Tools to manage ewes during gestation

Co-Author:  Rob Zelinsky, M.S. & Hubbard Feeds Companion Animal Team

1.   Ultrasound Pregnancy Diagnosis

Advantages:      

• Sell open ewes during inflated cull ewe markets
• Economical feeding (less over and under feeding)
• Identify ewes with multiple births and feed accordingly

Disadvantages:        

• Cost
• Extra ewe handling during pregnancy    

2.   Shearing
Advantages:        

• Lambs find the teats more quickly
• Ewes udder stays cleaner
• Existing barns house more shorn ewes than full-fleeced ewes
• Dryer barn
• Less bedding required
• In cold seasons, ewes will lamb in the barn
• Ewes are more agile
• Monitor condition/udder development of ewes more easily     

Disadvantages:                  

• Cold stress
• Ewes can eat 10-20% more feed in extreme cold weather

3.   Body Condition Score     
 Assign a number 1-5 based on the amount of condition 

• 1 = Emaciated
• 3 = Average Body Condition
• 5 = Obese

Desired Body Condition Levels:            

• Summer 2.5 to 3
• Late Gestation 3.5 to 4.0 
• Lactation maintain 3

-  Handle ewes along their spine and across their loin edge to determine a condition score.
-  Don’t make evaluations based on covering over the ribs.
-  Blueprint Sheep Mineral will enhance performance during breeding, late gestation and lactation.  

4.  Sort ewes and feed accordingly for a uniform body condition at parturition:
Sort by:

• Age
• First-time lambers
• Body condition score
• Stage of gestation
• Number of lambs based on ultrasound
• Goal of body condition score of 3.5 to 4.0 at lambing

5.  Make use of a feed scale:  

• Minimizes Acidosis/Overeating    
• Sheep will stay on feed and allow producers to safely reach desired outcome at lambing