Essential Lambing Tips: A Guide for a Successful Season

Essential Lambing Tips: A Guide for a Successful Season

The weeks leading up to lambing are one of the most important periods in the sheep production cycle. Correct feeding and good hygiene practices directly influence colostrum quality, lamb survival, and long-term flock performance. By focusing on nutrition six to seven weeks before lambing and maintaining high hygiene standards, producers can significantly reduce disease risk and improve lamb vitality.

Feeding the Ewe Before Lambing

During the final trimester, foetal growth accelerates rapidly and the ewe’s nutritional demands increase. With 70% of foetal growth occurs in the last third of an ewe’s pregnancy, ewes should be supplemented with appropriate protein and energy levels according to litter size. A small amount of ewe compound will also help provide the extra nutrition required.

For ewes carrying twins and triplets, we’d recommend our Super Ewe 18%, a great all-rounder that is sufficient for high yielding ewes. However, if ewe body condition score isn’t at target or the forage quality is below expectation, we would recommend Supreme Ewe 18% (not sold separately in store – minimum 2 tonne batch order), which is our highest energy diet.

Alongside protein, ewes also require sufficient energy intake, which can be effectively supplied through high-quality feed blocks and buckets or other energy sources such as liquid molasses. Energy is essential to prevent metabolic issues such as twin lamb disease and to support the production of high-quality colostrum.

Importance of Colostrum Quality

Good nutrition in late pregnancy plays a critical role in producing high-quality colostrum, which is vital for newborn lambs. Lambs must receive adequate quantity and quality of colostrum within the first two hours of life, as this is when antibody absorption is most efficient.

Colostrum provides essential antibodies that help protect lambs against early-life diseases, including watery mouth, and supports the development of a strong immune system. Lambs that receive adequate colostrum early can be more resilient, grow better, and have improved survival rates.

Forage Quality Before Lambing

Access to good-quality hay or silage (haylage) before lambing is equally as important. Forage should be clean, mould-free, and nutritionally balanced to support rumen function and maintain steady feed intake. Poor-quality forage can reduce appetite, lower energy intake, and compromise ewe and lamb performance.

Hygiene and Lambing Environment

Nutrition alone is not enough to ensure healthy lambs. Good hygiene practices are essential, particularly in housed lambing systems. Lambing pens should be thoroughly cleaned and bedded between each ewe and her lambs, to help reduce the build-up of bacteria and disease spread.

Maintaining clean, dry bedding and disinfecting pens where possible helps lower the risk of joint ill, watery mouth and navel infections. Simple hygiene measures can have a major impact on lamb health and survival during the critical first days of life.

Successful lambing begins well before the first ewe goes into labour. By providing correct protein and energy levels, ensuring high-quality forage, prioritising colostrum intake and maintaining strong hygiene standards, producers can give both ewes and lambs the best possible start. Attention to these pre-lambing details will be reflected in healthier lambs, lower mortality and improved flock performance.

Additional Help & Products

For any specific feed requirement queries, please contact our Feed Sales team on 01653 605200. If you're wanting to shop our online range of lambing products, click here.