Farm Animal Welfare

Sheep Pre-Lambing Nutrition and Welfare

Targeted nutrition in the final six weeks before lambing prevents metabolic disease and supports lamb birth weight and survival.

Key Facts

Energy requirements increase 150% in the final 6 weeks of pregnancy
Rumen capacity is reduced as the uterus expands in late pregnancy
Concentrate supplementation bridges the energy gap from forage alone
Body condition score at lambing predicts metabolic disease risk
Twin and triplet ewes have significantly higher requirements than singles

Welfare Considerations

Ewes in negative energy balance in late pregnancy develop pregnancy toxaemia - a potentially fatal metabolic disease causing weakness, recumbency, and death. The condition is entirely preventable through appropriate nutrition in the final weeks before lambing. Targeting supplementation at the ewes with highest requirements (multiples, poor BCS) prevents suffering cost-effectively.

What You Can Do

Implement scanning to identify twin and triplet ewes for targeted feeding
Provide adequate concentrate supplementation in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy
Monitor body condition score at scanning and adjust management accordingly
Work with a sheep nutritionist on late pregnancy supplementation programs