[ewesaidit]

Hi - any tips very welcome ......

I have a ewe with twin lambs, now three weeks old.  A bit shocked at how much weight she has lost. 

At lambing she was in great order - condition score 3.5 or a bit more but can now feel her bones!   

She has ad lib hay and is getting 18% protein ewe mix twice a day - about 1kg over two feeds.  I fluked and wormed her over the weekend.

I know they can 'milk off their back' and expect weight loss in ewes but haven't had one to this extent before.

I appreciate I'm unlikely to be able to get her to gain a lot of weight at this stage with lambs at foot but would like to support her as much as possible

[ZaktheLad]

How about giving her some conditioning drench. The nettex one is very good.  Also you could try feeding her some rye grass haylage (the red bag one from marksway is good for weight gain) or some alfafa, again some are formulated to help with weight gain.

[Marches Farmer]

Can you give the lambs a bit of help?  Do they have access to creep feed and good grazing?  If they begin to fill up with stuff that takes longer to digest it'll take the load off her.

[clydesdaleclopper]

try sprouting some black sunflower seeds for her to add to her feed.

[Old Shep]

Sounds simple but feed her more of her usual feed? Instructions on bags are guidelines only.

[ewesaidit]

Thanks for the replies so far.   

Hoping to be able to move things around at the weekend to be able to create a creep area for the lambs.

No grass to speak of here at this time of year so getting out with lambs for a runabout during the day more for a bit of exercise than to eat (have access to hay though)

Hay is good quality but might try and get some haylage as she's more likely to get through it quicker?

[ewesaidit]

Thanks Old Shep          Was a bit worried about upping her concentrates too much (in relation to how much hay she eats) in case it causes other problems i.e. scouring/acidiosis - thought she would need more fibre?     

Pre lambing was mixing soaked sugar beet in to the feeds - maybe I should go back to doing that or giving a separate soaked beet feed?

[Crbecky10]

It sounds like the amounts you're giving her are fine. Your feed will be good at 18% protein,  is it 'good' quality? Feed made with the best ingredients always makes a difference. Try to help the lambs out as much as possible, creep, hay, is she milking them well?
Hope this helps 

[Anke]

My goats go mad for Readigrass at this time of year. Not sure if sheep will touch it though. If you can get a smallish quantity from a horsekeeper maybe to try?

[Bramblecot]

Winter 'greens' - kale, cabbage, cauli leaves etc.  Some of mine love them once they get the taste.

[Marches Farmer]

Not much in the way of protein or calories, though ...?

[clydesdaleclopper]

Not much in the way of protein or calories, though ...?

That's why I suggested the sunflower seeds - they are packed with protein and minerals

[Bramblecot]

Op wanted to introduce more fibre as there is no grass, and ewe already has 1kg of conc. a day.    My vet advises absolute max. of 1.5kg conc. at 18% protein a day, always split into several feeds.

Personally, I would feed up the lambs if ewe is losing too much condition.

[Anke]

Readigrass has 15% protein, so not low and definitely higher than hay or haylage.

But I agree, getting some creep into the lambs will help, as they are 3 weeks old.

[Badger Nadgers]

Do you put a glucose bucket out for them before lambing?