Weaning should be viewed as the starting point for next season’s lamb crop, with poor ewe condition and hidden trace element deficiencies potentially costing flocks valuable lambs at scanning time, according to sheep experts.
Nia Williams, commercial and technical manager at Nettex, said the post-weaning period is a critical window for assessing ewes and making nutritional adjustments ahead of tupping.
“Weaning is the ideal time to assess ewes and ensure both ewes and rams are in the right body condition and have the correct trace element status ahead of breeding,” she said.
“At mating, lowland ewes should be at a body condition score (BCS) of 3.0-3.5, and hill ewes 2.5-3.0. Ewes within this target at weaning should be maintained, while thinner ewes need early intervention to allow gradual recovery.”
Even small losses in condition can have a measurable impact on fertility, with a one-unit drop in BCS reducing ovulation rate by around 0.45. In a 500-ewe flock scanning at 200%, this would equate to 45 fewer lambs on the ground if 10% of ewes were under target by 1 BCS.
“Lean ewes are often the highest performers that had multiple lambs and milked heavily, so they need targeted support after weaning to recover before tupping,” said Ms Williams.
One BCS unit represents around 10–12% of mature bodyweight, meaning a 70kg ewe may need to gain 7–8kg to move up a condition score. This should be achieved over 8–10 weeks to avoid negative effects on fertility.
Where grazing is limited, supplementary feeding may be required, including silage, hay, concentrates or high-energy feed blocks. Splitting ewes into condition groups can also improve feeding efficiency.
Trace element status is also critical, with deficiencies in selenium, cobalt and iodine known to affect ovulation, conception and lamb viability.
“Mineral status is often a hidden limiting factor in fertility and must not be overlooked when preparing for tupping,” said Ms Williams.
She recommends blood testing 8–10 ewes per management group post-weaning to identify any deficiencies early enough to correct them before breeding.
“If energy, protein and mineral status are optimal and ewes still fail to regain condition, underlying issues such as parasites, lameness or poor teeth should be investigated,” she adds.
Trace element supplementation options include drenches such as Nettex’s Sheep Conditioning or Cobalt, Selenium and B12 drench, or boluses like EnduraBol Sheep, with the best choice depending on system and grazing type.
“Good breeding performance depends on multiple factors working together,” added Ms Williams. “Body condition, flock health, trace elements and grazing management all play a role. Using the post-weaning period well gives ewes the best chance of delivering a productive lamb crop the following season.”
