Sheep Industry News June 2024

Sheep Nutrition PATRICK GUNN, PH.D. Purina Animal Nutrition Forage Analysis: Low Investment, High Reward

I often get questions like, “What should I supplement at this stage of production? I have first-cutting alfalfa,” from produc ers looking to build a ration for their sheep. But without forage analysis data, it can be a guessing game. Whether you buy or raise your own forages, many factors can impact forage quality. Did it get rained on? Did it sweat? Was there a drought? Was the first-cutting hay harvested in April or July? And even though you can make assumptions about forage quality, sometimes traditional wisdom doesn’t prove true.

When building a supplement program, look for a baseline of crude protein, total digestible nutrients and neutral detergent fiber. Your local extension service or nutritionist can help you take samples with a hay probe, find a forage lab and submit samples. Grab samples aren’t recommended as they don’t provide a complete picture of your forages. Take samples from multiple bales in the lot or each cutting with a hay probe for best results. Forage analysis can cost as little as $20 per sample, and results are typically returned within one week.

If you guess the hay is better than it is, you might under-supplement ani mals, wasting their genetic potential and falling short on breeding season success or lambing rates. If you guess the hay is lower quality than it is, you might over supplement, wasting money on unneces sary nutrients. A forage analysis is a low, upfront investment that yields high value for your bottom line. The following tips can help you learn about the value of a forage analysis, the logistics around ordering a test and how to interpret the results. PROTECT AGAINST CHALLENGES

When purchasing forages, you might be able to request a forage test before buying or look to purchase hay that has already been tested. This allows you to buy what you need, not just what’s available. INTERPRETING RESULTS Once you receive your results, consult with your local nutritionist to interpret the data and build a supplementation plan to fill any nutrition gaps in your forages. A tailored supplementation program com plements your forages and is customized to each production stage of your sheep. Many producers focus on the protein content in hay. But, if you don’t have enough energy in the diet to utilize the protein effectively, you can waste protein or have energy deficiencies in your flock.

Forage analysis results don’t just fine tune your supplement program, but can also help support the productivity and profitability of ewes through all stages of production.

If your forage lacks energy, work with your nutritionist to build a ration accordingly. Corn is a common energy source, but as rumi nants, sheep can utilize many different feedstuffs. Look for what’s local and cost-effective. Forage analysis results might also show mineral content. How ever, results won’t indicate how bioavailable those minerals are. Data suggests animals can digest anywhere from 20 to 80 percent of the mineral in forage. That’s why providing a mineral and vitamin supplement year round is recommended, regardless of forage analy sis results. Understanding your forages' protein and energy levels is es sential for ensuring your sheep receive the nutrition they need to be productive without wasting dollars on over-supplementation. Visit PurinaMills.com/sheep-feed to learn more.

Protein and energy requirements increase significantly for ewes during late gestation, throughout lactation and leading up to the breeding season. Understanding your forages' exact protein and energy levels can help you provide the right amount of nutrients to meet ewes’ needs without over-supplementing. A balanced ration can also help support ewes through key lamb ing season challenges, such as ketosis or milk fever. When the diet is truly balanced, it helps minimize many traditional nutritionally based lambing season challenges. FORAGE ANALYSIS LOGISTICS Different forage analysis laboratories will offer different sampling packages, depending on the type of information you’re looking for.

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