To avoid damaging energy deficits occurring in ewes, it is vital to feed them with high energy concentrates during the close-up, pre-lambing period to ensure that the limited feed a ewe consumes will have a high enough energy density to meet her energy requirements. Through the targeted use of concentrates, sheep producers can ensure that the maximum amount of energy is going into lamb growth and supporting ewe maintenance.
Concentrate feeding rates will vary significantly from farm to farm, depending on the quantity and quality of forage that producers are able to provide their ewes in the run up to lambing. The quality and availability of forage provided to ewes is likely to be highly variable at this time of year and this variability will heavily influence the amount of extra energy/concentrate that ewes will have to be supplemented with, in order to maintain a positive energy balance.
In research carried out by ForFarmers, we found significant differences in concentrate requirements for ewes being fed the top 25% of analysed big bale silage compared to those fed the bottom 25%. According to our figures, over the course of six weeks before lambing, a ewe being fed lower quality silage would require nearly 7kg more in total concentrate supplementation compared to a ewe being fed higher quality forage.
| Weeks prior to lambing |
6 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
| Top 25% of big bale grass silage |
18% concentrate (kg/day) |
| Twin bearing ewe (feeding rate) |
0.25 |
0.40 |
0.65 |
0.80 |
| Bottom 25% of big bale grass silage |
18% concentrate (kg/day) |
| Twin bearing ewe (feeding rate) |
0.35 |
0.60 |
0.90 |
1.20 |
As well as feeding appropriate levels of concentrate, increasing the quantity of high-quality protein in a ewe’s diet is also advisable in the six weeks prior to lambing. Rumen degradable protein (ERDP) will help to balance poor forage quality and maximise forage digestion, whilst by-pass protein (DUP), will support the production of high-quality colostrum and higher milk yields.
By including both types of protein in the diet sheep producers will help support lamb growth and a ewe’s production of high-quality milk and colostrum; all of which will help increase lamb survival rates and lamb performance post-birth.