Three critical aspects to consider for a successful start:
- High-quality lamb:
Lambs weighing between 27 and 30kg and aged between 2 and 4 months (maximum)
Creep feed was given to lambs.
Respiratory illnesses are the most common in feedlots, thus lambs should be vaccinated ahead of time.
A decent quality lamb is always the foundation of feedlot success. A healthy, young lamb has good growth potential and a substantially higher FCR than an older lamb of equal weight. Sick lambs should not be fed in a feedlot either.
- Adaptation: The lambs’ rumens must be adapted to meals containing high quantities of starch.
When animals are accustomed with the type of rations used, they grow faster (pellets or meal)
Profits can suffer greatly if the adaption process is not carried out appropriately. Lambs fed creep feed will not only be heavier at an earlier age, but they will also have already adapted to a high starch diet, minimizing the time spent on adaption. Although adaptation is necessary, it does not always make economic sense to place lambs on adaptation diets for 7 – 14 days if growth is compromised during this time.
- Lamb grouping: Lambs should be categorized into weight classes ranging from 3 to 5 kg.
A pen should ideally hold 40 to 60 lambs.
Ewes and rams should be kept apart.
Competition between animals in feedlots frequently prevents younger and smaller lambs from achieving maximum intake, which has a negative influence on growth. Smaller pens with fewer animals of similar weight per pen alleviate this problem and improves group uniformity, resulting in the pen being ready for slaughter at the same time.
General management principles:
Always keep cool, clean drinking water on hand (clean troughs daily)
Provide appropriate shade for the animals’ growth, especially not in front of the feeding troughs.
3 – 4 times per day, feed lambs ad libitum. This will increase feed intake and keep feed fresh.
Crossbred lambs outperform purebred lambs.
Lambs should be fed for no more than 45 to 55 days (depending on their weight when they enter the feedlot).
Is it viable to run a sheep feedlot in South Africa?
South Africa’s sheep farming industry is extremely profitable.
In a feedlot, how much food does a sheep consume each day?
Feed sheep twice a day at first, if possible. Start with 100 g per day and gradually increase to 150 g per day over 10 days, until the animals are fed ad libitum. On day 8, a minimum of 3% of body weight must be consumed.
A feedlot houses how many sheep.
A pen should have between 40 and 60 lambs. Ewes and rams should be kept apart.
How long are sheep kept in feedlots?
Most lambs will require 6 to 8 weeks of confinement in a feedlot setting. Financial risk is involved with feedlotting. Lamb deaths, non-feeders, poor growth rates, and unanticipated changes in feed or market prices can all have an impact on the venture’s financial performance.
