SHEEP CREEP FEEDING WEANING KEITH VANDER VELDE CENTRAL DISTRICT SPECIALIST

Creep-feeding Benefits: –Increase Lamb Weaning Weight –Improves ewe body condition –Reduces pasture consumption –Reduces lamb stress at Weaning –Allows twins to grow like singles

Creep-feeding Profitability –When grain is cheap and calf prices high –Herd has large number of young ewes –Pastures or feed for ewes is short –Lambs are being sold as feeders not retained –Lambs are born in late winter –Market premiums for bloomy lambs

Creep-feeding Not Recommended –When forage is abundant –Ewes are heavy milkers –Weaned lambs are retained on high-roughage feed –Periods of high grain and low lamb prices –Ewe lambs are retained as herd replacements

Creep-feeding

Rations –41% corn, 42% oats, 17% SBOM, rolled or ground first 6 weeks, no processing after six weeks –Decrease the SBOM as Lambs reach 7-8 weeks of age –Provide free choice hay in creep area