Sheep Nutrition and Management

Keith Vander Velde

UW Extension Livestock Specialist

March 11, 2000

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Sheep Nutrition and Management

Goals:

• 95% Conception rate

• 175% Lambing rate

• Less than 10% mortality

• Longevity of breeding flock

Sheep Nutrition and Management

• Divide the Management into the various stages of production

• Energy and Protein vary with productions stage and the number of lambs born

Sheep Nutrition and ManagementFactors to consider:• Age• Size(Weight• Condition• Type of confinement• Stage of Production• Pregnancy• Lactation• Feed Quality and quantity• Health status of ewes• Season of year• Weather, heat vs. wind chill factors

Sheep Nutrition and Management

Pre-breeding

• Sort for open mouths and bad udders

• Do body condition scoring on ewes and rams

• Trim feet if necessary

• Flush ewes with good pasture of add .25 lbs of grain per day 14 days prior to breeding

Sheep Management Calendar

Breeding Season• Keep flushing ewes• Leave rams in for 60 days maximum

Early Pregnancy thru 4 months• Stop flushing but avoid rapid weight loss• Vaccinate for Vibrio and EAE• Condition score ewes

Sheep Management Calendar

Last 30 Days Prior to Lambing• Feed one to two pounds of grain per day

• Give Enterotoxemia Injection to new ewes

• Shear ewes

Sheep Management Calendar

During Lactation:• Ewes with singles should have 1.5 lbs of

grain

• Ewes with twins should receive 2-2.5 lbs of grain

• Ewes with triplets should receive 3-4 lbs of grain

Sheep Management Calendar

Nurtient Requirements for 155 lb eweTDN Protein

• Maintenance 1.5 .25• Early Pregnancy 1.7 .29• Late Pregnancy 2.8 .47• Lactation-single 3.6 .73• Lactation-twin 4.0 .92• Lactation-triplets 4.2 1.02

Sheep Management Calendar

Ration for Meeting 155 lbs ewes requirements

• Maintenance---3.25 lbs hay(16.5% Protein)

• Early Pregnancy---- 3.75 lbs hay(16.5% Protein)

• Late Pregnancy---4.20 lbs hay plus 1 lb corn

• Early Lactation Single-5 lbs hay plus 1.5 corn

• Early Lactation Twin-5 lbs hay plus 2.25 corn

• Early Lactation Triplets-3.5 hay, 3.2 corn, .5 SBOM

Sheep Management Calendar

Weaning:• Limit forage and water intake 2-3 days

prior for ewes

• Have lambs on creep feed or bunk trained

• Remove ewes from lamb environment

Sheep Diseases At Lambing

Causing Abortion:

• Vibrionic Abortion-Campylobacter fetus intes-tinalis

• Enzootic Abortion(EAE)-chlamydia

• Toxoplasmosis-cat feces

Sheep Metabolic Disorders

Pregnancy toxemia-lack of energy in late pregnancy(Lamb Ketosis)

Hypercalcemia(Milk Fever)-calcium going for milk production

Body Condition Scoring

1. Range of 1-5

2. Classifying differences in body fatness

3. Done by feeling by hand themuscling and fat over and around the vertebrae in the loin(area near last rib)

4. 2.5 thru 3.5 is desireable range

Score Description

1 Ewes in this body condition have only a slight amount of fatty tissue detectable between skin and bone. Spinous process are relatively prominent. These ewes appear thrifty but have only minimal fat reserves.

2 Ewes in this body condition have average flesh but do not have excess fat reserves. This condition score includes ewes in average body condition.

3 Ewes in this body condition have average flesh but do not have excess fat reserves. This condition score includes ewes in average body condition.

4 This condition score includes ewes that are moderately fat. Moderate fat deposits give sheep a smooth external appearance

5 Includes ewes that are extremely fat. Excess fat deposits can easily be seen in the brisket, flank and tail-head regions. These ewes have excess fat reserves to the point that productivity may be impaired.