Adequate winter nutrition in sheep, particularly for pregnant ewes, prevents pregnancy toxaemia and supports the welfare of both ewe and lamb.
Winter nutritional management directly determines ewe welfare during late pregnancy and early lactation, and lamb welfare through colostrum quality and maternal behaviour. Under-nutrition causes pregnancy toxaemia, a distressing and often fatal condition, while over-nutrition causes dystocia. Precision nutrition matched to pregnancy stage is the foundation of sheep welfare during winter.