Sheep - January Season

January will see the peak time for sheep scanning around the country as it is the recommended time for March lambing flocks to scan. This will give the flock owner a chance to feed them and triplet ewes according to their needs and reduce the chances of oversized lambs in their single ewes.

Triplet bearing ewes should be segregated almost immediately from the rest of the flock and receive extra supplementation from 10 weeks prior to lambing. This will ensure strong vigorous lambs at birth and provide the ewe with an adequate milk supply. Ideally ewes should be fed twice a day to avoid digestive system upsets and this will become a necessity once feed levels exceed 0.5Kg per head per day otherwise problems such as prolapse may occur.

After the breeding season is over rams are often forgotten about and prove to be a hindrance to sheep farmers. This time of year can be particularly severe on ram lambs as they are still developing and will require further feeding to fulfil their potential. This will go a long way in setting your flock up for a successful mating season next year. Often farmers only seek out their rams 4-5 weeks before the breeding season and often this is too late to make significant alterations to Body Condition Score or to overcome underlying foot problems. If you carry your ram through the winter months with some extra feeding and a little care you will have a proven animal in top condition ready for mating next year.