Ewe Nutrition For Optimal Lamb Production

Sheep producers are often heard complaining about ewes that produce thick and sticky, slow-flowing colostrum, with a subsequent negative effect on lambs. Several studies indicate that this problem can be directly attributed to poor nutrition during late gestation.

- Izak Hofmeyr

In an article titled ‘Colostrum production in ewes: A review of regulatory mechanisms and of energy supply’ by Banchero et al., published in Animal in 2015, the authors point out that lamb losses in extensive production systems can largely be attributed to colostrum availability. Colostrum production, in turn, is directly dependent on the nutrition that ewes receive in the last weeks prior to lambing.

The energy requirements of ewes expecting multiplets are significantly higher than those carrying single lambs. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that these ewes simply do not have enough space in their rumen to ingest sufficient roughage to meet their energy requirements.

Grazing alone is therefore insufficient in meeting these ewes’ requirements and an energy supplement in the last week of gestation is essential. The extra energy ensures better colostrum production and makes the colostrum more fluid, thus promoting ingestion.

Nutrition for colostrum production

According to the authors, the majority of energy-rich grains tend to increase colostrum production by between 90 and 185%. They concluded that short-term supplementation of energy-rich grains is therefore a cost-effective way of managing ewes under extensive grazing conditions and limiting lamb losses.

They caution, though, that adequate protein intake is just as vital, seeing as over or underfeeding protein can affect the amount of colostrum produced at birth.

Nutrition during late gestation