This is a high protein diet designed for young lambs. It can be used as a creep feed and as a transition feed during and after weaning until the the lambs are eating well. The diet should be finely ground to encourage consumption by very young lambs and lambs being reared artificially.
The ingredient cost of this diet was approximately $141 per ton.
Table 1. Creep feed.
Ingredient
As-fed, %
Per ton, lb
Corn grain (cracked)
44.15
883
Soy hulls
28
560
Soybean meal
22
440
Molasses (add last)a
4
80
Vitamin-mineral premix
1
20
Calcium carbonate
0.8
16
Deccox, 6% concentrateb
0.05
1
Totals
100.0
2000
aMolasses is included to reduce the dust. Alternatively, vegetable oil, which often can be obtained at no cost as used product from restaurants that make french-fries, can be used in place of molasses.
bIn addition to the Deccox in the premix to ensure that lambs consume sufficient amounts.
Table 2. Mineral & vitamin premix specifications (1% of diet)a.
Amount
Nutrient or ingredientb
Diet
Premix
Units
Salt
0.50
50
%
Deccox, 6% premix
0.05
5
%
Mineral oil
0.005
0.5
%
Manganese
25
2500
ppm
Vitamin E
10
1000
IU/lb
Selenium
0.30
30
ppm
Zinc
20
2000
ppm
Iodine
0.80
80
ppm
Vitamin A
1,200
120,000
IU/lb
Vitamin D
150
15,000
IU/lb
Cobalt
0.2
20
ppm
aAlternatively, a different vitamin and mineral mix can be used if the concentrations of minerals and vitamins meet the specified dietary concentrations.
bThe first three items are ingredients that make up 55.5% of the premix. The other items are nutrients to be supplied by ingredients that make up the other 44.5% of the premix and/or a filler like distillers grains.