Keep a close eye on feed needs as cold bites

Arctic conditions have swept the country, exacerbating feed shortages on livestock farms.

With forecasters predicting the cold continuing until the end of April experts are advising sheep producers to recalculate rations and keep an eye out for health issues.

1. Feeding

• Cold and wet weather increases maintenance needs by about 15%, but it is vital not to change diets abruptly for ewes in late pregnancy. For example, maintenance for a 70kg ewe is about 11MJ of ME a day – that’s an extra 1.7MJ of ME.
• Where feed resources are scarce, offer concentrates in a number of small feeds (about 200g) and ensure ample feed space to reduce stress. 
• If ewes are hungry, feed high-fibre concentrates such as sugar beet pulp or soya hulls.
• Prioritise feeding to late pregnancy and lactating sheep.
• The NFU’s free fodder bank service has relaunched to match farmers who have forage shortages with those who have surpluses.
• Try to reduce waste and, if you haven’t already, sell barren and cull ewes to reduce feed demand.

2. Indoor lambing

• Give priority to freshly lambed and lambing ewes and tighten up areas where appropriate, but be careful to avoid mis-mothering by mixing large numbers of sheep.
• Disinfecting pens and troughs and spraying navels are paramount to prevent disease.
• Top-up bedding to reduce disease build-up, but monitor straw availability.

3. Outdoor lambing

• Provide temporary shelters using bales, livestock trailers and gates.
• Make sure they’re secure and movable to prevent disease build-up.

4. Health issues

• Mastitis cases are likely to increase, as lambs will demand more milk and ewe’s udders may chill in the cold wind.
• Hypothermic lambs need to be dried, warmed until their temperature recovers (see below) and fed by stomach tube.
• But if the lamb is more than five hours old it is critical not to warm it without providing glucose or milk first to prevent brain damage.
• 40C plus – Fever or overheating due to too much warming
• 39-40C – Normal
• 37-39C – Moderate hypothermia
• 37C or less – Severe hypothermia

Advice provided by Liz Genever, beef and sheep scientist from EBLEX, and Don Morrow of CAFRE

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