FAQs
Q1. What is the difference, if any, between pellets and coarse mix feeds?
Answer:
There is generally no difference in feeding/nutrition value in the two different presentations of feed. When pelleting a range of ingredients, each one is ground into meal before mixing and cooking/pelleting. When making a coarse ration, there is usually no grinding, just mixing of the ingredients. Pellets have the added advantages of being cooked during the process and are generally cleaner, thus avoiding selective feeding.
Q2. What are the advantages of steam-cooking the cereals in Red Mills' Cooked Mixes for sheep/lambs?
Answer:
There are several benefits to be achieved:
1. cooking increases digestibility of the starch, which enhances performance;
2. improves palatability;
3. "purifies" the grain;
4. safer for ad-lib feeding;
5. higher dry matter due to drying after steam-cooking.
While these combined benefits may not always give an economic response, they will almost always give a performance response.
Q3. The wording "not recommended for lambs/hoggets/rams being intensively fed longterm" appears on the labels of some Red Mills lamb finishing diets. Why is this guideline important?
Answer:
The key words in the above sentence are “intensively” and “longterm”. This issue relates to the possible development of urinary calculi (mineral crystals or “kidney stones”) associated with prolonged ingestion of a range of minerals from a variety of sources. Sheep consume minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and salt in particular) from forage, soil, mineral licks and concentrates. The more they eat then the more minerals they consume. When manufacturing feeds for finishing lambs/hoggets we can include specified mineral levels to minimise the risk of crystals forming in the kidneys/urinary tract by mildly acidifying the urine, also reduce the inclusion of certain minerals such as magnesium. However, none of these steps can guarantee absolute absence of calculi but they will help significantly to reduce the already substantial risk.
Q4. What is the role of protein in sheep feeds?
Answer:
Protein is an essential nutrient and after water content, it contributes the next largest component of the body weight of the sheep. Young or highly productive livestock (pregnant, lactating) require higher levels of protein every day than is required for maintenance. Adequate protein intake is essential for performance with milk production in particular being adversely affected by inadequate supply. Soya is probably the best source of quality protein (high amino acid levels).
Q5. Which Red Mills feed is recommended for rearing/showing of pedigree sheep?
Answer:
Connolly's Red Mills Nos. 1 & 2 Lamb Creepfeeds have proven to be very successful throughout Ireland for all of the main breeds. Consistency of formulation and palatability, allied to some of the benefits outlined in A2 above have been the main contributory factors to the success of these feeds.
