
Quad lamb grazing
Spring vegetation

South Dakota range

Red clover
White clover
Plenty of grass to eat

Chicory

Hydroponic fodder

Hay Auction

Hay

Lambs eating hay
Ewes eating alfalfa hay

Ewes eating grass hay

Young lamb eating haylage

Eating creep feed

Drinking liquid molasses

Wet feed

Six kinds of grain
Image by Cindy Mason

Corn and protein pellet

Whole cottonseed

Soybean hulls

Pineapple cannery waste

Range cubes

Lambs eating mineral

Eating grain

Grain bin

Lick tub

Mineral feeder

Salt lick

Tropical forages
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Feedstuffs for sheep and lambs
Definition of feedstuff - any of the constituent nutrients of an animal ration.
While forages are the most "natural" diet for sheep and
lambs and usually the most economical, a sheep's nutritional requirements can be met by feeding
a variety of feedstuffs. The rumen can easily adapt to different feedstuffs, so long as it is given ample time to adjust.
Feedstuffs can substitute for one another so long as the
sheep's nutritional requirements are met, nutritional
imbalances are not created, and the health of the rumen is not compromised. Feeding programs should take into
account animal requirements, feedstuff availability, costs of nutrients, and labor.
Pasture, forbs, and browse
Pasture, range, forbs, and browse are usually the primary and
most economical source of nutrients for sheep and lambs, and
in many cases, all that sheep need to meet their nutritional
requirements. For example, from the time a ewe weans her lambs through her first 15 weeks of pregnancy, forage will likely meet all her nutritional needs.
Pasture is high in energy, protein, and palatability
when it is in a vegetative state. However, it can have a high
moisture content when it is rapidly growing, and sometimes it
can be difficult for high-producing animals to eat enough grass
to meet their nutrient requirements.
Vegetation with high moisture content can also cause sheep and lambs to have loose feces.
As pasture plants mature, their palatability, digestibility, and nutritive
value decline, thus it is important to rotate and/or clip pastures
to keep plants in a vegetative state. Forbs often have higher
digestibility and crude protein levels than grasses at similar
stages of maturity. It is becoming popular in some countries to graze sheep on herbs (chicory and plaintain).
Sheep are excellent weed eaters and will often choose to eat
weeds over grass. Because of their preference for weeds, sheep
are often used to control invasive or noxious weeds, such as leafy
spurge, knapweed, and kudzu.
There is renewed interest in hydoponic fodder, e.g. barley sprouts, as a feed source for sheep and other livestock. Hydroponic fodder is a nutritious feed, but is high in moisture content, thus usually has a high nutrient cost. Hydroponic fodder is usually fed as a portion of the diet or mixed into a TMR.
Hay
Hay is forage that has been mowed (cut) and cured (dried) for
use as livestock feed. It is usually the primary source of nutrients
for sheep during the winter months or dry season when most forage plants are not actively growing. Hay varies tremendously
in quality, and while hay quality can be affected by plant species,
quality is determined mostly by the maturity of the plants when they
were harvested for hay.
Proper harvesting and storage is necessary
to maintain nutritional quality of hay. Hay that is stored outside without cover deteriorates rapidly in quality. The only way to know
the "true" nutritive value of hay is to have it analyzed at a forage
testing laboratory. A list of certified forage testing laboratories can be found at www.foragetesting.org.
Hay is a moderate source of protein and energy for sheep and
lambs. While good grass
hays usually have as much energy as
legume hays, legumes have 50 to 75 percent more protein and three times
as much calcium. However, a good quality grass hay will be a
better source of nutrients than a low or medium-quality legume
hay if it is more digestible.
The important thing about hay
is to feed the right hay at the right time. The is no "best" hay. From an economical standpoint, the "best" hay is the hay that provides the proper amount of nutrients at the lowest cost. Palatability is important to the extent that the more hay sheep refuse the higher cost it will be.
An average quality grass hay is usually more than adequate for ewes during
maintenance and in early to mid-gestation. Grass hay almost always meets the needs of mature rams and wethers. A mixed grass-legume
hay can be fed to ewes in late gestation to meet their increased need for calcium.
It is best to save pure legume hays, such as alfalfa, for the lactation diet due to their higher levels of protein and calcium. If
a grass hay is fed during late gestation or lactation, it may
be necessary to provide an additional source of calcium to pregnant
ewes and supplemental calcium and protein to lactating ewes.
Grasses |
Legumes |
Bermudagrass
Bromegrass
Kentucky bluegrass
Native grasses
Orchardgrass
Reed canarygrass
Ryegrass
Tall fescue
Timothy |
Alfalfa
Birdsfoot trefoil
Cow peas
Lespedeza
Peanut
Red clover
Soybean
White clover/Ladino
Vetch |
Ideally, hay should be purchased (or priced) according to weight. A sheep's
nutritional requirements are based on weight not volume and
you won't know what it costs to feed your sheep unless you know
how many pounds your sheep are eating and what the feed cost
per unit of weight. Wastage (or refusal) also factors into the cost of hay.
The weight of hay bales (square, round, and large square) varies significantly.
When hay is purchased by the bale and you don't know what the
bales weigh, you could be spending a lot more for hay than you
think. Most hay auctions sell hay by the ton. If you buy hay
from a farm, you can ask the farmer to sell you hay by the ton
and weigh the load of hay on a grain scale. Otherwise, you can weigh a few representative bales, then negotiate a per bale
price.
Purchasing hay: by the bale (volume) vs. by the ton (weight)
Price per bale |
Weight of bale |
Price per ton |
$10.00 |
40 |
$500.00 |
$9.00 |
40 |
$450.00 |
$8.00 |
40 |
$400.00 |
$7.00 |
40 |
$350.00 |
$6.00 |
40 |
$300.00 |
$5.50 |
40 |
$275.00 |
$5.00 |
40 |
$250.00 |
$4.50 |
40 |
$225.00 |
$4.00 |
40 |
$200.00 |
$3.50 |
40 |
$175.00 |
$3.00 |
40 |
$150.00 |
$2.75 |
40 |
$137.50 |
$2.50 |
40 |
$125.00 |
$2.25 |
40 |
$112.50 |
$2.00 |
40 |
$100.00 |
$1.75 |
40 |
$87.50 |
$1.50 |
40 |
$75.00 |
$1.25 |
40 |
$62.50 |
$1.00 |
40 |
$50.00 |
If you produce your own hay, the cost to the sheep operation should be the "opportunity" cost of the hay. An opportunity cost is the value of a resource for its next-highest-value alternative. In the case of hay, this is usually the income you would receive from the hay if you sold it (less marketing costs).
Silage or Haylage (ensilage)
Silage (or ensilage) is a generic term for livestock feed that is produced by the controlled fermentation
of high moisture herbage. Silage can be made from forage or grain
crops. It has been successfully fed to sheep; however, special
attention must be paid to quality, as moldy silage can cause listeriosis
"circling disease." Listeriosis is an occasional cause of abortion in ewes. As compared to cattle, sheep are more susceptible to the negative effects of moldy silage. It is important that sheep consume silage before it has a chance to spoil.
As with fresh forage, the high-producing animal often cannot consume
enough high moisture silage to meet its nutritional needs. Silage
is typically fed on large farms, due to the need for storage and
automated feeding equipment. It can be a more economical source of feed than traditional feeds. For small and medium sized flocks,
silage bags make silage feeding a possibility. It is becoming more popular to feed balage to sheep.
Concentrates (grain)
It is often necessary to feed concentrates to sheep to provide
nutrients that forage alone lacks. This is particularly
true in the case of high-producing animals. There are also times
and situations where concentrates are a more economical source
of nutrients than forages. Creep feeding and supplemental feeding
of lambs has been shown to increase weight gains and market acceptability. The economics of supplemental feeding will vary by operation.
Energy feeds
There are two types of concentrate feeds: carbonaceous and proteinaceous.
Carbonaceous concentrates or "energy" feeds are high
in total digestible nutrients (TDN), but tend to be low in protein
(8-11 percent protein). The most common energy feeds are the cereal grains: corn, barley, wheat,
oats, milo (grain sorghum), and rye. Some by-products are also high in energy.
It is usually not necessary to process grains (grind, crack, roll, or
crimp) for sheep except for lambs that are less than six weeks
of age and lack a functioning rumen. In fact, whole grain diets
are healthier for the rumen because they require the animal to do its own grinding of the feed. Whole grain diets are less likely to cause digestive upsets, such as acidosis. Whole, uncooked
soybeans may also be fed to sheep.
While cereal grains are the most concentrated source of energy, they are high in phosphorus and low in calcium. Feeding
a diet that is high in phosphorus and low in calcium can cause
urinary
calculi in wethers and intact males. Inadequate calcium
can lead to milk
fever in pregnant or lactating ewes.
Excessive or sudden intake of grain can cause numerous digestive and metabolic problems in sheep and lambs, including enterotoxemia (overeating disease), acidosis (grain overload), bloat, and polioencephalomalacia. The rumen always needs time to adjust to a higher concentrate diet, as there are different microbes for digesting starches and sugars versus cellulose (fiber).
Energy feeds
Feedstuff |
Percent TDN |
Whole cottonseed |
91 |
Wheat middlings |
90 |
Corn grain |
89 |
Wheat grain |
89 |
Milo (grain sorghum) |
89 |
Barley grain |
84 |
Corn gluten feed |
83 |
Ear corn |
82 |
Rye grain |
81 |
Soybean hulls |
77 |
Molasses |
75 |
Beet pulp pellets |
74 |
Oat grain |
74 |
Protein feeds
Proteinaceous concentrates or "protein feeds" contain
high levels of protein (over 15 percent). Examples include soybean meal, cottonseed meal, and
fish meal. Soybean meal is the most commonly fed protein supplement. By law, ruminant-derived meat and bone meal cannot
be fed to other ruminants, including sheep. Fish meal is valued for its high level of by-pass protein. Roasted soybeans contain more by-pass protein that uncooked beans or bean meal.
Protein quantity is generally more important than protein quality
(amino acid content) in ruminant diets because the microbes in the rumen manufacture their own protein. Livestock do
not store excess protein; it is burned as energy or eliminated
(as nitrogen) by the kidneys. Feeding protein above NRC requirements will not usually increase productivity or carcass quality.
Since parasites often cause blood loss in sheep and lambs, higher
levels of protein in the diet may enable the animal to mount
a greater immune response to parasites, especially the blood-sucking
barber pole worm. Research has shown that protein supplementation (above NRC requirements), especially by-pass protein, can reduce fecal egg counts in the periparturient ewe.
Urea
Urea is not a protein supplement, but is a source of nonprotein
nitrogen (NPN) that rumen bacteria can use to synthesize protein. NPN should
be used only in conjunction with high-energy feeds such as corn.
Urea, which is 45 percent nitrogen and has a crude protein equivalent
of 281 percent, should not supply over one-third of the total
nitrogen in a diet.
Protein feeds
Feedstuff |
Percent CP |
Urea |
281* |
Fish meal |
62 |
Soybean meal |
48 |
Whole soybeans |
42 |
Cottonseed meal |
41 |
Linseed meal |
34 |
Commercial protein supplement |
36-40 |
Corn gluten feed |
26 |
Poultry litter |
26 |
Distiller's grains |
25 |
Brewer's grains |
24 |
Whole cottonseed |
21 |
Alfalfa pellets |
17 |
Lick tubs |
16-24 |
Commercial Feeds
Many feed companies offer "complete" sheep and/or
lamb feeds. These are textured (sweet) or processed (pelleted) feed products which have
been balanced for the needs of sheep of a specific age or production category. Complete feeds should not be mixed with
other grains, because this will "unbalance" them. For example, adding corn to a complete feed will alter the Ca:P ratio and could result in urinary calculi in male lambs.
Pelleted rations have an advantage in that the animals cannot
sort feed ingredients. Sorting can be a problem when animals
are on self-feeders and allowed to eat all they want. Pelleted
diets are ideal for free choice self-feeding. Complete feeds
come in 50 or 100 lb. sacks and tend to be more expensive than
home-made concentrate rations. For small producers, inexperienced shepherds, and
4-H members, commercial feeds are usually recommended.
Pelleted Supplements
To help control feed costs, producers can mix their own simple rations
by combining various feed ingredients, such as corn, soybean
meal, and minerals. It is also possible to buy commercial pelleted supplements
that contain vitamins and minerals, as well as high levels of
protein (34-40%). These supplements can easily be combined with
whole grains or by-product feeds to create balanced concentrate
rations.
For example, combining 4 lbs. of corn with 1 lb. of a 36% protein
pellet would result in a 16% protein ration that includes vitamins
and minerals, making it a "complete" ration. This
ration would be suitable for feeding lactating ewes or finishing
feeder lambs.
By-product feeds
There are numerous by-products that can be fed to sheep and
lambs. Most by-products are available as a result of processing
a traditional feed ingredient to generate another product. For
example, corn gluten meal is a by-product of the corn milling
process. Soybean hulls are a by-product of soybean processing
for oil and meal.
Wheat middlings are a by-product of the flour milling industry.
Beet Pulp is the vegetable matter, which remains after sugar
is extracted from sliced sugar beets. Brewers grains is a by-product of the brewing industry. Citrus
Pulp is the dried residue of peel, pulp and seeds of oranges,
grapefruit and other citrus fruit.
Sheep can also be fed waste products, such as cull onions and pumpkins, and out-dated (expired) human food stuffs.
By-product feeds can be economical sources of nutrients
for sheep; but because they are variable, they should be analyzed for nutritive content. Some by-product feeds contain high levels of certain minerals. This needs to be considered when balancing rations. The high moisture content of some by-product
feeds could limit consumption of the diet resulting in poor animal
performance. High water content may also make by-product feeds
difficult to transport and store. By-product feeds are often
incorporated into least cost rations or TMR's (total mixed rations).
By-products
Feedstuff |
Percent CP |
Percent TDN |
Alfalfa pellets |
20 |
61 |
Beet pulp (dry) |
11 |
75 |
Citrus pulp (dry) |
7 |
79 |
Corn gluten feed |
22 |
80 |
Corn stalks |
5 |
59 |
Distiller's grains (dry) |
29 |
90 |
Ear corn |
9 |
82 |
Grain screenings |
14 |
65 |
Kelp (dry) |
7 |
32 |
Molasses (cane, dry) |
9 |
74 |
Poultry litter (dry) |
25 |
64 |
Soybean hulls |
12 |
77 |
Wheat middlings |
19 |
82 |
Whole cottonseed |
23 |
95 |
Vitamins and minerals
Choosing the right mineral supplement for sheep can be very tricky.
Sheep require macro and micro (trace) minerals and you need to
know what minerals are deficient (or excess) in your area and
in your feedstuffs. Mineral supplements range from salt to trace mineralized
salt (TMS) to complete mineral mixes containing
all of the macro and micro minerals required by sheep.
In general, TMS fortified with selenium is all that is needed
during the spring and summer when sheep are grazing high quality
pastures containing more than 20 percent clover. Complete mineral
mixes are recommended when grazing low quality roughages, starting
four weeks before breeding, during breeding, and during late gestation
and early lactation.
Studies have clearly shown that selenium supplementation for pregnant
ewes via a mineral mix is superior to selenium injections in late
gestation. When high grain diets, certain alternative feeds, or
silage are fed to sheep, additional calcium is required in the
diet.
The most important minerals are calcium, phosphorus, salt
(NaCl), and selenium.
Sources of calcium and phosphorus
Source |
% Calcium |
% Phosphorus |
Bonemeal |
24 |
12 |
Dicalcium Phosphate |
25 |
18.5 |
Limestone |
38 |
0 |
Sodium Phosphate |
0 |
22 |
Alfalfa leaf meal |
2.88 |
0.34 |
Dried kelp |
2.72 |
0.31 |
Trace mineral mix |
14-18 |
8-10 |
With the exception of salt, it has been scientifically proven that animals are unable to
determine the proper balance and amount of minerals required
when fed free choice. Some animals may consume more of what
they do not need, while others may not consume enough (or any), even if
they are required. It is therefore recommended, that minerals
be thoroughly blended with the ration wherever possible to ensure
proper supplementation. However if this is not possible, minerals
can be mixed with loose salt.
Granular or "loose" forms of minerals are preferred
to blocks. Blocks are hard on the teeth and consumption may be less. Performance may be better if loose minerals are fed. Mineral feeders should be full of fresh mineral,
placed in readily available areas and protected from the weather.
Sporadic feeding of minerals may cause animals to "binge". Coccidiostats can be incorporated into mineral
mixes.
Sheep should not be fed commercial feeds and mineral mixes
that have been formulated for other livestock because these
products may contain copper. Sheep cannot tolerate excess copper
in their diets. Excess copper is stored in the liver and can
cause a toxic reaction, resulting in the death of the sheep.
Copper nutrition is complicated, involving interactions with other minerals, including molybdenum, sulfur, and iron. Producers should not provide supplemental copper to their sheep unless a deficiency has been documented via laboratory tests. The mineral status of animals can be determined by having livers analyzed.
Feed Additives
A feed additive is a compound added to the ration for a purpose other than
to supply nutrients. Various feed additives can be utilized
to improve the health of sheep and lambs.
Antibiotics
In the US, oxytetraycline is FDA-approved to feed to ewes to prevent abortions caused by chlamyida and vibrio. In order to do so, producers must obtain a written script (called a VFD) from their veterinarian. Including sub-therapeutic antibiotics in the feed of lambs is now prohibited.
Ionophores
Lasalocid (Bovatec®) and Monensin (Rumensin®) are ionophores that can be added to mineral mixes or complete rations.
Ionophores improve feed utilization and gain in cattle by altering
rumen fermentation. They are also coccidiostats. They kill coccidia,
primarily during the sporozoite stage. Lasalocid (Bovatec®)
is labeled as a coccidiostat for confined sheep.
Rumensin® is approved for use in goats and cattle. Its use in sheep must be prescribed by a veterinarian. Care must be taken when having Rumensin® mixed into rations, as there is a greater risk of toxicity. Decoquinate
(Deccox®) is also a coccidiostat. Decco®x stops coccidia
from growing. In contrast with Bovatec® and Rumensin®,
Deccox® is a quinolone. It is safer to use than ionophores, but
is more expensive. Bovatec® and especially Rumensin® can be toxic
to equines.
Feeding Bovatec® or Deccox® to ewes prior to lambing
may help to reduce the level of coccidia in the lambing environment.
Rumensin® fed to ewes during late gestation may help to
prevent abortions caused by toxoplasmosis. Other potential benefits
to ionophores include reduced incidences of acidosis and feed
lot bloat. Ionophores have also been shown to reduce livestock
methane production (CH4) and nitrogen leaching.
Probiotics
Probiotics are just the opposite of antibiotics. They are living
organisms of beneficial bacteria. Probiotics may improve animal
performance by keeping livestock healthy and improving their
digestion. Many commercial feeds contain probiotics. Milk replacers
usually contain probiotics.
Yeast is a probiotic and has been
incorporated into livestock rations. So far, there is little published data to support an improvement in animal performance as a result of feeding probiotics or similar additives. More research is needed before their benefits and economics can be validated.
Ammonium chloride is often added to lamb rations to prevent
urinary calculi (kidney stones). Ammonium chloride will help
to acidify the urine. It should be added to the ration at a
rate of 0.5 to 1.5 percent. It can also be mixed as a drench and used to treat lambs with early signs of urinary calculi.
Feedstuffs for sheep and lambs
<== SHEEP 201 INDEX
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