This year, UK farmers faced one of the driest seasons in 60 years, making grazing management a challenge.
In West Sussex, Bethan Klinkenberg of Appledown Lleyn at Manor Farm, East Marden, faced significant issues with grass growth, which was recorded at 21.6kg DM/ha/day over the summer, less than half the previous year’s figure according to AHDB’s Forage for Knowledge monitoring service.
Despite this, Bethan’s carefully managed grazing strategy and proactive approach to supplementation ensured her flock remained in optimal condition, even during a challenging summer.
Feeding strategy for healthy sheep
Bethan manages a 500-head closed commercial flock of pedigree Lleyn, farming 455 hectares alongside her family and husband Dominic on the South Downs.
With the farm based on chalky, free draining soils, Bethan has fine-tuned her feeding strategy over time in response to mineral deficiencies – conditions which were made more challenging by the weather extremes and the farm’s exposure to coastal winds.
“We suffer on the chalky ground; it doesn’t hold many minerals,” Bethan explains.
“This year, we really burnt up. The grass was so dry, you wouldn’t know we’d had some rain. On top of this, the coastal winds here dry everything out – even in winter.”
Bethan relies on the right supplements to ensure her ewes gets all the nutrients they need. As a first line of defence, Crystalyx Extra High Energy feed licks have proven essential.
“Because it’s a hard block, Crystalyx lasts longer,” says Bethan. “It gives the sheep an extra lift, and I know they can go to it whenever they need without being overfed.”
This smart supplementation also reduces labour and disruption. Having Crystalyx tubs out for the sheep provides consistent, easy access to nutrition, removing the need for Bethan to feed out nuts in a buggy. This minimises risks to pregnant ewes by reducing the temptation to run and chase for food.
Bethan also runs a suckler herd of Luings and cross-breeds alongside her sheep. Traditionally, she finishes stock on-farm but this year, due to high market prices, she decided to sell stores in spring.
The cows graze rough ground on the Downs and within the grazing rotation to help with parasite control for the sheep.
In terms of nutrition for the cows, they are supplemented with Pre-Calver cattle mineral blocks during housing to ensure they healthy and well-nourished without hard feed.
Despite enjoying rearing the cows, the sheep remains the farm’s main focus, says Bethan: “They’re pedigree, but we run them commercially with no special treatment, they thrive really well in our system,” she adds.
Tailored sheep feeding to overcome grazing challenges
Bethan’s year-round sheep feeding strategy is dynamic and tailored to the changing conditions. She uses a combination of Crystalyx Extra High Energy buckets and targeted mineral supplements, depending on grass quality and the condition of the ewes.
“We put Extra High Energy buckets out to give the sheep a feed source if they’re lacking in sugars,” she says.
The combination of molasses-based controlled energy intake and mineral supplementation ensures that the sheep receive balanced nutrients at the right time. The result has been healthy lambs, even during a year with limited forage availability.
Strategic timing of year-round sheep supplementation and nutrition
Bethan’s strategy relies on timely supplementation and grazing management, with specific timings for feeding and introducing rams to her flock.
- Lambs are typically weaned in late July, and the ewes are body condition scored to determine which animals need additional nutrition. The ewes are then fed accordingly to maintain condition and improve scanning rates before tupping
- Rams are introduced mid-November and removed in mid-December
- Ewes are blood tested at scanning to ensure adequate mineral levels
Typically, Bethan introduces feed licks after weaning, in late August, but this year’s dry spell prompted an earlier start.
“I knew the grass was lacking so we put supplements out much earlier,” she explains. “If grass isn’t up to scratch, I don’t wait until it’s too late to intervene. A feed lick is money well spent in this regard.”
Support from StowAg
Manor Farm is supplied by StowAg in Alton. Agricultural sales specialist, Keara Varndell, highlights the impact slow grass growth has had on customers: “I advised early weaning and adjusting stocking densities due to limited grazing. In some cases, selling lambs as stores rather than holding onto them may have been necessary.
“Farmers bought in more feed, and we’ve seen a significant increase in supplement sales. Crystalyx’s range of low intake feed licks support rumen bacteria and activity, helping ewes make the most of available forage,” adds Keara.
Bethan has been lambing outside for the last six years. To preserve grass for spring grazing, ewes are forage rape and turnips throughout the winter.
“This enables us to give the pastures a break until March, when they get reintroduced back onto the grass, ready for lambing,” says Bethan.
The farm drifts mobs at lambing, with ewes grouped by litter size rather than set densities.
“The singles go on rough pasture and will stay there until they’ve lambed, while twins and triplets go back on to finish the turnips, or we’ll buffer feed with rough haylage if needed, they’ll get the Crystalyx six weeks before lambing.
“I’ll maybe put out another High Energy bucket for the singles once they’ve lambed to make sure they’re milking to the best of their ability,” she says.
Using herbal leys to enhance pasture resilience
Bethan and Dominic introduced herbal leys over the last few years with chicory, plantain and legumes to improve pasture resilience and forage availability. Bethan says this approach has helped complement the supplementation strategy.
“We rotationally graze, giving lambs a few days per paddock. The leys have given us extra grazing options this year, especially in dry spells.”
This strategy, combined with nutritional supplementation, helps prevent ewes from overindulging and keeps the flock healthy during tough conditions.
The results speak for themselves.
“Even in a year where grass has been so short, our lambs still performed well. Some were doing over 420 grams per day at eight-week weights.”
Controlled intake livestock supplementation
Whether it’s by investing in high-quality feed licks, adopting herbal leys to improve grazing or planning for variable conditions, Bethan’s approach is about taking control of what she can.
The key to maintaining a resilient and productive flock is all about being proactive.
Support for Autumn grazing and feeding ewes pre-lambing
While grass has rebounded with the onset of Autumn, AHDB advises farmers not to graze too early, as grass needs time to wake up for optimal growth. Despite the rain and lush looking pasture, essential minerals are often still lacking in pasture.
Grass can take weeks to recover, and its nutritional profile often falls short just when ewes need to be in peak condition.
As a year-round product, Extra High Energy is ideal for balancing deficiencies at grass – meeting the heightened needs of pregnant ewes.
With Crystalyx’s range of targeted, long-lasting feed licks, you can take back control of nutrition, time and investment.
Dealing with seasonal challenges, managing ewe condition, and boosting intake of essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements is all made easier with Crystalyx’ practical, research proven solutions.
Learn more about Crystalyx Extra High Energy
