Better Nutrition for Better Finished Lambs: Weaner Season Guide

Superior Livestock Services supplements, stocked at FarmCo Moora and Yerecoin.

Dry pasture and stubbles can look like plenty of feed, but they’re often short on protein, minerals and vitamins.

Lambs need a balanced diet of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals to grow to their genetic potential. Without it, the feed and grain on hand isn’t fully used, and the money spent on good rams doesn’t come back at sale time.

Superior Livestock Services makes a range of high-specification vitamin and mineral supplements designed to balance the feed you already have. The right choice depends on the age of your lambs and what they’re eating.

Which weaner lamb supplements suit your lambs??

Feeding situation	Supplement	How to feed
Weaner lambs on cereal stubbles, standing cereal crops, crop residues or dry feed, or trail fed cereal grain	Young Lamb Stubble Buster	Free choice lick. Target 25–60 g/head/day.
Older lambs and hoggets on the same feed base	Cereal Stubble Buster	Free choice lick. Target 20–60 g/head/day.
Lambs on lupin or pea stubbles, or trail fed lupins or peas	Prime Lamb Concentrate	Free choice in free-draining containers next to the feeder.
Lambs in a feedlot on a lupin or pea and cereal grain ration with roughage	Prime Lamb Concentrate Plus Agolin or Plus Bovatec	25 kg per tonne of ration, mixed through. Supplier example uses 25–30% lupins.

Free-draining containers include 200 litre drums or drench drums cut in half, troughs and tyres. Allow one lick station per 50–100 head.

Keep horses, dogs and alpacas away

• Prime Lamb Concentrate Plus Bovatec contains lasalocid. The Australian Bovatec label states it should not be fed to dogs, horses or other equids, as this may be fatal. The supplier sheet also names alpacas.
• Cereal Stubble Buster contains urea, which can be toxic if eaten in excess. Do not allow access by horses or other non-ruminant animals.
• Store bags and set lick stations where non-target animals can’t reach them, and clean up spills.

Good feeding practice

• Provide fresh, clean water at all times.
• Do not introduce supplements to hungry or starving sheep.
• Once supplementation starts, keep access continuous. Intake can run above target at first until the craving for minerals is satisfied.
• Make sure lambs have adequate roughage.
• Introduce high grain rations gradually over 14–21 days.
• Protect lick products from heavy rain. Urea-based licks are best fed in free-draining containers.

Product details

Young Lamb Stubble Buster

25 kg bag

True protein, mineral, trace element and vitamin supplement for weaner lambs on cereal stubbles, standing crops, crop residues, dry feed or cereal grain.

• True protein (11.5% crude protein) to support rumen function and stimulate feed intake. No urea.
• Bentonite (20%) to buffer rumen pH and reduce the risk of acidosis.
• Full range of minerals, trace elements and vitamins, with high vitamin E (1,000 mg/kg).

Feeding: Free choice, ad lib. Target intake 25–60 g/head/day.

Cereal Stubble Buster

25 kg bag | 1 t bulka bag

Non-protein nitrogen, mineral, trace element and vitamin supplement for lambs and hoggets on the same feed base.

• 20% crude protein, including OPTISYNC protected urea (5.6% urea equivalent) for safety if unexpected summer rain arrives.
• Bentonite (20%) to buffer rumen pH and reduce the risk of acidosis.
• Helps maintain weight and condition on a dry season feed base. High vitamin E (1,000 mg/kg).

Feeding: Free choice, ad lib. Target intake 20–60 g/head/day. Contains urea: keep horses and other non-ruminants away.

Prime Lamb Concentrate

25 kg bag | 1 t bulka bag

High-specification mineral and vitamin concentrate for lambs on high grain rations, in a feedlot or grazing pasture or stubbles. Formulated for typical WA ingredients. No rumen modifiers.

• High-specification, highly available macro-minerals, trace elements and vitamins.
• Balances high grain rations and supports immune function.

Feeding: 25 kg per tonne of prepared feed, mixed thoroughly, or free choice in free-draining containers.

Prime Lamb Concentrate Plus Agolin

25 kg bag | 1 t bulka bag

The same concentrate with Agolin essential oils (2,000 mg/kg) added. No antibiotics.

• Supplier lists improved feed intake pattern, feed conversion efficiency and growth rate.
• Supports rumen stability and reduces the risk of digestive disorders and acidosis.

Feeding: As for Prime Lamb Concentrate.

Prime Lamb Concentrate Plus Bovatec

25 kg bag | 1 t bulka bag

The same concentrate with the ionophore lasalocid (Bovatec, 1,320 mg/kg) added.

• Supplier lists improved feed intake pattern, feed conversion efficiency and growth rate.
• Reduces the risk of coccidiosis, digestive disorders and acidosis.
• Not for dogs, horses, other equids or alpacas. May be fatal.

Feeding: As for Prime Lamb Concentrate.

Need advice?

Custom ration formulation is available on request. For technical advice, contact Henry Strating, Superior Livestock Services, on 0416 026 851, or talk to the team in store at FarmCo Moora (69 Roberts Street, Moora) or FarmCo Yerecoin. Call us on 1300 327 626.

FarmCo_Lamb_Nutrition_Flyer

Sources: Superior Livestock Services product sheets (versions 01/04/20; Plus Agolin 31/07/23). Bovatec warning from the APVMA-registered Bovatec label. Always read and follow the product label.