CAREFUL management of the switch from autumn grazing to indoor finishing of store lambs is critical when farmers are aiming to minimise digestive disorders and avoid stagnant growth periods.

Both result in lower margins, and lack of digestible fibre can lead to acidosis, one of the main factors contributing to high rates of store lamb death, often seen in the first few weeks of housing.

Dr Michael Marsden, Trident Feeds technical manager, also said that managing the transition from outdoor to indoor feeding should be started as early as possible.

"Research has shown that store lambs offered a digestible fibre feed, such as sugar beet feed, at just 0.2-0.5kg/lamb/day in the field - before being bought indoors - will adapt to their new ration much quicker than those that haven’t,” he said.

Acidosis in store lambs is caused mainly by feeding excess starch, and a lack of fibre in the ration, particularly of digestible fibre.

Dr Marsden believes that the risk of acidosis can be minimised relatively easily.

“Farmers need to ensure that they’re balancing starch based feeds, likely to increase the risk of acidosis, with feeds high in digestible fibre.

“Given this year’s cereal prices, I’m expecting farmers to want to feed as much cereal as possible. However, I would urge producers to seriously consider the implications of doing this: relying too heavily on wheat or barley to make up most of the ration is likely to be false economy.”

Instead he says that stocks of home-grown cereals should be used as part of the overall ration.

“Producers should make sure that starch is buffered adequately in the rumen by including a good amount of digestible fibre, available from feed sources such as sugar beet feed or low-copper bioethanol distillers’ feeds.

“Sugar beet feed and wheat distillers have a slower rate of rumen fermentation, when compared to cereals, so reduce the risk of digestive upsets. They can also stimulate dry matter intake, encourage rumen development, and consequently increase growth rates.”