Customers sometimes ask if they can I join ewes with lambs at foot.
While we are generally in favour of maximising production and profit, joining ewes that are lactating can be problematic.
- While lactating, ewes partition nutrients from their feed to produce milk rather than store energy. This can cause a negative plane of nutrition reducing the ewes ability to ovulate.
- The production of the hormone prolactin – vital for milk production – can create ‘lactational anoestrus’. Elevated prolactin levels while lambs are nursing, makes ovulation less likely. Once feeding stops, levels fall to non-pregnant levels after 1 to 2 weeks.
- Depending on when their lambs were born, lactating ewes may also be deep in ‘seasonal anoestrus’. While Regulin overcomes seasonality in all breeds, maximum benefits will be achieved if the suckling lambs are weaned 2-4 weeks prior to joining.
Other observations include:
- Conception while still nursing is energetically demanding on the ewe. Artificial weaning of the lamb at foot induces a strong stress response in the ewe. These factors impact foetal growth and increase lamb mortality.
- Ewes that are lactating when delivering a lamb tend to lay down more, increasing the chance of casting.
- Lambs are usually lighter and born with less vigour.
- Lactating ewes tend to care less for their lambs after birth and maintain a greater distance from them.
For more information check out the presentations on our website: regulin.com.au/ceva-university
written by Regulin Russ [Davis]