soarwitheagles
True BYH Addict
Hi again everyone!
Ok, where do I begin?
Total newbie here.
Done some reading on how/what/when to feed sheep. But I sure have a lot of questions still.
I came here looking for help again.
Here's where we are now on the livestock count:
Two 4-month old female Dorpers, 10 ABB ewes, 1 ABB ram, two lambs from the ABB ewe.
Started for the first time ever with sheep a couple of months ago. For the first few weeks, I only fed them dry hay [I think it is super low quality grass, $5 per bale]. Then Tractor Supply had a 20% off deal on grain so I splurged and purchased about 300 lbs of various grains. The sheep went wild over the grain. I only fed tiny amounts of grain for the first few days, but then realized that as I increased the amount of grain, they sheep all had the ability to self-monitor themselves. In other words, they would eat until content, then leave the rest of the grain in the feeding trough.
Last Oct-Nov. we planted what originally was suppose to be a dry pasture mix. The mix consisted of approx. 60% annual rye, 4 types of clover, brom, and a couple of other ingredients. After doing more reading, I also added a significant amount of white clover seed, chicory, and birdsfoot trefoil.
Planted a few acres of this mix. It started real slow, but now it is growing like gang-busters. So I decided to mow the pasture, collect the freshly cut greens, and place the freshly cut greens in the feeding trough. The sheep love it. I started super slow, but after about a week, discovered again these sheep know how to self-monitor. They eat until content, then stop. No bloating, no explosions with body parts all over the place, so this has been really good news.
I am preparing to put this flock out to pasture [I will begin this week to install the fencing for 5 rotational paddocks].
Now my questions...
1. Is the freshly cut greens more nutritious than the cheap dry grass [hay bales]?
2. Will it be ok to have the sheep feed exclusively on the pasture or should I supplement?
3. If I am to supplement, what do you recommend and how much?
The pasture is presently growing at the rate of approx. 1/2"-1" per day. I know it will grow faster in a few more short weeks.
4. How tall can I permit the grass to grow and it still work for feeding the sheep?
5. What is the lowest I should permit the sheep to trim the grass?
6. How long do you estimate 15 sheep will require to trim an acre?
7. Can I cut the pasture, then I rake it, dry it, and store it like hay if the sheep cannot eat the greens fast enough?
8. Anyone have any ideas of irrigating pastureland during the hot summer months in central valley California? [I was hoping to irrigate at least an acre to reduce summer time feed costs].
9. Has anyone here experimented with fava beans or other legumes with the express intention of creating sileage? If yes, what were your results?
10. Have you any other suggestions for a total newbie who has no clue what he is doing?
Thanks,
Soar
Ok, where do I begin?
Total newbie here.
Done some reading on how/what/when to feed sheep. But I sure have a lot of questions still.
I came here looking for help again.
Here's where we are now on the livestock count:
Two 4-month old female Dorpers, 10 ABB ewes, 1 ABB ram, two lambs from the ABB ewe.
Started for the first time ever with sheep a couple of months ago. For the first few weeks, I only fed them dry hay [I think it is super low quality grass, $5 per bale]. Then Tractor Supply had a 20% off deal on grain so I splurged and purchased about 300 lbs of various grains. The sheep went wild over the grain. I only fed tiny amounts of grain for the first few days, but then realized that as I increased the amount of grain, they sheep all had the ability to self-monitor themselves. In other words, they would eat until content, then leave the rest of the grain in the feeding trough.
Last Oct-Nov. we planted what originally was suppose to be a dry pasture mix. The mix consisted of approx. 60% annual rye, 4 types of clover, brom, and a couple of other ingredients. After doing more reading, I also added a significant amount of white clover seed, chicory, and birdsfoot trefoil.
Planted a few acres of this mix. It started real slow, but now it is growing like gang-busters. So I decided to mow the pasture, collect the freshly cut greens, and place the freshly cut greens in the feeding trough. The sheep love it. I started super slow, but after about a week, discovered again these sheep know how to self-monitor. They eat until content, then stop. No bloating, no explosions with body parts all over the place, so this has been really good news.
I am preparing to put this flock out to pasture [I will begin this week to install the fencing for 5 rotational paddocks].
Now my questions...
1. Is the freshly cut greens more nutritious than the cheap dry grass [hay bales]?
2. Will it be ok to have the sheep feed exclusively on the pasture or should I supplement?
3. If I am to supplement, what do you recommend and how much?
The pasture is presently growing at the rate of approx. 1/2"-1" per day. I know it will grow faster in a few more short weeks.
4. How tall can I permit the grass to grow and it still work for feeding the sheep?
5. What is the lowest I should permit the sheep to trim the grass?
6. How long do you estimate 15 sheep will require to trim an acre?
7. Can I cut the pasture, then I rake it, dry it, and store it like hay if the sheep cannot eat the greens fast enough?
8. Anyone have any ideas of irrigating pastureland during the hot summer months in central valley California? [I was hoping to irrigate at least an acre to reduce summer time feed costs].
9. Has anyone here experimented with fava beans or other legumes with the express intention of creating sileage? If yes, what were your results?
10. Have you any other suggestions for a total newbie who has no clue what he is doing?
Thanks,
Soar
