Maintaining body condition in ewes from pre-tupping and in the run-up to lambing is vital for reproduction. Feed blocks for sheep are becoming increasingly commonplace for achieving this effectively, and there’s a good reason why.
We visit some sheep production systems in Ireland to see how the Crystalyx Extra High Energy feed blocks for sheep are having a positive impact.
Liam Strain on ensuring ewe condition
Left: Liam-Strain-(farmer) middle: Luke Morgan (Crystalyx) right: John-Hegarty- Inishowen-Co-Op
Liam runs a large flock of March-lambing ewes in County Donegal, Ireland. The bulk of the breeding is mules and Borris (Suffolk x Cheviot), with 100 purebred Cheviot’s to allow the breeding of all the replacements. All the lambs born on the farm are brought to finishing weights or maintained as replacements. Surplus ewe lambs are sold-on during the autumn period. They normally lamb 90 ewes at the end of January. All the other breeding sheep will follow-on six weeks later. The remainder of the flock are due to start lambing in the second week of March.
Making best use of grazed grass is a priority for Liam. But he recognises that forage alone will not meet the nutritional needs of his ewes in the run-up to lambing.
“We have put the Crystalyx Extra High Energy feed blocks for sheep out with the pre-lambing ewes for the past number of years. And it’s an approach that has worked well in keeping a good level of body condition on the ewes at a very important time of the year. I also like the fact that the buckets are very weather resistant. They offer the sheep a consistent level of nutrition.” – Liam Strain
Jonathan McGee on increasing lambing rates
Left: Jonathan McGee (farmer) middle: Cheree McGlynn (Aurivo) right: Luke Morgan (Crystalyx)
Jonathan McGee in County Donegal has a 155-head spring-lambing flock, comprising a mix of Mule and Borris (Suffolk x Cheviot) ewes. All lambs born are either maintained for breeding or brought through to finishing weights. Surplus Mule ewe lambs are sold as flock breeding replacements.
Ease of management and making best use of grazed grass are management priorities for the flock.
“Crystalyx Extra High Energy feed blocks for sheep are put out with the ewes prior to breeding. This has been the practice on the farm for the past number of years. The ewes need that extra nutritional boost before the rams go in. At that stage it’s all about retaining body condition and boosting ovulation rates. The subsequent lambing rates of 180% that we are getting speak for themselves.” – Jonathan McGee
The Malone’s on ensuring ewe condition
Left: Ciaran Murphy (Quinns of Baltinglass) middle: Seán Malone (farmer) right David Morgan (Crystalyx)
Seán Malone and his son, John, farm in County Wicklow. They run a sheep flock comprising 400 Suffolk x Cheviot ewes and 200 hoggets. Half the hoggets are sold as breeding replacements to other flock owners. All other lambs are finished on the farm. Lambing is usually underway in mid-March. The Malones use Crystalyx Extra High Energy feed blocks to maintain the body condition score of the ewes prior to lambing.
“We keep the ewes carrying single lambs out at grass right through to lambing with the feed blocks as the only source of additional feed available to them. We have consistently used the Crystalyx blocks with the sheep for the past seven years. They have worked tremendously well for us.” – Seán Malone
Feed blocks for sheep backed by the experts
Farm merchants throughout Ireland are also confirming the popularity of the Crystalyx High Energy feed blocks.
“They are our strongest seller into the sheep sector by far,” confirmed John Hegarty, from Inishowen Co-op. “The buckets represent a valuable feed source. And they can be put out in all weathers. The blocks do not fragment if the rain starts falling. Many farmers coming into our stores are very aware of this and actively seek out the buckets on that basis.
“The Crystalyx Extra High Energy block is extremely popular with sheep farmers throughout our catchment area,” said Ciaran Murphy from Quinn’s of Baltinglass. “The Wicklow SUAS project, which was launched in 2018, grant aided the use of sheep licks. Sales of the Crystalyx blocks strengthened on the back of this. The SUAS scheme has ended, yet demand for the Crystalyx licks continues to grow. I think this says a lot for the positive impact that they have made on large numbers of farms.”
“Sales of the Crystalyx High Energy block continue to grow,” said Cheree McGlynn, working out of the Aurivio: Homeland store in Letterkenny. ““Demand for the licks in the run-up to the spring lambing season is particularly strong. Farmers recognise the very real feed benefits that they deliver. The blocks also represent a very flexible way of delivering a much-needed nutritional boost to ewes at those important times of the year.”
Feed blocks for sheep
According to Luke Morgan from Crystalyx, the number of Irish sheep producers using Crystalyx Extra High Energy feed blocks continues to increase at an exponential rate throughout Ireland.
“Maximising forage intakes and securing the dry matter intakes required by the ewes and unborn lambs is critical”, Luke explained. “And it is in this context that the Crystalyx Extra High Energy feed blocks for sheep can play a crucial role”.
“Crystalyx Extra High Energy feed blocks represent a highly palatable and concentrated form of energy, high quality protein, minerals, trace elements and vitamins. At the very heart of this process is the stimulus given to the microbe populations in the rumen. In turn, this speeds up the digestion process, thereby allowing ewes to increase their daily consumption levels of fresh grass. And this, of course, determines overall dry matter intakes.”
“Loss of condition while pregnant will jeopardise placental development and reduce body reserves available for colostrum and milk production,” Luke explained. “Offering the feed blocks to ewes heading into tupping will have a very beneficial impact on the quality of the ewes’ milk post lambing. This reflects the quality of the protein contained within the feed blocks”, explained Luke.
Trials conducted at Newcastle University found that ewes with access to Crystalyx Extra High Energy maintained better condition than ewes on grass alone. Lambs subsequently had a 5% higher growth rate.
“A daily feeding rate of 40-60g head will ensure that pre-lambing ewes receive the level of nutrition they need, provided that adequate levels of forage are also made available”, concludes Liam.
