The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: agri293 on October 02, 2012, 09:58:16 pm
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What mineral licks should I use I am looking for advice on what's the best to use and what price they are
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Without sounding obvious but what breed, what ground etc - I don't have the knowledge to answer but someone will given more info :innocent:
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They are all xs ewes mainly texels the grass I have is old grass the weather we have had this year has made old grass suffer there is very little energy in the grass the ewes are a month away from the tup I thought by giving them licks would put a bit of condition on them
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Hi try giving them a tupping bucket b4 you put them to the ram , will help them out alot and increase your lambing percentage , or you could try a energy bucket easily sourced from your local feed merchant . If you can keep them on tight acerage till ten days b4 you put the ram in then eithergive them a bit of cake or if you can put them in a nice bit of grass 7-10 days b4 you put the ram in with them , what they call flushing them up makes them release more eggs so more lambs and it does work .
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Crystalyx high energy is fab on poor ground/poor nutrition, especially if your tup is going in soon. It's give him the energy to do his job too... keeping his :innocent: pecker up, if you like! There are many other licks but I particularly like this one if nutrition is poor. I also put in a block cheap salt lickas TWO of my ewes have picked up orf... about 3.50 plus vat. In Spring when the grass flushes i change it to a high mag lick to guard against staggers, and in late spring/summer change to a garlic lick to guard against worms and fly strike. This time of year I put in a high energy lick ready for tupping and from Feb onward I use a ewe and lamb lick.
Basically, I am a bit of a lick fanatic! Tubbies, Rockies, Megalyx, Crystalyx....any kind of licks. I think licks ROCK!
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Crystalyx high energy is fab on poor ground/poor nutrition, especially if your tup is going in soon. It's give him the energy to do his job too... keeping his :innocent: pecker up, if you like! There are many other licks but I particularly like this one if nutrition is poor. I also put in a block cheap salt lickas TWO of my ewes have picked up orf... about 3.50 plus vat. In Spring when the grass flushes i change it to a high mag lick to guard against staggers, and in late spring/summer change to a garlic lick to guard against worms and fly strike. This time of year I put in a high energy lick ready for tupping and from Feb onward I use a ewe and lamb lick.
Basically, I am a bit of a lick fanatic! Tubbies, Rockies, Megalyx, Crystalyx....any kind of licks. I think licks ROCK!
Ditto :thumbsup: although I never thought about using a Garlic lick - cheers for that bit of advice ;) :thumbsup:
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LOL Blinkers.... another lick-fanatic!!! I forgot to mention the hoof-fix lick I have been putting in all year round too cos of this rubbishy old wet weather! :wave:
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LOL Blinkers.... another lick-fanatic!!! I forgot to mention the hoof-fix lick I have been putting in all year round too cos of this rubbishy old wet weather! :wave:
Oooooo....and does it work :-\ ? Yeay - I love mineral licks too :thumbsup:
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I know of some Texel breeders who feed their sheep different food than your usual commercial sheep, so I would watch what licks you give them too. You should call your local farm supply shop - they are probably owned by Farmgate or Harbro - these feed companies have neutritianists who will help you with what to feed and what licks should be used. Licks are graded - you give them different ones at different stages in the reproduction calendar.
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All mine have access to yellow Rockies and rock salt all year - cattle, sheep, ponies. When I start feeding hay, I give the cattle and sheep a Crystalyx Standard bucket and they have that until after lambing /the grass comes in. the cows don't bother about it much but the ewes eat it in mouthfuls (as would the ponies if they got the chance)
Last year, I gave them the Crystallyx a fortnight before the tup went in, instead of a bagged feed. This year, I'm going back to a bit of bagged feed as I didn't get as many lambs as I hoped.
I did think about the Garlyx but you have to take it out 4 weeks before slaughter (I think) - and tbh my girls just get fat.
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Rosemary.... careful of those bagged feeds :-J ... my girls were throwing quads out last year after I fed 'em. Phew. :relief: I am going back to hay and licks...NO FEED.. well... maybe just a handful of beet pellets so i can keep them tame.
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Hi Mallows Flock - I was interested to hear about all the licks you give your sheep. My pet ewes ( not used for breeding) always have a general purpose lick, but I wondered what that hoof lick was that you mentioned? My girls have terrible hooves, always splitting and cracking, so a hoof lick would presumably help? Is the salt lick just the sort you would normally see for horses? Thanks.
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Hi Moprabbit
The one I used this time was Adam Hensons Hoofsure (I will check name of it) - it's a really rubbish seller apparently due to normal rrp but its very good and is always discounted in stores due to being a poor seller. LOL
There is also a Mole Valley one that I use which is very good too called feet and fertility!
The salt licks you can get ARE indeed the horse ones. I often use Himalayan Salt licks as I think these are great but you can also buy the large cow ones (ask for ones without copper) which are plain white and cheap!! A friend of mine has just bought salt licks with zinc... am pretty keen to get my hands on some of these too!