[Richmond]

I am sending some lambs off in a couple of weeks. They're all ewe lambs except one wether. My usual routine is to start feeding them a week or so beforehand to get them used to coming into a pen, then on D Day shut them in ready for loading. I'd like to buy some ewe nuts (rattle in a bucket better than coarse mix and easier to pick up if spilled) however I do realise these aren't good for wethers. But would it really matter just for a week or so?

[SallyintNorth]

Probably not, but the consequences: cost, inconvenience and upset, not to mention the welfare issue, if you're unlucky...  Tup'n'lamb mix won't hurt ewes, so you wouldn't waste the rest of the sack...

[Twotwo]

You could get some sugarbeet nuts .. they would be safe and rattle in the bucket well

[Richmond]

Thank you both. We have pigs so I think I'll rattle some pig nuts to call them in but offer them coarse ration to actually eat. I don't think our local feed supplier does sugar beet nuts; at least I've never seen them there but can ask.

[Bywaters]

For what it is worth, surely, if ewe mix (or tup mix for that matter) was so dangerous to feed to wethers or to the wrong sex, there would be a huge warning label on the sacks ?

My opinion is that the danger - such that it is - manifests itself over long term, rather than a coupld of weeks before slaughter so, I wouldn't make life any harder than it is and feed them all the same grub