Pre-tupping management - crucial to a good lamb crop

Brian Donaldson • Published 12 Aug 2010 16:00 0 Comments

Share this

CAFRE Benchmarking results have shown that the number of lambs reared is the most critical factor affecting income from the sheep enterprise.

The management of the breeding ewe flock prior to the mating season has a major effect on the number of lambs born and thus flock profitability.

Body condition and nutrition - Ewe body condition is measured on a scale of 1.0-5.0, with 1.0 - very thin and 5.0 - excessively fat. Over-fat ewes tend to have greater embryonic losses whilst thin ewes tend to have lower ovulation rates - both result in lower lamb crops.

Management after weaning - Ewes should be condition scored 10-12 weeks before rams are introduced, thus giving sufficient time to put in place the necessary management programme. Ewes should be grouped depending on body condition and managed as follows:

Thin ewes - condition score of 1.5-2.5 - will require good grazing on grass covers over 2000kgDM/ha (6-7cm). To gain 1-1.5 of a body score can take 6-8 weeks

Overfat ewes - condition score greater than 3.5 - can be kept on poorer grazing or indoors on straw based diets. It is important that ewes fed straw to reduce body condition also receive supplementary protein to avoid loss of body protein as well as fat.

Ewes with a condition score optimum for mating need to be maintained on pasture with a cover of around 1800-2000kgdm/ha (5-6cm).

Planning grass supplies - Grazing requirements and fertiliser use should be planned well in advance to meet ewe requirements. This will be difficult at present but good planning will result in more lambs. Ewes should also remain on the same plane of nutrition for the first few weeks after tupping as any major change will result in increased embryo losses. Grass covers should be built up from mid August by bringing silage aftermaths into the grazing plan.

Swards should not be grazed below 1800kg during August to November to ensure that there is still enough green leaf to promote growth.

Applying nitrogen and utilising grass is more economical than using feed supplements. Indeed, feeding concentrates during tupping can often stress ewes and interfere with the tupping process.

Flushing ewes on grass -Flushing is the practice of increasing the nutrient intake of ewes prior to mating. Ewes in good body condition will show no real significant response from this practice.

Ewes with a low body score (less than 2.5) will respond to flushing but no better than if they had been in good condition prior to tupping.

Conclusion - To ensure a profitable future for the sheep enterprise farmers must produce the maximum number of quality lambs at low cost. The effectiveness of management of the flock pre-tupping will determine productivity and ultimately profitability of the flock.

Summary - key points:

· Condition score ewes and at least ten weeks before mating.

· Target optimum condition score for ewes.

· Ensure the health status of ewes and replacement ewes is satisfactory.

· Vaccinate flock (for example, against abortion, clostridial diseases).

· Dip, fluke and correct deficiencies.

Now is the time to get the ewe flock prepared for tupping to achieve a good lamb crop next spring.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 12 Aug 10

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.