The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: GlebeFieldFarm on December 16, 2015, 01:22:29 pm
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Hi
I'm just looking for some reviews of heygates flock master ewe nuts and there premium 20% nut. I looking to change to this make for lambing but Ive ever used it before. Is it good quality?
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For most of the year I use Hegates Hogget nuts as these can be fed to males as well as females. I use these to train the sheep to pen themselves and for fattening and finishing the castrates if they need it. For feeding to ewes before and after lambing I use Flockmaster 18 Nuts. Both of these feeds are of good quality and are gobbled up fast.
My sheep are Castlemilk Moorits and Cotswolds. The premium 20% nuts are for 'top performing flocks'. These may be good for high input, high output flocks but I am not certain they would suit my more slow growing breeds. What breed(s) do you keep and why do you want the higher protein feed?
Regards, Dave
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I have Southdowns and a mixture of mules. They have scanned very well this year and mostly are carrying twins or triplets. So just wanted to make sure they get everything they need. Usually I use BOCM (for farmers) but heygates have given me a better price just wondering if the feed wasn't as good.
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If your Southdowns are in good condition on good grazing and will be lambing at two or more years of age (so are fully grown themselves) I doubt they'll need 20% protein. I feed mine whatever 18% protein nut is cheapest - it's generally either HJ Lea Oakes or For Farmers.
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I have cross bred ewes and use a Poll Dorset ram and have used heygates 18% ewe nut with no problems. Usually produce twins, I don't scan, feed 6 weeks before and 2 weeks after lambing. Lambs always arrive a good size and ewes milk well :wave: :sheep:
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Ask for the ingredients list of both the BOCM and Heygates, together with the mineral analysis, and compare them! If you aren't sure what you are looking for, post them on here and we will tell you which is better :).