Preparation and planning the keys to lambing success, from Thompsons’ Dr. Ronald Annett

Former US President Benjamin Franklin once famously said “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”  He wasn’t speaking to a farming audience at the time, but with ‘Lambing 2026’ just around the corner, his advice on forward planning and being prepared holds the key to a successful lambing season.    

Grass growth in 2025 was exceptionally good and grass covers remained well above average as the year drew to a close. After a good grass year, it can be tempting to hold ewes outside and delay the introduction of supplementary feeding until closer to lambing, but this strategy could end up being counterproductive.  

Ewes face a degree of nutritional stress from around 6 weeks before lambing, when a spurt in foetal growth begins. With plenty of good quality grass available, the degree of undernutrition at this stage is relatively mild, even for ewes carrying triplets, so we rarely see any nutritional issues. The challenge comes later when ewes face an abrupt change from a grass-based diet to one consisting of grass silage (or haylage) and concentrates. With a sudden dietary change, it can take up to a week for the rumen microflora to adapt to the new diet. When a dietary change occurs close to lambing, the nutritional stresses on the ewe at this late stage are exacerbated and can lead to issues with sub-clinical ketosis and colostrum supply. By planning to house ewes well in advance of lambing, they have plenty of time to adapt to the dietary changes, resulting in a much smoother transition.

The optimum time to house ewes depends mainly on the number of lambs they are carrying, so preparation for lambing should begin with pregnancy scanning 60-80 days into gestation. As a rule of thumb, plan to house triplets at least six weeks before lambing, doubles at five weeks, and singles at four weeks. If ewes are thin or the quality of silage/haylage is poor (ME below 10MJ), then plan to house at least a week earlier. Also at housing, ewes should be given their clostridial booster and treated for fluke and lameness, if required. 

When housing ewes, keep in mind that triplets will need about 10% more feed space than the recommended allowance of 400-450mm, to help reduce the risk of miscarriage. Clean drinking water is also vital, especially for triplets which could be consuming >1kg/day concentrates before lambing.

Besides litter size, forage quality is the other main driver of concentrate feed rates.  Plan to contact your Thompsons’ Sales Rep at least eight weeks before lambing to request a forage analysis and bespoke feed plan for your flock. If you have a selection of silages available, make sure to offer the best quality forage to your ewes, preferably precision chop silage to help maximize intake. The normal rule of thumb is that once the feeding level exceeds 0.5kg/ewe/day, it is best to split the daily concentrate allocation into two feeds to minimise the risk of acidosis.   

Given the severity of nutritional stresses as lambing approaches, ewes need an energy dense, high protein supplement to help drive energy levels and milk production. Starch is the most efficient energy source for pregnant ewes, which is why the Thompsons’ Ewe Range is founded on high levels of maize and wheat, followed by digestible fibre from soya hulls and sugarbeet.  

Protein intake in late pregnancy is a key driver of mammary development and colostrum production, with soyabean meal the preferred protein source to help boost milk production. Supplying 18-20% crude protein, the Thompsons’ Ewe Range contains a range of rations designed to suit every system, from highly prolific indoor flocks to those lambing at grass.   

A high spec trace mineral package is also advantageous to pregnant ewes. Alongside cobalt, iodine, zinc, manganese and molybdenum, the Thompsons’ Ewe Range provides high levels of vitamin E (150 IU/kg) and selenium (0.5 mg/kg), both important for muscle tone and an effective immune system, to help ensure lambs get off to the best possible start in life.

For more information on the Thompsons’ Ewe Range, contact your local Thompsons’ Sales Rep or phone Belfast on; 028 9035 1321.

Posted 12,01,26 by allison.