As a result feeding regimes merit attention in detail. Feed requirements in late pregnancy During the last two months of pregnancy feeding levels must be stepped up to meet the needs of the rapidly developing foetuses. This gain in weight is due to the development of the foetus and its membranes, while at the same time the ewe herself will have lost maternal tissue during pregnancy to sustain the growth of the foetuses. The correct level of concentrate supplementation depends upon forage quality. Hence an accurate assessment of forage quality plays an important role in planning the feeding regime.
Sheep are very sensitive to the fermentation quality of silage.
They will not eat sufficient quantities of badly fermented silage to meet their needs in late pregnancy. Chop length will also have a major effect on the quantity of silage eaten. With precision chop silage the performance of ewes will be substantially improved and concentrate supplementation reduced accordingly. Unchopped big bale silage will also have lower intake characteristics and thus require extra supplementation. The nutritive value of silage is largely dependent on the stage of maturity of the grass harvested.