Feed

2007- after seven years of raising sheep and lambing (knock on wood), we finally feel that we have some grasp on what we are doing.  We lambed out 11 ewes this year.  Out of 11 ewes, 3 had triplets, 7 twined, and the last one singled with a 17 pound lamb.  All lambs were vigorous and were up and nursing within minutes.  (Except for an incident with one of our own dogs, all are still thriving) I believe a lot of the success has to do with the feeding program that the ewes have been on since the fall.  The ewes have had good quality grass hay, alfalfa, livestock grain and a sheep mineral/protein block.  We have found that they consume the block much better than some of the loose salt/minerals we had fed in prior years.  The block has their vitamins and minerals mixed with soybean meal and molasses.  We have been using the Sweetlix brand and are very pleased with the results.  Alfalfa has also been a change for us over the years.  We have been feeding more pounds per head and over a longer period of the year.  In fact the only time the ewes don't get alfalfa is during the summer months, after weaning and before flushing in the fall.  Alfalfa also plays a bigger role in the growing lambs.  The lambs get alfalfa and grain until market age or through the next year as yearlings if they are staying on the farm.