As breeding season quickly approaches, sheep and goat owners should think about how to best prepare their breeding stock. A main source of income on sheep and goat herds is the sale of lamb and kid crop. Aside from hoof trimming, updated vaccines, and breeding soundness exams, here are some tips when preparing for breeding season.
- Provide a Nutritional “Flush”: Flushing is a term referring to putting the animals on a higher plain of nutrition 30 days prior to breeding and 30 days after breeding. The purpose of flushing is to facilitate better ovulation rates and increased implantation rates resulting in better conception rates and increased twinning rates. Flushing not only increases the number of ovulations, or eggs, but also improves survival of the embryo. A unique nutrition supplement that works well for flushing is the Purina Accuration Hi-Fat tub. This weatherized tub offers producers a blend of protein, calories, minerals, and vitamins to help achieve reproductive success.
- Monitor Your Worm Load: Animals that have been on pasture are at risk for worms due to the proximity to the ground when grazing. Worms will deprive animals of critical nutrition and cause low body weight and reproduction. Do a FAMACHA anemia score on your animals, sample feces to determine parasite type, and worm accordingly; not all wormers treat the same parasites. Varying the type of your chosen wormer may also be beneficial to prevent parasite resistance.
- Offer High Quality Free Choice Mineral: Supplying a mineral when forage quality decreases is common practice, but the best way to support reproduction and performance is to provide a mineral year-round. Long-term mineral deficiencies can directly impact your bottom line since your herd won’t perform its best. Highly absorbable trace minerals will bring females into better heats, improve semen viability in your males, make stronger babies at birth, and better milk composition in your ewes and does resulting in heavier weaning weights.
These are just a couple suggestions to increase success, and ultimately profitability, this breeding season. Animals kept in good body condition, health, and on a good plane of nutrition will yield a higher percentage of lamb and kid crop. For more information on sheep and goat supplements tailored to your farm, visit with an Insight FS Feed Specialist! We can’t wait to see your bountiful lamb and kid crop in the spring!