I have been using Advantage Feeders (previously 3IN1FEEDERS) for 2 years and found they can be used in a huge range of applications. I use them to reduce/eliminate costly issues of waste, excessive labour, stock losses, mismothering, over consumption, acidosis and only being able to feed concentrate. Advantage Feeders provide endless solutions when it comes to feeding stock. Supplementing ewes before, during and after lambing I first used the 1800 feeder out in the field with Welsh ewes (scanned for twins) before and during lambing. Initially we only filled the feeder with the total amount we would have fed out on the field (500 grams/day) in three days to see if we had set it properly. The ewes adapted easily to the system over 3 days and then I filled the feeder. This saved a lot of time and I knew the ewes were doing great because they were being fed often throughout the day.
Another benefit in the outdoor lambing situation is that there was no mismothering. Normally, when the ewes hear the quad bike, they run towards the bike anticipating food and forget their new born lambs however with the feeder in place this does not happen as they are more content. We are able to drive around without disturbing them. In fact, most ewes were so content that after they lambed, they didnāt come to the feeder for a couple days whilst they mothered up. I have used feed blocks in the past, due to the control Advantage Feeders give me over the ration I could reduce my feeding costs by using feed nuts at around Ā£200 per tonne instead of feed blocks that are about Ā£700 to Ā£800.
Creep feeding lambs I have three other models of creep feeders. I find the ladder variety cause stock injury and deaths. Every year I would find several lambs and ewes stuck. I lamb some ewes in January and target early lamb markets. This system is more intensive involving higher input costs so when one of these lambs is lost, it is a particularly large loss. After shearing, ewes will get in the walk through creep feeders and empty the hopper. I also have a creep feeder that has rods the flick up and as a lamb pulls out of the feeder, crafty ewes will quickly put their head in the feeder. I havenāt had any creep feeding issues with Advantage Feeders. As I can set the feeder so the lambs canāt gorge, there is no acidosis risk and they donāt scour. An added benefit is the 800 model can be used to creep feed on one side and supplement ewes on the other. I lambed down 60 ewes that had 100 lambs. With the division panel inside the feeder, I was able to creep feed the lambs on one side of the feeder and ewe nuts to their mothers on the other.
Being able to supplement ewes over winter reduced a lot of waste and labour involved with feeding out on the ground. I have had issues with birds eating feed and being in the North of Wales, the strong winds can blow rain into feed troughs. The Advantage Feeders Creep Panel is located above the trough and licking area to prevent both these issues. Even when I am feeding ewes, the Creep Panel can be positioned to allow their heads to get under it whilst providing rain and bird protection. Hogg feeding I finish some of my hoggets indoors. I would always lose 2-3 hoggets a batch due to acidosis when they ate too much from ad-lib feeders.
When I used the Advantage Feeders I was able to accustom their rumen onto high energy feeds over 4-5 days by adjusting the lick settings. Initially, they had a narrow setting and then I periodically opened to increase the ration as they became more familiar with the feed. I have done three batches of hoggets and never had a loss. At one stage, I brought welsh ewes in to feed. They had never been fed cake before and they took to the feeder quickly and were able to be sold a month later.
Conclusion Now I am familiar with controlling the ration with the feeders I am going to start feeding whole barley to ewes and hoggets. At current feed prices, this will make a substantial reduction in my feed bill. It will also allow me to start feeding earlier in autumn and later in summer because I can feed the hoggets such a low rate whilst they are on pasture. Investing in Advantage Feeders can be high initially but the one feeder works better than any other in all applications and is soon paid off. I can see myself having 10 or more of these feeders in the future.