Publication 410-853 Feeding Sheep
publication 410-853Feeding SheepSteven H. Umberger*Nutrition plays a major role in the overall productivity,health, and well-being of the sheep flock. Because feedcosts account for approximately two-thirds of the total costof production on most Virginia sheep farms, it is importantthat producers consider nutrition management a top priority. Nutrient requirements of sheep vary with differences inage, body weight, and stage of production. The five majorcategories of nutrients required by sheep are: 1) water;2) energy; 3) protein; 4) vitamins; and 5) minerals. Duringthe grazing season, sheep are able to meet their nutrientrequirements from pasture and a salt and mineral supplement. Hay is provided to the flock when forages are limited, and grain may be added to the diet at certain stagesof production when additional nutrient supplementationis required. Small grain pastures or stockpiled fescue cansupply up to one-half of the feed requirements of the eweflock during the winter. For winter-born lambs, creep dietsand diets for early-weaned lambs are formulated from highenergy feed grains and protein supplements to promoteaccelerated growth. During the grazing season, pasturesof mixed grass and clover, alfalfa, small grain, and turnipserve as excellent sources of nutrition for growing lambs.A source of clean, fresh water is provided to sheep at alltimes.Feeding the Ewe FlockEwe body weight does not remain constant throughoutthe year, but changes with stage of production. Nutrientrequirements are lowest for ewes during maintenance,increase gradually from early to late gestation, and arehighest during lactation. Decisions affecting feeding management are improved significantly by knowing ewe bodyweight and condition score at three distinct stages of production: 1) three weeks before breeding; 2) mid-gestation;and 3) weaning. Condition score is a subjective measure ofbody fat that is most easily determined by handling ewesdown their back. It is the best method available to monitornutritional status and overall well-being of the sheep flock.Condition scores range from 0 to 5, with 0 being extremelythin and 5 being very fat. Condition scores at either end ofthe scale are undesirable. Ideally, ewes should range froma condition score of 2.5 at weaning to a 3.5 at lambing.When necessary, thin ewes are separated and fed additionalenergy to increase body condition. Conversely, obese ewesare separated and fed a lower energy diet at a stage of production when body weight loss is acceptable. It should benoted that problems with overfat ewes are far fewer thanthose associated with ewes that are too thin.Starting two weeks before breeding and continuing twoweeks into the breeding period, ewes should be placedon high-quality pasture or supplemented daily with .75 to1 pound whole shelled corn or barley. This managementpractice is called flushing and has been shown to improvelambing percentage by 10 to 20 percent. Flushing worksbest with mature ewes that are in moderate body condition,and has been shown to be more effective for early- and outof-season breeding than at the seasonal peak of ovulationduring the fall. Most prenatal deaths occur within the first25 days after breeding and are usually associated with poornutrition. Therefore, it is important not to make dramaticreductions in nutrient supplies during the breeding season.Pastures with more than 50 percent clover or other legumesshould be avoided during breeding because legumes maycontain estrogenic compounds that reduce conception rates.From breeding to six weeks before lambing, the ewe flockcan be maintained on permanent pastures, small grainpastures, stockpiled fescue, aftermath crop fields, or hay.Fetal growth is minimal, and the total feed requirement ofthe ewe is not significantly different from a maintenancediet. The developing fetus acquires approximately twothirds of its weight during the last six weeks of pregnancy.Rumen capacity may be limited with ewes carrying multiple fetuses. Therefore, it is important to supplement eweswith .75 to 1 pound of corn or barley in addition to theirnormal diet starting six weeks before lambing, to preventpregnancy toxemia, low birth weights, weak lambs at birth,and low milk production. Producers should be careful notto overfeed grain during late gestation, which could resultin lambing difficulty caused by large lambs.www.ext.vt.eduProduced by Communications and Marketing, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences,Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2009Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion,age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University,and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. RIck D. Rudd, Interim Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, VirginiaTech, Blacksburg; Alma C. Hobbs, Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State, Petersburg.
After lambing, the energy and protein requirements of theewe increase by 30 and 55 percent, respectively. Failureto supplement ewes accordingly results in excessive bodyweight loss, low milk production, mismothering, and poorlamb gains. Protein supplementation is especially criticalfor ewe flocks with a high percentage of multiple births.Unless high quality legume hays are fed, protein supplementation will be necessary as a part of the grain portion ofthe diet. A general rule of thumb for concentrate feedingof lactating ewes is 1 pound of grain for each lamb nursingthe ewe. Ewes should be sorted into feeding groups basedon type of rearing (single, twin, etc.) to make sure grainsupplements are neither over- or underfed. Table 1 givesthe TDN and crude protein requirements of ewes basedon body weight and stage of production. By knowing thenutrient requirements of the ewe and the nutrient content ofthe feed, diets can be properly formulated to meet the nutritional needs of the ewe. Shown in Table 2 are the estimatedquantities of hay, corn and soybean meal that would be fedto a 175 pound ewe at different stages of production andwith different crude protein values for the hay. To successfully use this table, hay samples should be submitted to atesting lab to determine its crude protein content.born lambs are weaned and finished to market weight inthe fall, using a grain on grass feeding program or placedin a feedlot for an abbreviated period of high concentratefeeding.Lambs on a winter-lambing program should have access toa high quality creep feed by the time they are seven daysold. Creep feeds should contain 18 to 20 percent crudeprotein and be low in fiber (high in energy). The source ofprotein in commercially prepared lamb creep pellets shouldbe all natural protein. Because the rumen of young lambsis not fully developed, urea should not be used as a partialsource of protein in the diet. A 2:1 calcium to phosphorousratio is maintained in on-farm feed mixes by adding feedgrade limestone at 1 percent of the diet. Calcium to phosphorous ratios of less than 2:1 may lead to urinary calculi(water belly), which most often results in the death of thelamb. If the addition of limestone to the diet fails to control urinary calculi, ammonium chloride should be addedat .5 percent of the diet. When constructing a creep area,keep the following points in mind: 1) place the creep in aconvenient location close to an area where the ewe flockcongregates; 2) have openings on at least two sides of thecreep and several openings per side; 3) keep the creep areaclean and well bedded; 4) place a light over the creep tohelp attract the lambs to the feed or arrange the creep insuch a way that the sun shines into the area during the day;5) provide fresh water in the creep area; and 6) constructthe creep feeder so that lambs cannot stand and play in it.Allow 2 inches of trough space per lamb.Feeding LambsFeeding programs in Virginia for growing and finishinglambs are different for winter- and spring-lambing production systems. Lambs born from November through earlyFebruary will likely be grown and finished on high concentrate feeds. Lambs born after the middle of Februaryare placed on pasture with their dams where they remainthroughout the spring and summer. If necessary, spring-Winter-born lambs should be weaned and adjusted to agrowing diet by the time they are two months of age. Agrowing diet for lambs weighing 40 to 70 pounds shouldTable 1. Changes in the Daily Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) and Protein Requirements of a Ewe from Maintenance Through EarlyLactation.130 lbEwe weightaTDNProteinTDN155 lbaProteinStage of productionMaintenance175 lba200 .700.29Late pregnancy2.600.452.800.472.900.493.000.51Early lactation, twins3.700.894.000.924.300.964.600.99Early pregnancybEarly lactation, singleEarly lactation, 81.10Based on ewe weight at breeding time.National Research Council recommendations for ewes expected to have a 180-to 225-percent lamb crop. If 130-to 150-percent lambcrop is expected, then you can reduce total digestible nutrients by 0.4 pound and protein by 0.05 pound.cEstimates made by adding on one-half of the difference between ewes nursing singles and twins to the amount indicated for ewesnursing twins.ab2
Table 2. The Amount of Hay, Shelled Corn (SC), and Soybean Meal (SBM) Required to Meet the Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN)and Crude Protein (CP) Requirements of a 175-lb Ewe When the Hay Contains Different Protein Levels.16.5MaintenanceHayLate pregnancyHaySCSBMStage of productionEarly pregnancyEarly lactation (single)Early lactation (twins)Early lactation (triplets)HayHaySCSBMHaySCSBMHaySCSBMPercent protein in 5.001.150.405.001.500.753.502.451.15Note: Adjusted from dry matter values: Corn - 80 percent TDN and 8.8 percent CP, SBM -80 percent TDN and 44 percent CP, Hay 50 percent TDN. TDN of hay increases as hay quality increases, but is left constant here for ease of discussion and diet calculations.*Percentages are figured on an as-fed basis, as are the pounds of feed.Ram Feedingcontain approximately 78 percent TDN and 16 percentcrude protein. At body weights of 70 pounds and up, thelevel of crude protein in the diet can be lowered to 14 percent. Feed efficiency values range from 2 pounds of feedper pound of gain for light weight young, growing lambson up to 3.5 to 4 pounds of feed per pound of gain as winter-born lambs approach their optimum market weight.Feed efficiency values for old-crop (spring born) feederlambs weighing 75 pounds and up in the fall average 5 to5.5 pounds of feed per pound of gain when a whole-grainfeeding program is used. Whole-grain feeding improvesfeed efficiency, increases rate of gain, and lowers the feedcost per pound of lamb gain. Whole-grain diets consist ofwhole (unprocessed) grains, such as shelled corn or barley, mixed with a pelleted protein-mineral supplement. Noroughage is contained in the feed or supplemented on theside. Consequently, the diet is high in energy and promotesaccelerated lamb gains.Rams should have a body condition score of 3.5 to 4 beforethe beginning of the breeding season. Once turned in withthe ewes for breeding, rams spend very little time eating.They can lose up to 12 percent of their body weight duringa 45-day breeding period. That equates to 30 pounds for a250 pound ram. Poor nutrition is a major cause of ram mortality. As the sheep industry has moved away from smallerframed, earlier maturing types of sheep to larger framed,later maturing types of sheep, they have increased the rams’mature body weight. In many cases, forage alone is notadequate nutrition for placing rams in proper body condition for the breeding season. At the very least, rams shouldbe evaluated for body condition six weeks before breeding. Thin rams should receive grain supplementation as ameans to increase body weight and condition. It takes 50days and approximately 2.5 pounds of corn per day in addition to a ram’s normal diet to move him from a weight of225 pounds to 250 pounds. Mature rams, not in breeding,can be maintained on pasture or wintered on good qualityhay. Six to eight pounds of mixed grass and clover hay issufficient to meet the daily energy requirements of a 250pound ram. A free choice source of water, salt, and minerals should be available at all times.Ground ear corn, silage, and urea should not be fed untillambs are weighing 65 pounds and up. Creep diets shouldbe ground or pelleted. Weaned lamb growing and finishingdiets may be ground, pelleted, or consist of a mixture ofwhole grain and a pelleted supplement.3
be limit fed and be free of must and mold. Because ofits high quality and palatability, ewes consume morealfalfa hay than is needed. The bulkiness of the hayin the rumen may place pressure on the reproductivetract, resulting in a vaginal prolapse before lambing.Ewes receiving alfalfa hay during gestation are moreprone to milk fever than ewes fed grass hay. Becausealfalfa is high in calcium, ewes are able to meet theircalcium requirements without mobilizing body stores ofcalcium. However, after lambing, ewes not accustomedto mobilizing bone calcium may experience milk feverbecause of their inability to meet the additional calciumrequirements associated with lactation. Regardless of thetype of hay fed, producers should submit hay samplesto a forage testing lab to determine its nutrient content.By knowing the nutrient content of the hay, diets canbe more accurately and economically formulated forthe sheep flock.Feeds for SheepPasture - Permanent pasture should be the predominantsource of nutrition for the sheep flock. Intensive sheepproduction systems where the sheep are housed and fedharvested feeds are not as profitable as more extensiveproduction systems where they harvest their own feed.When a sufficient quantity of forage is available, sheepare able to meet their nutrient requirements from forage alone along with a supplemental source of salt andminerals. Clover should be overseeded on permanentpastures in the winter to improve the quantity and qualityof forage produced during the grazing season. Sheepprefer to graze leafy, vegetative growth that is 2 to 6inches tall rather than stemmy, more mature forages.Pasture growth is not distributed evenly throughout theyear. Approximately 60 percent of the annual dry matter production of most species of cool season grassesoccurs in the spring. When pastures are not stockedheavily enough to utilize the spring flush of growth,sheep graze and regraze certain areas while other areasare left to mature and go to seed. This type of grazingbehavior weakens those plants that are grazed morefrequently and gives the less desirable plants a competitive advantage. Approximately one-third of springpasture should be fenced for hay production. After a haycutting, pasture should be given a three- to four-weekrecovery period before making it available for grazingthe remainder of the year. Rotational grazing programsdesigned for the movement of sheep every 10 to 14 daysare instituted in late June and early July to improve bothpasture and lamb production. More intensive rotationalgrazing systems where higher stocking rates are usedhelp to promote more complete forage utilization, butalso require greater input costs in the form of fenceand water and may result in higher levels of internalparasitism, increased risk of coccidiosis, and impairedlamb performance.In general, there is less waste and more flexibilitywhen feeding hay harvested as square bales. However,round bales can provide quality feed for sheep whenstored and fed properly. To minimize dry matter andnutrient losses, which can approach 40 to 50 percent,round bales should be covered with plastic for outsidestorage or placed under shelter. Bales should be storedon pallets or tires to prevent ground contact. Feedinground bales without a feeder may result in as much as30 percent of the hay being wasted, and poses a hazardto the sheep should the bales roll over. A variety ofround bale feeders are commercially available. Feedersdesigned in the shape of a cradle hold the bales up offthe ground, are maintenance free, and appear to workbest for minimizing waste.Silage - High quality, finely chopped (1/4 to 1/2 inch) corn,grass, or small grain silage is acceptable feed for sheep.Care must be taken to properly harvest, store, and feedsilage. Poorly packed silage may contain harmful molds,which causes listeriosis (circling disease) in sheep.Moldy or frozen silage should be discarded and troughsshould be cleaned daily. Corn silage is low in proteinand calcium. Studies have shown that the addition of20 pounds of urea, 10 pounds of ground limestone,4 pounds of dicalcium phosphate, and 5 pounds ofcalcium sulfate per ton of silage at the time of ensilingmakes a complete feed for the ewe flock by increasingits crude protein and calcium content. Alternatively,extra protein, calcium, phosphorous, and vitamins canbe supplied through a grain mix topdressed on the silageat the time of feeding.Hay - Average or poor quality hay should be fed duringgestation, leaving the higher quality hay to be fedduring lactation. Because protein requirements of theewe increase dramatically after lambing, less proteinsupplementation from concentrate feeds is requiredwhen higher quality hay is used. Second-cutting, mixedgrass-clover hay may be more economical to feed tothe ewe flock than alfalfa hay. This is especially trueif alfalfa hay must be purchased from off the farm.Alfalfa hay is an excellent feed for sheep and is bestused during lactation when ewes require more proteinto promote higher levels of milk production. Manyproducers have fed alfalfa hay to gestating ewes withgood results. However, some producers feeding alfalfahay to gestating ewes have experienced problems withvaginal prolapses, late term abortions, and milk fever.If alfalfa hay is being fed during late gestation, it shouldBecause of its high moisture content, 3 pounds of silageis required to supply the TDN furnished by 1.5 poundsof hay. The bulkiness of silage prevents adequate drymatter intake and its use as the sole source of feed forewes in late gestation. A typical diet fed to ewes during the last four weeks of pregnancy on an as fed basis4
buy than alfalfa hay.would contain: 6 pounds of corn silage (35 percent drymatter), 2 pounds of hay, 0.5 pound of corn, and 0.25pound of soybean meal.Alternative Feeds - Table 4 provides a list of some of theby-products of grain milling and processing and certainnontraditional feeds that are commonly available in Virginia. They are considered to have more value and lessrisk when fed to the ewe flock than to lambs. Cautionshould be used when substituting alternative feeds forcorn and soybean meal when they appear to be a better value. Although these feeds may be comparable interms of nutrient analysis, the animals may not performsimilarly. Therefore, it is important to know if there areproblems with certain alternative feeds, and to monitorthe performance of the sheep flock once changes havebeen made.Grain - When additional energy and protein are required,corn and soybean meal commonly form the basis of thegrain portion of the diet. However, when justified bysupply or price, other grains may replace all or part ofthe corn and soybean meal in a diet. The energy valueof other common grains compared to corn and the maximum amounts to use in ewe and lamb diets are given inTable 3. Because of its high fiber content, the replacement va
ity. Nutrient requirements of sheep vary with differences in age, body weight, and stage of production. The five major categories of nutrients required by sheep are: 1) water; 2) energy; 3) protein; 4) vitamins; and 5) minerals. During the grazing season, sheep are able to meet their nutrient requirem
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