When making any changes to the grain ration, be sure to do it over several days to allow the lambs to adjust to the change. Mature ewes should not need any grain until the last third of their pregnancy and while they are nursing lambs. The exception to this is during flushing. The grain does not have to be very high in protein as the ewes will need the energy supplied by the grain more than protein. Energy requirements for the ewe increase in that last third of pregnancy and will affect the size and vigor of newborn lambs as well as milk production.
Shelled corn is an inexpensive way to supplement energy in a ewe s diet.
Keeping energy levels up will also prevent pregnancy toxemia. All feeds contain minerals, however, a ration may need supplemented to meet the nutritional requirements of an animal. For example, Pennsylvania has selenium deficient soils, so selenium needs to be added to a ration to prevent white muscle disease. Vitamin E should also be added with the selenium because the two work together to prevent white muscle disease. Minerals can either be mixed in with a grain ration or they can be fed using a mineral mix that contains salt.