Sheep husbandry part 2

• Describe the basic feeding management of sheep • Describe the key feeding times of sheep • Explain how to practically prepare feeds for sheep • Select suitable feeds for the specific times in production cycle • Give examples of food intake for a sheep in lamb based on bodyweight • Give examples of specific micronutrients that are key for sheep

how do we assess sheep nutrition?

body condition

lactation is hard on them so need more food

what is flushing for tupping?

» Flushing of ewes 6 weeks before going to the ram

» Increasing plane of nutrition to promote fertility

» Increasing nutrition= greater no. of eggs ovulated

Ram BCS important pre-tupping

Rams lose condition when serving ewes as too distracted to

eat well.

Aim for tups to go into tupping at BCS 3.5/4

Overfed/fat Rams

Low libido and reduced fertility

what do we need to do in early-mid pregnancy of ewes?

Aim to maintain a level plane of nutrition

Placental growth and functionality of placenta

increases, foetal growth is slow during this time

Good grazing +/_ supplementation with hay or

haylage during winter/frozen ground

Losing more than 0.5 body condition will affect

placental growth and foetal development

Increasing body condition score can lead to vaginal

prolapses and lambing problems

generally sheep dont like copper supplementation cos they can easily get toxicity - but if you avoid too much they can get sway back - indiciator of copper deficiency in the ewes - essentially demylenation of the nerves - paralysed animal never gets better have to put down :(

how do we manage late pregnancy to lambing?

• Foetus grows rapidly and udder

development/colostrum production

• Monitoring ewe condition to make changes, if

needed before lambing.

• Takes ewes 4 weeks to gain 0.5 BCS so these

changes are slow.

• Additional forage +/- concentrates may be started

6-8 weeks pre-lambing

What happens when the ewe has poor nutrition?

• Metabolic disease at lambing

• Poor colostrum production

• Weak small lambs at birth

• Poor milk production

through lactation

=

• Increased lamb losses

• Increased ewe losses

• Poor lamb growth

what are the feeding considerations around lambing?

» Growing foetus means smaller rumen capacity

» Less intake of dry matter from forages

» Increased requirement for concentrates for energy

remember split concentrates cos too much not good for rumen - increasee concentrate amount slowly to allow gut microbes to accomodate

ewes with low calcium is bad, magnesium levels mut be good too

Other considerations- Trough space Housing according to BCS/ Multiples?

what can we see here?

the pushier ewes who want milk more and feed will end up bigger and healthier costhey access teats better

ones at the back are skinnier less fed

what about this?

lambs can equally be fed

but can get stuck

whatbout this

best way

space and equality

what we should be aware of

we need good silage

Applies to grass as a forage

too!

Sword length > 5cm may not

require concentrate feeding

Sword <4cm = concentrates

Sword<3cm forage and

concentrate supplementation

summarise lactation

two animals to consider

weaning

why is cobalt important

B12 and krebs cycle

energy

❖ Essential component of Vitamin B12

❖ B12 in energy metabolism

❖ B12 produced by rumen microbes if there is

a sufficient supply of cobalt in the diet

❖ Commonly seen in weaned lambs in late

summer/autumn

❖ Confirm diagnosis with serology

❖ Prevention includes parasite management,

boluses for ewes, drenching lambs

e.g. if worms in their stomach can deplete cobalt levels

you cant overdose on cobalt

copper deficiency vs toxicity

sheep dont have added copper but horses and cow do in their feed

cos sheep more sensitive to copper

calcium importance in ewes

calcium levels super high just before she lambs

required for all muscle contractions → or else flaccid muscles e.g. rumen wont contract, wont have peristalsis in gut → constipation → cant stand up cos skeletal muscles rely on calcium → heart cant beat properly → can die

➢ Hypocalcaemia

➢ Twin lamb disease complex

➢ Late pregnancy

➢ (Can happen up to 10 weeks after lambing)

➢ Poor nutrition

➢ Result of fast foetal growth and milk

production

➢ Stressful event: extreme weather, dog

worrying/move fields or housing

importance of magnesium

low magnesium → can die within few hours

low in fast growing grass

» Hypomagnesaemia

» Fast growing spring grass low in magnesium - grass staggers?

» Higher requirement for magnesium during lactation

» No storage of magnesium in the body- requires directly on daily intakes

» Stressful events: typically seen after thunder storms/bad weather

• Reduces feed intake

» Nitrogen and potassium applied to fields (fertilisers)

reduce availability of Mg

e.g. if theres a storm sheep too scared to eat outside, and magnesium levels can drop very quickly

can put magnesium flakes in their water