Despite a few early autumn storms, the continuation of dry conditions will likely see many producers feel the pinch before a solid autumn break comes through. With a lack of quality and quantity in pastures, many may find it difficult to satisfy the rapidly increasing energy requirements of pregnant ewes from 6 weeks pre-lambing until peak lactation (4 weeks post-lambing). Grain supplementation can assist, but the usual questions remain. How much do you feed and what are the risks involved in supporting ewes on high grain diets?
Key Points
- Dry conditions have impacted pasture quality and quantity
- Increasing nutritional requirements of pregnant ewes will likely outstrip supply
- Supplementary feeding high energy grain is the great equaliser
- Grain feeding has its risks (acidosis) but can be avoided if managed correctly
- ANP launch buffered lambing supplement StockMins-EweLamLac + Buffer
Energy requirements of pregnant and lactating ewes
The chart below illustrates the growth in energy requirements of single and twin-bearing ewes throughout this period and highlight just how high energy requirements reach during peak lactation. In fact, satisfying energy requirements for twin-bearing is almost impossible, even on the best feed, so the best we can hope for is to get close to requirements to control weight loss, as opposed to ewes dropping condition quickly.
The current lack of abundant green feed in paddocks in the face of increasing ewe requirements, as the foetus grows, can be devastating when it comes to lamb and ewe survival during lambing. Birthweight is the largest determinant of lamb survival and is directly linked to ewe nutrition, specifically metabolisable energy.
Supplementary feeding grain is the great equaliser
Similar to using a protein source like beans or lupins to satisfy protein requirements, when pasture energy is limiting, it is common practice and recommended to use high energy grain (barley) to boost dietary energy. In some cases, especially with twin-bearing ewes, this could mean feeding over 1kg of barley per head per day leading up to lambing and during the first four weeks of lactation. The amount of barley recommended to be fed to satisfy, or at least get close to, energy requirements of 60kg SRW ewes grazing average dry feed at different stages of lambing is illustrated in the table below.
Risk of acidosis when feeding grain
Although a highly effective energy supplement, grain feeding is not without its risks, especially at high levels. Acidosis (grain poisoning) occurs as a result of lactic acid build up on the back of rapidly fermenting starch in the rumen. This build up of acid can upset the normal functioning of the rumen, cause animals to go off feed, dehydrate, develop diarrhoea and in severe cases die. Even at low levels, acidosis can be a significant issue for pregnant ewes.
A combination of measured induction onto grain and the use of effective buffers act to stabilise the rumen environment and enable the ewe to tolerate large volumes of grain with a lower risk of acidosis. ANP’s Grain Induction Guide discusses grain feeding in detail and provides daily feeding tables to effectively step up onto high grain diets at a low risk.
NEW buffered lambing supplement
To assist with lowing the risk of acidosis, promoting ewe health and immunity and supporting the high nutritional demands of pregnant and lactating ewes, we are proud to announce the launch of StockMins-EweLamLac + Buffer, an extension to our very popular lambing range of loose-lick mineral supplements.
StockMins-EweLamLac + Buffer contains the same level of long and short-acting buffers as ANP’s feedlot products and has been expertly formulated to support pregnant and lactating ewes on high grain diets.
For more information about StockMins-EweLamLac + Buffer download the product flyer or contact the team at AusFarm Nutrition Products
