Sheep Nutrition and Management Keith Vander Velde UW Extension Livestock Specialist March 11, 2000 Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Sheep Nutrition and Management Goals: 95% Conception rate 175% Lambing rate Less than 10% mortality Longevity of breeding flock

Sheep Nutrition and Management Divide the Management into the various stages of production Energy and Protein vary with productions stage and the number of lambs born

Sheep Nutrition and Management Factors to consider: Age Size(Weight Condition Type of confinement Stage of Production Pregnancy Lactation Feed Quality and quantity Health status of ewes Season of year Weather, heat vs. wind chill factors

Sheep Nutrition and Management Pre-breeding Sort for open mouths and bad udders Do body condition scoring on ewes and rams Trim feet if necessary Flush ewes with good pasture of add.25 lbs of grain per day 14 days prior to breeding

Sheep Management Calendar Breeding Season Keep flushing ewes Leave rams in for 60 days maximum Early Pregnancy thru 4 months Stop flushing but avoid rapid weight loss Vaccinate for Vibrio and EAE Condition score ewes

Sheep Management Calendar Last 30 Days Prior to Lambing Feed one to two pounds of grain per day Give Enterotoxemia Injection to new ewes Shear ewes

Sheep Management Calendar During Lactation: Ewes with singles should have 1.5 lbs of grain Ewes with twins should receive lbs of grain Ewes with triplets should receive 3-4 lbs of grain

Sheep Management Calendar Nurtient Requirements for 155 lb ewe TDN Protein Maintenance Early Pregnancy Late Pregnancy Lactation-single Lactation-twin Lactation-triplets

Sheep Management Calendar Ration for Meeting 155 lbs ewes requirements Maintenance lbs hay(16.5% Protein) Early Pregnancy lbs hay(16.5% Protein) Late Pregnancy lbs hay plus 1 lb corn Early Lactation Single-5 lbs hay plus 1.5 corn Early Lactation Twin-5 lbs hay plus 2.25 corn Early Lactation Triplets-3.5 hay, 3.2 corn,.5 SBOM

Sheep Management Calendar Weaning: Limit forage and water intake 2-3 days prior for ewes Have lambs on creep feed or bunk trained Remove ewes from lamb environment

Sheep Diseases At Lambing Causing Abortion: Vibrionic Abortion-Campylobacter fetus intes- tinalis Enzootic Abortion(EAE)-chlamydia Toxoplasmosis-cat feces

Sheep Metabolic Disorders Pregnancy toxemia-lack of energy in late pregnancy(Lamb Ketosis) Hypercalcemia(Milk Fever)-calcium going for milk production

Body Condition Scoring 1.Range of Classifying differences in body fatness 3.Done by feeling by hand themuscling and fat over and around the vertebrae in the loin(area near last rib) thru 3.5 is desireable range

ScoreDescription 1Ewes in this body condition have only a slight amount of fatty tissue detectable between skin and bone. Spinous process are relatively prominent. These ewes appear thrifty but have only minimal fat reserves. 2Ewes in this body condition have average flesh but do not have excess fat reserves. This condition score includes ewes in average body condition. 3 4This condition score includes ewes that are moderately fat. Moderate fat deposits give sheep a smooth external appearance 5Includes ewes that are extremely fat. Excess fat deposits can easily be seen in the brisket, flank and tail-head regions. These ewes have excess fat reserves to the point that productivity may be impaired.