It costs money to feed an animal.”
That was the takeaway message livestock expert Susan Markus left with a group of nearly 50 lamb producers during a presentation in Camrose earlier this month.
“Feeding for healthy and productive lambs really is a combination of genetics and your management and nutrition,” said Markus, a livestock research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.
“These are really going to be what makes or breaks you as far as some of your costs of production.”
In Alberta, around 50 per cent of the cost to run a flock is related to feed. And when top flocks wean 25 per cent more lambs, feeding for optimal ewe productivity and lamb performance is essential.
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“We’re feeding for the requirements they have — we’re not feeding them for how much they’ll eat,” said Markus. “I could put out lots of stuff, and they’ll eat it. But do they actually need it? That’s the question that’s going to keep my cost of production down.”
That means having rations analyzed for moisture, protein, energy, calcium, and phosphorous contents, she said.
“If I’m looking at growing an animal out, I make sure my protein levels are met. If I’m maintaining an animal, like the ewe flock, energy is really most important,” said Markus.
When feeding silage, you want a pH range between 5.2 and 5.7 — otherwise, listeriosis becomes a risk.
How much you feed is also important. Feed intakes for animals range between two and six per cent of body weight on a dry matter basis.
Open and gestating ewes require between two to three per cent of their body weight, while late gestation requirements need two to 3.5 per cent. Lactating ewes require almost double the amounts for open or gestating ewes, around four to five per cent of their body weight. Lambs under 40 pounds require five to six per cent of their body weight. Between 40 to 80 pounds, the requirements for lambs increase up to three to five per cent, and lambs over 80 pounds require three to four per cent. Ram feeding requirements are around 2.5 per cent.
Though inexpensive rations are tempting, lamb producers need to think about average daily gain, cost per pound of gain, and the number of days to reach market, said Markus.
“Just because you come up with the cheapest ration doesn’t mean it’s going to be the best option for you.”
For example, she said, consider pelleted feedlot ration at 31 cents per head per day versus an alfalfa hay and barley ration, at 23 cents per head per day. With a daily gain of around 340 grams on the pelleted ration, the lambs would take 28 days to get to market. If the gains on the barley and alfalfa hay ration are only 295 grams, it will take a week longer. The total cost for both rations is similar – just over $8 – but adding an extra week in yardage costs for the barley and alfalfa hay ration adds up quickly.
“Even though you had a cheap ration, overall it’s going to end up costing you more because there were more days in the feedlot,” said Markus.
“You can’t run from your feed costs. If you don’t feed them, they don’t perform.”
