Sheep & Goat Feeding Ansci 520 Dr. Dan Morrical Iowa State University.

Sheep & Goat FeedingSheep & Goat FeedingAnsci 520Ansci 520

Sheep & Goat FeedingSheep & Goat FeedingAnsci 520Ansci 520

Dr. Dan MorricalDr. Dan Morrical

Iowa State UniversityIowa State University

Sheep vs goats vs cowsSheep vs goats vs cowsSheep vs goats vs cowsSheep vs goats vs cows

IntakeIntake

Rate of passageRate of passage

Physical attributesPhysical attributes

Production levels and gestationProduction levels and gestation

ex. Growth ratesex. Growth rates

Very picky eatersVery picky eatersVery picky eatersVery picky eaters

Process roughage or Process roughage or

feed very high qualityfeed very high quality

Goats, extreme sortersGoats, extreme sorters

pellet rations to prevent sortingpellet rations to prevent sorting

Sheep vs goats vs cowsSheep vs goats vs cowsSheep vs goats vs cowsSheep vs goats vs cows

GrassGrass ForbsForbs BrowseBrowse

SheepSheep 50 50 30 30 20 20

CattleCattle 70 70 15 15 15 15

GoatsGoats 30 30 10 10 60 60

Van Dyne et al. 1980Van Dyne et al. 1980Impact supplementation stratgediesImpact supplementation stratgedies

Young LambsYoung LambsYoung LambsYoung Lambs

EnterotoxemiaEnterotoxemia Clostridium perfringens type CClostridium perfringens type C

SymptomsSymptoms Sudden death in 7-21 day old Sudden death in 7-21 day old

lambslambs

Young Lambs....Young Lambs....continuedcontinuedYoung Lambs....Young Lambs....continuedcontinued

PreventionPrevention Booster dams in late gestationBooster dams in late gestation Vaccinate lambs at 21 days and Vaccinate lambs at 21 days and

weaningweaning Orphan vaccinationOrphan vaccination Maximum colostrum intakeMaximum colostrum intake

Misdiagnosed-selenium/Vit. E Misdiagnosed-selenium/Vit. E deficiency or pneumoniadeficiency or pneumonia

Purchased feeder lambsPurchased feeder lambsPurchased feeder lambsPurchased feeder lambs

Assume no grain exposureAssume no grain exposure

Assume no vaccinationsAssume no vaccinations

Vaccine is highly effectiveVaccine is highly effective

Feed company approachFeed company approach

lower energy dietslower energy diets

GoiterGoiterGoiterGoiter

SymptomsSymptoms Enlarged thyroidEnlarged thyroid Poor wool coat at birthPoor wool coat at birth Low vigor/survivalLow vigor/survival

Goiter.....Goiter.....continuedcontinuedGoiter.....Goiter.....continuedcontinued

PreventionPrevention Iodized saltIodized salt Compensate for goitergens (kale, Compensate for goitergens (kale,

brassicas, etc.)brassicas, etc.) New NRC .8 PPM instead of New NRC .8 PPM instead of

.1 to .8 range.1 to .8 range

Finishing LambsFinishing LambsFinishing LambsFinishing Lambs

Enterotoxemia/OvereatingEnterotoxemia/Overeating

SymptomsSymptoms Best doing lambsBest doing lambs Uncoordinated movementUncoordinated movement Rapid deathRapid death

Finishing Lambs...Finishing Lambs...continuedcontinuedFinishing Lambs...Finishing Lambs...continuedcontinued

PreventionPrevention Vaccination - toxoidVaccination - toxoid Bunk managementBunk management Gradual ration changesGradual ration changes AntibioticsAntibiotics

Misdiagnosed-polio and Misdiagnosed-polio and

Vit. E/Se deficiency, pneumoniaVit. E/Se deficiency, pneumonia

Urinary CalculiUrinary Calculimuch more important, why much more important, why Urinary CalculiUrinary Calculimuch more important, why much more important, why

••Wether lambs and stud ramsWether lambs and stud rams

••Several types-phosphate, Several types-phosphate, calcium, silicacalcium, silica

••Problem-concentrates are Problem-concentrates are

low in Ca and high in Plow in Ca and high in P

Urinary Calculi...Urinary Calculi...continuedcontinuedUrinary Calculi...Urinary Calculi...continuedcontinued

••PreventionPrevention Water intakeWater intake Salt (.5 to 1% of ration)Salt (.5 to 1% of ration) Ammonium chloride or sulfateAmmonium chloride or sulfate Add calcium to achieve >1.5:1 ratio Add calcium to achieve >1.5:1 ratio

to phosphorous to phosphorous Never add phosphorousNever add phosphorous New NRCNew NRC

White Muscle/Stiff Lamb White Muscle/Stiff Lamb DiseaseDiseaseWhite Muscle/Stiff Lamb White Muscle/Stiff Lamb DiseaseDiseaseSymptomsSymptoms

Stiff rear legs and arched backStiff rear legs and arched back Sudden deathSudden death Aspiration PneumoniaAspiration Pneumonia Poor suckling reflexPoor suckling reflex Poor reproductionPoor reproduction

White Muscle/Stiff Lamb Disease...continuedWhite Muscle/Stiff Lamb Disease...continuedWhite Muscle/Stiff Lamb Disease...continuedWhite Muscle/Stiff Lamb Disease...continued

CauseCause Deficiency of Vit. E and/or SeleniumDeficiency of Vit. E and/or Selenium

NoteNote: Se is toxic but Vitamin E is not and: Se is toxic but Vitamin E is not and

E is also cheapE is also cheap

Feds control how much Se, .69 mg/h/dFeds control how much Se, .69 mg/h/d

High grain rations reduce Vit. E activityHigh grain rations reduce Vit. E activity

Newborns only source of E is milkNewborns only source of E is milk

New NRC increased E levels 5 timesNew NRC increased E levels 5 times

Results - Serum E ewesResults - Serum E ewesResults - Serum E ewesResults - Serum E ewes

ConCon E-GE-G E-LE-L E-GLE-GL

PretreatmentPretreatment 1.271.27 1.261.26

Pre-lambingPre-lambing 1.511.51aa 1.911.91bb

Post-lambingPost-lambingaa .93 .93aa 1.131.13bb

Mid-lactationMid-lactation .97.97aa .95.95aa 1.281.28bb 1.371.37bb

Milk e at 3 daysMilk e at 3 days 10.810.8 15.115.1

a,b Row means with different superscripts differ a,b Row means with different superscripts differ (p<.05).(p<.05).

Results - Serum E lambsResults - Serum E lambsResults - Serum E lambsResults - Serum E lambs

ConCon E-GE-G E-LE-L E-GLE-GL

3 days3 days 1.081.08 1.081.08

28 days28 days .41.41 .38.38 1.331.33 1.331.33

PolioencephalomaciaPolioencephalomaciaPolioencephalomaciaPolioencephalomacia

Thiamine deficiency Thiamine deficiency

PreventionPrevention Maintain rumen healthMaintain rumen health Gradual ration changesGradual ration changes Feed some long fiberFeed some long fiber Sulfur intakeSulfur intake

Less risk than cattleLess risk than cattle

Copper Toxicosis, sheepCopper Toxicosis, sheepCopper Toxicosis, sheepCopper Toxicosis, sheep

Breed susceptibilityBreed susceptibility

Mineral interactions-Mo & Su,Mineral interactions-Mo & Su,

along with high Zn & Caalong with high Zn & Ca

Iowa Feedstuffs:Iowa Feedstuffs:

Normal copper, low molybdenumNormal copper, low molybdenum

Copper Toxicosis...Copper Toxicosis...continuedcontinuedCopper Toxicosis...Copper Toxicosis...continuedcontinued

PreventionPrevention Sheep specific feedsSheep specific feeds No additional copperNo additional copper Feed some MoFeed some Mo

Copper & Molybdenum Copper & Molybdenum

are both toxicare both toxic

Goats use beef mineralGoats use beef mineral

Copper: Feed mill precautionsCopper: Feed mill precautionsCopper: Feed mill precautionsCopper: Feed mill precautions

SOP’s SOP’s

What would they be?What would they be?

1. Liability insurance1. Liability insurance

Pregnancy ToxemiaPregnancy ToxemiaPregnancy ToxemiaPregnancy Toxemia

Cause - Excess fat catabolism and Cause - Excess fat catabolism and ketone accumulationketone accumulation

PreventionPrevention Over conditioned ewesOver conditioned ewes Increased conc. feeding LGIncreased conc. feeding LG

coops add molasses ???coops add molasses ??? Fetal scansFetal scans Pre-lambing shearingPre-lambing shearing

Pregnancy Toxemia...Pregnancy Toxemia...continuedcontinuedPregnancy Toxemia...Pregnancy Toxemia...continuedcontinued

TreatmentTreatment Propylene glycolPropylene glycol Induced parturitionInduced parturition

Severe cases usually do not recoverSevere cases usually do not recover

why ?????why ?????

Grass TetanyGrass TetanyGrass TetanyGrass Tetany

HypomagnesiaHypomagnesia

Cause: excess potassiumCause: excess potassium

Lactating ewes on lush, spring Lactating ewes on lush, spring pasture pasture

N fertilization increases risksN fertilization increases risks

Stress inducedStress induced

Grass Tetany...Grass Tetany...continuedcontinuedGrass Tetany...Grass Tetany...continuedcontinued

Magnesium oxide in mineral Magnesium oxide in mineral

poor palatability.poor palatability.

Sudden death-confirmation by Sudden death-confirmation by necropsynecropsy

Milk FeverMilk FeverMilk FeverMilk Fever

Ewes vs. Dairy CowsEwes vs. Dairy Cows

CauseCause Calcium deficiency ??Calcium deficiency ?? Stress inducedStress induced

MIlk Fever...MIlk Fever...continuedcontinuedMIlk Fever...MIlk Fever...continuedcontinued

Late gestation ewes carrying tripletsLate gestation ewes carrying triplets

SymptomsSymptoms Depressed, lethargic, recumbentDepressed, lethargic, recumbent

TreatmentTreatment Calcium gluconateCalcium gluconate Rapid responseRapid response

Wool PullingWool PullingWool PullingWool Pulling

CauseCause Inadequate dry matter intakeInadequate dry matter intake Small particle size, effective fiberSmall particle size, effective fiber Low phosphorous intakeLow phosphorous intake

Wool Pulling...Wool Pulling...continuedcontinuedWool Pulling...Wool Pulling...continuedcontinued

PreventionPrevention Maximum 50% concentration rationMaximum 50% concentration ration Improved feeding techniqueImproved feeding technique Offer some low quality, long forageOffer some low quality, long forage Evaluate phosphorous levelEvaluate phosphorous level

SummarySummarySummarySummary

Common sense eliminates most disorders

Shepherd mistakes creates a lot of the disorders

Seek advice if not sure of what you are doing