nutrition

Question 1

tell me about general sheep and goat nutrition. like what they like to eat, when they eat, etc

very general stuff

Answer 1

sheep are mainly grazers, goats are mainly browsers

sheep have a softer palate than cattle, goats have a softer palate than sheep (meaning they have to have softer food)

sheep have wool = higher tolerance for cold weather than goats

prolificacy impacts on rumen space during pregnancy

= both eat small amounts all the time

Question 2

tell me about quantity of feed for sheep and goats (both adults and young)

Answer 2

• dry ewes/does can eat ~3-5% of BW each day
• limited capacity in rumen (esp during late preg) = require feed to be available all the time
• concentrates (like candy) provided 2x per day to self feed is good
• lambs/kids can eat ~5-10% of BW per day
• can successfully be fed up to 90% concentrate when fed free choice

Question 3

tell me about quality of feed for sheep and goats

Answer 3

• very coarse feed is sorted out bc it hurts their palates
• soft, leafy forages are best with little waste
• protein levels of 12-18% depending on stage of life (higher protein the younger they are, also higher protein when preg and lactating)
• want high digestibility
• Timothy hay not good

Question 4

true or false: all forages should be tested, even if they look good. this also includes water

Answer 4

true

Question 5

true or false: all sheep and goats require supplemental minerals (i.e they don’t get enough minerals from their normal feed)

Answer 5

true !!

Question 6

how can you evaluate mineral levels in a flock/herd?

Answer 6

liver samples = gold standard
- can have frozen livers (so can get from dead or butchered animals)
- animals need to be on ration for 30 days (liver slow to change)

blood samples (not accurate enough) in green top (heparin), allow to settle, then remove plasma into white top and send to lab

can test lamb liver if a lamb dies and this reflects nutrition of pregnant mom

Question 7

true or false: adequate mineral intake is required year round and is dependent on levels present in soil and subsequently the plants, as well as stage of production of animals

Answer 7

true

Question 8

growing young + pregnant animals require ______ (more/less) vit + mins

Answer 8

more

Question 9

which vitamins are important to supplement in the winter?

Answer 9

vitamin A and D

Question 10

why should you not buy your vitamin/mineral supplements in bulk?

Answer 10

oxidize over time and deteriorate

Question 11

true or false: absolute amounts of Ca and P is more important than the ratio of Ca:P

Answer 11

false! ratio is as important as absolute amounts

Question 12

what is the ideal ratio of Ca:P?

Answer 12

2:1

Question 13

how can urinary calculi be prevented or minimized?

Answer 13

by correct Ca:P ratio mgmt

more about the ratio than about the actual amounts

Question 14

prolific ewes with pregnancy toxemia may also be ____ deficient on gras shays and concentrates due to high ____ demand of multiple feti

Answer 14

Ca, Ca

Question 15

tell me about sources of Ca and P

Answer 15

Ca:
- forages, esp legumes (alfalfa)
- Hi Cal mineral run
- regular mineral
- water (hard)

P:
- grain
- grain alternatives
- mineral supplements

Question 16

what is the amount of selenium that is generally adequate for SRs, and also the maximum allowed without a feed script?

Answer 16

30 ppm

Question 17

true or false: Se injections are preferable to appropriate levels in feed

Answer 17

false! it’s the opposite

there are products available (Selon-E, Dystosel)

Question 18

true or false: Se levels/reqs depend on location

Answer 18

true

Ab is a Se deficient area

Question 19

true or false: Se deficiency and toxicity have the same C/S

Answer 19

true

Question 20

true or false: if you have a lamb or kid that has a Fe deficiency, you should give injectable Fe.

Answer 20

false! do not do this! it will kill them!

Question 21

true or false: you should supplement Cu in sheep diet because it is not present in the feed

Answer 21

false…. to an extent

sheep minerals do not add Cu as there is enough in the concentrates, but we have been seeing an increase in clinical Cu deficiency… so maybe should supplement??

Question 22

true or false: you can use goat boluses in sheep for Cu defieicny

Answer 22

false!

Question 23

extensive use of _____ as fertilizer can result in very high copper levels in some feed grains

Answer 23

hog manure

Question 24

high levels of molybdenum can result in Cu _____.

Answer 24

deficiency

Question 25

very high levels of _____ can interfere with copper absorption.

Answer 25

Zinc

Question 26

_____ deficiency results in congenital goitre and is rare if iodized salt or mineral are offered.

Answer 26

iodine

Question 27

adverse effects of ergot toxicity are generally observed when the total dietary concentrated exceeds _______ total ergot alkaloids

Answer 27

100-200 ppb

Question 28

what are some C/S of ergot toxicity?

Answer 28

gangrene of extremities, reduced milk prod, reduced growth, repro losses, neuro excitation

varies with species, age, pregnancy, stage of lactation, or duration and level of exposure

Question 29

true or false: there is a margin of safety for ergot in breeding stock

Answer 29

false. there is no margin of safety

ergot restricts blood flow to repro organs and restricts hormone prolactin