While game feed choices when rearing birds over winter may be heavily dictated by price, relying on a low-cost wheat-based diet may prove a false economy, with better value options available to maintain bird health and performance throughout the season.
Sportsman Game Feeds has designed the ‘over-wintering pellet’ for an effective and stable maintenance diet, that can be fed to your breeding stock throughout the winter months. We cater for both pheasants with a 3.2mm pellet and partridge with a 2.5mm pellet.
These diets comprise of 13% protein and have been carefully balanced and formulated with the right levels of protein for energy, alongside optimal levels of vitamins and minerals.
With the over-wintering pellet, a consistent protein content is provided, compared to the unpredictability of protein levels when feeding wheat-based diets over the winter months. Several factors can influence protein levels in wheat, from soil quality to climate conditions, and the fertilisers used through the growing season.
Feeding the Sportsman Over-wintering diet can offer the following benefits:
While feeding a properly formulated diet over winter may seem an added expense that could be avoided, reliance on a wheat-based diet could have cost implications in the longer term, particularly if there are negative effects on egg production. Feeding the correct balanced diet can see an increase in egg production and hatchability.
Putting pheasants and partridges in the optimal condition for breeding can also help start the rearing season off with a bang. Feeding the over-wintering pellet allows for a smoother transition to the Sportsman pre-breeder range, as breeding programmes continue.
Providing the birds access to a formulated diet throughout the harsh conditions of the winter months can also help lower mortality levels.
Contact your account manager to see how our range of maintenance diets can help your breeding flock.
