Basics of feeding sheep Feeding sheep consists of matching nutrients to the specific production phase. What to feed, how much to feed and when to feed it.
EWES - maintenance, early gestation, late gestation, lactation, breeding season LAMBS - pre-weaning, growing, finishing REPLACEMENT EWES - growth, breeding, lactation, post-weaning RAMS - maintenance, breeding season.
Each one of these phases has nutritional requirements, guidelines have been developed to assist sheep producers to properly feed their flocks.
Most nutritional programs are based on some type of forage as the primary feedstuff, rather its pasture or range forages, or harvested forages such as hay or silage. However, sometimes forages need to be supplemented with energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins, depending on the nutrient needs of a specific class of sheep or the production phase they are in.
Nutrients to consider for sheep are WATER, ENERGY, PROTEIN, MINERALS and VITAMINS.
WATER the most important nutrient for any animal. Many factors affect the amount of free water a sheep needs to drink on a daily basis. Important factors are: production stage of sheep, what feeds they are consuming, what the water content of the feed is, and the environmental temperature. Sheep will drink from 1/2 to 1 gallon of water daily, depending on their size and aforementioned factors. Lack of good clean water supply will definitely decrease the production potential of sheep. They will eat less, have lower digestibility of feedstuffs, be more prone to digestive and metabolic problems, and in general lack thrift.
ENERGY is the nutrient required in the single largest amount of sheep, also the most likely to be deficient or in excess. Energy needs of sheep are influenced by their body size (weight), stage of production, amount of exercise they get, fleece length and environmental factors (temperature, wind chill, ect.). The energy status of sheep is dependent on how much feed they are consuming, what the energy content of the is and what the digestibility of the feed is. Grains have TDN (total digestible nutrients) values in the 70 to 80% range, while forages range from 50 to 60% TDN.
PROTEIN eaten is more important than the quality of the protein since sheep are ruminants animals. Most average quality forages have an adequate content of protein for much of the ewes throughout the production year. There are times when protein would be supplemented would be in times of high production, ewes are lactating, lambs are growing, etc. Protein can also be supplemented when pastures or range are borderline in protein content.
MINERALS - macrominerals for sheep include calcium, phosphorous, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium. These minerals often need to be supplemented to sheep. The calcium to phosphorous ratio is extremely important, especially with rams or wethers, diet should contain at least 2 parts Ca to 1 part P, to prevent urinary calculi. If this ratio is not met stone or crystal formation can occur in the bladder and kidneys of sheep and these can block the urethral tract and block normal urination. This can be a life threating situation for male sheep. Microminerals with the most practical implications include: Iodine, Selenium, and Copper.
