How much benefit are decent quality oats, as feed to in lamb ewes? Thought to feed with minerals to supplement stubble turnip and hay, then include ewe nuts later in pregnancy. 1st mar lambing. OBSERVATIONS PLEASE, THANKS

I have found out lately that Oats are not Oats, what I mean by that is that some oat varieties have higher lignin content than others. To the extent that as a stock feed grain the least suitable varieties can have as little as half the feed value as the most suitable. I know this sounds like an egg sucking lesson but you would be surprised how many people have never looked into it. (Lignin is a naturaly occuring polymer that ruminants cannot digest).It would'nt help for me to quote varieties as they are Australian, the best guide I have is to steer away from the milling types. I still have A great deal to learn regards Tully

We have grown oats to feed to sheep in the distant past, it was something of an advantage that there was no need to roll them. It was always touch & go getting them ripe enough to combined before autumn.

i know its not quite the same thing but i have fed oats to in calf heifers and mature cows. do not make a sudden switch with the rations this will give your ewes laminitis( foot problems ) acidosis ( an up set of the acid balences in the rumen ) this has the potential to kill them if not seen early enough- this is charectorised by them going off their food and chucking up their cud wich will be yellowish in colour. if acidosis occors ( we used ketasol ) see the vet as sheep are not cattle and should not be treated as sutch. some ewes do not like oats or will pick as i am sure you know if a ewe is not the right condidtion score then she will not be in lamb as she will not have ovulated to produce the egg ) s ) for conception. carefull monitoring and feeding of these ewes will make them receptive. oats and barly in the feed will need suplimenting as they will be natrally deficient in what ever mineral or trace eliment that the grond they were sown in is salinium is common or sulpher and copper in cows. to avoid pregnancy toximiea, stagers, and milk feaver put some calcieummagnasite ( white powder ) in the ration a small amount will serfice with each feed they will give better lambs this way. there has also been research done to prove that if ewes and maiden tegs are shorn the foetal size increases leading to them eating more pre lambing and heavier lambs post lambing. this is not recomended with tegs as they are harder to lamb ( fresh lambers ) and if lambs are to big they may split the ewes. this is relavent to your question because oats expand when they get wet ( as with proidge ) so becarefull about the amount you feed. regards a-r

Have you thought about including the Plocher supplements in the feed of your in lamb ewes?

Would you happen to have any you want to sell?

No,Just been offered some over quota milk and plan to get rich selling porridge! Do you have any salt? Regards.

I was being sarcastic.