ish (I've never tried it! :P)
-
It is moreish as it has load of molasses and is highly palatable for the obvious reason that you want them to eat it.
They say 1 bucket should do 25 ewes a week, so on that basis your usage is probably about right.
I would be more worried about over feeding. Depending on your breed (Downs sheep tend to be too fat and jacob types too thin). Best thing is to condition score your sheep, so check their meaty coverage and then feed concentrates as needed thereby controlling their intake of easy energy. The last thing you want it lambs too big to be born and ewes to fat to bother pushing! Been there, done that, got the tshirt!