Correct feeding management and quality ewe nutrition is the sound basis for a successful and profitable sheep enterprise. Fit, healthy ewes are an important factor in ensuring lambs are vigorous at birth and continue to thrive.
Lamb survival is largely dependent on a good birthweight and high lamb vigour, coupled with good maternal care and a swift onset of lactation by the ewe. With 75% of foetal growth taking place in the final six weeks of pregnancy, all these factors are dependent on good late pregnancy nutrition.
Twin lamb disease (pregnancytoxaemia) is the result of a dramatic shortfall in dietary energy intake by the ewe. Most cases of twin lamb are caused by under feeding of multi-foetate ewes – a true dietary energy shortfall. But twin lamb can also occur in well-fed over-fat ewes - they become “lazy feeders” and their appetite falls quicker in late pregnancy than it does with fit ewes.
Using Crystalyx intakes as a guide to ration balance and nutrient supply can help reduce the risk of over feeding, as greater reliance can be placed on home-grown forages. Research shows that feeding Crystalyx on a self-help system allows ewes to regulate their intakes according to their requirements. Because it is licked, not chewed or bitten, Crystalyx provides a continual “trickle feed” of nutrients to stimulate rumen fermentation and forage digestion. Crystalyx intakes are a good guide to the adequacy of nutrient supply because Crystalyx never replaces forage – it complements and balances it and improves overall diet digestibility.
The time of introduction of supplementary feeds in late pregnancy is dictated by forage quality, lamb burden and body condition. Single-bearing ewes can be left outside and fed hay and Crystalyx Extra High Energy with no further supplementary feed necessary – and this can reduce the risk of over-sized single lambs.
Twin and triplet-bearing ewes will need supplementary concentrate feeding; the poorer the quality of available forage, the earlier supplementary feeds should be introduced. But feeding Crystalyx can delay the need to introduce supplementary feeds. Trials have shown that ewes regulate their intake of Crystalyx according to their energy requirement. Sudden increases in Crystalyx intake are a sign the ewe is looking for more energy than is available from her current diet.
Feeding Crystalyx therefore helps maintain energy intakes throughout mid and late pregnancy to optimise foetal development and lamb birthweight. This means your stock not only make the best possible use of home-grown feeds but can also let you know by increasing Crystalyx consumption when you need to introduce – or increase – supplementary feeds.
