Month: March 2025

Creep Feeding Lambs

Jaelyn Whaley, South Dakota State University Extension Sheep Field Specialist
(Previously published online with South Dakota State University Extension: February 9, 2024)

(Image Source: South Dakota State University Extension)

Creep provides young lambs with a concentrated (energy/protein) feed while nursing with the value of facilitating the development and functioning of a lamb’s digestive system, accelerating growth. At birth, lambs have an immature digestive system; milk is shunted past the first stomachs to the abomasum for nutrient digestion and absorption. To become a mature, and functioning ruminant capable of utilizing roughage feeds, lambs must undergo a huge transition, shifting nutrient digestion and absorption from the abomasum to the rumen. This transition takes place with the introduction of solid feed and water. Earlier introduction of feed and water accelerates this transition, and, therefore, promotes early lamb growth and weaning.

Promotion of rumen development is a multi-faceted process, but providing creep is one essential ingredient, delivering easily digestible carbohydrates and proteins. The easily Continue reading Creep Feeding Lambs →

A Glossary of Feed Analysis Terms and How to Interpret Them

Haley Campbell, Lecturer, The Ohio State University ATI

As we get closer to spring grazing, we’re itching to put our sheep out to pasture to enjoy the lush growth carpeting the fields. However, at least in the Midwest, we still have a few weeks before pastures are ready to be trodden down by cloven feet. In the meantime, the sheep can get by on hay, stored forages, or grains. But do you know what nutrients are in those feeds? Feed companies already give nutrient contents and those can be found on the feed tag. Forages are another story – visual appraisal can only get us so far. By submitting a forage sample (hay, silage, baleage, fresh pasture, etc.) to an analysis lab, like Rock River, DairyLand Laboratories, DairyOne, and others, we can accurately know what nutrients we can provide to our sheep. When those results come back, they are filled with a plethora of terms and acronyms that can be difficult to interpret without any background knowledge. Below, I’ve picked a few that are usually the most important to know and understand.

Dry Matter (DM)– the amount of feed in feed! It is the percent of Continue reading A Glossary of Feed Analysis Terms and How to Interpret Them →

Up Your Pasture Quality Game

Amber Friedrichsen, Managing Editor, Hay and Forage Grower
(Previously published in Hay & Forage Grower: August 20, 2024)

Nutritive value and forage quality are often used interchangeably, but they are not synonymous. If the terms were Russian nesting dolls, the former would fit inside the latter, representing one piece of a larger puzzle.

In an article from the Midwest Forage Association’s Forage Focus newsletter, Yoana Newman with the University of Wisconsin-River Falls clarifies that nutritive value refers to the chemical composition of forage based on components like energy, fiber, protein, fat, and minerals. Forage quality, on the other hand, is a broader term that encompasses nutritive value in addition to forage intake and antiquality components. Continue reading Up Your Pasture Quality Game →

Weaning Time for Lambs and Kids

Dr. Emily Cope, County Extension Director, N.C. Cooperative Extension, Stokes County Center
Nathan Kiger, Extension Agent, Agriculture – Livestock & Forages, N.C. Cooperative Extension, Stokes County Center
(Previously published online with NC Cooperative Extension: August 29, 2024)

Weaning time has likely arrived for many producers, but others may be making preparations for weaning now. Weaning can be a stressful event for offspring, ewes and does, and producers. Minimizing the stress of weaning on animals and producers will go a long way. Aside from recommending ear plugs to silence the crying lambs and bleating does, below are a few other suggestions that may be helpful:

1. Weaning is typically done between 60 to 90 days of ages. However, weaning by weight is a better recommendation (2.5 – 3 times birth weight). Aside for age and weight, lambs and kids should be observed foraging or eating creep feed well. Continue reading Weaning Time for Lambs and Kids →

Lucky Clovers

Christine Gelley, OSU Extension Educator ANR, Noble County
(Previously published online with: Ag Proud: Progressive Cattle, February 20, 2025)

(Image Source: Agricom: Pastures for Profit – New Zealand)

At A Glance:
For centuries the clover has been symbolic in cultures and religions in areas where clovers thrive. Whether found with leaves of three, four, or more- a field of clover is beneficial in many ways beyond folklore.

Clover Symbolism
March is the humble clover’s time to shine. Symbolic of luck, the celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day, the welcoming of spring, 4-H enrollment time, clovers are featured prominently in our culture this time of year and they become prominent in pastures too.

Much of the agricultural community will recognize a four-leaf clover as the iconic national symbol of 4-H, a youth development program delivered by Cooperative Extension services from Continue reading Lucky Clovers →