Sheep Nutrition and Management
Keith Vander Velde
UW Extension Livestock Specialist
March 11, 2000
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Sheep Nutrition and Management
Goals:
• 95% Conception rate
• 175% Lambing rate
• Less than 10% mortality
• Longevity of breeding flock
Sheep Nutrition and Management
• Divide the Management into the various
stages of production
• Energy and Protein vary with productions
stage and the number of lambs born
Sheep Nutrition and Management
Factors to consider:
• Age
• Size(Weight
• Condition
• Type of confinement
• Stage of Production
• Pregnancy
• Lactation
• Feed Quality and quantity
• Health status of ewes
• Season of year
• Weather, heat vs. wind chill factors
Sheep Nutrition and Management
Pre-breeding
• Sort for open mouths and bad udders
• Do body condition scoring on ewes and
rams
• Trim feet if necessary
• Flush ewes with good pasture of add .25 lbs
of grain per day 14 days prior to breeding
Sheep Management Calendar
Breeding Season
• Keep flushing ewes
• Leave rams in for 60 days maximum
Early Pregnancy thru 4 months
• Stop flushing but avoid rapid weight loss
• Vaccinate for Vibrio and EAE
• Condition score ewes
Sheep Management Calendar
Last 30 Days Prior to Lambing
• Feed one to two pounds of grain per day
• Give Enterotoxemia Injection to new ewes
• Shear ewes
Sheep Management Calendar
During Lactation:
• Ewes with singles should have 1.5 lbs of
grain
• Ewes with twins should receive 2-2.5 lbs of
grain
• Ewes with triplets should receive 3-4 lbs of
grain
Sheep Management Calendar
Nurtient Requirements for 155 lb ewe
TDN
Protein
• Maintenance
1.5
.25
• Early Pregnancy
1.7
.29
• Late Pregnancy
2.8
.47
• Lactation-single
3.6
.73
• Lactation-twin
4.0
.92
• Lactation-triplets
4.2
1.02
Sheep Management Calendar
Ration for Meeting 155 lbs ewes requirements
• Maintenance---3.25 lbs hay(16.5% Protein)
• Early Pregnancy---- 3.75 lbs hay(16.5% Protein)
• Late Pregnancy---4.20 lbs hay plus 1 lb corn
• Early Lactation Single-5 lbs hay plus 1.5 corn
• Early Lactation Twin-5 lbs hay plus 2.25 corn
• Early Lactation Triplets-3.5 hay, 3.2 corn, .5 SBOM
Sheep Management Calendar
Weaning:
• Limit forage and water intake 2-3 days
prior for ewes
• Have lambs on creep feed or bunk
trained
• Remove ewes from lamb environment
Sheep Diseases At Lambing
Causing Abortion:
• Vibrionic Abortion-Campylobacter fetus intes-tinalis
• Enzootic Abortion(EAE)-chlamydia
• Toxoplasmosis-cat feces
Sheep Metabolic Disorders
Pregnancy toxemia-lack of energy in
late pregnancy(Lamb Ketosis)
Hypercalcemia(Milk Fever)-calcium
going for milk production
Body Condition Scoring
1. Range of 1-5
2. Classifying differences in body fatness
3. Done by feeling by hand themuscling and
fat over and around the vertebrae in the
loin(area near last rib)
4. 2.5 thru 3.5 is desireable range
Score
Description
1
Ewes in this body condition have only a slight amount of fatty
tissue detectable between skin and bone. Spinous process are
relatively prominent. These ewes appear thrifty but have only
minimal fat reserves.
2
Ewes in this body condition have average flesh but do not have
excess fat reserves. This condition score includes ewes in
average body condition.
Ewes in this body condition have average flesh but do not have
excess fat reserves. This condition score includes ewes in
average body condition.
This condition score includes ewes that are moderately fat.
Moderate fat deposits give sheep a smooth external appearance
3
4
5
Includes ewes that are extremely fat. Excess fat deposits can
easily be seen in the brisket, flank and tail-head regions. These
ewes have excess fat reserves to the point that productivity may
be impaired.