4. Guidelines on feeding the flock
Because an individual’s feed
requirements change as their
reproductive status changes, there are
several distinct feeding periods.
We will discuss feeding systems that
are designed to keep feed costs at a
minimum, while supplying all the
necessary nutrients required by the
animal.
Keep in mind these are guidelines and
may need to be adjusted for your
operation.
5. Guidelines on feeding the flock
In drawing up these guidelines
there were several assumptions
made that you should be aware of.
The flock should always have
access to a loose trace mineral salt
formulated for sheep/goats.
They should always have access to
plenty of clean, fresh water.
Always change feeds gradually.
8. Guidelines on feeding the flock
Pasture refers to a well managed
grazing system containing improved
grasses and some legumes.
There should be several small
pastures so that rotational grazing
can be practiced.
With a good pasture system,
sheep should be able to eat all the
fresh herbage they want every day.
9. Guidelines on feeding the flock
A good pasture has lime applied
as needed and is fertilized every
year.
Over 90% of all sheep pastures
do not qualify as good pasture, so
be honest with yourself.
10. Guidelines on feeding the flock
The amount of hay in each ration is the
amount the ewe must eat, not necessarily
the amount you put in the feeder.
You must take into account any wasted
feed and adjust accordingly.
Alfalfa hay refers to average alfalfa with a
crude protein content of 17%, while clover
hay was assumed to have 15% crude
protein.
Mixed hay assumes a 50:50 grass:legume
mix (grass/clover, etc.) with 13% crude
protein and grass hay assumes 10% crude
protein.
11. Guidelines on feeding the flock
Corn refers to coarsely cracked
corn, barley is whole and
commercial feed refers to
complete feeds prepared at a
feed mill.
The % is the amount of crude
protein in the feed.
All rations are the amount to be
fed daily.
12. Maintenance (dry period, not production-
phase, pets)
When feeding a sheep or goat to
meet its maintenance requirements,
the goal is to maintain body weight
and condition.
1.5 to 2 percent of body weight
(dry matter intake).
Pasture or 2 ½ to 4 lbs. of grass hay
No grain feeding necessary
13. Flushing (2 weeks before and 2 to 4 weeks
into breeding season)
The body condition of a ewe or
doe affects the number of eggs she
will ovulate.
Ovulation rate sets the upper
potential for litter size.
The goal of flushing is to improve
the body condition of females by
getting them to gain weight.
This is accomplished by increasing
the nutritional plane.
14. Flushing (2 weeks before and 2 to 4 weeks
into breeding season)
Flushing increases ovulation rates,
which usually result in a higher
lambing and kidding percentages.
Later in the breeding season,
flushing may help to improve
embryo survival.
Ewes and does already in good
body condition (BCS > 3.0) usually
do not respond to flushing.
15. Flushing (2 weeks before and 2 to 4 weeks
into breeding season)
Free access to pasture or 2 ½ to
4 lbs. of grass hay plus . . .
½ to 1 lb. of corn or barley per
day
Move to high quality, but non-
legume pasture
16. Early to mid-gestation (1st 15 weeks)
During this phase of
production, the goal is to
maintain body condition of
mature females and increase
condition of young females.
Nutrient requirements are only
slightly above maintenance.
Young females should be fed
separately from mature females.
17. Early to mid-gestation (1st 15 weeks)
Free access to pasture or 2 ½ to
4 lbs. of grass hay
Grain feeding is not necessary
unless forage is exceptionally poor
or females are underconditioned.
18. Late gestation (last six weeks)
Late gestation is probably the
most critical period for ewe and
doe nutrition.
Ewes and does will gain weight
during this phase of production.
Seventy percent of fetal growth
occurs during this period.
Mammary tissue is also
developing.
19. Late gestation (last six weeks)
Proper nutrition is necessary to
prevent pregnancy toxemia
(ketosis) and milk fever (low blood
calcium).
Nutrition affects the birth
weights of lambs and kids.
There is a higher mortality
among small and large lambs and
kids.
20. Late gestation (last six weeks)
Oversized fetuses increase
dystocia (birthing difficulties).
Aim for a body condition of 3.0
to 3.5.
Young females should be fed
separately from mature females.
In addition to gestating, they
are still growing and have higher
nutritional requirements.
21. Late gestation (last six weeks)
Feed 4 to 5 lbs. of a grass or mixed
hay plus . .
½ to 1 lb. of grain per day
1.5 to 1.75 lbs. of grain per day, if
expected lambing percentage is above
200%
1 lb. of grain for each fetus the ewe is
carrying
1 lb. of a 16% CP ration if forage
quality is low (meat goat does)
22. Late gestation (last six weeks)
Include Bovatec®, Rumensin®,
or Deccox® in feed or mineral to
reduce coccidia in environment
and to aid in the prevention of
abortion caused by
toxoplasmosis.
23. Lambing and kidding
There is no reason to push feed at
ewes or does that have just given
birth to their offspring.
Ewes and does that have been
properly fed in late gestation usually
produce more than enough
colostrum for their offspring.
In fact, it is a good idea to collect
and freeze the colostrum from
single-bearing females.
24. Lambing and kidding
Too much feed early may increase
the milk flow beyond what the
babies can consume.
Provide plenty of fresh, clean
water
Feed forage only, for the first few
days after parturition
Take a week to get the ewe/doe
onto full feed
25. Early lactation (first 6 to 8 weeks)
This is when ewes and does
have their highest nutritional
requirements, especially if they
are nursing multiple offspring.
Ideally, you should separate
lactating females into production
groups (singles vs. twins vs.
triplets) and feed them according
to the number of offspring they
are nursing.
26. Early lactation (first 6 to 8 weeks)
Young females should be fed
separately from mature females.
In addition to producing milk
for their offspring, they are still
growing and have higher
nutritional requirements.
27. Early lactation (first 6 to 8 weeks)
Feed 4 to 7 lbs. of hay plus . . .
1 lb. of grain per lamb or kid
being nursed
Limit roughage intake of ewes
and does nursing triplets
1 lb. of a 16% CP ration if forage
quality is low (meat goat does)
28. Early lactation (first 6 to 8 weeks)
HIGH quality pasture should
meet the nutritional needs of
ewes and does nursing singles
and twins whereas females
nursing triplets usually require
grain supplementation;
otherwise, the third lamb or kid
should be removed for artificial
rearing.
29. Weaning
A body condition score of 2.0 to 2.5 is not uncommon at the time
of weaning.
If early weaning is practiced, proper feeding management is
necessary to prevent mastitis (udder infections).
Feed low protein and energy feed 5 to 10 days before weaning
Feed low protein and energy feed 3 to 5 days after weaning
Wean "cold turkey"
30. Lambs and kids
Growing lambs and kids have
the highest protein requirements
(percentage-wise) of any sheep or
goat.
Creep feeding (providing
supplemental feed to nursing
lambs/kids) may or may not be
economical, especially for goats.
31. Lambs and kids
Energy needs depend largely
upon desired growth rates and
the animals' genetic potential for
growth.
As with milk production
maximum growth is not always
the most profitable goal.
32. Lambs and kids
Replacement females should
not be fed for maximum gain
because excess fat will be
deposited in the mammary tissue,
reducing future milk potential.
33. Feeding lambs
Free access to high quality
pasture plus free choice sheep
minerals
Protein supplementation when
pasture quality is poor (and to
improve resistance to the barber
pole worm)
34. Feeding lambs
½ to 2 lbs. of hay plus 1 to 4 lbs. of
grain
Restrict hay intake as lambs get
heavier
Pasture plus grain in the amount
of 1 to 1.5% body weight
Include Bovatec® or Deccox® in
feed or mineral to prevent
coccidiosis.
35. Feeding kids
Free access to high quality
pasture plus free choice goat
minerals
Protein supplementation when
pasture quality is poor (and to
improve resistance to the barber
pole worm)
Free choice hay plus ½ lb. of
grain per day
36. Feeding kids
Increase grain to 1 to 1 ½ lbs. if
forage is poor quality.
Include Rumensin® or Deccox®
in feed or mineral to prevent
coccidiosis.
Weanlings and yearlings: 1 lb.
of a 16% CP grain if forage quality
is low
37. Bucks and rams
There is a tendency to overlook
the nutrition of rams and bucks.
In other situations, rams and
bucks are overfed.
Aim for a body condition score
of 3.0 to 3.5 at the start of the
breeding season.
Do not allow males to get fat.
38. Bucks and rams
Free access to pasture or hay plus
1 lb. of grain per day
Pasture or 4 to 7 lbs of average
quality hay
Increase feed 4 to 6 weeks prior to
breeding season, if necessary
Males may require 1 to 2 lbs. of
grain per head during breeding
season.
39. Protein levels
Creep feed - 18-20 percent CP
40-70 lb. lambs - 16 percent CP
70 lbs. and up - 14 percent CP
Old crop lambs - 12 percent CP
16% CP after weaning; 19% if
kids are weaned early.