[agri293]

What mineral licks should I use  I am looking for advice on what's the best to use and what price they are

[Brucklay]

Without sounding obvious but what breed, what ground etc - I don't have the knowledge to answer but someone will given more info 

[agri293]

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

[mart2671]

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 .

[Mallows Flock]

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  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!

[Blinkers]

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  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    although I never thought about using a Garlic lick - cheers for that bit of advice 

[Mallows Flock]

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! 

[Blinkers]

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! 

Oooooo....and does it work  ?   Yeay - I love mineral licks too 

[goosepimple]

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.

[Rosemary]

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.

[Mallows Flock]

Rosemary.... careful of those bagged feeds  ... my girls were throwing quads out last year after I fed 'em. Phew.    I am going back to hay and licks...NO FEED.. well... maybe just a handful of beet pellets so i can keep them tame.

[moprabbit]

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.

[Mallows Flock]

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!