Prepare now to minimise winter housing problems at lambing

Friday 04 November 2011

Preparing buildings and sorting out potential housing issues well before sheep need to be inside this winter will enable flock managers to maximise ewe and lamb productivity and comfort while minimising management problems, advises EBLEX's Dr Liz Genever.

The beef and sheep scientist stresses the importance of ensuring sufficient space for both ewe lying and feeding, pointing out that competition for space can contribute to serious health and welfare problems as nutritional and social stresses increase in the run up to lambing.

Between 0.9m2 and 1.4m2 of lying space per animal should be allowed in straw yards (0.7-1.2m2/ewe on slats) depending on ewe size, with the length of feed fence or trough more important than the overall space allowance so all stock have access to concentrates or forage without unnecessary struggle or competition.

Lying area and trough space recommendations for pre-lambing ewes

Ewe size	Lying Area (m2/ewe)		Trough space (mm/ewe)
	Straw	Slats	Concentrates	Restricted forage
Small (40-60kg)	0.9-1.0	0.7-0.8	400	200
Medium (60-80kg)	1.0-1.2	0.8-1.0	450	250
Large (over 80kg)	1.2-1.4	1.0-1.2	500	275

To allow for better individual recognition and attention at lambing time, EBLEX recommends 30-40 ewes per pen as ideal and points out that while overall space allocations can be reduced by 10% for winter shorn ewes, feeding space should not be cut back. In addition, it identifies a number of other key housing preparation priorities:

Pens should be long and narrow, not square, to maximise feeding space
Feed troughs should allow wasted feed to be removed easily and regularly
Up to 9 litres of water per ewe per day is needed pre-lambing and more afterwards
Water bowls/troughs should be designed and sited to minimise fouling and freezing
Ample, dry and clean bedding is vital to minimise footrot and hygiene problems
While draughts should be avoided, free air circulation is important above the sheep
Ample lighting is essential to facilitate effective inspection
A hospital area for sick or injured animals will invariably be valuable
Pens should be set up for the easiest cleaning, stock handling and movement.

As well as preparing housing well in advance, managers are advised to make sure ewes receive booster vaccinations 4-6 weeks before lambing and are grouped carefully by scanning result. Equally, ewes that are lame or affected by footrot should be separated as they are housed both for special attention and to prevent problems spreading throughout the flock.

Further practical guidance on preparing both housing and ewes for lambing is available free of charge to levy payers in Beef and Sheep BRP Manual 4: Target Ewe Management for Better Returns, available from www.eblex.org.uk or by calling 0870 241 8829.