Forages and Nutrition Part II

Minimal(extensive) Feeding Management Strategies

-range flock/herd

Intensive Feeding Management Strategies

TMR feeding for small ruminants

True or False: In most cases, small ruminants can be fed solely on high quality pasture and/ or hay

True

Body Condition Scoring (BCS) Use

-useful took for evaluating energy in diet

-BCS is subjective but consistency within flock is key

Body Condition Scoring (BCS) Scale

-Scale: 0-5

-0: severely under conditioned

-2.5-4.0 is ideal

-5: severely over conditioned

National Research Council (NRC)

-provides an evaluation of the scientific literature on the nutrient requirements of small ruminants in all stages of life

Flushing

-increasing plane of nutrition to increase ovulation rates and fertility

When should flushing be done?

2-3 weeks prior to breeding season

2 methods for flushing

-move ewes/does to higher quality pasture

-supplementing with 0.5-1.0lb/head/day of grain

Does Flushing work on over conditioned ewes/does?

no

Early gestation

-fetal growth is slow for first 15 weeks of pregnancy

Late Gestation

-last 4-6 weeks (at least 2/3 of fetal growth)

-increased energy requirements depending upon amount of fetuses

-gradually increase grain feeding

During gestation what are the two main things that ideally should occur with the ewes/does?

-separate ewes by number of offspring carried

-isolate thinner, older, less competitive eaters and feed separately

Freshening during lactation

-onset of lactation

-ewes/does need to get plenty of water after lambing

-4-5lbs legume hay/day while in jug

-only grain for ewes/does in poor BC, low milk production, nursing triplets

Early lactation

-demand for milk production dependent upon number of lambs suckling

-ewes cannot consume enough feed to make up for losses (will lose BC)

Late lactation

-peak production at 3-4 weeks post lambing

-production declines after 6-8 weeks and is of minor nutritional importance after 10 weeks

What is key to precent decreased growth rates from sexual aggravation for rams?

separation

True or False: Young rams/bucks (less than 1 year) should be managed as growing lambs

True

True or False: Mature rams/bucks should not be managed as ewes at maintenance

False: they should be managed as ewes at maintenance

Creep Feeding

-procedure in which a supplemental diet is provided in an area where lambs/kids can enter but mothers cannot

Simple example of composition of creep feeding lambs

-all grain, grain protein, supplement mixture, or pasture

-90% cracked, shelled corn, 10% soybean meal

What are the 3 types of groups where lambs are marketed for slaughter?

-directly off the ewe

-weaned before 120d of age and finished for slaughter at a later date

-weaned after 120d and finished on pasture or in dryly (feeder lambs) W

What are the 2 goals for sheep when growing and finishing lambs?

-0.15-0.25 “ of back fat

-USDA YG 1.5-2.9

Rangelands

-areas where climate, topography and other features have resulted in the lands remaining largely in active plant species, best utilized through grazing are managed primarily using ecological principles

-out west

-big portion are on public lands with multiple use objective

Pastures

-fields located in areas of greater rainfall/productivity that are more intensely managed using agronomic principles to increase livestock production through improved forages and intensive grazing management

-mixtures of introduced or improved plant species (tillage, management of pasture)

-mixed farming or crop production systems

-lands not suitable for crops or crop rotation system (enhance land use or conservation practices)

Pasture, Forbs and Browse are the primary and most economical source of what?

nutrients

Why are Pasture, Forbs and Browse high in protein/ energy in their vegetative state?

-high moisture content

-mature state= decreased palatability and digestibility

-rotate pastures to keep in vegetative state

What type of grasses dominate in this area?

cool-season grasses

Types of “cool season grasses” (name at least 3)

-Tall Fescue

-Ryegrass

-Orchardgrass

-Kentucky Bluegrass

-Timothy

-Bromegrass

What are forbs also known as?

weeds

name some species of forbs that have a comparative nutritional value to cool season grasses

-Redroot pigweed

-Lambsquarter

-Ragweed

-Dandelion

name some species of forbs that have a low nutritional value (3)

-Smartweed

-Shepard’s purse

-yellow rocket

True or False: All legumes are forbs, but not all forbs are legumes

True

Name the 3 types of legumes

-clovers

-alfalfa

-trefoil

The 2 pros of legumes

-Higher protein

-typically highly palatable

Too much legumes can lead to what?

lead to health issues (ex. bloat)

What will lead to the best yield in a pasture?

pairing a grass and legume species that mature at the same time/rate (ex. Timothy -grass and Legumes-red clover)

What are some general practices you should do when having your animals on pasture? (4)

-watch your animals graze

-soil test

-pastures that are overgrown with weeds and brush should be brush-hogged, plowed and reseeded (or at least frost-seeded-seed in winter time for growth in spring)

-choose what establishes easily, yields a lot, and liked by sheep