With tupping and lambing being big milestones in our calendar, we thought it a good opportunity to document the average year on a sheep farm.
Let’s start with the new calendar year in January. With ewes due to be lambing in early spring (February – April), it is important to be keeping a watchful eye on condition of sheep to ensure they are maintaining a healthy weight. Too fat or thin can cause issues with lambing further down the line. This monitoring continues into February where each group of ewes will be provided with optimal levels of nutrients and minerals for the next few weeks ahead.
With the peak lambing season running from March – April, it’s certainly a very busy time on the farm! Farmers will assess their flock day and night, as ewes can often require assistance during lambing. Careful coordination and rotation of the flock ensures that ewes and their lambs are out in the field as quickly as possible to ensure lambs are given the best chance to build strong immunity and thrive. Talk to a member of our team about our lambing checklist – see our 2019 version here.
Lambs will initially solely live on milk in their first few weeks out in the field, before moving to a combination of milk and grass. It Is important at this stage that ewes continue to receive nutrients and supplements to support milk production for the lambs, who can gain about 300g weight per day!
With summer approaching in May, it’s time to start shearing!
Most sheep are shorn late spring/early summer to ensure they aren’t getting too hot and attracting flies. Weaning of lambs also takes place now, as grass becomes more nutritious than milk. When weaning takes place lambs are placed in a separate pasture to the ewes, out of the sight of their mothers! Ewes again are checked for body condition. Over the summer months both ewes and lambs will have time to recover, gaining weight and strength.
Around August most lambs will have reached their optimum weight ready for slaughter. Ewe lambs who are replacing older ewes will remain on the farm and be prepared for tupping the following month.
Ewe lambs, along with older ones, will now be monitored closely again to ensure they reach required body condition score in preparation for tupping. This ensures a higher chance of success with lambs later. Ewes can be split depending on body condition to improve grazing for those with a low score. Rams also need to be in good condition for a successful season ahead. (Check out our tupping checklist to ensure you have all you need!)
Tupping takes place in Autumn, most commonly October. Rams can serve about 30 ewes each, but experienced lambs can serve between 50 – 100 ewes! Rams and ewes are generally separated after 6-8 weeks.
After scanning, ewes are split into groups according to the amount of lambs they are carrying. This can ensure they receive the right amount of nutrients and the right diet to support them.
Throughout the winter for the remainder of the year ewes are watched closely and monitored, as the nutritional requirements of ewes increase rapidly as lambing approaches. Ewes that lamb indoors are brought in several weeks prior.
This brief overview of life on a sheep farm highlights the hectic lifestyle and demands of farming – but also the rewards too! Check out our range of sheep feeds, handling equipment and health products to ensure you have all you need, whatever the season!