[Jacob-list] Feeding Question

[Neal Grose]

In general, I would suggest you think in terms of the total energy that your animals are consuming, and not get too tied into grain/not-grain feeding. A feed analysis would be helpful, but palatability is a pretty good indicator of nutrient content. The alfalfa pellets may simply be too hard to chew; otherwise, I would expect the forage to be readily consumed if it has adequate energy to be the sole ration during winter. 

Pregnant ewes should not be allowed to get into negative energy balance before lambing, especially during cold weather.  Late pregnancy and lactation requires a total ration that is equivalent to forage in early vegetative growth – early to mid-spring lawn.

The rams can get by on considerably less. Urinary calculi can be a result of alfalfa hay or a grain ration that is too high in calcium. Lime is a relatively cheap ingredient.

Neal Grose
North Carolina


From: Marjorie Schafer 
Sent: Friday, December 28, 2012 12:17 PM
To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
Subject: [Jacob-list] Feeding Question

Hello, 

We are relatively new Jacob breeders (this is our second year). We live in northern IL, and the drought was very severe here this year. We were lucky to get any hay at all, and paid almost twice what we did last year. However--the quality is EXCEEDINGLY poor. Our year-old hay looks much fresher/greener than this hay just cut a few months ago, and the sheep much prefer it. The new hay is dried out and very stemmy. It looks more like straw than hay.  But it was all we could get. 

We supplement our ewes with a little bit of grain each day, so I'm not as worried about them--though they are very hungry right now. I worry some about the pregnant ewes.

But as for the rams--I've read they shouldn't be given grain at all (risk of urinary calculi, among other things). And I'm wondering if there is a way to supplement their nutrition. I've been told that alfalfa pellets can be a good supplement, and we bought a bag of dehydrated alfalfa pellets from our feed mill. But the sheep (and llamas) seem unable to chew them and are not attracted to them at all.

I know many Jacob breeders do not feed  grain to their Jacobs at all, but given the very poor quality of our hay, I'm just wondering how we're going to get through the winter nutrition-wise. Any thoughts?

Thank you, and Happy New Year to you all,

Margie
Round Barn Jacobs
Durand, IL


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