EwePregnancyManagementL7

• Maintenance Cost


  Approximately 60% of ewe's yearly intake is for maintenance with no direct financial gain
• Pasture Usage

  Majority of pasture on sheep farms is utilized for maintenance purposes rather than productivity
• Early Pregnancy Nutrition Requirements

  A maintenance level of feeding is at least required during the month following mating
• In early pregnancy nutrition offer slightly higher allowances (post-grazing cover) at this time for poor condition ewes to allow them to gain some condition (thin ewes first in rotation).
• What are maintenance feeding conditions for a ewe on average?

  Specific feeding conditions to maintain ewe weight (1 kgDM/d) from an allowance (~1.5 kgDM/d) with pasture covers (800-1200kgDM/ha) and sward heights (2-4cm)
• What kind of grazing is used in early pregnancy?

  Rotational grazing, grazing down ~800 kgDM/ha with an allowance of 1-1.5 kg/d
• Mid Pregnancy Feed Planning


  Strategy development to manage feed availability for late pregnancy and early lactation in ewes
• In late pregnancy nutrition, excessive under nutrition can potentially lead to:

  Increased lamb mortality, lowered colostrum production/milk production, low lamb birth weights, increased ewe and lamb losses
• About how much does fetal growth occur in the last 40-50 days of pregnancy?

  ~70% of growth
• Bulky feeds shouldn't be fed in late pregnancy because reducing abdominal space can reduce/limit feed intake.
• What's the heirarchy of demand in the last 50 days before lambing begins?

  Poor condition multiples, lambing first cycle, remainder of first cycle multiples, second cycle multiples, single bearing ewes first cycle, late single bearing ewes
• During days 100 to 126 of pregnancy ewes should be grazed so that pasture mass doesn't get below

  900 kgDM/ha
• Post day 133 of pregnancy - Do not restrict intake - ideal guidelines, Do not graze pasture below 1200 kgDM/ha (4cm); Multiples allowance 3-4 kgDM/d; No advantage grazing above 1800 kgDM/ha from an intake put of view.
• Excessive nutrition in late pregnancy can potentially lead to:

  Increased lamb BW in singletons leading to dystocia, prolapsed vagina
• Set Stocking

  Method of grazing where animals have continuous access to pasture
• What does mid-pregnancy shearing (days 40-100) do for ewes?

  Increase placental and fetal growth - leading to larger lambs at birth, reduced ewe casting, cleaner udders, improved lambing weaning weights
• Under which conditions would mid-pregnancy shearing work?

  Ewes must be in appropriate stage of pregnancy, be fed at least pregnancy maintenance, BCS of at least 2.5
• Under which conditions wouldn't mid-pregnancy shearing work?

  Thin ewes, poor feeding levels, less likely to increase singleton BW
• What happens if ewes are sheared during late pregnancy?

  Potential risk of metabolic disorders but can improve lamb survival from ewes seeking shelter at lambing