Pre-Lambing Ewe Nutrition: Setting Lambs Up for Welfare

Ewe nutrition in the final weeks of pregnancy determines lamb birth weight, vitality, and colostrum quality. Getting it right is the most impactful early-life welfare intervention.

Key Facts

Lambs born under 2.5 kg have significantly higher mortality and long-term welfare compromise
Colostrum quality depends directly on ewe nutrition in the final 6 weeks of pregnancy
Vitamin E and selenium deficiency in ewes causes white muscle disease in newborn lambs
Over-conditioning ewes above body condition score 3.5 increases dystocia risk
Twin and triplet ewes need energy density increases from 6 weeks before lambing

Welfare Considerations

What happens to a lamb before it is born determines much of its welfare capacity after birth. An ewe fed inadequately in late pregnancy produces lambs with low birth weight, poor vigor, and reduced ability to suckle and thermoregulate. Her colostrum - the critical first meal providing both immunity and energy - is compromised in both volume and immunoglobulin content. The welfare of every lamb in a flock traces back to the nutrition of its dam in the weeks before birth. Pre-lambing nutrition is the highest-leverage welfare intervention available to sheep farmers.

What You Can Do

Assess ewe body condition score at weaning, mating, mid-pregnancy, and 6 weeks before lambing
Use pregnancy scanning results to create feeding groups based on litter size
Increase concentrate supplementation for twin and triplet ewes from 6 weeks before lambing
Supplement selenium and vitamin E in deficient areas as advised by your vet
Provide shelter and adequate trough space so all ewes can access supplementary feed