Producers can stretch their hay supply, and not significantly lower production, by utilizing some proven management techniques. Following are some guidelines to consider:

Test Hay or Forage - Testing your hay or forage will save money and hay supplies. It is imperative to know what you have available for feeding. Sheep do not have to have alfalfa hay during all of the drylot period. By testing hay or forage the ewe flocks' nutrient requirements can be matched up with the proper type of hay. To balance a ration, hay quality and composition needs to be known.

The key is information; what the nutrient requirements are and what is available from hay owned by producers to economically satisfy those requirements. When buying hay, especially expensive hay, ask for test figures. There are extension publications that discuss forage testing available from your county extension office or from campus specialists.

Feed Proper Amount - This may be stating the obvious, yet, most sheep are over-or under-fed hay. Utilizing large round bales can be a real labor saver, but, left to their own devices sheep will eat more than required. A research article published in the winter 1991 issue of the SID Sheep Research Journal authored by R.W. Kott and co-workers, studied alternate day access by ewes to large round bales. The researchers found that ewes in mid-gestation allowed free access to alfalfa hay consumed 6.69 pounds per ewe per day, while ewes allowed access every other day averaged an intake of 3.70 pounds per day. The daily requirement of ewes in mid-gestation (for the respective weight of ewes on experiment) is 2.9 pounds on a dry matter basis per day. These researchers found no difference in lambing rate and weight of lambs at birth and at weaning for ewes fed on alternate days. They estimated they saved about 45% more hay by alternate day feeding. The bottom line is that ewes will eat more than they require, if allowed free access to hay. Another technique to control hay consumption is to allow access for a set amount of time daily. Generally, it takes three to four hours per day for a ewe to consume an adequate amount of hay. This time period for consumption of hay is affected by forage quality.

Push the Pencil - In certain situations it may be more economical to replace some of the hay diet with grain. Generally, it is recommended to replace 75% of the hay ration with three parts hay and one part grain. However, management needs to be increased when feeding grain to prevent acidosis, overeating, etc.

Utilize Residues - Much or all of the daily nutrient requirements for ewes can be met by utilizing crop or pasture residues (especially in early and mid-gestation). Frosted alfalfa fields, stockpiled fescue or other cool-season grasses, corn and soybean residues, etc., are underutilized in Indiana. When grazing corn residue, ewes need to be acclimated to grain intake. One source estimated that four to six percent of the corn in a field is left after harvest. Controlled grazing in corn residue by using temporary electric fence is a proven practice. Certainly, common sense needs to be used when grazing grain fields to avoid compaction during muddy periods. Contrary to many producers' belief, sheep will paw through four to six inches of snow to consume forage. Residue grazing may not satisfy 100% of nutrient requirements, but, it can certainly stretch hay supplies.

Divide Ewe Flock - Separate the flock into at least two groups; those needing increased nutrition and those that do not. The former would include early lambing ewes, young ewes that are thin, old ewes that need special attention, etc. By dividing the flock, one is not overfeeding a majority of the ewes to satisfy nutrient requirements of a few.

Cull Ewe Flock - Do not overwinter low-producing ewes, ewes that are management problems, etc. Commercial ewes that raise only a single are money losers and will eat as much forage as a ewe that raises twins.

Pregnancy Test - With ultrasonic pregnancy detection, accuracies of 97% to 99% of determining pregnancy can be achieved at 35 to 60 days after conception. It costs $30 to $50 to overwinter an open ewe and she is still not worth any more as a cull when spring arrives.

Summary - Coping with low or expensive hay supplies is not an easy situation. However, by hay testing, utilizing crop residues, feeding balanced rations and feeding only productive ewes, costs can be controlled and hay supplies stretched. If a producer has excess hay to sell or needs to buy hay, they should consider utilizing the Purdue University Hay Locator System. Details on the Hay Locator System can be obtained from your County Extension Office.

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