It is crucial to prioritise the ewe’s nutrition during pregnancy as this will influence both placental development and lamb health.
In early pregnancy there is little change in the nutritional requirements of the ewe and changes to the level or type of feed should be avoided.
Months 2 and 3 of the pregnancy is when most of the placenta development takes place.
It is the placental development which impacts the lamb’s birth weight therefore this stage in the pregnancy is important.
In late pregnancy, the ewe’s nutritional requirement is the greatest because this is when the lamb’s development increases and preparation for milk and colostrum production occurs. The foetus weight increases rapidly in the last 6 weeks before birth, adding 70% of its birth weight during this time.
Remember the importance of feeding the correct level, not too much or too little. In mid-pregnancy this impacts on placental growth and influences final lamb size. In late-pregnancy incorrect feeding increases the risk of metabolic issues and lamb diseases as well as affecting colostrum quality.
Please Note: Overfeeding concentrate is a high risk!
DMI as a % of liveweight
Pregnancy = 2 - 2.5% of liveweight
Example: DMI of a 70kg ewe 2.5% of 70kg = 1.75kg
Lactation = 3.5% of liveweight
The amount of energy a pregnant ewe requires depends on several factors, including how many lambs she is expecting, her body weight and the stage of her pregnancy.
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