Prepare Ahead for Successful Lambing
The听2026听scanning season is now well underway听and reports have been mixed.听There have been many听very successful听scans听with听high levels听of multiples expected听(putting听additional听nutritional pressure on a flock pre-lambing). However, also听some听not quite as听good as听hoped with some reports of higher levels of barren ewes.听Scanning whatever the results give a time for reflection.听High听levels听of barren ewes can be caused by a variety of reasons听predominantly relating听to听three听key factors:听听
Nutrition听
- Was body condition of ewes听optimal听going into tupping?听听
- Did nutritional supply remain consistent for 50 days pre and post tupping 鈥� this is essential for normal ovulation and to optimise embryo implantation.听
- Was the trace element status of ewes correct throughout听the听tupping听period?听听
Health听
- Are there any underlying health challenges in the flock that may have led to infertility or early embryo loss 鈥� MV,听borders,听toxoplasmosis, high worm burden, fluke?听听
Genetics听听
- Some breeds are naturally lower in prolificacy compared to others.听听
- Prolificacy of ewes听lambs听can also be听impacted听by听their听dams听nutritional status during pregnancy.听听
- Were all hoggs/ gimmers fertile to begin with?听听
No matter what the听results, thoughts听after scanning will turn to getting prepared for the upcoming lambing season and how we can optimise the number of lambs scanned that听then听make it through to weaning.听A听good nutrition plan is essential听in this.听听
A听ewe鈥檚听requirements for energy and protein will increase exponentially as the ewe approaches听her due date and into lactation.听Requirements听for energy in a twin bearing ewe will be equivalent to a grown man running听almost a听marathon a day in the last week of pregnancy rising to running an ultra-marathon a day听in lactation!听听
Long fibre听such as grass, silage or hay will make up听most of听any听pre-lambing听diet, knowing the nutritional supply and听availability听of this听(especially if relying on听grazing alone) is vital to ensure the ration in sufficiently balanced to听manage lamb growth, colostrum听/ milk听production and ewe condition.听
Energy supply in silage can typically range between 9.0 鈥� 12.1 MJ/kg DM and protein between 5 鈥� 20% with hay also seeing an energy range between 8 鈥� 10 MJ/kg DM and protein between 5 鈥� 11%.If not already done, now is the time to consider analysis to ensure any supplemental feed best compliments forage available, this can also dramatically impact input costs to the flock also. Balance really is the key to best managing the nutritional needs of ewes during the most demanding period in the production cycle. 听
If in any doubt听of nutritional sufficiency as we near听the flocks due to date metabolic blood testing by the听farm听vet is a useful tool,听giving听assurance that听ewes have sufficient energy, protein and minerals pre-lambing听and can also allow some small changes to be made before we reach lambing if necessary.听Metabolic tests are typically carried out around听four听weeks pre听lambing involving听a representative sample听from听six听ewes in each management group.听For accuracy it is essential听that ewes have been on a consistent diet for听two to three听weeks pre sampling and听are blood sampled either before concentrate feeding听or three to four hours听post feeding.听
Lorna Shaw, Ruminant Nutritionist,听Lorna.Shaw@sac.co.uk
Posted by SAC Consulting on 19/01/2026
