[Shnoowie]

As the weather is drawing in (fairly rapidly) I know I need to bulk up what the sheep are getting; currently they are on good grass (which probably won't be good for much longer) with the odd section of hay and a few sheep nuts thrown in.  I've seen people mention sugar beet - is this something I should be feeding?  What does everyone reccommed?  The tups are in at the moment and I want to make sure that everyone is getting the food they need to keep them going through the winter.  We have a flock of breeding Ryelands and also a flock of edible Mules (not being tupped) - the Mules are very disinterested in any nuts we put down, but I want to keep the weight on them over winter ready for Easter. Just hay then? 

[daddymatty82]

good grass where are you?

[Rosemary]

I doubt if you have good grass. You might have a lot of grass, but the nutritional value is likely to be low by this time of year. We're the same - lots of grass.

We're feeding Farmgate All Stock Pencils at about 0.5kg per ewe while the tup is in (ie until tomorrow). They also have a Crystalyx Standard Hi Mag lick. From tomorrow, they will be in a different field with a shelter, with ad lib hay and the lick. We'll cut down the pencils over the next week or so. That will be them until 6 weeks before lambing if they are carrying twins or the weather is bad.

[Shnoowie]

By 'good' I do mean 'lots', though it was very good in the summer in 2 out of our 3 fields...the third had had horses in 'til recently so after a while with sheep on it should be back to 'normal'.
Thanks for the help, Rosemary, will make sure I get another lick - ours is running low.