Advertisement Low Risk Grain Feeding of Pregnant Ewes As the widespread dry conditions in southern NSW and Victoria look to continue into winter, many sheep producers may have trouble ahead this lambing season. A lack of pasture quality and quantity may make it difficult to satisfy energy requirements of pregnant ewes from 6 weeks pre-lambing until peak lactation (3 to 4 weeks post-lambing). Dr Meggison, Chief Nutritionist at AusFarm Nutrition Products (ANP), has been working with producers in the Riverina and Victoria for over 45 years, and although has helped manage livestock through many dry periods in his time, believes that this year could be a little different. "In a normal year, albeit receiving less rain, it would generally be more consistent - therefore supporting pasture growth, but we haven't had the consistency this year." However, there is more to the story than climatic conditions. "I think that through a combination of education and genetics, producers are better able to get higher scanning percentages than they have in the past." This is great when there is enough feed available to support multiple-bearing ewes and many more lambs, however, it can quickly become an issue when feed reserves are not available to support livestock requirements. We are already seeing this in lambing activities so far, with reports of pregnancy toxaemia and perinatal mortality on the rise. "Both pregnancy toxaemia and lamb survival are linked to ewe nutrition, more specifically energy, and the wider the gap between requirements and supply the higher the risk of ewe or lamb mortality." According to Dr Meggison, the solution is to supplement ewes with energy. "Similar to using a protein source like beans or lupins to satisfy protein requirements, when pasture energy is limiting, it is common practice to use high energy grain to boost dietary energy." To answer the question of how much grain to feed and when, the amount of barley (12.5 MJME/kg DM) required to be fed to get close to energy requirements of 60kg SRW ewes grazing average dry feed at different stages of lambing is illustrated in the table below. Although effective, grain feeding is not without its risks. Acidosis (grain poisoning) can cause animals to go offfeed, dehydrate and in severe cases die. Even at low levels, acidosis can be a significant issue for pregnant ewes. To help reduce the risk of acidosis, promoting ewe health and immunity and supporting high nutritional demands of pregnant and lactating ewes, ANP have introduced EweLamLac + Buffer. StockMins- Singles Days of Pregnancy 120 130 140 Lambing 10 20 30 40 Energy Requirements (MJ/hd/day) 12.3 13 13.9 14.7 21.7 24 23.4 21.6 Grain Fed (kg/hd/day) 0.35 0.4 0.5 0.6 1 1.2 1.2 1 Twins Days of Pregnancy 120 130 140 Lambing 10 20 30 40 Energy Requirements (MJ/hd/day) 14.1 15.2 16.2 17.2 27.1 30.9 29.9 27.1 Grain Fed (kg/hd/day) 0.75 0.85 0.95 1.05 1.4 1.6 1.6 1.4 Based on a 60kg SRW ewe. Ad-lib dry pasture or hay (8 MJME/kg DM, 68.3% NDF). Barley 12.5 MJME/kg DM. STOCKMINS-EWELAMLAC + BUFFER LAMBING SUPPLEMENT FOR HIGH GRAIN DIETS GET MORE MORE ENERGY MORE LAMBS MORE PRODUCTION ONLY FEED TO LIVESTOCK This product does not cort INTENDED Anp AusFarm Nutrition Products "Livestock Nutrition Solutions" High Quality Premixes and Supplements StockMins EweLamLac + Buffer Feed Supplements... Growing Your Investments! Call AusFarm Nutrition Products today and boost your lambing results now 0412 048 055 www.ausfarmnutrition.com SCAN ME Advertisement Low Risk Grain Feeding of Pregnant Ewes As the widespread dry conditions in southern NSW and Victoria look to continue into winter , many sheep producers may have trouble ahead this lambing season . A lack of pasture quality and quantity may make it difficult to satisfy energy requirements of pregnant ewes from 6 weeks pre - lambing until peak lactation ( 3 to 4 weeks post - lambing ) . Dr Meggison , Chief Nutritionist at AusFarm Nutrition Products ( ANP ) , has been working with producers in the Riverina and Victoria for over 45 years , and although has helped manage livestock through many dry periods in his time , believes that this year could be a little different . " In a normal year , albeit receiving less rain , it would generally be more consistent - therefore supporting pasture growth , but we haven't had the consistency this year . " However , there is more to the story than climatic conditions . " I think that through a combination of education and genetics , producers are better able to get higher scanning percentages than they have in the past . " This is great when there is enough feed available to support multiple - bearing ewes and many more lambs , however , it can quickly become an issue when feed reserves are not available to support livestock requirements . We are already seeing this in lambing activities so far , with reports of pregnancy toxaemia and perinatal mortality on the rise . " Both pregnancy toxaemia and lamb survival are linked to ewe nutrition , more specifically energy , and the wider the gap between requirements and supply the higher the risk of ewe or lamb mortality . " According to Dr Meggison , the solution is to supplement ewes with energy . " Similar to using a protein source like beans or lupins to satisfy protein requirements , when pasture energy is limiting , it is common practice to use high energy grain to boost dietary energy . " To answer the question of how much grain to feed and when , the amount of barley ( 12.5 MJME / kg DM ) required to be fed to get close to energy requirements of 60kg SRW ewes grazing average dry feed at different stages of lambing is illustrated in the table below . Although effective , grain feeding is not without its risks . Acidosis ( grain poisoning ) can cause animals to go offfeed , dehydrate and in severe cases die . Even at low levels , acidosis can be a significant issue for pregnant ewes . To help reduce the risk of acidosis , promoting ewe health and immunity and supporting high nutritional demands of pregnant and lactating ewes , ANP have introduced EweLamLac + Buffer . StockMins- Singles Days of Pregnancy 120 130 140 Lambing 10 20 30 40 Energy Requirements ( MJ / hd / day ) 12.3 13 13.9 14.7 21.7 24 23.4 21.6 Grain Fed ( kg / hd / day ) 0.35 0.4 0.5 0.6 1 1.2 1.2 1 Twins Days of Pregnancy 120 130 140 Lambing 10 20 30 40 Energy Requirements ( MJ / hd / day ) 14.1 15.2 16.2 17.2 27.1 30.9 29.9 27.1 Grain Fed ( kg / hd / day ) 0.75 0.85 0.95 1.05 1.4 1.6 1.6 1.4 Based on a 60kg SRW ewe . Ad - lib dry pasture or hay ( 8 MJME / kg DM , 68.3 % NDF ) . Barley 12.5 MJME / kg DM . STOCKMINS - EWELAMLAC + BUFFER LAMBING SUPPLEMENT FOR HIGH GRAIN DIETS GET MORE MORE ENERGY MORE LAMBS MORE PRODUCTION ONLY FEED TO LIVESTOCK This product does not cort INTENDED Anp AusFarm Nutrition Products " Livestock Nutrition Solutions " High Quality Premixes and Supplements StockMins EweLamLac + Buffer Feed Supplements ... Growing Your Investments ! Call AusFarm Nutrition Products today and boost your lambing results now 0412 048 055 www.ausfarmnutrition.com SCAN ME