Dairy Quality Hay

[WayneG]

I guess this is a question directed mainly towards Janet, or anyone else that doesn't grain ewe during pregnancy. Where you don't feed any grain during the winter, at what point do you start feeding the high quality hay. I will be running the ewes on bean stubble and and corn stalks at breeding time (October 1). so that will be my flush. It appears I will have some grass stock piled to carry them into January (between the stalks and grass) weather permitting. That means I would be feeding the alfalfa the last 1 2/2 to 2 months. Will this be the right time. Of coarse if it snows early, then I will be feeding alfalfa earlier.

[Bill Fosher]

Hi Wayne,

I use grain only to increase energy density if my hay quality is low. Oddly, one year when I scored some dairy quality alfalfa (balage, 22 percent protein, 120 RFV) I had to add some corn to the mix because the sheep weren't getting enough energy out of the hay alone. Metabolizing excess protein requires a lot of calories, as it turns out.

I try to ensure very good nutrition in the first trimester as well as the last. In the first trimester, good feed ensures implantation and early placental development, which is also tied to the amount of colostrum available at lambing time. And of course in the last trimester you're feeding for fetal development.

[K Bar K Farm]

Hi Wayne,

I haven't fed grain pre-lambing for, oh 3 or 4 years now. I agree with Bill that high quality feed during breeding and the first month of pregnancy is important (usually pasture for us at this time). During mid-pregnancy for Feb-lambing ewes we feed rather low quality, first cut, mature, orchardgrass-based hay. For this Feb.-lambing group, I switch to high quality alfalfa hay about 3 weeks prior to lambing. I don't grain any ewes pre-lambing and only grain ewes nursing triplets until turnout on pasture (somewhere between Apr. 1 and 10 for us). I do typically creep feed those lambs (especially triplets) until pasture turnout (when creep feeding becomes much more difficult). The lambs don't consume a lot creep feed by that time, but it helps give them a 'boost'.

My ewes are maintaining condition better during lactation now than they ever had. I do have some who turn into racks of bones, but I then need to decide whether that's due to inability to adapt to this system, or heavy milking ewes who might need more 'groceries' (the lamb weights easily tell the difference).

For reference, I am raising Dorsets that drop 180-200% at this time. I also include first time lambing ewes (12-18 months old at lambing) in this protocol. It is a bit harder on them, but I'm just not set up (or willing?) to hand feed them separately. It certainly helps me sort out the ones that thrive in this environment.

The other (important-to-me) benefit is that the sheep are so much QUIETER. When we grained our ewes, when my car (and my car only!) would pull in the drive in the afternoon, there was quite the ruckus, which grated on my nerves. The ewes were noisy and obnoxious when fed grain (rams were even worse!). There is so much more peace on the farm without that ruckus.

Bill, what signs were you seeing that the ewes needed energy...lost body condition?

Kathy

[Justin-PA]

The other (important-to-me) benefit is that the sheep are so much QUIETER. When we grained our ewes, when my car (and my car only!) would pull in the drive in the afternoon, there was quite the ruckus, which grated on my nerves. The ewes were noisy and obnoxious when fed grain (rams were even worse!). There is so much more peace on the farm without that ruckus.


Kathy

ok...I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels this way!!

[Bill Fosher]

Bill, what signs were you seeing that the ewes needed energy...lost body condition?

Yes, and they were hungry all the time, overconsuming the round bales.

That's one drawback of sheep with big tanks -- they'll eat a lot of they feel hungry and have palatable feed in front of them.

[lovetree]

We lamb in northern Wi typically in late Feb to early March.
Ideally we like to keep large round bales in front of the ewes with protein of approx 12% and then the last 6 weeks supplement with approx 1 lb per head per day of high quality alfalfa with a RFV of around 170 (when we can get it). Janet steered us onto this method and it has worked well for us with the dairy ewes really producing milk when the lambs hit the ground, and the ewes keep in good condition. (Our sheep are not large, approx 120 -130lbs as adults)

[Richard Ehrhardt]

Wayne,

As stated for the most part, the last 30 of pregnancy are key so I would focus on that window. Quality forage alone can meet the needs of many classes of late preg ewes and I have gone that route a few times when I had forage of that quality. Other aspects to consider are body condition and number of lambs. Don't expect to improve body condition during late pregnancy on a forage alone program therefore you would want your ewes at CS 3 ideally at day 110 or so. if you feed grain, you can increase CS about half a score during this period. Also fetal number determines nutrient requirements so a flock lambing at 150% would have very different needs than one at 220%. A 220% flock would likely need some additional energy as there are not many forage sources that can met the required energy density (at least 70% TDN).