Author Topic: To soak or not to soak? (Read 5985 times)

Bionic · « **on:** August 09, 2014, 07:51:50 am »

I was told that I need to soak shredded sugar beet. Now I know that has to be done for horses (I don't have any horses) but thought it didn't need to be done when feeding to sheep.

Can all you knowledgeable folk out there advise please as it's been bugging me for a while.

twizzel · « **Reply #1 on:** August 09, 2014, 08:17:54 am »

I soaked it when feeding to lambs, didn't want to give them a reasonable excuse to bloat !

Buttermilk · « **Reply #2 on:** August 09, 2014, 08:36:11 am »

I do not soak the shreds for sheep but will not feed the quick soaking stuff unsoaked as it expands far too rapidly.

Foobar · « **Reply #3 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:38:45 am »

I feed sugar beet pellets dry (never used shreds). But I only use them on adult sheep, and I don't feed very big quantities anyway.

Anke · « **Reply #4 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:51:17 am »

Shreds can be fed dry, but I always soak mine for a bit, as it bulks them up and they don't gobble them up quite so fast.

For the goats - they love them still warm!

Never fed anything other than shreds.

Treud na Mara · « **Reply #5 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:51:56 am »

We have never soaked the shreds and found them to be quite good 'starter' feed for the lambs - they don't like much to begin with and they're easy for small mouths. Quite palatable too. Just gets them used to coming to the bucket and they wouldn't eat more than a small handful so didn't think it could be a problem. Bonus for us is the low input cost at £5 for a bag

Hellybee · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:43:50 pm »

Watch out for the squits unless your feeding as an extra

x

Bionic · « **Reply #7 on:** August 10, 2014, 09:40:40 am »

Quote from: Hellybee on August 09, 2014, 10:43:50 pm

Watch out for the squits unless your feeding as an extra x

Yes, they only get a little bit mixed into any other food they get, which isn't much anyway.
thanks

Hellybee · « **Reply #8 on:** August 10, 2014, 11:33:06 am »

Xx

Bramblecot · « **Reply #9 on:** August 10, 2014, 12:20:42 pm »

Mine only get soaked when it rains, not that they usually last that long

. No problems so far

shep53 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 10, 2014, 01:08:04 pm »

Shreds are fine soaked or not , as said if soaked they tend to make the sheep feel full . While I have never lost a sheep eating sb nuts dry it not unknown for sheep to choke and die , so personal choice