By Calum Littlejohn, ECV Nutritionist
There is no shortage of feed barley around this year and many farmers will be thinking how best to make use of it. Finishing lambs on barley can be a practical and cost-effective option provided, it is fed as part of a balanced ration.
Barley is a great energy source and one of the most cost-effective feeds available, however, feeding barley on its own, particularly on an ad-lib basis, can quickly lead to problems if it isn’t balanced properly.
Barley is low in protein and key minerals, when fed ad-lib without the right supplement it can increase the risk of bloat, acidosis, and reduced growth rates. Male lambs on high cereal diets are more prone to urinary calculi if the mineral balance, particularly calcium and phosphorus, is not correct. All our lamb feeds contain Ammonium Chloride to help reduce the risk of this.
East Coast Viners offer a range of feeding options from products designed to balance home-grown cereals through to complete feeds suitable for a variety of different systems.
Lamb Balancer - Designed to be mixed 50:50 with cereal (barley/oats). This produces fully mineralised ration at around 15% crude protein. It supplies the protein, minerals and vitamins that barley alone doesn’t provide, supporting frame growth and daily liveweight gain.
Lamb Finisher - A complete high energy, 15% protein feed, fully mineralised with the addition of ammonium chloride to help prevent urinary calculi in male lambs. It’s formulated to deliver consistently high weight gains, improve efficiency and help get lambs off farm quicker.
Glenesk Lamb Finisher (Soya Free) - A soya-free version of our lamb finisher, ideal for anyone looking to move away from imported soya while still achieving top performance and a consistent finish.
Barley is also a very useful feed for breeding sheep but it does take a bit of careful formulation. With many farms carrying surplus this season, there is also an opportunity to feed barley effectively to ewes in the run-up to lambing.
Our 34% Ewe Concentrate can be mixed 2 parts cereal to 1 part concentrate to give an 18% crude protein, fully mineralised feed. This supports ewe condition, colostrum quality and milk yield.
Feeding Tips and Practical Points
Using home-grown barley well can be a real advantage this winter, but the key is balancing it correctly to unlock it’s full potential. This allows you to produce a cost effective, high energy, balanced ration whilst making the most of feed you already have on farm.
If you’d like to talk through rations or discuss which option suits your system best, speak to your East Coast Viners representative. We’re happy to help tailor a feeding solution that works for you this season.