feeding nuts

Tomjim · 02-01-2023 09:40PM #1

I have land away from the house and the ewes are there at the moment and will be coming home shortly

There are 30 ewes there and they get a bucket of nuts each day, I throw it on the ground as there are no troughs there.

While I know this may not be ideal, I don't seem to lose an awful lot of it

Anyone any views re throwing nuts on the ground

893bet · 02-01-2023 09:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058277885/feeding-nuts

On concrete? It’s fine. They will lick it clean.

If on grass there must be loss not to mention the amount of dirt they must end up eating.

Tomjim · 02-01-2023 10:06PM

yes troughs when they come home

Always feed in a high spot, which would be dry. ie last few days there were pools of water but I go to high spot where there is no water and is dry

Danzy · 02-01-2023 10:16PM

Corrugated pipe,grand job. I also put the nuts under a wire works fine

Jonnyc135 · 03-01-2023 10:29AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058277885/feeding-nuts

If ur in the west, homeland/Aurivo are making a sheep cob nut at the minute that perfect for feeding on ground and no wastage, 18% protein and €12.25 a bag.

wrangler · 03-01-2023 12:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120058740#Comment_120058740

We never use troughs outside for ewes, we always use cobs,, they're a great job ,, Grennans make them as well.

Jonnyc135 · 03-01-2023 12:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120059062#Comment_120059062

This is Aurivos first year making them, Ill definitely be buying them as I always finding mucking up around a trough area or in a pen always leads to lameness, least with these I can feed them different areas every day to help minimize the risk and poaching, without having to lug a few steel troughs around, plus they seem good value too compared to the conventional 18% ewe and lamb at €13 a bag.

razor8 · 03-01-2023 12:38PM

many uk flocks feed cobs to ewes inside as well by just throwing it into the pens

wrangler · 03-01-2023 01:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120059103#Comment_120059103

Yea, and if you have a big number of sheep they'd knock you over the troughs

farawaygrass · 03-01-2023 07:15PM

Do ye use a snacker for feeding the cobs?

wrangler · 03-01-2023 09:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120061062#Comment_120061062

Yea, but I know people that just throw them from the quad too

Jimbo789 · 04-01-2023 03:29PM

Is there anyone making a cheaper cob suitable for giving small amount just as maintenance for ewe lambs being kept until hoggets for breeding, they have no grass left but as much hay as they want.

wrangler · 04-01-2023 07:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120064748#Comment_120064748

Until now there wasn't much demand for sheep cobs and the merchants would only supply one type but demand is picking up now so there might be different rations available as cobs. Were buying the 18%cobs from Grennans at a similar price to their lamb finisher.

Hay usually doesn't have great feed value so the bit of extra protein in cobs would be no harm. Protein helps livestock to digest fibre and God Knows there's plenty of fibre in hay.

Tomjim · 04-01-2023 11:58PM

I was buying the Grennans 16% protein nut, is this the same as cobs?

I know Grennans also do a bulk sheep nut in the bin that you can pick up 500kg loose, would that be a cob?

wrangler · 05-01-2023 08:27AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120067024#Comment_120067024

Their nuts are only about 8mm, the cobs are 15mm.

As far as I know the only Cobs they're making for sheep are the 18% cobs. There wasn't a lot of demand for cobs and it's awkward for them to change the machinery unless they were sure of demand.

I'd sometimes feed Cobs at the end of april if the east wind cut the grass out of it and I'd have to go around the local branches taking what they'd left over

razor8 · 05-01-2023 05:24PM

what are ye paying for pre lambing meal this year? haven't priced around yet

Jonnyc135 · 05-01-2023 07:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120069849#Comment_120069849

12.25 for 18% protein cobs and around 13ish for 18% protein ewe&lamb nuts in aurivo. Was handling them last week during the scanning and they in very good shape and plenty of decent winter grass ahead of them. Was a mild winter up until recently, and projections around Europe is their could be another warm spell comming.

I will just feed bare minimum 3-4 weeks pre lambing along with crystalex.

orm0nd · 05-01-2023 08:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120069849#Comment_120069849

440/tonne bulk blown in, nuts , ration probably cheaper , but attracts birds

19%p barley soya distillers maize minerals

I do try to get multiple drops eg order weanling or dairy on the same load and haggle a bit of discount for same

razor8 · 06-01-2023 03:42AM

Not bad value in todays market and ingredients look good. Which mill are they from?

k mac · 06-01-2023 04:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120070373#Comment_120070373

Do you find the chrstalx worth it, its expensive at nearly 33 a bucket, i put one with 20 ewes a week ago and its nearly half gone already

Jonnyc135 · 06-01-2023 04:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120074493#Comment_120074493

There fairly eating through that alright have they much grass in front of them, I usually get alot longer, a bucket could last me a well over a month per 25 ewes, but they are on decent grass too which may mean they dont need as much of the lick for energy.

The only reason I like using them as I am quite mean with nut feeding them especially if they are in decent shape, least the bucket can ensure they are getting minerals an extra energy when they need it.