Sheep Nutrition

8 Pages 1904 Words

Nutritution plays a major role in the overall productivity, health, and well-being of the sheep flock. Because feed costs account for approximately two-thirds of the total cost of production on most Virginia sheep farms, it is important that producers consider nutrition management a top priority. Nutrient requirements of sheep vary with differences in age, body weight, and stage of production. The five major categories of nutrients required by sheep are: 1) water; 2) energy; 3) protein; 4) vitamins; and 5) minerals. During the grazing season, sheep are able to meet their nutrient requirements from pasture and a salt and mineral supplement. Hay is provided to the flock when forages are limited, and grain may be added to the diet at certain stages of production when additional nutrient supplementation is required. Small grain pastures or stockpiled fescue can supply up to one-half of the feed requirements of the ewe flock during the winter. For winter-born lambs, creep diets and diets for early-weaned lambs are formulated from high energy feed grains and protein supplements to promote accelerated growth. During the grazing season, pastures of mixed grass and clover, alfalfa, small grain, and turnip serve as excellent sources of nutrition for growing lambs. A source of clean, fresh water is provided to sheep at all times.

The review, Ewe Are What Ewe Eat, highlights the need to optimise the rate of growth, improve the uniformity of wool fibre and accurately assess the number of sheep suitable for an enterprise through long term nutritional planning.

The review outlined the short-term, medium-term and long-term effects of nutrition throughout different stages of the reproductive cycle on the productivity of ewes themselves and on future productivity of their dependent offspring, together with effects of nutrition on young sheep after weaning.






Ewe nutrition
The recent industry emphasis on genetic selection of larger fram...