Steven Turnbull, Davidsons Animal Feeds sheep specialist and sales manager, offers expert insights into lamb creep feeding and highlights how it can boost growth, efficiency, and profitability for producers.
What are the main benefits of creep feeding lambs?
Getting lambs to grow quicker and maximise daily live weight gains, resulting in less days on farm and finished in optimal time. Offering a complimentary creep feed will see lambs achieve a better cover and subsequently grade better resulting in more profit for the farmer.
What are the key raw materials & minerals found in a good quality feed?
A top quality lamb feed should include a triple starch formulation containing high levels of maize, barley and wheat to achieve optimum rumen balance and maximise daily live weight gains. Beet pulp is also an important component, offering highly digestible fibre, optimal sugar content, and a valuable source of rumen fermentable energy.
A high level of Vitamin E and a quality source of protected selenium such as Alkosel are important for lamb immunity and health. B vitamins are important for energy metabolism and so Vitamin B12 and Vitamin B1 should be added. Ammonium chloride for the prevention on urinary calculi is vital.
What feed conversion rate should they be doing? (Per kg of creep eaten what should the lamb gain?)
Feed conversions rates can vary hugely with so many variables, breed of lamb, age, condition, environmental factors and forage. However a conversion rate of 2;1 can routinely be achieved when creep feeding young commercial lambs that are being nursed by the ewe. Hoggs being fattened particularly native breeds mid winter and not housed can rise to a conversion rate of nearer 6:1 at times.
Is it worth the money?
It has never been so cost effective to creep feed lambs. With current lamb prices remaining favourable, around 360p/kg live weight, a lamb consuming 1kg of feed can achieve 0.5kg of weight gain per day. In monetary terms each kilo costs 30p (£300p/t), can be converted into £1.80.
Are there any alternatives to creep feeding lambs?
There are no viable alternatives that can match the performance achieved by creep-fed young lambs. With increasingly unpredictable climate conditions swinging from one extreme to the other, many root crops are underperforming, and grass quality and nutrient levels are inconsistent. As a result, lambs are struggling to reach their target weights without the aid of creep feeding.
Are there any health risks to be aware of?
Home mixing using barley or wheat as the primary starch source can lead to acidosis if not balanced properly, creeping with blend can also lead to the lambs sorting and being selective of a particular raw material which can again cause issues. There is also a risk of urinary calculi if the ration does not contain the correct levels of ammonium chloride. All our lamb and tup range formulations contain 500 units of ammonium chloride, the highest available on the market to reduce the risk of any problems. Our unique intake stimulant boosts feed consumption, helping lambs achieve maximum weight gain.
Any other overall comments on creep feeding lambs?
Davidsons manufacture a wide range of lamb creep products, designed to suit all systems. Either available in 3mm pellets or 6mm nuts, containing top quality raw materials and a high spec mineral package, creating a well balanced ration ensuring your lambs genetic potential is achieved. You only sell a lamb once so it is vital you maximise the return by aiming to achieve a good weight and well finished carcass!
Recent Comments