Pasture Management and Diet

As we previously outlined in our About our Flock tab, we use a combination management technique. During the fall and winter months, we keep our sheep in confinement housing, feeding them hay and grain while they progress in pregnancy. After lambing in early spring, we gradually transition both the ewes and lambs onto pasture. We do this to build up strong parasite resistance in our lambs before they are released onto pasture.

Confinement Feeding

Hay

For the majority of our yearly confinement period, we feed our flock tall fescue grass hay, as it is grown in abundance here in Missouri. We purchase fungus-free fescue from local suppliers, to avoid endophyte toxicity, which is a risk when feeding fescue. Fescue is an affordable, accessible option for our sheep throughout the fall and winter.

During some stages of production (late gestation and lactation) we supplement with a portion of alfalfa hay, along with our regular fescue rations. Alfalfa hay is still relatively abundant here in Missouri, making the extra cost manageable. This ensures that our ewes receive enough protein and calcium while they are pregnant or lactating. This is also a good choice for our growing lambs to nibble on as they get closer to weaning age. However, we only feed a small percentage of alfalfa in our ration to avoid bloat.

Grain

During confinement, we feed our flock a mixed ration pelleted feed that is primarily soybean-based, which is one of the top crops grown here in Missouri. Soybean is a great option as a protein supplement for our sheep since they primarily eat only grass hay. We also supplement with corn during periods when they require extra energy in their diets. Corn is another native crop that is affordable in this region. Our feed also contains important macrominerals, particularly phosphorus and potassium, two minerals that are lacking in Missouri soils. Lastly, it includes a healthy mix of vitamins, particularly Vitamin D, as we feed grain while our sheep are in confinement and are not regularly exposed to sunlight.

We also feed corn-based lamb starter to our lambs once they are old enough to be started on creep feed. The high-energy content is good for our lambs as they are growing.

Pasture Grazing

We begin pasture feeding in late spring, using primarily warm-season perennial grasses that will bloom in late spring and maintain their growth through the summer. We have a mixture of native grasses in our pastures including big bluestem, little bluestem, indiangrass, and eastern gamagrass. We also have planted a species of birdsfoot trefoil, the Norcen birdsfoot trefoil, which can be found here in Missouri. It is a nutrient-dense legume plant that is known for its antiparasitic qualities. However, unlike many other legumes, birdsfoot trefoil does not cause bloat in ruminants, which allows us to provide high-quality protein to our sheep without worrying about bloating. This plant blooms from late spring through to late summer as well. Lastly, we also have some native forbs like ashy sunflower, and wild bergamot to increase the diversity and palatability of our pastures.

Big bluestem

Indiangrass

Birdsfoot trefoil

Wild bergamot

Overhead view of the site with the division of the 4 pasture sites (each is approximately 3.5 acres). We graze our sheep on rotation, giving each section ample time to regrow and to avoid overgrazing. Trees are scattered throughout each pasture to ensure the sheep have shade during hot summer days.

Minerals and Water

We always have free-choice, loose minerals available to our sheep, both in confinement and on pasture. This ensures that all of our sheep are getting a sufficient amount of minerals and that it is always available should any of them want it.

We always have clean, fresh water in our water troughs. They are checked multiple times a day and refilled as needed, both in the barn and out on pasture. In the barn, the sheep will have access to automated waterers with de-icers.

Year-round Feeding

Ewes - based on stage of production

Flushing: About two weeks before breeding in early September, we will begin to flush our ewes. To do this, we start them on a high-energy corn feed to encourage superovulation. This diet will continue through the beginning of the breeding season until about early-mid October.

Early-mid gestation: After flushing, we will switch them back over to their regular hay and grain diet, increasing rations throughout their pregnancy as needed. We also start to offer free choice molasses tubs for some extra calories should any of them want it. During this time, we check body condition regularly to ensure they are receiving adequate nutrients and staying around a 3 - 3.5 on the BCS scale.

Late gestation: We pay very close attention to our ewe's diets during late gestation. During the last 4-6 weeks of gestation, we increase the energy content in our grain using corn. We also begin to feed a mixed fescue and alfalfa hay to increase the protein content. Additionally, we ensure our loose minerals mixes have adequate selenium, calcium, and Vitamin E during this time. Lastly, we check and refill our water troughs multiple times a day to ensure our ewes always have access to clean water.

Lactation: During lactation, our ewes require the most energy and protein content than any other time during the year. During early lactation, before we transition to pasture, we continue to feed mixed fescue and alfalfa hay, as well as mixed corn and soybean grain feed, increasing rations according to weight and number of offspring.

Late lactation/weaning: About 10 days before weaning, we will begin to dry off our ewes by reducing their diets back to fescue hay only. We do not feed grain during this period in order to minimize milk production. Once our ewes are completely dry, we will start to let them out onto pasture, alongside their weaned lambs, and keep them grazing through the summer until the next breeding season.

Lambs - based on age

Milk and colostrum: After our lambs are born, the first thing we ensure is that they receive adequate colostrum from their mother. As they continue to grow, we monitor that relationship and make sure they are successfully nursing.

Creep: When the lambs reach about 2 weeks old, we begin to offer textured creep feed, gradually increasing the amount as they grow.

Weaning: When the lambs are all between 8-12 weeks, we will begin the process of weaning them off their mother's milk and onto forage-based diets. This occurs around the time that our pastures are beginning to grow, allowing us to slowly transition our lambs onto pasture for the remainder of the spring and summer.

Ram and Wether

Our on-farm ram and wether have a much more consistent diet year-round. We rotate between hay feeding and pasture grazing depending on the season. However, we do not typically feed grain as we do not want either of them to become overconditioned. They do not require the same level of calories and nutrients that our pregnant and lactating ewes do.

Feeding Storage

Within the barn, there is a location specifically for feeding storage. There you will find: feed bunks, a total mix ration mixer, and a bin containing creep feed. There we also have our telehandler pick up and forklife.

Within the barns storage section, there is access to an attic where we keep our hay and silo.

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