[Jacob-list] Feeding

[Stephanie Rutherford]

I have always fed my rams grain and never had a problem. Like many things
how much grain you feed them tends to be the problem. Make sure that it is
a quality feed and they are not given the chance to consume massive amounts
of it.
On Jan 2, 2013 8:15 PM, <jacob-list-request at jacobsheep.com> wrote:


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>    1. Re: Feeding Question (lgnewsome at comcast.net)

>    2. Re: Feeding Question (Linda)

>    3. Re: lambs (Elizabeth Strub)

>

>

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------

> From: lgnewsome at comcast.net

> To: Jacob Sheep Mailing List <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>

> Cc:

> Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2013 22:36:50 +0000 (UTC)

> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Feeding Question

> Just a note to those feeding Blue Seal Hay Stretcher Pellets... I mix the

> 50# pellets with 100# sheep grains. My sheep love them, and they think

> they're getting more delicious grain! During maintenance periods I give

> about 1/2 cup per sheep of the mix, plus all the hay they want. I feed

> grain all year, as the sheep come running and it gives me a chance to look

> them over closely everyday. I also add 1 cup of Ammonium Chloride to the

> combined 150# of feed to avert urinary calculi issues (have had none). Now

> to the note... Blue Seal recently changed their label on the Hay Stretcher

> from "for horses and other livestock" to "for horses and other non-ruminant

> livestock". I contacted my Blue Seal dealer (I work at a feed store) and

> was informed that this was due to the fact that in some mills the Hay

> Stretcher is processed with machinery that also processes Blue Seal Lamb &

> Rice Dog Food (though not at our regional mill), so there may be a small

> chance that a trace amount of lamb meal could mix with the Hay Stretcher

> pellets during production, so legally the label must read "for non-ruminant

> livestock", even though the chance of contamination is minimal.

>

> ------------------------------

> *From: *"Linda" <patchworkfibers at windstream.net>

> *To: *"Marjorie Schafer" <MHSchafer at oglecom.com>

> *Cc: *jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

> *Sent: *Saturday, December 29, 2012 8:10:21 PM

> *Subject: *Re: [Jacob-list] Feeding Question

>

> I've supplemented with alfalfa pellets and cubes for over 15 years. When

> we first had sheep we had trouble finding good quality hay. We have a

> source of good hay now, which has been tested, but supplies can be limited.

> Pellets - I've never had good luck feeding alfalfa pellets without mixing

> in some whole grain. They seem to swallow before they chew and then they

> choke. There are different sized alfalfa pellets. The ones that are the

> size of rabbit feed are the worst. The Standlee pellets are the best I've

> found. The Grainland pellets are mostly dust. I like the Blue Seal Hay

> Stretcher Pellets, but it's a long drive to get them and my donkey doesn't

> do well on them.

> Cubes. I like cubes the best - the cubes that have clay as a binder just

> don't work for me or my sheep. My sheep have had to learn to eat cubes. I

> crumble them into tubs at first. I do not grain my rams after they are

> weaned. The rams are in a dry and clean area. I toss the cubes over the

> fence and they "graze" them. There is no fighting. I've been experimenting

> with offering the cubes free choice for the ewes.    ..

> On 12/28/2012 12:17 PM, Marjorie Schafer wrote:

>

> 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

>

>

> _______________________________________________

> Jacob-list mailing list, sponsored by Swallow Lane Farm & FiberworksJacob-list at jacobsheep.comhttp://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/jacob-list

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>

> --

> Patchwork Farm Jacob Sheep <http://www.patchworkfibers.com/>

>

> _______________________________________________

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> ---------- Forwarded message ----------

> From: Linda <patchworkfibers at windstream.net>

> To: lgnewsome at comcast.net

> Cc: Jacob Sheep Mailing List <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>

> Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2013 17:50:59 -0500

> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Feeding Question

>  I've used the Blue Seal Hay Stretcher pellets. I (and my sheep) like them

> quite abit. The larger size seems to make the sheep spend more time chewing

> so they don't choke.  As far as I've found in our area, Blue Seal has the

> only pellets labeled "Hay Stretcher" that do not contain added copper.

> Linda

> On 1/2/2013 5:36 PM, lgnewsome at comcast.net wrote:

>

> Just a note to those feeding Blue Seal Hay Stretcher Pellets... I mix the

> 50# pellets with 100# sheep grains. My sheep love them, and they think

> they're getting more delicious grain! During maintenance periods I give

> about 1/2 cup per sheep of the mix, plus all the hay they want. I feed

> grain all year, as the sheep come running and it gives me a chance to look

> them over closely everyday. I also add 1 cup of Ammonium Chloride to the

> combined 150# of feed to avert urinary calculi issues (have had none). Now

> to the note... Blue Seal recently changed their label on the Hay Stretcher

> from "for horses and other livestock" to "for horses and other non-ruminant

> livestock". I contacted my Blue Seal dealer (I work at a feed store) and

> was informed that this was due to the fact that in some mills the Hay

> Stretcher is processed with machinery that also processes Blue Seal Lamb &

> Rice Dog Food (though not at our regional mill), so there may be a small

> chance that a trace amount of lamb meal could mix with the Hay Stretcher

> pellets during production, so legally the label must read "for non-ruminant

> livestock", even though the chance of contamination is minimal.

>

> ------------------------------

>

> Patchwork Farm Jacob Sheep <http://www.patchworkfibers.com>

>

>

>

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------

> From: Elizabeth Strub <hobbyknobfarm at gmail.com>

> To: Carl Fosbrink <fourhornfarm at frontier.com>

> Cc: "<jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>" <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>

> Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2013 20:08:46 -0500

> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] lambs

> General, he is awesome!

>

> Elizabeth B. Strub

> www.hobbyknobfarm.com

>

>

>

> On Jan 2, 2013, at 2:06 PM, "Carl Fosbrink" <fourhornfarm at frontier.com>

> wrote:

>

>  Thank you Peg. I have used Chaucer and Diablo in the past and was happy

> with their lambs. This is General's first year as a flock sire, but due to

> his pedigree I think he will produce well too.

>   <E59F.jpg>

>  This is General at 18 months His laterals are very wide.

>   <E5CF.jpg>

>  This is General's sire, Diablo.

>   <E5D0.jpg>

>  This is his grand dam, Maverick Ariel.

>   <E5D1.jpg>

>  This is Ariel's dam, Maverick Amita.

>

>

>  *From:* Peg Bostwick <peg at sweetgrass-jacobs.com>

> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 02, 2013 1:05 PM

> *To:* 'Carl Fosbrink' <fourhornfarm at frontier.com> ;

> jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

> *Subject:* RE: [Jacob-list] lambs

>

>  I’m sure you’ll have some great lambs, there, Carl, with such a nice

> breeding lineup.   Looking forward to seeing them.   Happy New Year - Peg*

> ***

>

> ** **

>

> *Peg **Bostwick***

>

> peg at sweetgrass-jacobs.com****

>

> 517-626-6981****

>

> ** **

>

> *From:* jacob-list-bounces at jacobsheep.com [mailto:

> jacob-list-bounces at jacobsheep.com] *On Behalf Of *Carl Fosbrink

> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 02, 2013 12:48 PM

> *To:* jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

> *Subject:* [Jacob-list] lambs****

>

> ** **

>

> *Another new lamb here this morning. We had lambs on Christmas Eve and

> New Year's Day so far. Several more look like they will lamb real soon. It

> is just beginning here as we have a large flock of Jacobs. This year we are

> using Chicory Lane Chaucer, Rorschach Diablo and 4Horn Farm's General as

> flock sires. Best of luck to everyone with their new lambs.*****

>

>  ****

>

> *Carl in Indiana*****

>

> *4Horn Farm's Jacob Sheep*****

>

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