how do ya'll feed?

secuono

Herd Master
Joined
Oct 16, 2010
Messages
8,629
Reaction score
12,097
Points
623
Location
Virginia is for Pasture Farmers!
I feed mine nothing, more than enough pasture for them. They eat hay when I give the horses some, but even then, they are really picky about the hay. I may or may not give them pellets a month before and after they lamb, but that really depends on the pasture condition.
 

herdsman

Exploring the pasture
Joined
Dec 2, 2012
Messages
57
Reaction score
1
Points
19
Location
Alliance,Oh
secuono said:
I feed mine nothing, more than enough pasture for them. They eat hay when I give the horses some, but even then, they are really picky about the hay. I may or may not give them pellets a month before and after they lamb, but that really depends on the pasture condition.
You give yours Alfalfa pellets before breeding/lambing?
 

herdsman

Exploring the pasture
Joined
Dec 2, 2012
Messages
57
Reaction score
1
Points
19
Location
Alliance,Oh
secuono said:
I feed mine nothing, more than enough pasture for them. They eat hay when I give the horses some, but even then, they are really picky about the hay. I may or may not give them pellets a month before and after they lamb, but that really depends on the pasture condition.
do You give yours Alfalfa pellets before breeding/lambing?
 

bonbean01

Herd Master
Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Messages
5,192
Reaction score
840
Points
363
Location
Northeast Mississippi
Seems that we feed them more than some people...they are not fat when I did the knuckle on the spine test for condition...yes, they are looking pretty rotund...but they are going to have their lamb in less than a month from now.

Guess you are going to have to try different feeds and see how your sheep do, and then adjust for optimum.
 

finns&fjords

Chillin' with the herd
Joined
Oct 4, 2011
Messages
59
Reaction score
0
Points
34
Location
Oregon
herdsman said:
Well what is a breed like Suffolks that eat less? I like how the Suffolks look because they are well framed and aint long wooled and I need a breed that will sell in spring time.Any thoughts
I'd try to find the commercial type Suffolks that sheep-girl mentioned. I have one Suffolk, he's the show type, and yes he is big and gorgeous, but does eat more than the commercial type. Personally, if you just want to sell the lambs for meat in the spring, I'd find a good Suffolk cross. I have 2 comx ewes that I got as bummers from a farm with over 3k ewes. They're romneyXcheviotXdorset. I bred them to my fancy Suffolk ram last year and had NICE lambs that grew super fast. Could have marketed as 4-H lambs. Anyway, let us know what you decide to get.
 
Top