Part of a 6-part webinar series: introduction to small ruminants

1. Feeding the Flock
JEFF SEMLER – EXTENSION AGENT- AGFS

2. Nutrition Review
 The primary nutrients when feeding
animals
Protein
Energy
Vitamins & Minerals
Water
Fiber

3. Nutrition Review
 How do we typically measure
energy?
Total Digestible Nutrients - TDN

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.

6. Nutrition – Production Cycle
 Age
Weight
Stage of production
Sex
Specie

7. Guidelines on feeding the flock
 Pasture system
 Dry lot system
 Hybrid system

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.

40. Pasture – How Many Head Per Acre
 IT DEPENDS!!!

41. Summary
 Regardless of your production
system remember your goal is
proper nutrition at the lowest
cost.

42. Resources and Credits
 Photos courtesy of Susan
Schoenian
 Excellent Online resources
https://extension.psu.edu/feedin
g-the-flock
https://www.sheepandgoat.com/
genguidefeed

43. Questions???
Jeff Semler
Washington County
Extension Agent - AgFS
(301) 791-1304
jsemler@umd.edu