伊人直播

Assessing ewe body condition at weaning

Condition scoring sheep is a simple,听effective听and cheap management tool for flocks to assess performance.听Assessing the听body condition score听(BCS)听of听ewes听allows听you to make management decisions in听good time听to ensure the ewe is in the听optimum听condition for the听stage of production.听An听important time听to听assess ewe body condition听is听at weaning,听to maximise flock performance and profitability.听听

Checking body condition score, alongside teeth,听feet听and udders, at weaning rather than waiting until tupping gives farmers听sufficient听time to make changes and deal with any听potential听nutritional shortcomings听long听before breeding.听听

Target condition scores at weaning are shown below. These are suggested targets and will differ with the range of breeds and flock systems across Scotland.听听听

• Lowland - 3.0 - 3.5
• Upland - 3.0
• Hill - 2.5 - 3.0

When accessing ewe condition at weaning,听key听groups听to look for听are:听

• Young ewes (particularly hoggs听and听gimmers)听
• Older ewes e.g. ewes in their听fifth听crop听
• Ewes which are multiple-rearing mothers that may have lost considerable condition whilst rearing their lambs听

Any听poorer condition ewes听(particularly those听<2.0)听should be grouped together to be given preferential treatment.听Ideally,听they should be given priority听grazing. Depending on grass availability and quality,听supplementary feeding may be听required听for these thin ewes to help them regain condition before tupping time. Increasing condition from a 2.0 to a 3.0听by tupping听in an upland ewe听has been听demonstrated听to increase the number of lambs weaned by almost 10%.听听

BCS of ewes should be听reassessed听again pre tupping听after around听eight weeks听and anything that has failed to increase BCS should be ideally removed pre tupping. It is important to investigate if thin ewes听fail to听gain weight post weaning for no obvious reason e.g. lameness,听broken mouth,听or insufficient nutrition available. This may听indicate听a potential听underlying disease issue such as听Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma听(OPA),听maedi听visna听or Johne鈥檚 disease.听听

If you have concerns that ewes are not gaining condition discuss with your farm vet. Together assess whether current worming/fluke strategies are working and decide if investigation for the presence of iceberg diseases in the flock is required.听听听

Ewes which are considered fat at weaning, can simply be put on a maintenance diet.听Mobilising excess BCS over听a short period听of time has potential to do more harm than good听so needs to be managed carefully and not within听six听weeks of breeding.听听

Five top tips听

1. Prioritise scoring condition at weaning to allow sufficient time for adjustments to be made before tupping.听听
2. Ewes considered thin at weaning should be given preferential treatment and access to the best quality grazing available.听
3. Any over conditioned ewes aim to keep maintenance and control loss as this may affect fertility.听
4. Reassess before tupping, for any ewes that听fail to听regain condition,听further investigation听with your vet or nutritionist may be necessary.听
5. Ewes in the correct condition at tupping are known to have more lambs at scanning, maintenance is key.听

For more information on how to body condition score ewes, useful videos can be found at the following links:听

• 听
• 听

Quianne Reijnen, Senior Consultant,听Quianne.Reijnen@sac.co.uk

Posted by SAC Consulting on 21/07/2026