[milliebecks]

I'm sure this is one of those newbie questions with a million different answers, but here goes ....

Lambing going well so far - 10 lambs from 6 shetland ewes, with 4 more ewes to lamb. No need to intervene and all lambs seem to be healthy. The 4 yet to lamb are next to, but separated from, the ewes and lambs ....mainly so we have a better idea where to check on the ladies in waiting.

I'm still feeding all the ewes the same - ewe nuts morning and evening at the same rate as 2 weeks before the first due date. Ad lib hay.

Is this right, wrong and if it's OK, how long should I continue? I've read that creep feeding is not really necessary unless you're going for max weight as soon as poss. I'm not, and I don't think that's right for shetlands anyway. Having said that, the paddock they're in at the moment was reseeded last year and was not very successful, so what they're on is fairly poor ...

Any advice please?

[Marches Farmer]

Feeding is an art and a science.  If grazing's poor I'd be inclined to do as you are.  If you support the ewe the ewe will support the lambs.  When very young their food conversion rate is most efficient and supporting them now will give you maximum growth rate - grow the frame and they can pack it out later.

[Anke]

I now always feed for a few weeks post-lambing (Shetlands and Gotlands). a) it helps prevent hypomagnesia (grass staggers) and b) it also maximises the ewe's milk production. c) It also teaches the lambs that there is feed in the trough, and they will remember when you get to winter and want to feed them maybe. Also makes it easier to catch them over summer/autumn, gets the lambs used to having a tall two-legged food provider standing amongst them...

[Foobar]

Keep feeding until you have good grass.  Drop it down to once a day as the grass starts to improve.


Feeding after lambing will be a huge benefit to the lambs as it will mean the ewes produce more milk, so it's not money wasted.  It's better to feed the ewes well rather than creep feeding the lambs imho.

[Hellybee]

Until we ve got more bite, we feeding.  Haylage with daily feed comprising of ewe nuts laced with creep.  They do have protein/energy lick too. 

[Backinwellies]

Quote from Gwlaad ...  info for farmers .....


Unfortunately for many sheep farmers, this unseasonal weather has come at a time where the ewe’s milk production is at its peak, three to four weeks post lambing, and when energy demands are at their highest.

Generally, an ewe rearing twins will need considerably  more energy during this period compared to one week before lambing. Of course her energy requirement depends on her weight, body condition score and the number of lambs she’s rearing. If we take for example a 60kg ewe rearing twins, a week before lambing she will need 16.3MJ of energy. Then during early lactation to produce 2L of milk a day she will need 23.7MJ or 32MJ to produce 3L. (Source: Energy and Protein requirements of ruminants, AFRC 1993)

 If there is less than 4cm of grass available, it’s unlikely that the ewe’s needs will be fully met, and in order to maintain the performance of the ewe and lambs, additional feeding will be necessary.

[milliebecks]

Thanks all!
That's very helpful and reassuring. I'll keep doing what I'm doing ..... especially since it seems a return to winter is forecast 

[Penninehillbilly]

May I come in with another similar question?
Swaley Ewe lambed 1 lamb about a week ago, she's only getting about 8oz of ewe mix a day, haylage available, over an acre shared with 1 other sheep, there is grass, but she's bleating all the time.
Not enough food? Needs worming? (actually came online to see if there was a chart for working her weight out for worming, which I have found).

[Hevxxx99]

Where's the chart? It sounds useful!

My 8 lactating ewes, mostly with twins, are getting about 1kg each a day plus hay and a feed block. The grazing isn't bad but not what I'd call lush. Lambs are 2-6 weeks old and the ewes are telling me they are completely starving.  I'm thinking of upping their ration. Condition-wise, I'd say they were between 2 and 3.  None are fat and mostly, they're rather leaner than I'd think ideal with twins on.

The lambs, however, don't seem hungry 

[Penninehillbilly]

Not so much a chart but a formula (i was looking for a chart because I use one for goats using girth measurement.) 
Formula is girth (round heart area) x girth x length, length seems to be front of breastfeeding area to just below tail.
I'll worm and increase feed, though she doesn't look poor.

[Penninehillbilly]

Lost connection just as I was about to add to this
eg given
In inches

35 x 35 x 30 divided by 300 =  122 lb

it was on www.tractorsupply.com

[Hevxxx99]

Thanks!

I wonder how much you have to allow for fleece around the girth. Some of mine look like wooly clouds.

[landydan]

This is what i do...
I feed my ewes harldy any cake, they all get 1 fodder beet a day from about 6 weeks prior to lambing and when they are housed ( about 3/4 days prior to due date), i drop back and they get about half each (too much pressure on rumen).

Once lambed they go back upto their beet a day and when in pens a good handful of ewe rolls.

This seems to work well and the fodder keeps the cost of cake down!

And once they are in the field they get the beet pretty much continuously until the lambs are weaned

[Penninehillbilly]

Thanks!

I wonder how much you have to allow for fleece around the girth. Some of mine look like wooly clouds.

That's what I was wondering, on the goats i use baleband to get length,  then measure the baleband, hoping it will cut into the fleece. Havn't managed to try it yet, OH not here yet and need him to hold them.

Thought about beet, but i don't have enough stock

[Jullienne]

It really depends on what breed it is which you keep, some need more food than others to keep the weight on. For example I keep Lleyns and they have a hay bale during the winter, and some wheatbeet, or sugarbeet, plus they have a energy block too. I try to keep the cake intake down but supplement them with energy blocks and hay, the sugarbeet/wheatbeet is just there for them to keep them friendly and give them a little extra. Once they're close to lambing, which is April, I lower the amount of cake they get, as the grass is coming through, this varies year by year, so depending on the weather they will have cake, more so if there isn't much grass and less so if there is....... you get the picture. I carry on giving them little bits of cake through lambing until the grass really comes through and then slowly wean them off, once its coming through fast. After that its no more cake until the following late autumn/winter. I do sometimes give them some extra feed to flush them prior the tup going in, this year no triplets only singles and a lot of doubles!  I hope this helps and all the best with whatever you decide