[Jacob-list] corn gluten/ration

[Neal and Louise Grose]

In Linda and my ['s ?] area, sheep are not likely to fatten on hay unless it is extremely good quality. Alfalfa and good quality orchardgrass will be less than 65 mcal/lb because of the summer heat and humidity. The total ration would have to be closer to 70 mcal/lb (California and Minnesota hay) to fatten lambs and support lactation. They may do better on fresh grazing this winter if there is a good supply of stockpiled grass grown after the weather cooled. That cold season grass stocklpiles extra sugars in the stem to use for anti-freeze.

We use corn gluten feed and distillers grain in cattle rations with no problem, but keep it less than 1/4 of the ration. 

Here's an idea: With bio-diesel coming on the market, glycerol will become more available and relatively cheep if you want to pour that over your feed. It has as much energy per pound as corn.

Neal Grose
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Robin Lynde 
  To: Linda ; Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
  Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2008 11:53 AM
  Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] corn gluten/ration


  I wouldn't feed something with questionable copper content no matter how good a deal it seems. Also, is this because hay in your area isn't of good quality? I feed hardly feed grain at all and my sheep are fat on alfalfa. I do buy a little bit of grain but I use if sparingly. During lambing season I mix a medium size bucket of half COB and half alfalfa pellets (cheaper) and I spread that out in all the feeders. But this is one bucket for 50-60 sheep and goats so you know that they're all getting only a very small amount. This is one way I have of checking to see who might not be feeling good (ready to lamb).

  Speaking of alfalfa, I just got a donkey and now I'm realizing that since I'll be feeding alfalfa all winter, the donkey will be getting that too unless I separate her. I didn't want to make life more complicated with this addition. Any advice from donkey owners?
  Robin Lynde
  Meridian Jacobs
  Vacaville, CA 
  www.meridianjacobs.com 
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Linda 
    To: Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
    Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2008 4:12 AM
    Subject: [Jacob-list] corn gluten/ration


    Does anyone have any experience/information with feeding corn gluten? Our local hay supplier uses it for his cattle during the winter. It's 1/2 the price of whole corn. 

    From what I've been able to garner from the web, it wouldn't be recommended as the complete diet. Also the copper content can be variable. I didn't see the bag it came in, so didn't get a chance to read the label. 

    This year I'm going back to mixing my own feed ration. I did it for about 8 years, but went to premixes when I got more sheep. The sheep did very well on my mix. I liked the Blue Seal sheep feed, but we just lost the Blue Seal dealer that was 35 miles away in SC. The next closest is 65 miles in NC and the cost in time and gas just doesn't make sense to me. 

    My sheep mix consists of whole corn, whole oats, soybean meal, wheat bran, and livestock molasses. I'd appreciate hearing from others that mix their own feeds and what home made mixes have worked for you. 

    Thank you,
    Linda


      
    http://www.patchworkfibers.com 
    Registered Jacob Sheep, Handspun Yarn  



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