Ewe Feeding in Early and Mid-Pregnancy

Written by Bas van Luijk, Veterinarian at East Coast Farm Vets

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With rams out across many parts of the region, now is a good time to plan ahead for grazing ewes and hoggets as they enter the winter months.

It's no secret that good nutrition plays a vital role in the overall health of your animals and, crucially, in the growth performance of your lambs. This is particularly important during the breeding season and pregnancy, when maintaining optimal condition is paramount.

Careful planning of autumn and winter grazing is essential to ensure that sheep are in optimal condition as they approach lambing, enhancing the chances of high lamb survival rates.

If feed begins to look scarce or paddocks are still recovering, consider increasing the ewe grazing rotation. The length of rotation depends on pasture regrowth, which is influenced by temperature, pasture species, and grazing residuals.

Supplements can be a valuable tool for slowing down the rotation. The goal is to keep well-conditioned ewes at maintenance levels. During these months, lower-quality roughages, such as meadow hay, can serve this purpose well.

Keep in mind that hoggets in early and mid-pregnancy require approximately 20% more feed than mature ewes of similar weight to support their ongoing development.

As late pregnancy approaches, higher-quality supplements such as lucerne hay, grains, or protein concentrates may be necessary, particularly for priority mobs such as triplet-bearing ewes.

Recommendations for this time of year:

• Well-conditioned ewes (60–65 kg, with a body condition score of 3–4) should be fed 1.1–1.2 kg DM/day per ewe of good-quality grass (predominantly green and containing a reasonable amount of clover), with adjustments for lower-quality grass.

• Light ewes should be preferentially fed 1.3–1.5 kg DM/day per ewe of good-quality grass to help them regain condition and prevent foetal absorption, ultimately maintaining scanning and lambing percentages.

Placental development occurs between days 30 and 90 of gestation, making it critical not to underfeed ewes during this time. Insufficient nutrition can result in lower lamb birth weights and compromised survival rates.

Getting feeding right now is essential to prepare for the expected grass shortfall during winter. Consult your animal health team about condition scoring ewes to ensure your grazing plan is accurate and ready to support a strong lamb crop this season.

This article was published in the Gisborne Herald on 05/04/25.