Hunter Nutrition offers a wide variety of feeds and supplements that are formulated to maximize your livestock's genetic potential.
Below are some of our feed programs that you can utilize to ensure maximum results from our products
EWE FLOCK PROGRAM
Health Program: Deworming 3–4 times per year. Typically first deworming at pasture turn–out. Then again 3 weeks later, (as needed mid–summer deworming for tapeworms), then last deworming prior to coming into the barns for the winter.
Vaccinations: Pre–breeding with abortion vaccines if needed. Pre–lambing (3–4 weeks) CD/T vaccine (& pneumonia vaccine if needed).
EWE FEEDING PROGRAM
Feed Needed Per Ewe /Year | |
---|---|
1. Year–round access to free choice ‘Sheep Mineral’ (3/4 to 1 ounce daily) | 22.00 lbs. |
2. Maintenance:pasture and hay only for open and early gestation period. | |
3. Late Gestation:last 4 weeks; feeding good quality first cutting hay. | |
0.3 lbs. 45% Ewe Supplement /day X 28 days = lbs. 45% Ewe Supplement | 9.00 lbs. |
1.00 lbs. Corn(grains) /ewe/ day X 28 days = lbs. corn per ewe in gestation. | 28.00 lbs. |
3.50 lbs. Hay/day X 28 days = lbs. hay needed in gestation. | 98.00 lbs. |
4. Lactation:8 weeks; feeding good quality legume or legume mixed hay. | |
0.3 lbs. 45% Ewe Supplement /day X 60 days =lbs. supplement in lactation. | 18.00 lbs. |
2.00 lbs.Corn (grains)ewe/day X 60 days = lbs. corn needed in lactation. | 120.00 lbs |
4.25 lbs. Hay (range 3.5 to 4.5lbs.) X 60 days = lbs. hay needed in lactation. | 255.00 lbs. |
Total Annual Ewe Requirements | Sheep Mineral (free choice) = | 22 lbs. |
For Hunter Nutrition Products | 45% Ewe Supplement = | 27 lbs. |
Health Program | At birth = Survive! and their mother’s colostrum. |
---|---|
At docking/castrating = TAT vaccine (tetanus antitoxin). | |
At 4–6 weeks of age = 1st CD/T vaccine (overeating/tetanus). | |
At 8–10 weeks of age = 2nd CD/T vaccine and deworm. | |
Lambs might need 1-2 more dewormings. |
Feed Needed Per Lamb /Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
1. Birth to Weaning (60 days) Use Super 20 Lamb Pellet and/or Texturized Lamb Starter. | |||
Lamb Starter Feed used per Lamb to 60 days of age is 1 bag or | 50.00 lbs. | ||
2. Grower/Finisher Lamb Rations: 60 days to Market–Full fed farm blended ration. | |||
Corn (grain) | 1600 | Feed needed from weaning to 125 # market wt. | |
40% Lamb Suppl. | 400 | Corn used per lamb (post weaning) in ration = | 200.00 lbs. |
2000 | 40% Lamb Supplement used per lamb = | 50.00 lbs. |
Total Annual Lamb Requirements | Lamb Starter Feed = | 50 lbs. |
For Hunter Nutrition Products: | 40% Lamb Supplement = | 50 lbs. |
Health Program: Deworming 3-4 times per year. Typically first deworming at pasture turn-out. Then again 3 weeks later, (as needed), then last deworming prior to coming into the barns for the winter.
Vaccinations: |
Pre-breeding with abortion vaccines if needed.
Pre-kidding (3-4 weeks) CD/T vaccine (& pneumonia vaccine if needed). |
Feed Needed Per Doe /Year | |
1. Year-round access to our free choice ‘Goat Mineral’ (3/4 to 1 ounce daily) | 22.00 lbs |
2. Maintenance: pasture and hay only for open and early gestation period. | |
3. Late Gestation: last 4 weeks; feeding good quality first cutting hay. | |
0.25 lbs. 34R-240 Supplement/day X 28 days = lbs. 34R-240 Supplement | 7.00 lbs. |
1.00 lbs. Corn(grains) /doe/day x 28 days = lbs. corn per doe in gestation | 28.00 lbs. |
3.50 lbs. Hay/day X 28 days = lbs. hay needed in gestation | 98.00 lbs. |
4. Option 1: Lactation: 8 weeks; feeding good quality legume or legume mixed hay. | |
0.25 lbs. 34R-240 Supplement/day X 60 days = lbs. supplement in lactation | 15.00 lbs. |
2.00 lbs. Corn (grains)doe/day X 60 days = lbs. corn needed in lactation | 120.00 lbs. |
4.50 lbs. Hay (range 3.5 to 5.0lbs.) X 60 days = lbs. hay needed in lactation | 270.00 lbs. |
5. Option 2: Lactation: 8 weeks; feeding good quality legume or legume mixed hay. | |
2.00 lbs. 16% Goat Ration/day X 60 days = lbs. complete feed in lactation. | 120.00 lbs. |
4.50 lbs. Hay (range 3.5 to 4.5 lbs.) X 60 days = lbs. hay needed in lactation | 270.00 lbs. |
Total Annual Doe Requirements | Goat Mineral (free choice) = | 22 lbs. |
For Hunter Nutrition Products: | 34R-240 Supplement = | 22 lbs. |
Health Program: |
At birth - Goat Survive! and their mother’s colostrum. At docking/castrating - TAT vaccine (tetanus antitoxin). At 4-8 weeks of age - 1st CD/T vaccine (overeating/tetanus). At 8-10 weeks of age - 2nd CD/T vaccine, and deworm. Kids might need 1-2 more dewormings. |
Kid Feeding Program | Feed Needed Per Kid /Year | ||
1. Birth to Weaning (60 days) Use 18% Kid Starter Feed w/ Deccox (Texturized) 18% Kid Starter Feed used per kid to 60 days of age is 1 bag or |
50.00 lbs | ||
2. Option 1: Grower/Finisher Kid Rations : 60 days to Market-Full fed farm blended ration. | |||
Corn (grain) | 1600 | Feed needed from weaning to 120# market weight: | |
40% Goat Suppl. | 400 | Corn used per kid (post weaning) in ration = | 200.00 lbs. |
2000 | 40% Goat Supplement used per kid = | 50.00 lbs. | |
3. Option 2: Grower/Finisher Kid Rations : 60 days to Market-Full fed complete ration. | |||
Goat 1600 R Pellet used per kid from 60 days of age to market weight | 250.00 lbs. |
Total Annual Kid Requirements | Kid Starter Feed = | 50 lbs. |
For Hunter Nutrition Products: | 40% Goat Supplement = | 50 lbs. |
This is only a guideline, as actual feeding rates will vary according to the desired show weight, age and genetics of the lambs you are feeding. Many people use a very simple program of full feeding 18 SHOW LAMB to about 80-90% of show weight and then they limit feed 2.5 lbs. and topdress with TOPLINE and SHOW PRO. The program below is more complicated, but illustrates the fine tuning you can do with our wide selection of products.
STAGE 1: Full feed (about 3.5 to 4 lbs) of 18 SHOW LAMB #1 + small fistful of good hay + 1-2 oz. SHOW PRO + Topline (if desired). Up to about 80% of show weight
STAGE 2: At 80-90% of show weight- Feed 50% 18 SHOW LAMB #1 and 50% SHOW LAMB 2000 + hay + 1-2 oz. SHOW PRO + 2-4 oz. TOPLINE.
STAGE 3 (Holding): At or very near show weight -Feed 3 lbs. SHOW LAMB 2000 + hay + 2 oz. SHOW PRO + 4-6 oz. TOPLINE.
SHEEP LIFE CYCLE FEEDING PROGRAM
CRITICAL STAGES: The last four weeks of gestation and the first six weeks of lactation are the most critical stages of production in the ewe’s life.
LATE GESTATION: What you do to the ewe flock in late gestation determines the success of your lambing. This is the time that ewes need to be vaccinated and cleaned up of coccidiosis and bacteria that can cause pneumonia in baby lambs. Even though the adult ewe rarely shows signs of a cocci infection- she is the source of infection for the newborn lambs. (all sheep have some cocci in their gut) It is essential that a specialized feeding program be used pre-lambing to clean up the cocci in the ewe flock. This will greatly reduce the degree of infection of the newborn lambs - giving them a chance to consume enough creep feed with a coccidiastat to medicate themselves.
Typical Ewe Supplements are too low in bovatec (300g/ton) thus a daily intake level of only 18 mg is realized. The manufacturer of bovatec says a ewe needs 24 to 70 mg daily. Our 45% Ewe Supplement has 408 grams /ton of bovatec. Therefore a 0.33 lb. feeding rate of our 45% Ewe provides 70 mg of bovatec per ewe daily!
PRE-LAMBING VACCINATIONS: To protect your lambs from Clostridia C & D + Tetanus; inject ewes 2-4 weeks pre-lambing with 2 cc (ml) of CD & T Toxoid. First time lambers would need two vaccinations two weeks apart for maximum immunity. Minimum Vaccination: Clostridia C D + tetanus. Optional : E. Coli Vacc., Pneumonia Vacc. (Since there are really no good sheep pneumonia vaccines available; you might consider Sulfa treating the water 3 days on, 3 days off, 3 days on for two weeks preceding lambing for respiratory disease control.)
LATE GESTATION: Feeding to control abortions & stillborns Feeding a 250 mg level (daily/ewe) of chloratetracycline (aureomycin) will reduce losses due to abortion diseases such as vibrio and chlamydia. If you are having trouble with toxoplasmosis, it is not affected by antibiotics such as aureomycin. You must feed rumensin (not approved) to control toxoplasmosis.
Late Gestation: Feeding to prevent weak lambs & WMD: Your gestation feeding program should also provide very high vitamin E and selenium levels. This will eliminate/ reduce weak & slow lambs, retained placentas, and WMD (white muscle disease), which is caused by low Vitamin E and Selenium. Most supplements provide only 0–30 IU Vitamin E and 0–30 mg Selenium /ewe/day. Our 45% EWE has 70 mg selenium and 50 IU of Vitamin E per 0.33 lbs.
Late Gestation RationsDaily Feeding Rate | 1.25 lbs | 1.50 lbs |
---|---|---|
Grain (Corn) | 1525 | 1600 |
45% Ewe Supplement | 375 | 325 |
Aureo 4 G Crumbles | 100 | 75 |
2000 | 2000 |
Primary concerns in lactation are protein and energy intake in order to produce an adequate volume of milk. Phosphorous is also important in milk production and lamb development– it is often low in traditional sheep feeds. Vitamin E intake should be 40 to 50 IU per ewe daily; but most feeds provide only 5–20 IU. (Hunter Nutrition’s 45% Ewe provides 50 IU Vit E and 70 mg Selenium per 0.33 lbs. of supplement.)
Sample Lactation Rations:Daily Feeding Rate | 2.0 lbs | 2.5 lbs | 3 lbs |
---|---|---|---|
Grain | 1700 | 1750 | 1800 |
45% Ewe | 300 | 250 | 200 |
2000 | 2000 | 2000 |
Rations above will provide a daily intake rate of 0.30 lbs. of 45% Ewe Supplement. These rations are fed with ‘good’ quality hay. Forage testing and ration formulation service is available for ration balancing based on your farms hay quality and size of ewe. Cost per ewe daily when feeding 0.30# of 45% in lactation is only $0.10.
1. Feed extra BOVATEC pre-lambing, through our ewe supplement, to clean up the ewe and the environment that lambs are exposed to. Our Ewe supplement is unique, each 1/3# provides 70 mg of bovatec, (Plus 0.70 mg Selenium, and 50 IU Vitamin E). This is the highest fortified ewe supplement available- no other supplement provides levels this high. The 4 week feeding of 45% Ewe Supplement will clean up the ewe, which will reduce the level of cocci in the environment, and thus greatly lessen the degree of exposure that the lambs have to coccidiosis. (Costs $0.07/hd/day).
2. Feed lambs one of our starter feeds which contain 90 grams/ton of BOVATEC. Nearly all other starters have only 30 grams/ton of BOVATEC. This level of BOVATEC doesn’t provide adequate cocci control for lambs under 60 days of age. (30 grams/ton is adequate for lambs consuming 3# of feed/day. But baby lambs consume much less than this, and will need a more concentrated level of bovatec.)
STARTING LAMBS ON FEEDEnergy and protein intake are the most limiting factors in the growth of baby lambs. Vitamin E and coccidiosis control are most critical- for good health. Most companies market lamb starter feeds based on low cost. These diets produce a low rate of gains and fail to let a lamb maximize his genetic potential. A good Lamb Starter is high in energy, low in fiber and contains very high levels of vitamins, minerals, & the proper level of coccidiastat. Proper particle size of the Starter Feed is very important to ensure adequate, early consumption.
Lambs typically prefer smaller, firmer particle size feeds from birth to about 2 weeks of age. Feeds such as crumbles and ground feeds will be accepted first provided these very young lambs have access to them.
From 2 to 4 weeks of age a lamb’s preference changes to a pellet. At 4 weeks of age, they prefer a grain mixture (texturized feed). Lambs have a definite pattern of preference of starter feeds. However these preferences change very quickly.
When starting baby lambs on feed make sure that the creep is set up as early as possible. Early exposure to feed will improve future feed consumption levels, facilitate rumen development and overall performance of the lamb. I also recommend using a self-feeder in the creep area and make sure it never runs empty. In addition to a top starter feed, provide good quality legume or legume mixed hay in the creep area, lambs often will eat hay first.
FEEDING FROM WEANING TO MARKET:Be sure you allow for a smooth transition from the creep ration to grower/finisher feeds. Keep lambs on the creep ration for about a week post-weaning. Also be sure when you wean to remove the ewes from the lambs. Leaving the lambs in a familiar environment makes for a less stressful weaning, resulting in improved performance.
The second week post weaning you can blend the grower ration with the creep ration. A good way to do this is to put the new feed on top of the (old) creep ration in a self feeder. The rations mix as they are consumed.
Good nutrition and economy are best achieved for growing and finishing lambs with the use of a mix of 80% grain and 20% supplement pellet. When you first switch to this program you should use cracked grains. Only after lambs are about 90 days old can you successfully self feed a whole grain and pellet ration. Lambs from weaning to 90 days of age tend to sort the whole grain and pellet diets. This is why we recommend using cracked grain initially when switching to the grain and pellet program.
Sample Ratio for Lambs60 to 90 days | 90 days to market | |
---|---|---|
Grain | 1580 (crack) | 1600 (whole) |
40% Lamb Supp | 400 | 400 |
Soybean Oil | 20 | 0 |
2000 | 2000 |
Proper nutrition of the replacement ewe is one of the most overlooked areas in sheep nutrition. You cannot simply take replacements out of the feedlot and send them to pasture with the ewe flock. Replacements should be managed as a separate group for at least the first year or until their first lambing. Your replacements can be fed like the rest of your lamb crop to about 90 lbs. This weight will vary with breed type and genetics; but should be a point where the lamb would carry only enough finish to rate low choice. Excessive body fat will reduce future productivity (conception rate, prolificacy) and milk production. This "90 lb." replacement would then require 15% more energy, 33% more protein, and the same level of dry matter as a 200 lb ewe. These requirements could not be met if your replacements are managed with the ewe flock. As the replacement ewe grows we see her requirements for dry matter remain fairly constant to 150#. However the protein and energy requirements go down. The feeding of replacements is an art, you need to keep them growing and gaining weight but not putting on excessive fat. The properly developed ewe lamb should attain at least 75% of her mature weight by the time she is 12 months old. She could join the ewe flock after this first lactation.
A successful replacement ewe lamb feeding program is to give these ewes lambs a separate high quality pasture and hand feed the grain mixture. Keep them on the good pasture for its fiber and protein content. Then vary the pounds of grain mix fed per day according to the condition and growth rate of the ewe lambs. Typically you will start at about 3-4 lbs. of feed (at 90 days) when you first separate the replacement from the other lambs. At about 4-6 months you will probably be feeding 2-2 1/2 lbs. Then from about 9 months of age to lambing they typically receive 1-2 1/2 lbs. of grain plus that good pasture or hay.
Sample hand fed grain mix for Replacement Ewes:Grain | 1600 |
40% Lamb Supplement | 400 |
2000 |
SAMPLE DAIRY GOAT FEEDING PROGRAM
Goat Feeding and NutritionHunter Nutrition is a unique feed company. We don’t just sell feed! We manufacture highly fortified feeds for superior performance and provide support for our clients. Our customers not only get the best nutrition possible; but also receive free consultation on nutrition and health. Our products and information have helped many herds to make problems such as white muscle disease and coccidios history.
We have several specialized feeds available just for Goats. Dairy Goats have special nutritional needs and need their own feeds. Never feed your Dairy Goats other specie feeds except for sheep feeds. Due to a lack of availability of Goat feeds, many producers are having to get by with dairy cattle supplements or just use soybean meal pellets. Both of these alternatives fail miserably in really providing needs! Dairy cattle supplements are formulated to be fed at about 2 lbs. per head per day -- plus cattle have lower nutritional requirements than goats in many areas. So since you typically feed a .50 to 1.0 #, you are not really getting any vitamins, minerals or trace elements at all – only some protein.
The Hunter Nutrition Feeding Program for Goats not only addresses the broad nutritional concerns of protein, fiber and energy but also pays special attention to trace mineral balance and nutrition. Our very precise formulas provide extra phosphorous for lactating animals and young stock. Our extra higher levels of Iron and Zinc greatly improve skin and hair condition, improve disease resistance and reduce anemia. No other company has our Vitamin E and Selenium levels (and dairy cattle feeds provide less than 1/10th levels). Proper levels of E and Selenium reduce losses due to deficiency–white muscle disease, reduces retained placentas and breeding problems and improve disease resistance. There is naturally occurring copper, but no added copper, (plus molybdenum is added) to our sheep & goat feeds since copper can be toxic even in small amounts to these species.
I have been in the feed business since 1981 and have owned ruminant livestock for 34 years. I invite you to at least try our special Goat Feeding program for a few weeks. I think you’ll see the difference. Our products are available direct and thru our dealers. Most goat feed clients are buying a few months supply on a direct sale basis. Many buy the pelleted supplements and mix at home or take to a local source for mixing.
Feeding Management for GoatsDeficiency symptoms reported by producers include weak, slow starting newborns. Vitamin E & selenium are needed in feed and in free choice mineral year around in our area since our soils are deficient.
Vitamin E and Selenium are associated with white muscle disease in kids. Function in reproductive efficiency, reduction of retained placentas, antioxidant for milk, and for immune response.
Most feeds only contain .3 ppm selenium and very little vitamin E since it is very expensive. In general typical minerals and salt are low in selenium relative to consumption.
Feed Sheep Mineral free choice as the only source of salt and mineral continually. Only put out a week or 10 day supply at a time to prevent caking. This is the only high selenium mineral that is consumed at such a level to provide .70 mg per ounce of product. This year around supply of selenium is far superior to periodic feeding or injections. The results are a reduction in weak kids, 99% reduction in white muscle disease, improved immune response and better health.
Coccidia Control In GoatsCoccidia is an internal parasite which lives in the gut. Cocci cause scours and bloody scours in severe situations. Performance is greatly reduced in times of cocci out-breaks. They are different than 'worms'; Cocci are protozoa. Since cocci are neither bacterial/viral nor parasitic worms they must be controlled by different methods. In general antibiotics (except sulfa) do not have an effect. Adults do not generally show symptoms of cocci. Adults have developed natural resistance, but still must be treated in order to reduce the infection of lambs.
Control programs are a must - eradication is impossible. Most control is thru 'coccidiastats' which alter protozoa life cycle. Herds will vary in degree of problems with the organism. Factors affecting the incident and degree of symptoms are genetics (resistance), moisture, stress, lack of pasture rest, crowding, and lack of pre-kidding treatment of does. It Is a Must To Treat The Doe Pre-Kidding In Order To Reduce Problems With Cocci In Kids.
Control ProgramTreat does 3-4 weeks ahead of kidding with rumensin at the daily intake level of 30 mg. This is best achieved thru a pelleted goat supplement like our Goat 34R-240 Supplement which would provide 50 IU Vitamin E along with 30 mg of Rumensin in each 0.25 pounds. Remember the doe, although showing no symptoms of coccidios is the source of infection for the new born kids. The rumensin clean up reduces the amount of cocci shed from the doe thru newborns. Cocci control programs are more effective, cost less, and are lower labor when using feed grade coccidiastats as compared to drenching and drinking water treatment. (Note Corid and Sulfa are cocci treatment agents for severe infections and are not intended for long term control programs).
Kids also need to be fed a coccidiastat as soon as you can get them on feed. This will be a continuation of the control program started with the gestating doe’s.
Summary:(a) Late Gestation: Last 3-4 weeks prior to kidding feed 0.25 lbs. of 34R-240 pelleted supplement along with grain and hay.
(b) Lactation - No Coccidiastats Approved: Ffeed DG 500 Lactation Supplement to the doe.
(c) Kids: Feed 18% Kid Starter with Deccox or our Texturized Lamb Starter which contains 90g per ton of Bovatec. (Others have only 30g which is too low when consumption levels are considered.)
SAMPLE MEAT GOAT FEEDING PROGRAM
Feeds, mineral and supplements formulated for Meat Goats• Produce Superior Performance: Properly balanced and highly fortified diets which address each stage of production let herds maximize their potential.
• Improve Health, Skin and Haircoat: Our higher Iron and Zinc levels improve skin and haircoat. Are higher for improved skin and hair condition, higher disease resistance, and reduced occurrences of anemia.
• Prevent Urinary Calculi: All feeds feature balanced mineral levels and added ammonium chloride prevent calculi.
• Prevent White Muscle Disease: Our Vitamin E and Selenium levels are the highest in the industry. Proper levels reduce losses due to White Muscle Disease, reduce the incidence of retained placentas and breeding problems, and improve disease resistance.
SAMPLE HERD HEALTH & FEEDING PROGRAMMeat Goat Feeding Program: Health Program: Deworming 3-4 times per year. Typically first deworming at pasture turnout. Then again 3 weeks later, (as needed mid-summer deworming for tapeworms), then last deworming when coming into the barns for the winter.
Vaccinations: | Pre-breeding with abortion vaccines if needed. Pre-kidding (3-4 weeks) CD/T vaccine (& pneumonia vaccine if needed) |
Doe Feeding Program | Feed Needed Per Doe /Year |
1. Year-round access to our free choice ‘Sheep Mineral’ (3/4 to 1 ounce daily) | 22.00 lbs |
2. Maintenance: pasture and hay only for open and early gestation period. | |
3. Late Gestation: last 4 weeks; feeding good quality first cutting hay. | |
0.25 lbs. 34R-240 Supplement/day X 28 days = lbs. 34R-240 | 7.00 lbs. |
1.00 lbs. Corn(grains) /doe/day x 28 days = lbs. corn per doe in gestation | 28.00 lbs. |
3.50 lbs. Hay/day X 28 days = lbs. hay needed in gestation | 98.00 lbs. |
4. Lactation: 8 weeks; feeding good quality legume or legume mixed hay. | |
0.25 lbs. 34R-240 Supplement/day X 60 days = lbs. supplement in lactation | 15.00 lbs. |
1.75 lbs. Corn (grains)doe/day X 60 days = lbs. corn needed in lactation | 105.00 lbs. |
4.00 lbs. Hay (range 3.5 to 4.5lbs.) X 60 days = lbs. hay needed in lactation | 240.00 lbs. |
Total Annual Doe Requirements | Mineral (free choice) = | 22 lbs. |
For Hunter Nutrition Products: | 34R-240 Supplement = | 22 lbs. |