What should I consider for winter feeding ewes?

Consider your flock size and do some calculations to see if you have adequate to see you through the winter. Table 1 provides approximate forage quantities required for a flock of 300, 70kg ewes fed ad-lib for three months of winter.

Table 1: approximate forage quantities required by 300, 70kg ewes for three months (fed ad-lib)

Forage quality – what’s it like? Not only is it important to have plentiful supply of forage, but it is also crucial to have high quality forage for your livestock. The cutting date and stage of growth for hay or silage will have a significant influence on quality. Early cuts with heaps of leaves and little stems will have high feeding value whereas late cuts with lots of stem and little leaf will be of poor digestibility.

Analysis: Getting an analysis done on the quality of supplements forage digestibility (D value) will help you to plan winter feed purchases and the amount of supplement required close to lambing.

• Take representative samples: Ensure you are taking a number of samples if you are going to analyse your forage. There is no point in taking one handful of hay or silage and expecting that to represent the supply. Recommended sampling is: 
  Hay bales: take samples from the middle of a number of bales – six or eight bales from each stack
  Silage: take core samples from at least five bales per stack or a minimum of three cores for a 500-tonne clamp
• Interpreting the results: It is recommended that forage analysis is discussed with a professional to ensure purchased feeds and supplements compliment the forage you have grown, in order to meet the nutritional requirements of the ewe and her lambs. 

Finally - talk to your compound feed/straights rep now to get details of feed formulations and prices for this winter. Remember that high-quality forages need very little supplementation for ewes in late pregnancy – perhaps just a protein supplement.

The cutting date and stage of growth for hay or silage will have a significant influence on quality. Early cuts with heaps of leafs and little stem will have high feeding value whereas late cuts with lots of stem and little leaf will be of poor digestibility.

Supplemented Feeds 

Being proactive with pregnant ewes is important to ensure ewes are in top condition and produce high-quality colostrum ahead of lambing. 

Body condition scoring is an essential task to ensure thinner ewes are identified and can reveive additional supplements. This is also a similar case to those ewes who are carrying two or more lambs. Supplements may include concentrate feed, fodder beet, energy blocks or additional forage to help meet the nutritional requirements of the ewe and her lambs. 

Traditionally it was though that an ewe’s intake of forage declines due to pressure on her rumen from the growing lambs, however there is some recent research showing if the Ewes are supplemented with top quality forage this is not the case. In situations where forage is lower quality, supplementation is required. Forage analysis is key to making these decisions. Regular Body Condition Scoring of the ewes it helps farmers make the right choices regarding feed supplements and knowing how much additional feed they should be giving to the ewes

After scanning, farmers have a month’s window to alter the ewes body condition score (BCS) and ensure they are in optimal health to prevent problems at lambing.

Lowland ewes should be lambing at a body condition score of around 3.5 and hill ewes between 2.5 and 3.

A one point change in BCS ,say from 1.5 to 2.5 equivalent to a 10% change in bodyweight, and as forage intake decreases, a drastic change in BCS can put ewes and their lambs under stress – further emphasising the need to supplement ewes with additional feed.

Farmers are now being recommended that even with good grass supplies, as more ewes are carrying doubles and triplets, cake and additional feed will need to be fed to ensure they receive the correct nutrition to maximise colostrum and rear healthy lambs.

Around 70% of a lamb’s birthweight is put on in the last six weeks, and as lambing approaches, a ewe’s feed requirements almost double.

Getting an analysis done on the quality of supplements forage digestibility (D value) will help you to plan winter feed purchases and the amount of supplement required close to lambing.

• Take representative samples: Ensure you are taking a number of samples if you are going to analyse your forage. There is no point in taking one handful of hay or silage and expecting that to represent the supply. Recommended sampling is: 
  Hay bales: take samples form the middle of a number of bales – six or eight bales from each stack
  Silage: take core samples from at least five bales per stack or a minimum of three cores for a 500 tonne clamp
• Interpreting the results: Ask a professional if you have any questions or trouble understanding all the detail on a silage or hay analysis.

Finally talk to your compound feed/straights rep now to get details of feed formulations and prices for this winter. Remember that high quality forages need very little supplementation for ewes in late pregnancy – perhaps just a protein supplement.