Friday, 07 October 2016 08:55

Supplements needed for multi-lamb ewes

Written by  Pam Tipa

For a high-yielding 80kg ewe -- dairy or with multiple lambs – to produce at least 3kgMS/day, her voluntary intake of high-energy feed must be near 3kgDM/day.

So says Sam Peterson, from the International Sheep Research Centre at Massey University.

If the target is not hit, she will enter negative energy balance (NEB) or reduce milk production, he says.

New Zealand’s traditional sheep are not likely to sustain NEB for long, he says.

“Our meat and dual purpose breeds were selected for more than half a century to produce ‘fat lambs’ for the Smithfield market in London at Christmas,” he says in a paper to the NZ Veterinary Association conference.

“Unsurprisingly in retrospect, the result was a small, early maturing sheep that produced a lot of milk for a short period and did not mobilise fat easily.

“Despite the change to selection for large, late-maturing animals, there has been no selection in our national sheep flock for persistence in milk production. Thus, our traditional sheep breeds will tend to reduce milk yield steadily after an early peak, and put on body condition during lactation even when well fed.

“Underfeeding will simply result in reduced yields in most ewes, though some will ‘milk off their back’.

“Lactating sheep, especially dairy sheep and those with multiple lambs, should be fed at ‘luxury’ levels -- offered pasture, lucerne or herb and legume mixes at over 2000kgDM/ha with residuals over 1500kg DM/ha.”

Supplementary crops with high ME content chosen to suit local soils and climate should be used to fill gaps in feed supply, he says.

“These may be fed fresh or conserved. Forages such as chicory have ME content similar to barley and maize grain, so are viable alternatives, although they will take longer to eat and digest.

“Hence, starch-based concentrates (around 300g/day but not more) should be fed to dairy ewes in the shed, both as an aid to management and as a nutritional strategy to increase ME intake.”

More like this

Massey study tests impact of solar panels on grass growth

Many farmers have invested in solar energy for dairy sheds or houses, but little hard data exists on the viability of solar panels in open paddocks or the loss of drymatter this may cause. Massey University scientist Dr Sam Wilson is conducting research to get more information about this. Rural News reporter Peter Burke went to investigate.

From Nelson to Dairy Research: Amy Toughey’s Journey

Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.

Featured

'One more push' to eliminate FE

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.

Winston Peters questions Fonterra divestment plan

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Quid prod quo?

OPINION: Ageing lefty Chris Trotter reckons that the decision to delay recognition of Palestinian statehood is more than just a fit…

Deadwood

OPINION: A mate of yours truly recently met someone at a BBQ who works at a big consulting firm who spent…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter