We all know this year has not been kind with rainfall. With the dry conditions and poorer harvests, there has obviously been a drop in available grain feed. Poor harvests mean poor stubbles, and these are generally lacking in nutritive quality from the dry finish. As stubbles are usually a primary source of summer feed, it’s vital to feed additional supplements to ensure your stock’s health and well-being. One way we can supply the nutrients that animals haven’t been able to get through grazing is by using stock blocks and loose licks. Here are some of our most popular options.
Dry Stubbles:
We’ve seen a lot of popularity in Rod’s Dry Feed Urea Blocks over the last few years. During summer, Rods Dry Feed Urea and/or Olssons Peak 50 blocks are both excellent mineral supplements for sheep on dry stubbles, as they maximise utilisation of poorer quality feed. They also contain a balanced combination of urea and natural proteins, stimulating the rumen’s microflora. This helps to increase appetite and feed conversion efficiency. They also provide a balanced range of essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements necessary for healthy growth.
Salt and Lime:
Another common practice is mixing salt and lime to create a loose lick. This provides a few basic nutrients, such as calcium and sodium. We also recommend adding Causmag, or Magnesium Oxide, to help with magnesium deficiencies – but only around lambing.
Ewes and lambs:
For lambing ewes, we’ve seen impressive results with Rod’s Ewe and Lamb Blocks, Olssons EWE Little Beauty Blocks, or Rod’s Cal Mag – a looselick product.
Rod’s Ewe & Lamb block is specifically formulated for the transition period from average pasture to lush feeding for PreLambing and Lactating Ewe’s. This specialty block is also designed to improve smooth muscle function during lambing and to aid the lactating ewe. Elevated nutrient levels found in Rod’s Ewe and Lamb block are also beneficial to the growing lamb.
Rod’s Cal Mag Loose Mix has been specifically designed to meet the nutritional requirements of ewes or cows during the last trimester of pregnancy, and throughout lambing and calving. Cal Mag contains high levels of magnesium, calcium and essential microminerals and vitamins to meet reproductive requirements during this critical time. The high levels of magnesium help improve smooth muscle function which assists with the ease of lambing and calving. Cal Mag loose mix also provides the required level of magnesium to be used as an aid in grass tetany control and improve growth rates on grazing cereals. It also assists to relieve stress prior to transport and during weaning. Cal Mag is a waterproofed ‘all weather’ loose mix.
Finishing Lambs:
We also have a good range of products for finishing lambs, by either topping them up with additional feed or for feedlot situations. A great option is Rods Lamb Feedlot Pellets.
Rod’s Lamb Feedlot Pellet is an easy-to-use additive pellet designed to optimise results and provide a balanced ratio when added to the grain. Because it’s pelleted, it allows even distribution through the grain, whereas powders tend to sift to the bottom. It contains all the essential minerals, microminerals and vitamins to balance out a grain-based ration and optimise growth rates and feed conversion for lambs in the feedlot. Lamb Feedlot Pellet also contains Acid Buf® to reduce the risk of acidosis when lambs are first introduced to grain along with Bovatec® which can improve feed efficiency and help to reduce the incidence of Coccidiosis. Lamb Feedlot Pellet goes into the ration at 40kg / tonne of feed. For those concerned about processor requirements, we also stock Rod’s Lamb Feedlot Med Free Pellets, which are exactly the same minus the added Bovatec.
Note: When the dry conditions have caused pastures to have a very low protein content, you may need to provide a supplementary feed, such as faba beans or lupins, to finish the lambs off in good nick.
If any of the above interests you, we keep all these products in store, plus a wide variety of other lick blocks, so come in and see what would be best for your flock.
Remember, it’s important to try to get stubbles to last as long as possible to ensure enough feed continues through to autumn. Periodically allow them to graze and rotate paddocks and supplementary feed if needed.
For more info about how to get the most out of your stubbles, check out our article here.
