Creep feeding and finishing options for lambs and kids

For Shenandoah Valley Small Ruminant Seminar March 2019

1. Creep feeding and finishing options for lambs and kids SUSAN SCHOENIAN Sheep & Goat Specialist | University of Maryland Extension [email protected] | sheepandgoat.com | wormx.info

2. Creep feeding and finishing lambs/kids CREEP FEEDING Birth to weaning FINISHING Weaning to market

3. What is creep feeding? Providing supplemental feed (mostly energy) to nursing lambs/kids.

4. Why creep feed? Enhance rumen development Teach lambs/kids to eat Because milk production is a limiting factor. Ease lactation stress of high producing females. Facilitate early weaning E ase weaning stress Take advantage of efficient gain by lambs/kids Lack of good quality forage during nursing period. Increase ADG ***

5. Who to creep feed? Lambs/kids born late fall through early spring Lambs/kids that will be early weaned Lambs/kids that will be finished on (mostly) concentrates or in dry lot. Flocks/herds with high percentage of multiple births. Lambs/kids with high potential for growth. Lambs/kids destined for hothouse (Easter) markets or youth markets. Any lamb/kid reared artificially.

6. Who not to creep feed Lambs/kids born early fall or late spring. Lambs/kids that will be late weaned. Lambs/kids with access to good quality forage during nursing period. Lambs/kids that will be finished on high quality pastures. Lambs/kids with lower potential for growth. Lambs/kids that will be held for later marketing.

7. Creep feeding decision-making YES Reach a certain market Reach a certain market condition High prices for animals Low feed costs Benefit ($$) > Cost ($) NO Reach a certain market Lower prices for animals High feed costs Cost ($$) > Benefit ($)

8. Creep area in barn Near high traffic area Well lit; lit at night Clean, dry, well-bedded Draft-free Large enough for all lambs/kids to get in at one time. Multiple entry points [?]

9. Creep area on pasture Put feeders near water, shade, or other places where animals loaf and play. Protect feed from moisture. Move feeders around to keep animals from congregating and creating “hot spots” on pasture. Instead of creep feeder, could be creep grazing; give lambs/kids access to better quality, “cleaner” pasture.

10. Creep gate (panel) Panel with openings big enough for lambs and kids to get through, but small enough that females, especially thin ones, cannot get through. Usually 4-6 inches in width Ideally, adjustable openings. Ideally, adjustable horizontal bar . Roll bars help big lambs get through Can make inexpensive panels out of wood or stock panels.

11. Creep feeders Lamb/kid sized Troughs or self feeders Raised feeders 8-12 inches off ground Designs that prevent feed wastage and fecal contamination. Horizontal bar will help to keep lambs/kids out of feeders. Ample feeder space 2 inches for self feeding 8-12 inches for all to eat at once.

12. Creep feed Simple Fresh Palatable Small particle size mash, crumbles, pellets Highly digestible Natural proteins At least 16% crude protein

13. Feeds that are palatable to lambs/kids Soybean meal Ground corn Cracked corn Alfalfa Molasses Bran Small grain

14. Creep feeding options Simple mix Cracked corn + soybean meal Custom mix Mixed on farm or by feed mill Commercial diet (bagged) Usually pelleted Same ration that you are feeding ewes/does

15. Creep feed additives Coccidiostat Bovatec® (lambs) Rumensin® (goats) Deccox® (both) Ammonium chloride Antibiotics Can no longer feed Other Essential oils Probiotics B vitamins Hay + water in creep area

16. Finishing lambs/kids

17. What is finishing? Feeding or grazing lambs/kids so that that they reach “market readiness” Add meat/muscle to frame and optimize amount of fat (or finish)

18. Should you finish your lambs/kids? YES Sell at heavier weights More pounds = more total $ You market to traditional markets or markets that prefer heavier lambs. You direct market carcasses or meat. Quality pasture/feed available Income ($$) > Cost of gain ($) NO Sell at light weights Nowadays, every weight lamb/kid is a potential slaughter lamb. Less pounds = higher price per pound. Some markets may discriminate against heavier lambs/kids. Market for feeder lambs/kids. Lack of quality pasture/feed Cost of gain ($$) > income ($)

19. Partial budget

20. Nutritional requirements of lambs/kids Varies by Species Breed Genetics Age Sex Level of performance ***

21. General finishing options Pen (zero grazing) Pasture (with or without feeding)

22. Pros and cons of finishing options PEN Maximize ADG Reach market sooner Better quality carcasses Milder flavored meat Higher prices at sale barn No predator risk Minimal parasite risk Keep males intact Save pasture for ewes/does More profitable [?] PASTURE More natural diet Leaner carcasses More healthful meat May be able to get premium $ for grass-fed animals/meat. More profitable [?]

23. Pros and cons of finishing options PEN Facilities for feeding Fatter, less healthful carcasses Higher feed costs Not suitable for all breeds More expensive gain *** Less profitable [?] PASTURE Lower ADG Longer to reach market Variability of pasture nutrition May need to castrate males Predator risk Parasite challenge **** Less profitable [?]

24. Finishing options: pen feeding Whole grain + protein supplement Whole grain + alfalfa hay Farm mix and grind Custom mix Commercial pellet

25. Additives for finishing diets Coccidiostat Bovatec® (lambs) Rumensin® (goats) Deccox® (both) Ammonium chloride (0.5-1%) Antibiotics No longer allowed Other Essential oils Probiotics Rumen buffer B vitamins Binders (mycotoxins)

26. Tips for pen feeding lambs/kids Least cost rations There are spreadsheets and ration programs that can be used to balance rations for lambs/kids. Can reduce protein percentage after weaning Switch to coarser feeds. Vaccinate twice for overeating disease. Always good to offer hay free choice. Make all feed changes gradually. Provide environmental enrichment, especially for goats.

27. Least cost rations: energy (TDN) Feedstuff Price Price per lb. DM % TDN $/lb. TDN Corn (bag) $6/bag $0.120 90% 88% $0.152 Corn (bulk) $4.12/ bu $0.074 90% 88% $0.093 Barley $3.46/ bu $0.072 90% 82% $0.098 Soy hull pellets $220/ton $0.11 90% 77% $0.159 Grass hay $200/ton $0.10 90% 58% $0.222 Grass hay $100/ton $0.05 90% 50% $0.111 DDGS $220/ton $0.11 90% 90% $0.136 Sheep feed $12/bag $0.24 90% 72% $0.370 Sheep feed $9/bag $0.18 90% 72% $0.277

28. Least cost rations: protein (CP) Feedstuff Price Price per lb. %DM % CP $/lb. CP Soybean meal (bulk) $300/ton $0.15 90 48 $0.347 Soybean meal (bag) $21/cwt $0.21 90 48 $0.486 Alfalfa hay $300/ton $0.15 90 20 $0.833 Alfalfa hay $200/ton $0.10 90 18 $0.617 Alfalfa hay $100/ton $0.05 90 15 $0.370 DDGS $220/ton $0.11 90 30 $0.407 Sheep feed $12/bag $0.24 90 16 $1.666 Sheep feed $9/bag $0.18 90 1 $1.666

29. Comparing feed costs: other considerations Availability Delivery Handling Storage Limitations in ration formulation Nutritional imbalances Wastage Test any alternative feedstuff or by-product feed.

30. Hand feeding vs. self-feeding Hand (1-2 times daily) More labor More feeder space required Improved feed efficiency Less feed wastage Hay commonly fed Lambs/kids more closely monitored for problems. Self (free choice) Low labor Less feeder space required Eat more: gain more Sorting of feed ingredients (pelleting will prevent) TMR usually fed

31. Finishing options: pasture Need high quality pasture to finish lambs/kids. Gains will be variable from spring to fall, due to variability of pasture quality/quantity. Mid-Atlantic pastures are most likely to be deficient energy. Internal parasitism increases nutrient requirements and affects health and performance of grazing animals.

32. Finishing requires high quality pasture. LEGUMES ANNUALS

33. Energy requirements of a grazing lamb 66 lbs., early maturing (DMI: 4% of BW) Grazing fresh orchard grass pasture (65% TDN) TDN lb /d ADG, lb /d

34. Protein requirements of a grazing lamb, lb /d 66 lbs., early maturing (DMI: 4% of BW) Grazing fresh orchard grass pasture (14% CP) TDN lb /d ADG, lb /d

35. Energy requirements of a Boer buck, lbs./day 44 lbs., (DMI=4 % of BW) Grazing fresh orchard grass pasture (65% TDN) TDN lb /d ADG, lb /d

36. Protein requirements of a Boer buck kid 44 lbs . (DMI = 4 % of BW) Grazing fresh orchard grass pasture (14% CP) TDN lb /d ADG, lb /d

37. Supplementing on pasture Supplement the most limiting nutrient, usually energy. Protein supplementation may improve parasite resistance. Daily supplementation allows you to more closely monitor animals for signs of parasitism and other problems. Supplementation can disrupt grazing/browsing behavior . Though grain may be cheaper, supplements high in digestible fiber (e.g. soy hulls) may be more a desirable supplement.

38. Summary Every farm has different resources and goals. Every farm’s feeding economics varies. Lambs/kids on higher planes of nutrition will usually grow better, produce better carcasses, and are healthier, but maximum growth may not be economical. Every farm has to determine the optimal level of performance and the nutrition required to achieve it.

39. Thank you. Comments? Questions? https://wmrecresearch.blogspot.com