The continuous wet weather is creating challenges in getting animals out to grass and where ewes and lambs are at grass, difficult ground conditions are leading to poor grass utilisation and grass reserves depleting quickly. In the case of spring calving suckler cows and ewes with lambs, it’s important that both cows and ewes are supplemented adequately to maintain milk supply. Here we outline some supplementation guidelines for spring calved suckler cows and ewes with lambs at grass.
Suckler Cows
If suckler cows are not supplemented adequately until they get out to grass, cows will loose excess body condition which will impact breeding and reduce the milk supply for the calf reducing daily gain.
Where cows are indoors on a silage-based diet and in good condition,feed moderate to good quality silage (68 – 70% DMD) ad lib if available and 1.5-2 kg of meal per cow per day. If silage quality is poor (< 68% DMD) or cows are in poor condition, feed 2.5 – 4kg of meal per cow per day.
After calving, first-calvers require concentrate supplementation in all cases until turnout. Where silage quality is moderate to good, feed 1-2 kg meal and if silage quality is poor, feed 2-3 kg meal. Pay extra attention to first-time calvers, shy feeders, old cows and thin and lame cows. Feed a high energy 16% protein ration.
Ewes with lambs at grass
A lactating ewe’s daily grass intake is severely reduced where grass dry matter is low and grazing conditions are poor. If ewes are not supplemented adequately, milk yield will decline reducing lamb growth rate and potentially giving rise to other issues.
For ewes suckling twins where grass supply is scarce (less than 3.5cm), or utilisation is poor, feed 0.75 – 1.0 kg per ewe per day. If ewes are in poor condition feed 1.0 – 1.25 kg per ewe per day. For single suckling ewes, where grass supply is scarce (less than 3.5cm), or utilisation is poor, feed 0.3 to 0.5 kg per ewe per day. If ewes are in poor condition feed 0.5 – 0.75 kg per ewe per day.
Where grass supply is adequate, feeding 0.5 – 0.75 kg per ewe per day to ewes suckling twins will boost energy and protein intake and help to conserve grass.
Feed a high energy, high protein (18-19%) ration.