Feeding Hay

It is hay feeding time.  I have been supplementing with some hay but am now to the point where their primary diet is hay.  Sheep still have access to one pasture, but most everything is grazed pretty low.

My philosophy is simple when it comes to hay.  Feed to meet their protein needs. Feed mainly hay until the last month of gestation.

There is a great web site to assist with this. It is the Montana University Sheep Ration Program. http://www.msusheepration.montana.edu/   You will need to develop an account so you can login.  So far no one has contacted me or tried to sell me anything. the site provides information on the nutritional needs of sheep and a program to mix and match different feeds to meet those needs.  I keep it simple and feed good hay and meet the protein needs.

I estimate protein in the hay based on other Internet resource and the information the farmer gives me about the grass species, stage when it was cut, and the cutting itself.  You can test for these things and that would be better but I have not gone that route.

So here are some basic protein needs from the web site.  Everything listed is for a 132 pound Ewe in various stages.

• Maintenance,  Crude Protein needs,   0.23 pounds per day
• Mid Gestation, Crude Protein needs,   0.27 pounds per day
• Twin Lambs Late Gestation,  Crude Protein needs, 0.45 pounds per day
• Early Lactation Twin Lambs,  Crude Protein needs,  0.89 pounds per day  
• Late Lactation Twin Lambs,  Crude Protein needs, 0.72 pounds per day

Some simple math: if hay is 14% crude protein and we are in mid gestation, 0.27 divided by .14= 1.9 pounds of hay. The rest can be lower grade hay or old grass still in the pasture. Late gestation with the same hay would require 3.2 pounds of hay per day per animal.  Keep in mind waste so I add 10% extra or so.  If all you have is lower grade hay, then a combination of hay and protein supplement may be needed.

As I move towards the last month of gestation and the  first weeks of lactation, I start feeding my better quality hay and then alfalfa during lactation.

Another practice I have started is bale grazing on pasture. From the past, I have a large pile of waste hay around my feeder. This will require labor at some point to gather up and use on the garden or distribute on the pasture.  By bale grazing, I take the needed amount for a days ration and toss it out on the pasture in a small area.  This area is moved around to avoid manure and waste hay build up in one spot. It distributes the waste and fertilizes the pastures for you.

Sheep munching on bales in the pasture above.
 

 

Remnants of a bale to the left.  This organic matter will be a nice addition to the pasture.

To the right is an area with no bale use at this time.