Basic HTML Version
EWE NUTRITION
Veterinary Surgeon
Joe Henry
JOE HENRY
, ALNORTHUMBRIA VETERINARY GROUP
RUSSELL FULLER
, TYNDALE FARM VETS
Assess
nutritional status
and
body condition of in-lamb
ewes to maximise lamb output
(and sometimes save money)
The nutritional status of breeding ewes
should be monitored at key points throughout
the year, and especially so in the lead up
to lambing. Here, vets Russell Fuller of
Tyndale Vet Practice in Gloucestershire and
Joe Henry of Alnorthumbria Vet Group in
Northumberland give their recommendations
on determining the right level of feeding for
ewes to help maximise the numbers of lambs
ultimately reared.
Russell explains: ‘Too often, in-lamb ewes are
fed silage and concentrates in the same
quantities as a matter of routine, from year
to year. But silage quality - the energy and
protein content - will vary, from season to
season, field to field. Even big bales from
the same field can feed differently.
‘With silage such an important factor in
feeding in-lamb ewes, its quality should be
analysed each season.
‘The body condition of ewes as they approach
the last six weeks of lambing may also differ
from season to season. This will determine
how much energy and protein they will require
in the final run-up to lambing.’
Russell and Joe both recommend that ewes are
always body condition scored and have
blood samples taken to reveal their metabolic
profiles so that their nutritional requirements
can be more appropriately met.
Russell adds: ‘With lowland flocks, and also
small flocks, there's a tendency to overfeed
ewes in the run-up to lambing. It's important to
prevent ewes from becoming over-conditioned
for two reasons: fat ewes are more likely to
have a difficult lambing; and secondly, it's
a waste of money on feed.
‘If silage quality is very good, then there is
scope to cut back on the amount of feed
fed without the risk of twin-lamb disease.
Alternatively feed cost savings could be made
by replacing an 18 per cent Crude Protein
blend with a lower protein one.’
Pre-lambing preparations
In the north-east of England, most of Joe Henry's
sheep flocks are set to lamb from early April
onwards. In hill and upland flocks, a shortage
of energy and protein supply is frequently more
of a problem than overfeeding.
Metabolic blood profiling provides an
objective measure of an animal's energy
and protein status. It is used by dairy farmers
to routinely monitor a herd's nutritional
requirements. It can also be of great value
to sheep flocks.
Joe Henry taking blood samples
Veterinary Surgeon
Russell Fuller
WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...
11
LIVESTOCK MATTERS