Annual Ewe Management

Program

(Winter Lambing)

I. Ewe Production Stages

Flushing:

August 1 to August 15

Breeding:

August 15 to October 7

Early Gestation:

September 7 to December 26

Late Gestation: December

26 to January 23

Average Lambing Date: January 23

Lactation:

January 23 to March 24

Average Weaning Date: March 24

Post-Weaning:

March 24 to April 3

Maintenance:

April 3 to August 1

II. Nutritional Flushing (14 days)

A. Minimally Intensive.

1. Average grass pasture.

2. No concentrate.

II. Nutritional Flushing (14 days)

A. Moderately Intensive.

1. Turn teasers in.

2. Replace with fertile rams.

3. Supplement existing pasture.

4. Move to new OG or BG

pasture. No grain.

II. Nutritional Flushing (14 days)

A. Highly Intensive.1. Turn teasers in.2. Replace with fertile rams.3. Move ewes to new pasture with or

without white clover.4. Supplement with shelled corn.5. In confinement – 3 to 5 lb

grass/legume or alfalfa hay + 1.0 lb shelled corn.

II. Nutritional Flushing (14 days)

A. Each mgnt. level begins 2 weeks before and continues 3 weeks into breeding.B. ADG = 0.2 to 0.25 lb/hd/d.C. Leave in 2.0 to 2.5 BCS.D. Can’t flush if BCS > 3.0E. Mineral, water, shade.

III. Breeding (53 days)

A. Leave ewes in same area for 7 to 10 days after ram removal.

B. Leave in 2.0 to 2.5 BCS.C. Ewe: ram.

Mature = 35 to 50:1.Yrlg = 20 to 35:1.Lamb = 15 to 20:1.

D. Mineral, water, shade.

IV. Early Gestation (110 days)

A. Enter in 2.0 to 2.5 BCS.B. ADG = 0.07 lb/ewe/d.C. Leave in 3.0 or less BCS.D. Check pregnancy.E. Cull opens.F. Shear, FAMACHA, trim hooves.

IV. Early Gestation (110 days)

A. Nutrition options.1. Scavengers.2. Stockpiled grasses.3. Turnips.4. No pasture.

(a) 3-5 lb low-quality hay in barn.(b) Big bales (low-quality) in pasture

area.B. Mineral, water, shade.C. Quality of feed unimportant if quantity is

adequate.

V. Late Gestation (28 days)

A. Enter in 3.0 BCS.B. Check FAMACHA and BCS.C. CDT vaccination.D. Begin to feed 1.0 lb grain/ewe/d.

1. 1x/d on Dec. 1.2. Pasture, turnips, hay.

V. Late Gestation (28 days)

A. Move ewes to barn on Jan. 3.B. Ration 1.

OG hay (EV) = 3.3 lb/ewe/d.Shelled corn = 1.2 lb/ewe/d.

C. Ration 2.Alfalfa hay (MB) = 4.1 lb/ewe/d.Shelled corn = 1.0/ewe/d.

D. Mineral, water.E. ADG = 0.5 lb/ewe/d.F. BCS at lambing = 3.5 to 4.0.

VI. Lambing

A. “Up close”pens.B. Move to jugs.C. Process lambs.D. Weigh, record, iodine navel.E. Remove mucal plug in teat.F. Water for ewes first 24 hours.

VI. Lambing

A. Check ewes/lambs every 2 hours.B. 3.0 to 5.0 lb grass hay/ewe/d.C. Stay 24 hours up to 2 to 5 days.D. Move to nursery pen – process lambs.

VII. Lactation (60 days)

A. De-worm as ewes leave jugs.B. Leave in BCS of 1.5 to 2.0.C. Feed for milk, not BCS.D. Mineral, water.

VII. Lactation (60 days)

Ration 1 in confinement (150-lb ewes).OG hay, full bloom 5.3 lb/ewe/d.Shelled corn 1.5 lb/ewe/d.Soybean meal 0.5 lb/ewe/d.Mineral, water.

VII. Lactation (60 days)

Ration 2 in confinement (150-lb ewes).OG hay, (EV) 5.3 lb/ewe/d.Shelled corn 1.4 lb/ewe/d.Mineral, water.

VII. Lactation (60 days)

Ration 3 in confinement (150-lb ewes).Alfalfa hay (MB) 5.5 lb/ewe/d.Shelled corn 1.5 lb/ewe/d.Mineral, water.

VII. Lactation (60 days)

Ewes/lambs on small grain pasture + 1.0 lb OG hay + 1.0 lb corn.

Ewes/lambs on stockpiled cool season grasspasture + 1.0 lb alfalfa hay + 1.0 lb. corn.

Mineral, water.

VIII. Post-weaning (10 days)

A. Remove grain.B. Reduce hay/pasture.C. No feed, mineral or water for 48 hours.D. After 48 hours, provide water and mineral.E. Graze 2 hours/day for 3 days.F. Gradually graze full-time.

IX. Maintenance (118 days)

A. Palpate udders, review records, cull after 1 month.

B. Shear keepers.C. FAMACHA, BCS monthly.D. De-worm 4’s and 5’s.E. Trim feet, foot bath.F. Vaccinate for Vibrio and EAE.G. De-worm before flushing.H. Rotate pastures, mineral, water, shade.

Annual Ram Management

Program

(Winter Lambing)

I. Nutritional Flushing (14 days)

A. Minimally Intensive.

1. Grass pasture.

2. No supplement.

3. De-worm fertile rams.

I. Nutritional Flushing (14 days)

A. Moderately Intensive.

1. De-worm teasers/fertile rams

2. Replace teasers on August 15.

3. Manage like ewes.

I. Nutritional Flushing (14 days)

A. Highly Intensive.1. De-worm teasers/fertile rams.2. Replace teasers on August 15.3. Manage like ewes.

II. Breeding (53 days)

A. August 15 to October 7.B. Marking harnesses/crayon changes.C. Manage like ewes.D. Enter and leave in 2.0 to 2.5 BCSE. Mature ram = 35 to 50:1.

Yearling ram = 20 to 35:1.Lamb ram = 15 to 20:1.

III. Maintenance (298 days)

A. Teasers check for open ewes.B. Re-acquaint all rams.C. De-worm, trim hooves.D. Winter pasture, grass hay.E. Shear in March/April, de-worm.F. In barn, May to August.

Annual Lamb Management

Program

(Winter Lambing)

I. Parturition

A. In “up close” pens.

B. Move to jugs.

II. Lambs Not Early-Weaned

A. Creep by 7 days of age90% ground/cracked corn10% SBM1 lb Aureo-50/ton

B. Self-feed or hand-feedC. Vaccinate for EnterotoxemiaD. Market

55-70 lb in Mar/Apr70-90 lb in Apr/May90-130 lb in May/June

III. Lambs Early-Weaned

A. Creep by 7 days of ageB. Self-feed or hand-feed to weaning

III. Lambs Early-Weaned

Creep Diet I90% ground/cracked corn10% SBM1 lb Aureo-50 crumbles/ton

III. Lambs Early-Weaned

Creep Diet II81% ground/cracked corn10% SBM5% DDGS2.5% complete minerals0.5% ammonium chloride0.12% Vit. E0.05% Vit. A, D, E1 lb Aureo-50 crumbles/ton of mix

III. Lambs Early-Weaned

A. At weaning, move ewes.B. Vaccinate for Enterotoxemia.C. Change from creep to post- weaning diet over 2 weeks.

III. Lambs Early-Weaned

Post-Weaning Diet10% CSH65% ground/cracked corn15% SBM5% DDGS1.5% grd. limestone0.25% complete mineral1.00% white salt0.50% ammonium chloride2.00% corn oil