Table 1. Lamb feed.

Ingredient

As-fed, %

Per ton, lb

Corn grain

Soybean hulls

Water (add last)^a

Calcium carbonate

Mineral-vitamin premix (Table 2)

Totals

^aWater is included to reduce the dust and prevent lamb pneumonia. This has been shown to be more effective than either molasses or vegetable oil. The added water makes the diet about 13% moisture. It could mold in warm weather when it must be consumed within a week after adding water.

^bAmmonium chloride is included as a source of protein. It also acidifies the urine to help prevent urinary calculi in males. It can be partially replaced with filler [perhaps to 25% of the supplement (0.5% of the diet)] or – if the diet will not be fed to males for a long period of time – completely replaced with corn. Ammonium chloride is not needed for diets for ewes and should be included with caution in diets for young lambs without fully-developed rumens.

^cContains 8141 IU/lb (DM basis) or 7425 IU/lb (air dry basis) of vitamin E. This is in addition to the vitamin E in the premix, to meet the added requirements for lambs.

^dIn 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 ingredient^b

Diet

Premix

Units

Salt

0.50

50

%

Deccox, 6% premix

0.05

5

%

Mineral oil

0.005

0.5

%

Manganese

25

2,500

ppm

Vitamin E

42.5

4,250

IU/lb

Selenium

0.30

30

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

^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.