With the continued temperatures of this year’s summer thoroughly diminishing any dry feed left in paddocks, the topic of confinement feeding ewes through the late summer and autumn period is even more pertinent. In conjunction with the impact on pasture, the summer heat also impacts feed intake requirements. During periods of extreme heat, ewes require increased energy intake to maintain good body condition, as some energy is diverted to thermoregulation mechanisms. Whilst lamb prices have been challenging to say the least, maximising body condition, growth, and fertility of sheep is essential to capitalise on the current markets.
In Western Australia’s sheep community, being able to confine-feed our ewes through the late summer and autumn period is certainly generating a lot of interest and traction – and rightly so. There are many ways to accomplish keeping the ewes out of our paddocks at the break of the season; from trail feeding in a sacrificial paddock, right through to a purpose-built feedlot type area. Time of lambing will influence the system.
Whatever the system, here are some points to consider:
· We are feeding the ewes through this period anyway, so why not consolidate them into an area that is close by and easy to access. This will reduce feeding time and, more importantly, save 10%-15% of the ration’s energy (ME) through the ewe being confined. So, confinement feeding saves time (money) and ration cost (money).
· Set-up cost is relatively low. Even the more sophisticated confinement areas can be constructed for around $15 per ewe. If we amortise that cost over 20 years, it is under $1 per ewe per annum. That is not a big outlay to get a return on that capital – right?
· We can 100% manage the ewes' body condition score (BSC) and health through feeding a complete ration. There is a direct correlation between ewe BSC at lambing and lamb survival, therefore, being able to closely monitor ewe condition prior to lambing can improve lamb survival rates.
· If we have scanned for multiples, we can dial up the feed to the multiple mobs and dial down to the single mobs, as obviously their feed requirements are different. This allows us to get better bang for our feed buck. If we go a step further and age the foetus at scanning, we can have early lambers that exit the confinement 2 weeks in front of the main mob. This buys some time in a late breaking season.
· But here is the clincher – keeping the ewes out of our pastures, at the break, will massively increase the FOO available when we do populate them. The plant’s root structure is increased because the plant is not consistently being pruned at the 1-2 leaf stage, so it is much more established and, therefore, durable. Plant leaves grow leaves! – so we need to let them do their thing in the early stages.
Now that you’re convinced of the benefits of confinement feeding, let’s look at some considerations for the set up:
- Consider the site – this is essential to the success of the project. It needs to be free-draining, as sheep are in there at the break of season, when rain can be heavy. Shade must be available, as autumn can still be hot. As with any intensive animal area, a very good water supply with good quality water is essential. High temperatures can lead to increases in bacteria, such as E. coli. Checking and flushing water troughs frequently to avoid water becoming stagnant is an important tool, as is regular water testing.
- Manage the mob size to match the site and be prepared to address shy feeders.
Milne Feeds Ruminant Specialists, Brett Blanchett & Wayne Manoni, comment that most of the growers they have spoken to, who have adopted this approach, have tweaked their lambing dates to take full advantage of confinement feeding. They consistently report they now run more ewes on the same area, which in turn means they wean more lambs per hectare. They say if we combine lifting ewe numbers with the ability to directly manage lamb survival through ewe nutrition, we are in a plus-plus scenario. With ewe and lamb values remaining a challenge, we need to maximise our sheep returns to get the best available profitability through this period.
For those who may be considering confinement feeding, or who are simply looking for some more tailored information, the sales and technical team at Milne feeds are always available to help guide you through any queries and provide any information you may require.
Growers who have never fed by confined methods may have the age-old concern about acidosis (grain poisoning). Milne Feeds’ EasyOne® 9mm pellets have the unique Hyfibe® technology which minimises the risk of acidosis in ewes.
Milne Sheep Specialists are always available to assist farmers with information via email, phone, or an on-farm visit.
