What to feed pregnant ewes?

[secuono]

My two Babydoll ewes live and share 4.5 acres with 1 ram and two horses. They are all out 24/7 and I'm wondering what, if anything, I should be feeding the ewes now that they will be due in a month or two.
I got some sheep feed just to help out a little, store didn't have feed for pregnant ewes.

 

[SheepGirl]

I've never seen a feed made JUST for bred ewes--that's probably why they didn't have any. Usually "sheep feed" is made for lambs, ewes, rams--every stage of production. We feed our sheep textured 16% sheep feed from Southern States. They get about 1/2 lb of the feed per head per day about 30 days before lambing. Otherwise they get free choice pasture (and hay when there's snow on the ground). When they lamb, depending on how many babies they have, they get 1 to 1.5 lbs of feed per head per day.

 

[secuono]

They had Lamb Grower, is that creep feed?

 

[purplequeenvt]

We feed a no copper added stock feed. A 16% protein feed should be plenty.

Lamb grower is probably a higher protein feed (18% maybe?) used for growing out lambs for market. Given that you only have the 2 ewes, I wouldn't bother with it. Just use whatever grain you are feeding to your ewes as your creep feed.

 

[ShadyAcres]

I have fed cattle feed, goat feed, and all-stocks. Non-medicated, no added copper, and no grower pellets (if for cattle). Google the manufacturer and call them. Most feed companies will have someone there who can and happily so tell you if it is safe for sheep. (The feed dealers here usually have no clue if it is safe for sheep.)

1 month prior to lambing I begin feeding my ewes. I like a 16% protein feed, but sheep feed in this area is hard to find. Feed dealers in this area also seem to change suppliers frequently so is hard to find a feed and stick with it. I have used 12 14% and added cottonseed meal, soybean meal, etc to boost protein. I start with lb per ewe and increase to 1 lb by lambing. I feed 1 to 1 lbs for about 1 month after lambing, depending on if we have any grass, the quality of the hay they are getting, etc.

Lambs have access to creep feed near mothers feed. Creep feed I have always used as a way of feeding, not necessarily (or only) a type of feed. The lambs have an area that they can creep into for feed that the ewes cant access. I begin using the same feed as am giving moms, as the lambs are nibbling with moms and that is what they recognize as feed. As lambs start going into creep area better will replace with better feed typically higher protein, higher fat. Feed labeled as creep feed for lambs will typically have a coccidiastat (sp?) added.

As sheep formulated feeds are hard to find here I use Deccox (found from pipestone). I add to salt and offer free choice to ewes 1 month before lambing. Keep it out for entire flock (pregnant and nursing ewes) until weaning, then just give to lambs until about 4 months old. Had several cases coccidia first year, but none since.