Low-energy cheap sheep feeds a false economy
Low-energy cheap sheep feeds a false economy
SHEEP producers are warned that some cheaper feeds may not be supplying adequate energy, increasing risk of lambing difficulties.
Rock-bottom sheep prices mean many producers are being tempted by cheaper feeds, but these are a false economy, cautions independent sheep consultant Lesley Stubbings.
"These concentrates are being pushed as being cheap, but they also have a very low energy content."
Energy levels in some ewe feeds may be as low as 10 ME, she says.
"Despite the lower price, these feeds wont be value for money. So far, the weather has been on our side, but when it deteriorates and ewes are under greater pressure they wont be able to hold their condition on these low energy concentrates."
Reducing body condition score is likely to result in producers feeding more of these low energy cakes, increasing acidosis risk, she warns.
"Higher than usual scanning percentages in many flocks increases the need for producers to feed a quality concentrate with adequate energy levels.
"This year, the difference between low and high quality feeds is much lower – probably only £25/t rather than the usual £50/t differential. That means buying a better spec concentrate is well worth the additional cost. They will cost less for each unit of energy compared with poorer quality feeds," says Ms Stubbings.
She suggests that producers aim to buy a feed with an ME of 12.5MJ/kg DM. "The only problem is that there is no legal requirement to declare this."
Another concern is that crude protein level is not a good indication of overall compound quality. "A high protein cake is not necessarily good quality."
However, there are other declared analysis figures which could be used to judge how good the concentrate is, says Ms Stubbings.
"Generally, a high energy, high quality concentrate will have a fibre level of 10% of less, a maximum oil content of 4.5-5% and an ash content lower than 10%. Where the label declaration is way outside these ranges alarm bells should ring."
She also cautions that although a high oil content will boost energy levels, it is poorly digested by ruminants. *
QUALITY EWE FEED
• ME of 12.5.
• Fibre 10% or less.
• Oil maximum of 5%.
• Ash less than 10%.