Ewe condition before tupping

[Happy at it]

Whats the best way to manage a few small batches of ewes in very/too good condition, 3 weeks before the tip? Was always used tightening them tight up after weaning then flushing but never got it done. Intending to put tips out in the middle of Oct, will condition have any impact on holding?

 

[Al R]

The recent rule of thought is if their over BCS 3.5 their is no benefit to flushing. If the ewes are in good condition I don’t flush or put blocks out etc and just let them keep eating steady grass and keep the best back for skinny’s and ewe lambs.

 

[Nithsdale]

The recent rule of thought is if their over BCS 3.5 their is no benefit to flushing. If the ewes are in good condition I don’t flush or put blocks out etc and just let them keep eating steady grass and keep the best back for skinny’s and ewe lambs.

I dry off on the hill then flush my ewes and always feel my lambing % could be a wee bit better. Next nearest sheep man just weans and leaves his ewes running inbye fields - he doesn't manage them, just lets them run and fluke dose multi vit 4 weeks before the tups go in. They're fat as hell when the tups go in and his lambing % is markedly higher than mine...

I'm trying his way this year

 

[Al R]

I dry off on the hill then flush my ewes and always feel my lambing % could be a wee bit better. Next nearest sheep man just weans and leaves his ewes running inbye fields - he doesn't manage them, just lets them run and fluke dose multi vit 4 weeks before the tups go in. They're fat as hell when the tups go in and his lambing % is markedly higher than mine...

I'm trying his way this year

Most of My ewes were on haylage due to drought for 5 weeks post lambing, BCS improved in them post weaning, after combining I went through all of the ewes and drafted out any under BCS 3.5, had 90, mainly yearlings, fed for 2 weeks whole oats and now only 40 being fed, 20 are below BCS 3.5 but 20 is to small if a group so left another 20 yearlings in so they know what corn is for their future life incase the beast from the east comes again its handy when ewes know what cereals are.

 

[HarryB97]

I never worry about body condition pre tupping if they are quite fit now it's not surprising given the year but over winter they'll soon slim down

 

[Nithsdale]

BCS is the most important thing with sheep, all year round. I had this conversation a few weeks back at a sale, we were talking about through winter and scanning/feeding ewes appropriately.

I said I didn't scan so just blanket feed and he was quizzing me how I got round getting sh*t triplets from under feeding and I said it's simple - BCS is more important than knowing how many lambs she has.

If they're a bit thin, shift them to better grass and notch the feeding up a little bit. If they're too fit, put them onto poorer grass but don't alter the feed ration. Watch them like a hawk and handle as many as possible every time they are in the pens (3 times here in the period from start of new year to start of lambing)

Scanning and all this other technology are great tools, I'm not knocking it if you can fully utilize the information, but it does take away a lot of the stockman eye and 'craft' of know their stock, the ground and the seasonal needs of the livestock IMO.

 

[texelburger]

I bare ewes off after weaning then flush for 3 weeks and teasers 2 weeks prior to tups going in.Probably was a little hard on them this summer but they are motoring now with tups going in this afternoon.

 

[Bury the Trash]

https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index...-blog-wise-ewe-management-post-weaning.24378/

 

[andybk]

BCS is the most important thing with sheep, all year round. I had this conversation a few weeks back at a sale, we were talking about through winter and scanning/feeding ewes appropriately.

I said I didn't scan so just blanket feed and he was quizzing me how I got round getting sh*t triplets from under feeding and I said it's simple - BCS is more important than knowing how many lambs she has.

If they're a bit thin, shift them to better grass and notch the feeding up a little bit. If they're too fit, put them onto poorer grass but don't alter the feed ration. Watch them like a hawk and handle as many as possible every time they are in the pens (3 times here in the period from start of new year to start of lambing)

Scanning and all this other technology are great tools, I'm not knocking it if you can fully utilize the information, but it does take away a lot of the stockman eye and 'craft' of know their stock, the ground and the seasonal needs of the livestock IMO.

^^^^ this is what we do . never worry about tupping condition , never had a problem ,(mostly old fescue type sheep grass ) just watch grass quality last 8 weeks pre lambing and adjust feeding accordingly

 

[Al R]

BCS is the most important thing with sheep, all year round. I had this conversation a few weeks back at a sale, we were talking about through winter and scanning/feeding ewes appropriately.

I said I didn't scan so just blanket feed and he was quizzing me how I got round getting sh*t triplets from under feeding and I said it's simple - BCS is more important than knowing how many lambs she has.

If they're a bit thin, shift them to better grass and notch the feeding up a little bit. If they're too fit, put them onto poorer grass but don't alter the feed ration. Watch them like a hawk and handle as many as possible every time they are in the pens (3 times here in the period from start of new year to start of lambing)

Scanning and all this other technology are great tools, I'm not knocking it if you can fully utilize the information, but it does take away a lot of the stockman eye and 'craft' of know their stock, the ground and the seasonal needs of the livestock IMO.

I scan and it’s vital to my system as you know BUT it does shock me how some people still don’t BCS ewes.. if ewes are in even for a footbath or a simple split up i’ll feel a minimum of 25%, by the time you feel quite a few yearlings, quite a few 5 crop ewes and then one or 2 of the Middle Ages you can easily feel 25%. If bolusing or on fluke dosing i’d Feel up to 50%. Specifically going through every ewe at least twice a year if not more and drafting on condition to go to better fields etc.. like yourself you probably do it automatically and don’t think about it. On my stubble turnip fields I like to put 2 pure BFL in with every field, nothing is as good as a barometer by eye without having to get ewes in than a BFL.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Bit over condition is better than bit under ......

But Depends a bit on what type of ewe ?

When we used to keep dorsets, they had a lot more doubles.. when they had been weaned later, and were noticably thinner than when given more rest time...