Feed management | Three-in-one feeder 
is designed for cattle, sheep and goats
Marlin and Myrna Huber of Coronation, Alta., attracted attention with a new product at the Grasslands Sheep Exhibition Show and Sale held recently in Drake, Sask.
Their three-in-one feeder, designed for cattle, sheep and goats, had a buyer even before it was unloaded from the trailer.
Rolly Bateman of Pilger, Sask., liked its self-feeder aspects designed to allow lamb creep feeding in the field while keeping ewes out.
“This one uses the head as the size control so the ewes can’t get in to gorge. We’ve lost two very good ewes just from that problem.”
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Bateman bought the smallest of three models, which holds 25 bushels and has a split bin for two different rations.
He said he planned to put the feeder on a fence line with cows on one side and sheep on the other.
The Hubers have a farm equipment company as well as 200 ewes, 100 goats and a herd of cattle.
They wanted a feeder that would reduce daily chores and found an Australian model online.
They bought a franchise in February and said they now have the only Advantage Feeders licence in North America.
Myrna Huber said the units allow creep feeding as well as controlled and free choice.
“Based on the skull size of the ewes, they can’t get their heads in to eat in the space where the lambs eat from, so there’s less mis-mothering, they’re way more relaxed during kidding and lambing. The lambs and the kids are used to the feeder when you want to wean them,” she said.
Feed can be limited to half a pound per day, reducing bullying, bloat and feed waste.
“They can’t contaminate the grain because they have to reach way in to eat it and lick it out. That’s a huge saver.”
Gord Schroeder, executive director of the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board, said many producers are in expansion mode.
“One of our objectives is to support them with larger production unit chute systems, management systems, feed systems and marketing systems,” he said.
“Not to forget about the small producer, but there needs to be more management in these large flocks.”
