Roughage Revisited

 I received a request from an excellent sheep breeder, fitter, and feeder to again relate the fundamental importance of hay in the diet of show lambs. This breeder is seeing all too often, feeders that do not feed enough hay daily and are too concerned about looking show ring ready 24/7. The importance of hay, in addition to your show ration, cannot be overstated! It is a vital cornerstone of ruminant nutrition. Let’s review the life cycle of a show lamb and look at hay options for each stage. When beginning feed, in weanling lambs, limiting daily hay intake is the right call, because you want them consuming ample amounts of feed each day. You should increase feed slowly over time, until they reach their desired level, where they will stay for an extended period of time. I recommend good leafy oat, beardless wheat, or beardless triticale. Bermuda grass hay is always a healthy roughage, if you can get them to eat it consistently. Avoid alfalfa in this beginning stage. The Summer Growing Stage: This is when they need to be on full feed. Heat plus rumen integrity are your biggest concerns. I prefer hay grazer in the summer heat for maximum scratch and optimum rumen efficiency. Again avoid alfalfa due to its tendency to raise the core rumen temperature. The Cool Weather Stage (October-to the finish line): Now could be the time to incorporate a small handful of alfalfa along with your grass hay or hay grazer for some extra protein kick, plus added Carotene and B vitamins. Minimum amounts for show goats would be a single handful of hay twice daily. Mature show lambs need a minimum of two big handfuls twice daily. Remember that depth, “spring of rib”, and a level underline with full lower flank is the desired look for a modern show lamb. You can’t get there on feed alone; a proper roughage and fiber program will help build width volume and depth over time.