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Effect of Level of Grain Fed Ewes During Late Lactation on Lamb Production

University of Minnesota¹, St. Paul 55108

Abstract

The effects of energy intake of ewes during late lactation on the growth rate of their lambs were studied with 258 ewes and their 428 lambs at two locations during a 2-year period. Reducing the intake of shelled corn from .91 kg to .23 kg per ewe daily during the sixth to the 10th week of lactation caused a marked loss of weight among the ewes (–3.0 to –5.0 kg).

Lamb gains during this period of reduced ewe energy intake were less, (P<.01) though amounting to less than .70 kg per lamb. Over the 8-week period lamb gains were not significantly affected by treatment. Creep feed intake was the same among lambs in both treatments. Total feed required to produce a unit of lamb gain was reduced when ewes were fed less corn during late lactation. Since corn is a high cost component of the ewe's ration the practice reduced dollar costs of producing a unit of gain by 7 to 12% and the cost of the corn fed the ewes 35 to 40%.

¹ Paper No. 9721, Scientific Journal Series, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, St. Paul.