Author Topic: Feeding Tup Lambs (Read 25874 times)

lou13 · « **on:** October 24, 2014, 10:03:39 pm »

Hello,
I've got a hampshire down tup lamb to bring on for showing next year as a shearling. Rather than just feeding the usual coarse mix does any one have any recommendations on what they feed to bring them on over winter. I haven't shown him this summer so he hasn't at all been pushed and just been on grass.
Some ones told me to add lime flour and seaweed to his food but someone else said not to bother.
Thanks!
lou13

Ladygrey · « **Reply #1 on:** October 25, 2014, 09:15:25 am »

If he has been on just grass and not pushed over the summer, I wouldn't give him any feed during the winter either, he is growing but not being used as a ram so his energybrequirements aren't huge.

If grass quality drops real low or its frosty/snowy you could give him some hay and make sure he has a mineral lick

My ram lambs don't get anything unless its real deep snow or snow that they can't dig through, plus I am using one as a tup right now, he should recover by next year and if he doesnt well then he is no good!

If you really want to feed him I'm not sure what to suggest but there will be others along to suggest feeds to you

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #2 on:** October 25, 2014, 11:28:36 am »

Well if you don't want to feed a mix, what about cabbages? That's the traditional winter feed for tups around here. And turnips for the girls.

shep53 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 25, 2014, 08:01:27 pm »

If you want to stand a chance in the show ring you really need to push a lamb from birth with the best of every thing , but the genetics need to be their in the first place . You don't say how old the lamb is , hopefully spring born off good grass 60kg ?? there are specialist ram feeds or lamb fattening pellets , soaked beet pulp , very good leafy grass , the best hay , yes chopped turnips /swedes /cabbage all good , regular min vit drench or boluses and all worm /fluke /heptavac up to date . To keep fleece /skin / body / bones as good as you can he requires no set backs and must always be improving

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2014, 08:06:08 pm »

lf all you want to use him for is showing then the show boys generally feed them for the first six months and again for the three months prior to showing, shearing in January so the fleece has time to grow and hide faults and/or make the conformation look better. If you want him to have a long and productive life don't feed him anything other than the aforementioned hay in a bad winter.

farmvet · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2014, 10:45:32 pm »

Eblex have useful manual on managing tups for longevity. However as said by shep53 & marchesfarmer you will need to feed over the winter for showing. You'll need a mix or pellet especially for tups to try & prevent gravel.(That's "stones" in the bladder that move down & block the urethra so he cant pee)

lou13 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 26, 2014, 11:42:47 pm »

Thanks for all the replies!

he was born in december 2013 and at the moment is about 80 kg. I'll have to try ordering in some special tup feed, as our local farmway doesn't sell any.

beagh-suffolks · « **Reply #7 on:** October 27, 2014, 10:21:00 pm »

Quote from: lou13 on October 24, 2014, 10:03:39 pm

Hello,
I've got a hampshire down tup lamb to bring on for showing next year as a shearling. Rather than just feeding the usual coarse mix does any one have any recommendations on what they feed to bring them on over winter. I haven't shown him this summer so he hasn't at all been pushed and just been on grass.
Some ones told me to add lime flour and seaweed to his food but someone else said not to bother.
Thanks!
lou13

for showing...have them well wormed and dosed, with my show rams an lambs i normally feed coarse meal along with sugar beet pulp and cabbage (only give cabbage 2 weeks before a show)....sugar beet pulp i found well with the suffolks anyway..they go mad for it an puts the weight on them like something serious. this is just things i have picked up from fellow breeders an my jan 2014 lambs sold in july an were weighing 125kg

Bramblecot · « **Reply #8 on:** October 28, 2014, 09:06:08 am »

[

my show rams an lambs i normally feed coarse meal along with sugar beet pulp and cabbage (only give cabbage 2 weeks before a show)....sugar beet pulp i found well with the suffolks anyway..they go mad for it an puts the weight on them like something serious. this is just things i have picked up from fellow breeders an my jan 2014 lambs sold in july an were weighing 125kg

I'm intrigued as I have a source of very cheap cabbage! why only 2 weeks before a show please?

beagh-suffolks · « **Reply #9 on:** October 28, 2014, 01:44:35 pm »

Quote from: Bramblecot on October 28, 2014, 09:06:08 am

[

my show rams an lambs i normally feed coarse meal along with sugar beet pulp and cabbage (only give cabbage 2 weeks before a show)....sugar beet pulp i found well with the suffolks anyway..they go mad for it an puts the weight on them like something serious. this is just things i have picked up from fellow breeders an my jan 2014 lambs sold in july an were weighing 125kg

I'm intrigued as I have a source of very cheap cabbage! why only 2 weeks before a show please?

i was always told 2/3 weeks before as they will take in less water and will eat more..could be all a wives tale but thats what i was always told and what i have always been doing. i no ones that start the cabbage 6/8 weeks before...depends how much weight you want on them...

Jukes Mum · « **Reply #10 on:** October 28, 2014, 04:18:38 pm »

I have way too many cabbages, how many can you feed at once?

Ladygrey · « **Reply #11 on:** October 28, 2014, 04:41:30 pm »

show people feed cabbages just before a show/sale as cabbages cause the animal to retain water and it swells them slightly, specially the head, so people buying an animal purely on looks that has been stuffed full of food before hand will love the swollen affect and bid on it.....

of course after buying it the swelling goes down and then as the feeding regime is dropped or not pushed so hard the animal may melt away slightly or completely if put on just grass... but all that matters is what it looks like on the day

I wouldnt push your lamb so hard as that if I were you but if you just want it to look good then its your lamb and im sure it would do well at the shows

Bramblecot · « **Reply #12 on:** October 28, 2014, 06:01:45 pm »

Thanks ladygrey re last post. I know nothing about feeding for showing so it's all new to me

. So feeding my cheap (free!) cabbage in small quantities won't do any harm

. Some of the sheep love cabbage, other ignore it

.

Ladygrey · « **Reply #13 on:** October 28, 2014, 07:39:18 pm »

No problem

Yep in small quantities I believe cabbage as a feed is fine

I just wouldnt feed to the amount when he slows down drinking due to his body retaining all the fluid

beagh-suffolks · « **Reply #14 on:** October 28, 2014, 07:44:13 pm »

Quote from: Ladygrey on October 28, 2014, 04:41:30 pm

show people feed cabbages just before a show/sale as cabbages cause the animal to retain water and it swells them slightly, specially the head, so people buying an animal purely on looks that has been stuffed full of food before hand will love the swollen affect and bid on it.....

of course after buying it the swelling goes down and then as the feeding regime is dropped or not pushed so hard the animal may melt away slightly or completely if put on just grass... but all that matters is what it looks like on the day

I wouldnt push your lamb so hard as that if I were you but if you just want it to look good then its your lamb and im sure it would do well at the shows

ive had no complaints on my lambs, never had one say that they lost weight when i sold them, cause we always read up on where our tup lambs have went...we dont push them they are all on rationed feed and live on grass the rest of the time...