Beet pulp

[Southern by choice]

My sheep vet recommended beet pulp. I picked up some yesterday. What are the advantages of beet pulp? New to the sheep world and am not really grasping their nutritional needs. Goats are simple. Sheep seem harder feed wise.
How much do I give them?

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

I think it's because the Ca ratio is better esp for the wethers and rams so nobody gets UC. Feeding them corn or other grains could give the ram/wether UC but the beet pulp won't.

 

[Shelly May]

Sheep are really not hard at all, Beet pulp is just another source of extra protien, some people feed it in late gestation of pregancy, or to a weak or sick animal when they need to increase protiens. We feed our sheep good hays, timothy, orchardgrass, alfalfa. We only grain them Twice a year, a few weeks before the breeding season and then the last few weeks of late pregancy. Only feed small qntys of the beet pulp if you decide to feed it as it can cause some problems with rumen and loose stools. The balance of the year they are out on pasture, Extra Protiens come in many forms, and are used when you are trying to get something to fill out faster for market sales or nursing ewes or sick thin animals. Same results come from high protien feeds, but good alfalfa hay works just as well and you don't have the extra work of soaking it. Hope this helps and want you to know that they are not really much different than goats. (excluding the copper issues).

 

[Southern by choice]

Thanks Shelly may. The sheep have no parasites... I have run a bunch of fecals. But they have not gained since being here which is highly unusual.

They are use to goat feed with the copper, only getting it 3x a week. These Jacobs do not have a copper storage issue, but suddenly taking them off can trigger a storage issue. I like them on it because they can be with the goats. My ND's get 1 cup of High quality goat feed... no junky filler crap.

We just got some sheep feed for the other 4 days and bought some more alfalfa and the beet pulp. I really don't like their weights. They are not too bad but I still think they are a bit under-conditioned.

So this is my new feed schedule plan....

Free choice high quality hay
1/2 flake alfalfa per day
alternating feed (from above)
free choice minerals which they are not eating btw
and I don't know how much beet pulp??

Tomorrow they go in for castration and tail docking so I will discuss this with my sheep vet... she is really relaxed and is great about not spoiling and ruining animals, if you know what I mean.
I never worry about my goats ... but I am so worried about my sheep... really want to do right by them. Yes they are here for pets and wool only. I feel like I just don't have a real grasp on the sheepies yet.... and I really love these guys.

 

[goodolboy]

Are these lambs? We have three ready to lamb now, they get one flake of pure alfalfa and 3 lbs. of cracked corn. They are doing great on that. Lambs we feed a 19% lamb grower starter and free choice alfalfa, and they put on like crazy(also $$$$$$). I have a feeling the goat feed is the problem, it's not formulated for sheep. I've heard that goat do good on sheep feed but not the other way around. I don't have alot of experiance with the goats to know that for a fact.

What kind of % are beet pulp?

 

[SheepGirl]

Saw your link to this thread from my lambing thread

Please refresh my memory--how old are they and how much do they weigh?

 

[Southern by choice]

Ewe 45
boy 31

I forgot how old they are... I think one was born in april/may the other june/july

went to the vets today... she is not concerned. I want a bit more weight though.

Lil' Seh the boy was stunted... he will be small. Gwenn should be about normal, I think she is a wee bit short though... compared to her momma!

 

[bonbean01]

I've never used beet pulp...so no help from me...where did you buy it? Haven't seen it around here and haven't heard any sheep breeders talk about it...but the extra protein sounds good

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

At Southern Sates. They always have it.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Mmmmmm, beets. That sounds good right about now (I am a fat lot of help here).