Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness and Ministry of Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Sheep Specialists
(Previously published online with OMAFRA: July 5, 2023)
Introduction
Nutritional
management is one of the most important aspects of sheep production. Ewes that are fed appropriately are more fertile, milk better and wean more lambs that grow faster (Figure 1).
Not only do well-fed ewes wean more pounds of lamb per year, but they are healthier and more resistant to disease than ewes that are under nutritional stress. In fact, many production challenges for sheep producers are caused by inadequate nutrition, rather than disease.
Additionally, feed costs are the single largest expense on sheep farms in Ontario, accounting for approximately 41% of total expenses. The 2010 Ontario Sheep Enterprise Analysis Summary (26 producers, representing 10% of the provincial flock) reported average feed costs of $106.70 per lamb produced for the 10 least profitable flocks and $69.00 per lamb (35% less) for the 10 most profitable flocks.
Appropriate feed management can be the difference between a profit or a loss for each lamb sold. Therefore, it is imperative that producers evaluate the feed resources they have and manage them carefully to maintain good ewe nutrition and the profitability of the flock.
can take place at different times of the year and there is no “one-size-fits-all” production system. Spring lambing has been found to be a more profitable production system when compared to fall and winter lambing because it takes full advantage of the spring and summer flush of grass. The abundance of spring forage lowers feed cost associated with processed feeds, saving the producers dollars that would have gone into feed purchases. Conception rates are much higher in spring lambing system because breeding coincides with their natural mating and lambing seasons. It is also less labor intensive and requires little equipment.
the number of straight-line wind and tornado events seems to be increasing so does the number of times that parts of nearby buildings end up spread out across our pastures and hay fields. This debris can cause significant health risks to grazing livestock, as well as animals fed harvested forages from these fields. Debris that is blown into pastures and hayfields quickly becomes hard to see as forages take off and grows in the spring. In pastures or stored hay, livestock often eat foreign materials that are present in the field either mixed in with the forage or just from curiosity. There is also a risk of livestock being injured from foreign materials entering the animal’s hooves or being tangled in the debris in a pasture. Each type of debris can cause slightly different challenges.
snow and ice finally ease up, and spring is just around the corner, your forage plants will start growing again. This means it’s time to start thinking about spring management for your pasture. Below are some management activities you should start planning for or doing.