Feeding Smart Dan Morrical Iowa State University

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Feeding SmartDan MorricalIowa State University

• Know requirements
• Condition Score
• Make adjustments
• multiple pens

• Control waste
• Use pasture and
• crop residue
• Comparison shop

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Basic Sheep Nutrition

• Factors impacting requirements
• Age
• Weight
• Stage of production
• Level of Production

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Sheep Nutrition

• SERB -- State Summary
• 1987-1991
• Feed and Pasture 41.60
• 63 of cash costs
• 41 of all costs

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Feeding Sheep

• Goal - optimize production
• while minimizing feed costs.
• Feeding sheep correctly is a 3 part process.
• 1. Knowing the requirements
• 2. Combining feeds to meet those requirements
• 3. Monitoring ewes and feed bunk

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Sheep Industry Changes

• Sheep are bigger
• average slaughter weight 139
• Sheep are more prolific
• Romanov, Finnsheep, Polypay
• Sheep grow faster
• Ram test rams gaining 1.5 pounds per day
• Sheep produce more milk
• East Fresian and Lacaune crosses

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Sheep Industry Status Quo

• No market signals

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Sheep Nutrition

• What do we know about sheep industry?

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Sheep Nutrition

• What do we know about sheep industry?
• Small
• Support
• Feed sales volume
• Consultants

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Sheep Nutrition

• Ruminants
• 4 Compartment stomach
• 3/4 of body cavity
• 3.5 gallons
• So what does that mean?

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Sheep Nutrition

• Nutrients of Concern
• Water
• Energy
• Protein
• Vitamins
• Minerals

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Sheep Nutrition

• Water
• - Cheap
• - Abused
• Goal -- Clean, fresh, cool or warm.
• Critical especially feedlot lambs.

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Water

• Intake affected by
• Stage of production
• Environmental temperature
• Water content in the diet
• Average intake 3 x dry matter intake

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Sheep Nutrition

• Energy
• - Most often underfed
• - Largest amount required
• Example E. gestation ewe
• 1.8 lb TDN
• .31 lb CP
• .38 g Ca

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Sheep Nutrition

• Energy Sources
• Sugars - Molasses
• Starches Grains
• Complex carbohydrates
• Hemi-cellulose
• Cellulose
• Lignin
• Fats - 2.25 times the energy of CHO
• Proteins ???

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Sheep Nutrition

• Protein Quantity vs Quality
• Quantity is N x 6.25 2 N 12.50 CP
• Quality - specific AA content
• Protein Requirements
• Lambs - 26-11
• Ewes - 9-16
• Highest in young animals

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Minerals

• Macro and micro classification
• Macros - required in grams per day
• Micros - required in mg per day

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Sheep Nutrition

• Mineral supplementation
• Nutritional wisdom?
• Trace mineral salt versus mineral
• Set up trial to measure intake. How?
• Factors impacting intake

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Sheep Nutrition

• Comparing feeds on cost of energy basis
• 1 rule CORN IS STANDARD BY WHICH TO
• COMPARE EVERYTHING ELSE.

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Sheep Nutrition

• Current corn price 3.64 per bushel
• 3.64 56 pounds/bu. 6.5/pound
• 6.5 .77 lb TDN per lb 8.44/pound TDN
• What can you pay for other feeds
• 8.44 per pound TDN - standard

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Sheep Nutrition

• Example oats
• 68 TDN
• 1 lb. oats x .68 lb. TDN/lb. DM .68 LBS TDN
• 8.44 x .68 5.7 x 32 lb./bushel 1.82 per
  bushel.
• Oats are worth half on an TDN basis.
• NOTE Assumes no waste of either product.

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Sheep Nutrition

• What is the hay worth?
• 50 TDN 84 per ton (1000 X 8.4)
• 55 TDN 93 per ton (1100 X 8.4)
• 60 TDN 101 per ton (1200 X 8.4)
• 65 TDN 109 per ton (1300 X 8.4)
• Assumes no waste. Ha!

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Saving on feed

• Feeding high corn diets
• Half corn and half hay
• 1 pound corn 1.6 pounds hay
• five pounds hay or 2 corn and 2 hay
• Precautions

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Saving on feed

• Feeding with corn stalks and
• corn byproducts
• Stalks for filler and
• DDGS/CGF for quality

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Sheep Nutrition Feeding Questions