DOHNE MERINO - SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING

NORTH EAST CAPE

The feeding of sheep revolves around ensuring that sufficient nutrients are taken in to maintain production at the least cost. Nobody is in business to make a loss!

In order to assess the requirements certain assumptions are made. The average weight of a ewe under extensive conditions is 55-60kgs. The average weight of a lamb is 5kgs. Weaning weights average around 22kgs at 120 days of age. The aim is to market a lamb of 40-45kgs.

The primary recommendations are that a phosphate lick be fed in summer and a protein lick in Winter where the stock do not have access to "green feed". Whether or not either are valid depends entirely on the nutrient value of the veld\pasture.

Requirements for maintenance based on live weight of 60kgs.

	Protein	Calcium	Phosphorus	TDN
60kg	104	2.30	2.1	610
SUMMERVELD INTAKE 1.5KG	105	2.7	2.25	750
SHORTFALL	-	-	-	-

The analysis of this particular veld based on the intake described leads to no shortfall of nutrients!

However with an intake of 1.2 kgs per head per day supplementation becomes necessary.

	Protein	Calcium	Phosphorus	TDN
60kg	104	2.30	2.1	610
SUMMERVELD INTAKE 1.2KG	84	2.16	1.8	600
SHORTFALL	-20	-0.14	-0.3	-10

This is the sort of thing that occurs if grazing is in short supply! Whether you supplement or not is therfore a question that each individual stockman needs to ascertain.

Providing you keep a watchful eye on the state of your grazing and the "bergwinds" stay away it is normally only necessary to supplement phosphorus in Summer. It is a good idea to have your camps sampled and analysed for protein, calcium and phosphorus to guage the need for supplementation. On the basis that the phosphorus is low and the intake of forage gives a shortfall of 1g/animal/day, a 6% P lick would have to be consumed at a rate of 18g/head/day for maintenance.

Nonlactating - first 15 weeks gestation

	Protein	Calcium	Phosphorus	TDN
60kg	121	3.20	2.5	720
SUMMERVELD INTAKE 1.5KG	105	2.7	2.25	750
SHORTFALL	16	0.5	0.25	-

On this particular veld we have small shortfall in protein, calcium and phosphorus. As sheep are notorius for picking out the best when grazing it is likely that no shortfall would arise in this case. As gestation proceeds the needs for nutrients climbs rapidly.

Last 4 weeks of gestation (130-150% lambing rate expected

	Protein	Calcium	Phosphorus	TDN
60kg	175	5.90	4.8	940
SUMMERVELD INTAKE 1.5KG	105	2.7	2.25	750
SHORTFALL	70	3.2	2.55	190

The shortfall here has to be made up with greenfeed to replace summerveld. If it is not available supplementation with licks and or good quality hay needs to be provided.

First 6-8 weeks lactation

First 6-8 weeks lactation

	Protein	Calcium	Phosphorus	TDN
60kg	319	9.10	6.6	1500
RYEGRASS INTAKE 2.4KG	480	9.6	7.2	1600
SHORTFALL	-	-	-	-

As can be seen from the tables the need to supplement depends on what is available to you the stockman to feed your sheep.

The feed manufacturer is faced with the dilema of what to manufacture to answer the needs of his clientele. To this end various groups of supplements and feeds are registered with the authorities to supply the average needs. You may need to use a number of different products to meet the needs of your animals. It is however your right to ascertain your own needs and have that product manufactured to your specifications. Most feed suppliers are only to happy to meet your request!