Corn oats and barley feed recipe

[asherman10]

Does anyone have a recipe for COB or any other self made feed ration??

[Bigiron59]

Your best basic option is 500 lbs of commercial Sheep balancer protein and 1500 lbs of grain  for grower and 300 protien and 1700 grain for finisher. That will balance vits , minerals, and cal / phos. Most other "home made" rations without  a balancer are unbalanced.  For the 10 head that most have, a complete bagged feed from feed store is best option.

[Don Drewry]

- What stage of production? (Dry, early gestation, late gestation, lactation)
- How much hay and what quality.
- What is cost of the different feed in your area.
- How important is cost versus convenience?
- How many sheep do you have?
- Are there feed mills that will custom mix feed or will you be manually mixing feed?

I'm not trying to be difficult but all these things impact what custom ration to use.

We rarely feed barley to ewes, pretty pricey in our area. I like 50:50 corn/oats. 
Sheep can use a wide variety of feed very effectively.  Probably someone in your local feed store or extension office can help you balance a ration.

Here are some web references in the Midwest
http://www.tvsp.org/pdf/sheep/ewe-feeding.pdf
http://www.apsc.vt.edu/extension/sheep/programs/shepherds-symposium/2006/04_ewe_nutrition.pdf

[EmsoffLambs]

What Don said. I wouldn't use a home mixed ration for a show feed. I've tried and fed lambs side by side, some on a show feed and some on a home mixed ration and you just cannot compare to what the show feed does, even if you manage to get the same protein/fat ratios.

For feeding out butcher lambs or the ewe flock, the questions Don asked all become very relevant.

[asherman10]

I will be feeding dry ewes and two wethers. I have 8 total. They are out on pasture now and will be eating grass hay the winter. I have a local feed mill that mixes the feed I have a feed that is mixed for my goats. They are in good condition they maybe bred.