Finishing Lambs

     Feedlot lambs are susceptible to several disease conditions related to the feeding and management of the animals.  These include acidosi, coccidiosis, urinary calculi and enterotoxemia (pulpy kidney).  There are a number of key feeding and management factors that help reduce the risk of these developing.

     Clean feed and water troughs daily.  Feed a well balanced ration.  Adapt lambs to grain ration gradually.  Feed buffers if necessary.  Feed an ionohore under veterinary prescription.  Vaccinate as required (eg. pulpy kidney).  Shur-Gain feedlot sheep feeds have low levels of ECP from ammonium sulphate, not urea.  This is included to help prevent urinary calculi in male lambs and rams.  Excellent feeding and bunk management will promote groth and health.

     Provide comfortable well ventilated, draft free pens for lambs.  Lambs require 0.75 square meters.  Pens must be dry but dust free.  Lambs require 10 cm of feed trough space and 1 cm of water trough space.  Group lambs by size to feed in uniform groups of 30 - 50 lambs.

      Shur-Gain Feed lot rations can be fed following the creep ration.  Mix 50% of the feedlot starter ration in with the creep and feed this for 7 - 10 days to ease the transition to the new ration.  Once lambs are adapted to the feedlot grain ration, continue to feed both the appropriate ration and hay free choice.

• Heavy lamb breeds - Start lambs on a 16% crude protein grain ration with limited hay (hay 200 - 500 g/lamb/day).  Feed the lambs from 15 - 25 kg.  Grow lambs on a 15% crude protein grain ration with limited hay (hay 100 - 200 g/lamb/day) from 25 - 35 kg.  Finish lambs on a 14% crude protein ration with minimal hay (hay about 100 g/lamb/day)
• Light lamb breeds - Start lambs on a 16% crude protein grain ration with limited hay (hay 200 - 500 g/lamb/day).  Feed the lambs from 12 - 20 kg.  Grow lambs on a 15% crude protein grain ration with limited hay (hay 100 - 200 g/lamb/day) from 20 - 30 kg.  Finish Lambs on a 14% crude protein grain ration with minimal hay (hay about 100 g/lamb/day)  Feed lambs from 30 kg through finish.

     Producers may decide to start lambs at slightly heavier weights.  Lighter breeds may be fed the 16% lamb starter ration for longer than indicated here and then follow with the 15% lamb grower through to finish.

Custom Finishing Rations                       

•                                              16% Lamb Creep/Starter  15% Lamb Grower  14% Lamb Fin.
• Shur-Gain 36% Sheep Supp (200)200                        200                         200
• Barley                                                    325                        240                        140
• Corn                                                      400                        500                         600
• Molasses                                                50                          50                           50
• Soybean Meal                                        25                           10                            --
• Total                                                     1000 kg             1000 kg                  1000 kg