Weaning lambs - five key weaning questions answered
Decisions made at weaning can have a significant impact on lamb growth rates,听finishing performance and ewe condition听ahead of the next breeding season.听It鈥檚听not only about getting lambs away but focusing on ewe condition in time for mating, which is highly influential on next year's lamb crop.听听
When听is the best time to听wean?听听
Lambs are typically weaned between 12 and 14 weeks of age (or 70 to 100 days). However, timing depends on the production system, grass听availability听and ewe condition. If听grazing quality or quantity is limited and or ewe condition dropping (reduced by more than 0.5听body condition scoring听(BCS)听听or听lamb growth rates are starting to slow down, then it may be necessary to consider weaning earlier.听听听
A good time听to review and assess听when to wean听is around听when lambs are听eight听weeks (56 days) of age.听Weighing and body condition scoring at this stage gives听a good听indication听of how ewes have performed throughout lactation.听听
What is the best method of weaning?听
Weaning can result听in听a period of stress for both ewes are lambs,听resulting听in听potential听losses in performance post weaning.听Although tempting to try to make the most of having sheep gathered in about and in pens,听it is a good idea to limit听the number of tasks carried out on the day听of听weaning to reduce听stress and post weaning check听i.e. aim to avoid weaning, dosing,听and treating for blowfly in the same day.听听
Also consider placement of ewes and lambs on the night of weaning. Are fences robust?听Moving lambs to new pasture, and a change in grass quality requires time for the lambs to adjust. Best practice is to keep the lambs in the same field and move the ewes away.听听
Also听keep a close eye on ewes at drying off听for udder听deformities that have not been picked up at weaning听as this may increase fly strike听risk听when听blowfly numbers are high.听听
How heavy听should lambs be at weaning?听听
For lowland lambs听we are ideally aiming for an听eight-week听weight of more than 20kg based on an average gain of 250听鈥� 300 grams听per day. Assuming gain continues at a similar rate听by weaning of above听27kg if weaning at 12 weeks or听31kg at 14 weeks.听Hill lambs we would expect to be lighter around 17kg at听eight听weeks given a听small mature听weight.听听
How should I manage ewes post weaning?听听
The period post weaning before tupping provides flocks with听the best opportunity for ewes to adjust body condition if necessary.听Ideal body condition at tupping for听a听lowland ewe is between 3-3.5 and 2.5-3.0 for hill ewes.听Prioritise best grazing or supplementation (if necessary) for any ewes below target condition听and听feed for a gradual gain before tupping.听听
How should I manage lambs post weaning?听
Once lambs have听settled听post weaning it can be beneficial to split lambs听by weight听depending on when听the finishing target:听
- Short听keep听<30kg听听
- Medium听keep听30 鈥� 35kg听听
- Long听keep听> 35kg听
Feed efficiency in lambs will drop as the lamb matures resulting in more feed required per kg gain. Optimising gain during听this growth stage听is a key opportunity to increase margin. Prioritise the best grazing such as听silage aftermath,听young grass reseed听or听grass that听has been rested听to听optimise gain post weaning.听If weaning is later in the season when grazing quality starts to decrease听supplementary feeding on top of grazing听may be a suggestion post weaning to help further听particularly for any short keep lambs in the system.听听
Lorna Shaw,听Senior Beef听and听Sheep Nutritionist,听Lorna.Shaw@sac.co.uk听
Posted by SAC Consulting on 21/07/2026
