Feeding sheep

[alsea1]

I was wondering is grain is nec. for keeping the sheep in good health.
I would like to hear your opinions on this.
What do you feed your sheep.
I own hair sheep. American Black Belly
They are not real big bodied sheep
Thank you for your input

 

[BrownSheep]

We only feed grain to 4-H Show lambs and gummer ewes.

That being said we only feed high quality alfalfa hay. If you are feeding grass hay you might supplement a little.
My girls did look a little thin by the time they are ready to go out to pasture, but I think that had more to do with us trying to stretch the hay out.

 

[alsea1]

So a protein block or pail and good grass hay should suffice.
Bearing in mind keep parasite issues under control.

 

[norseofcourse]

My sheep are only eating pasture right now, but it's decent pasture and lots of good brushy stuff for them, too. They also get a good loose mineral mix free choice. I have enough pasture, and only a few sheep. I feel them every week or so to make sure they're still in good weight. If they were dropping weight (or the lambs weren't gaining), I'd start feeding them pellets or grain, or give them access to more pasture.

My ram is in a smaller pasture, so he gets some supplemental pellets (and loose minerals too). Once I can fence in more pasture for him, he probably won't need that. But he'll go in with the girls next month.

For the winter, I'll be feeding grass/timothy hay and pellets (same loose mineral mix too). Same as now, I'll feel them to check body condition, and increase or decrease their feed as needed. I don't want them too thin, but I don't want them too fat, either, since overfeeding pregnant ewes can cause problems with babies too large to be born easily.

I check eyelids for anemia (a sign of barberpole worms), and my vet does fecals, I've also thought about getting the equipment to do it myself. There's also someone here with a link to a place that does them fairly cheaply.

I'm not familiar with using protein blocks or pails - what all is in them? Have you tested your hay, and found it to be too low protein?

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I feed my ABB's free choice bermuda, with a few flakes of alfalfa twice a day. They also have a protein/ mineral block (because we can't find sheep minerals here). And they maintain pretty darn good weight on just this, but if my ewes are feeding babies or it looks like they need a bit more I'll give them some alfalfa pellets, that helps keep the weight on too.

 

[SheepGirl]

My ewe flock is on pasture right now. Currently they are breeding so I am giving them each 1/2 lb of grain per head per day for flushing purposes. Within the next couple of days they will no longer get any grain and they will maintain themselves on just pasture until they are penned up for winter (probably early to mid January, maybe earlier) and are on grass hay only. During the last month of gestation, the ewes will be started on 1/2 lb of grain per head per day and when the ewes lamb, they will be given 1/2 to 1 lb of grain per lamb they are nursing, depending on the ewe's condition.

My sheep get by just fine on pasture. However, I give them grain for several reasons:
1) Grass, at any given time of the year, cannot support the nutritional needs of a productive animal (growing, breeding, gestating, lactating)
2) Grain is a nutrient dense feedstuff. It takes up little room, both in storage and in the ewe's rumen
3) It keeps my ewes friendly & they look forward to seeing me everyday. If I were to bring out hay for them while on pasture, they would not even look twice at me.

Obviously the amounts of grain I feed are perfect for my own flock's genetics--it may be too much for another flock (such as the more primitive breeds of hair sheep) or not enough for another flock (show sheep).

I feed just enough grain to keep a good amount of condition (2 to 3.5 BCS) on my ewes. I've had them fat/obese before (they got that way when they had no lambs for a year and they weren't getting any grain...just pasture and grass hay during the winter) and frankly, it embarrassed me when they're sheared!

 

[Singing Shepherd]

It is so interesting to read all the threads about feeding because as a newcomer I question my decisions so much. I worry my lack of any knowledge other than what I read will somehow negatively impact my sheep, but As well, I know I will learn from experience. Currently, though I see them eating pasture everyday, I worry that the nutrient value of what their available grasses and foliage has lessened due to the change of seasons. I am uncertain whether to increase their grain intake now or wait til later in the year. They are still growing and I want them to have the necessary fat stores etc, for winter. How do the rest of you adjust your feed portions when autumn changes the pasture and winter sets in?

 

[SheepGirl]

I keep my ewes on pasture until it runs out (and they are in their first 2 to 3 months of pregnancy) and then they are moved onto grass hay at a rate of about 2to 22.5 per cent of their body weight. Then in their last month of pregnancy I add grain. IME, even though the grass is dead, it still has enough nutrients to bring a sheep from a 2 bcs in november to a 4 bcs in april. Granted thats six months, however that is on winter pasture only with no grain and only hay when there.is snow on the ground.

 

[Singing Shepherd]

What you say about the winter grass is interesting. I had not thought of it that way. And find it reassuring that your sheep gained even though only on winter grass and hay. I have tried to assess my pasture accurately and feel I may be a little overly concerned now that I read your post and another on an additional thread. They have a nice amount of pasture that includes: our house orchard, some open grass, a lot of briar and vine that rims the woods and is also undergrowth in the treed areas, and a forest that rims the whole thing on three sides. They love the forbs the most I think...boy they can really clear out the brush! Another side though of this kind of land is that I ask them to patiently wait each day while I pick 2 inch to 2 foot pcs of sticker bush from their wool...but they do, they just chew their cud and let me do my thing. ( I have been told I will put them in coats next year after I spend the whole of next summer picking debris out of their sheared wool and I believe it! ). So all in all thanks to your kind and detailed responses, I guess I am learning that my set up and current care routine is satisfactory. Next year I plan to fence in another field of about an acre size so that I can add to my flock (hopefully 2 or 4 more sheep) and begin rotating pastures. Thanks each of you for your answers on this site. Everyone seems so willing to help out and learn together.

 

[norseofcourse]

Another side though of this kind of land is that I ask them to patiently wait each day while I pick 2 inch to 2 foot pcs of sticker bush from their wool...but they do, they just chew their cud and let me do my thing. ( I have been told I will put them in coats next year after I spend the whole of next summer picking debris out of their sheared wool and I believe it! ).

I had to smile at this part! My land sounds quite similar to yours, and my sheep love the forbs and briars and brushy stuff, too. And I've also spent lots of time picking stuff out of their wool. Here is an example:

I've used both a stiff bristle brush and a wire slicker brush (the kind for dogs) on the sheep. IMHO the slicker brush works better. I am fortunate that Icelandics don't have a lot of lanolin, as I think this helps the vegetable matter fall out more easily when brushing. I was told 'nobody brushes sheep', but I decided I'd rather do that, than spend hours picking stuff out after they were sheared. And some of the sheep really seemed to love it!

And yes, my sheep are great at clearing out the brush, too - and as they and I keep clearing and turning this brushy semi-woods into nice pasture, I'll eventually have less to pick out of their wool. I will be glad of that, but a little sad too, because I know they love eating that stuff, and I think the variety is good for them.