this presentation was initially prepared for a lambing and kidding school held december 8, 2007 in...

This presentation was initially prepared for a Lambing and Kidding

School held December 8, 2007 in Westminster, MD.

Feeding the pregnant and lactating female

Susan SchoenianSheep & Goat SpecialistUniversity of Maryland Cooperative ExtensionWestern Maryland Research & Education Center

Today’s presentation

Nutrients Sources of nutrients Nutrient requirements Practical feeding

recommendations for pregnant and lactating does

Nutritional disorders related to lambing and kidding

Nutrients for sheep and goats

Energy Protein Minerals Vitamins Water Roughage

(fiber)

Energy

Needed in the most amount.

Usually the most limiting nutrient.

Excess is stored as fat. Expressed as . . .

TDN – total digestible nutrients (%)

ME – metabolizable energy (mcal)

NE for maintenance, growth, lactation, and fiber production (mcal)

Sources of EnergyHigh

Cereal grains (76-88%)Corn, barley, wheat, sorghum, rye, oats

By-product feeds (76-90%)Soy hulls, distiler’s grains, corn gluten, wheat middlings

Moderate Corn silage (65-72%) Haylage (50-60% Good quality pasture (60-70%) Good quality hay (50-60%)

Low Low quality hay (40-50%) Low quality pasture (< 50%) Straw (40-48%) By-products (<40%)

cottonseed hulls, peanut hulls, oat hulls

Protein Composed of amino acids. Bypass or escape protein

increases protein efficiency. Quantity more important than

quality. Usually most expensive

ingredient. Excess protein is not stored in

the body. It will be used inefficiently as energy.

Excess N is an environmental concern.

Sources of protein

Highest Protein meals (46-52%)

Plant - soybean meal, cottonseed meal, peanut meal

Fish meal (66%) Urea (NPN) (288%)

Moderate Alfalfa and other legume

hays (13-21%)Low

Grass hay (10-12%) Cereal grains (8-14%)

Lowest Poor quality hay (<10%) Straw (3-5%)

Minerals

Required in small quantities (grams) Macro – salt, Ca, P, Mg, K, and

S Micro (trace) – Se, I, Cu, Fe,

Mo, Cr, F, Zn, and Mn Balance of minerals is

important. Example: Ca:P

Many interactions. Example: Cu-Mo-S

Sources: Hay, pasture, grain Mineral mixes, blocks, tubs

Sources of calcium

High Limestone (38%) Bonemeal (24%) Dicalcium phosphate (25%)

Moderate Alfalfa and other legume hays

and pasture (1.2-1.7%)

Soybean hulls (0.55%) Grass hay and pasture (0.3-0.6%) Protein meals (0.2-0.4%)

Poor Cereal grains (.02-.07%)

Vitamins

Ruminants have a dietary requirement for Vitamin A, D, and E.

Vitamin K and B-vitamins are manufactured by the rumen.

No dietary requirement for Vitamin C or D.

Sources of vitamins Natural sources Vitamin packs Mineral mixes, blocks, tubs

Manufactured feeds

Blends of ingredients that are formulated to supply all (complete) or defined portions (supplement) of the requirements of targeted animal). Complete feeds Protein supplements or

balancers Mineral mixes, blocks, tubs

Use properly!More expensive, but

convenient and properly balanced.

Alternative feeds

Feed % DM % TDN % CP % Ca - % P

Beet pulp (wet) 17 76 11 .68 - .08

Bread by-product 68 91 14 .09 - .18

Corn stalks 80 59 5 .35 - .19

Grain screenings 90 65 14 .25 - .34

Kelp (dried) 91 32 7 2.72 - .31

Poultry litter (dried) 87 64 25 3.0 – 2.5

Potatoes, cull 21 80 10 .03 - .24

Pumpkins, cull 10 85 16 .24 - .43

Soybean hulls 90 77 12 .55 - .17

Whole cottonseed 91 95 23 .14 - .64

Whole soybeans 88 93 40 .27 - .64

Water The most essential nutrient

Intake (need) varies by . . . Moisture in feed Lactation (2-3 gal) >

Gestation > Maintenance (1/2 to 1 gal)

Late Gestation > Mid and early gestation

Triplets, twins > single Sheep > goats Milk type sheep and

goats > meat type Summer > winter

Roughage Should be primary source

of feed intake. Maintains healthy rumen

function. Less problems when

sheep and goats are forage-fed.

Minimum amount of roughage is ½ lb. per 100 lbs. of body weight.

Nutrient requirements depend on …

Size (weight) Age Stage and level of

production Climate and

environment Body condition

Size (weight)Nutrient requirements for different mature size ewes in late gestation, carrying twin lambs.

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

Lbs.

per

day

Dry matter intake (DMI) Energy (TDN)

110-lbs. 154-lbs. 198-lbs.

NRC, 1985

Size (weight)Nutrient requirements for different mature size females in late gestation, carrying twin lambs.

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Lbs

. pe

r da

y

Crude protein (CP)

110-lbs. 154-lbs. 198-lbs.

NRC, 1985

AgeNutrient requirements for ewe lambs and mature ewes (132-lb. ewes, late gestation, 150% lambing rate)

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

Lbs

. pe

r da

y


Ewe lamb Mature ewe

Ewe lambs and doelings also have difficulty competing for feeder space.

Ewe lambs require a more nutrient dense diet.

NRC, 1985


0.35

0.40

0.45

0.50

Lbs

. pe

r da

y

Crude protein (CP)

Ewe lamb Mature ewe


Ewe lambs require a higher percent of protein in their diets.

NRC, 1985


1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

Gra

ms

pe

r d

ay

Calcium (Ca) Phosphorus (P)

Ewe lamb Mature ewe


Ewe lambs require a higher percent of calcium in their diets.

NRC, 1985

Stage of productionNutrient requirements of a 154-lb. mature ewe that raises twin lambs.

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

Lbs

. pe

r da

y

Dry matter Intake (DMI) Energy (TDN)

Maintenance Early gestation Late gestation Lactation

NRC, 1985

Stage of productionNutrient requirements of a 154-lb. mature ewe that raises twin lambs,

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

Lbs

. pe

r da

y

Crude protein (CP)


NRC, 1985

1.0

3.0

5.0

7.0

9.0

11.0

Gra

ms

per

day

Calcium (Ca) Phosphorus (P)


Stage of productionNutrient requirements of a 154-lb. mature ewe that raises twin lambs

NRC, 1985

Level of ProductionNutrient requirements of a 176-lb. lactating ewe.

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

Lbs

. pe

r da

y


Single Twins Triplets

NRC, 2007

Level of ProductionNutrient requirements of 176-lb. lactating ewe.

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

Lbs

. pe

r da

y

Crude protein (CP) - 40% UIP

Single Twins TripletsNRC, 2007

2.03.04.05.06.07.08.09.0

10.011.012.0

gra

ms

pe

r d

ay

Calcium Phosphorus

Single Twins Triplets

Level of ProductionNutrient requirements of 176-lb. lactating ewe.

NRC, 2007

Climate and environmentBelow critical temperature, livestock must expend energy to keep warm.

Wind and humidity, along with low temperatures increase body heat losses and increase energy requirements of livestock.

A sheep’s critical temperature depends upon the length of its fleece and its feeding program. 50ºF for freshly shorn sheep. 28ºF for sheep with 2.5 in. fleece

Climate and environmentBelow critical temperature, livestock must expend energy to keep warm.

Critical temperature for beef cattle with a winter coat is 32ºF (61ºF if their coat is wet).

There is a 1% increase in energy requirements for each 1ºF below the critical temperature.

High quality hay is the preferred feed source because more body heat is produced when it is digested (vs. grain).

Effect of a lower critical temperature on the energy requirements of a goat needing 2.8 lbs. of TDN.

Exercise/ActivityNutrient requirements increase with exercise and activity.

Nutrient requirements can be affected by travel distance and land topography.

Exercise may be a function of forage availability.

NRC requirements take into account normal exercise of grazing sheep.

NRC requirements are for goats reared in confinement.

Body condition scoring (BCS) A valuable management tool that can be used to evaluate the feeding program and the

need for changes. Body condition is a better indicator of condition than weight. The most important times to body condition score are breeding, late gestation, and

weaning. Body condition scoring estimates fat and muscle on a scale of 1 to 5. Half scores are

commonly used. The cattle system (1-9) can also be used. 1 BCS equals 13% of the live weight of a female in moderate condition (3-3.5). Exact score is not important as the relative scores and the differences between scores.

Body condition scoring

1 – emaciated 2 – thin 3 – average 4 – fat 5 – obese

Life cycle feeding of ewes and does

Maintenance (dry period) Breeding Early pregnancy Mid-pregnancy Late pregnancy Early lactation Late lactation Weaning

Practical feeding recommendations for pregnant and lactating females

Goal: feed proper amount and balance of nutrients.

Quantity (lbs) more important that quality (%).

Make forage the main part of the diet.

Practical feeding recommendations for pregnant and lactating females

Balance ration (proper way) By hand (math)

Simultaneous equations (Algebra) Pearson Square

Use computer programhttp://www.sheepandgoat.com/software.html#ration

Use spreadsheethttp://www.sheepandgoat.com/spreadsheets/RationEvaluator2004.xls

Web-based ration balancinghttp://www.luresext.edu/goats/research/nutr_calc.htm

Feed by “rule of thumb”

Balance a ration1) Know nutrient requirements of

animals (NRC tables)2) Know nutrient composition of feeds

(test feed or use “book” values)3) Determine how much hay you need

to feed to meet the energy requirements.

4) Make sure the animal can consume the amount of hay that you calculate she needs by looking up dry matter intake in NRC table.

5) Calculate how much protein, Ca, and P the hay is providing.

6) Add supplement(s) to hay or pasture ration to provide the protein, Ca, and P that the hay lacks. .

Start with foragePasture, weeds, browse, hay, silage

Feed supplements to provide nutrients that the forage is lacking.

Feed supplement(s) to provide a more nutrient-dense diet.

Feed supplement(s) to improve health and performance.

Feed supplements to save money.

Feeding hay

Hay varies tremendously in nutritive quality.

Have your forage tested to determine its nutritive quality.

Round bales are less expensive to purchase, but result in more wastage and nutrient loss.

There’s less waste and more flexibility when feeding square bales, but they are more expensive.

When hay is offered free choice, livestock often overeat.

Feeding according to “rules of thumb”

Forage Feed 3 to 4 lbs. of grass hay

(or pasture) during early and mid gestation.

Feed 4 to 5 lbs. of average quality hay (or pasture) during late gestation.

During late gestation, you may need to supplement Ca if feeding a grass hay (don’t depend on free choice minerals).

Save alfalfa hay for lactation when the female’s nutritional needs are the highest.

Feed poor quality hay prior to and after weaning.

Bigger amounts for big females and smaller amounts for smaller females.


Concentrate/grain No grain during early and mid

pregnancy. Feed ½ to 1 lb. of grain per

day to females during late gestation.

Start with a ¼ lb. of grain and gradually increase amount of grain in diet.

May need to feed more if you expect a birthing percentage greater than 200%.

Grain can substitute for some of the hay in the ration, but be CAREFUL.



After parturition Plenty of water. Warm

water in winter. Forage for the first few

days. Take about a week to

get the ewe/doe on full feed.


Lactation Feed 4 to 5 lbs. of your best

quality hay + 1 lb. of grain for each offspring the female is nursing.

Separate females into production groups: singles, twins, and triplets.

If feeding alfalfa hay or another legume, the grain can be whole corn or barley.

If feeding grass hay, you will need to supplement protein and calcium in the grain ration.


Additional tips for feeding Weigh feed. Don’t rely on free choice minerals. Include Bovatec®, Rumensin® or

Deccox® in ration to prevent coccidiosis. **They are toxic to equines**

Feed whole grains. Split feedings if you’re feeding a lot

of grain. Separate animals into groups

according to their nutritional needs. Feed and manage ewe

lambs/doelings separate from mature females.

Aim for moderate body condition scores.

Health risks related to lambing and kidding

Influenced by nutrition and feeding: Pregnancy toxemia Milk fever Vaginal prolapse Abortion White muscle disease

Pregnancy toxemia Low blood glucose, ketosis, twin lamb disease, lambing paralysis, sleeping ewe sickness

Symptoms[1-3 weeks before parturition] Lethargy Sluggishness Lack behind Failure to eat Recumbency Stiff gait Neurological dysfunction Coma death

Differential diagnosis: milk fever


Risk factors Inadequate nutrition

insufficient energy density Multiple fetuses

high energy demand by fetuses Obesity

fat mobilization toxic ketone bodies

Poor body condition Lack of exercise Stress Environment

Severe weather conditions


Treatment Oral glucose

Propylene glycol IV glucose Caesarian section

Prevention Adequate energy in diet Adequate feeder space Proper body condition Exercise Minimize stress

Milk feverlow blood calcium, hypocalcemia, parturient paresis

Symptoms[late pregnancy early lactation]

Sudden onset Recumbency Neck turned back Muscle weakness Muscle tremors Bloat Coma death

Differential diagnosis: pregnancy toxemia


Risk factors Fetal demands for

calcium Demands for

colostrum production. Calcium deficiency Overfeeding calcium Stress, especially

nutritional


Treatment Oral calcium

Calcium borogluconate

IV calcium Dextrose

Prevention Proper amount of calcium

in diet Minimize stress Save alfalfa for lactation.

Vaginal prolapseprotrusion of vagina through vulva

Usually occurs 1-3 weeks prior to lambing.

Often corrects itself after lambing.

Causes Increased abdominal pressure Calcium status ???? Short tail docks ??? Internal fat Gravity Genetics

Treatment Replace, purse string (suture) Bearing retainer, spoon Prolapse harness Cull

Abortion

Termination of pregnancy

Stillborns Weak lambs and kids

that diet shortly after birth.

Failure to expel dead fetuses can result in death to the female.

Risk factors Ingestion of bacteria. Spoiled feed. Consumption of contaminated

feed contaminated with cat feces.

Treatment Antibiotics Isolate affected females Aborting females develop

immunity

White muscle diseasenutritional muscular dystrophy, stiff lamb disease, muscular hypertrophy

Deficiency of selenium and/or vitamin E New born lambs, kids Sudden exercise may trigger condition

Symptoms Skeletal – treat with vit E/Se shot

Mild stiffness to obvious pain upon walking to inability to stand

Stiff gait Hunched-up appearance

Cardiac Pneumonia Difficulty breathing Frothy nasal discharge Fever Irregular and elevated heart and

respiratory rates.

White muscle diseasenutritional muscular dystrophy, stiff lamb disease, muscular hypertrophy

Risk factors Selenium deficient soils Poor quality forages Lack of pasture access Low Se feeds

Prevention Provide adequate selenium

and vitamin E in diet Se/Vit E injections – be careful

Proper nutrition is the key to a successful lambing and kidding season.

this presentation was initially prepared for a lambing and kidding school held december 8, 2007 in...

Documents

nrc requirements

age nutrient requirements

kidding slide

fleece slide

twin lambs nrc

lactating ewe

limiting nutrient

lambing rate ewe lambs