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EWE NUTR I T ION
WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...
15
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
Managing the condition of ewes correctly
during pregnancy will have a major impact on
losses around lambing time both in ewes and
their lambs. Poor nutrition prior to lambing will
lead to weak lambs, poor colostrum and milk
production and losses due to twin lamb and
other ewe diseases. Regular body condition
scoring throughout pregnancy is vital to assess
how well your ewes are having their nutritional
requirements met. If you are unsure how to
condition score, ask your vet to teach you!
In sheep, the lamb becomes attached to the
womb at about 35 days and from there up
until about the 12th week of pregnancy the
lambs are relatively small and ewes can
obtain enough energy from reasonable
grazing to maintain pregnancy. Beyond this,
additional feed will be required for thin ewes
and ewes carrying multiples.
It is important therefore to scan and body
condition score your ewes around the 70 - 90
day in-lamb mark so that you can identify
barrens, singles and multiples for later
management. Scanning may also pick up
ewes that are going to lamb at the end of the
lambing period. Depending on numbers, they
can either be managed separately or kept
with the singles for longer.
Obviously, if feed is scarce it makes sense to
cull barrens and split your flock so that your
multiples can be treated preferentially. In later
pregnancy, ewes carrying multiples may be
unable to eat enough to maintain their lambs
and themselves and will draw on body
reserves. If these reserves are not available
then twin lamb disease and other metabolic
conditions may follow.
Ewe Nutrition
T
he value of ewes, and the lambs they produce, has improved dramatically
over the last couple of years. In good years as in bad, the key to successful
flock performance is to achieve a good crop of lambs and to minimise
losses.
Working with your vet at a pre-lambing visit can help avoid the
most common pitfalls.
for Lambing
Veterinary Surgeon
Tim O’Sullivan
XLVets Practice
MacPherson O’Sullivan
T I M O ' S U L L I VAN ,
MAC PHE R SON O ’ S U L L I VAN