This document outlines the typical yearly cycle for raising sheep, beginning with breeding season in October and ending when the cycle repeats the following October. Key points include: rams are added in October to breed ewes; lambing occurs in March after a 152-day gestation; newborn lambs are jugged with their mothers and receive care; lambs are weaned at around 90 days old; ewes recover over summer before the breeding season starts again in the fall.
4. Breeding Season
Rams are added in with ewes in the
middle of October
Sheep are short day breeders
Fertility is high in the fall
Estrus cycle lasts an average of 17 days
Most ewes will conceive in the first
cycle
Rams rotated out after the second
cycle to cover any open ewes
6. Supplementation and Vaccination
In late-February, grain is added
to the hay diet
Supports fetus and mammary
development
4 weeks prior to lambing, ewes
receive clostridium perfringins
type C and D (overeating
disease) and tetanus vaccine
7. Pre-lambing shearing or crutching
Drier, cleaner environment for
lambs
Increase lamb birth weight
Improve fleece quality
Better access to feeders
Greater housing density =
warmer housing
Easier access to teats
8. Lambing
152 day gestation
Middle of March
First time ewes lamb 3 weeks later
Ewes lamb in larger pen or out on
pasture
Strive for little to no assistance
Twins or triplets desired
9. Jugging
Born lambs are put into a 5x5 pen
called a jug
Navel cords shortened, dipped in
disinfectant
Lambs and ewe bond
Weighed and ear tagged
Records taken: DOB, sex, weight, tag
number
Tail docking and castration
1-3 day stay at the Jug-Inn
10. Comingling
4 ewes and their lambs are mixed in a
larger pen.
Lambs learn how to recognize their
mothers
1-2 weeks later, ewes and lamb groups
are combined
Ewes with triplets are penned separately
for additional supplementation
13. Lamb vaccination and pre-weaning health
6-8 weeks of age
Clostridium perfringins type C & D
(overeating disease) and clostridium
tetani (tetanus)
Booster 4 weeks later
Coccidia treatment
Tapeworm treatment
14. Weaning
90 days old
Weights taken
Ewes moved to different pen to be
fed for drying off
Ram lambs separated from ewe
lambs by 3-4 months of age
15. Stocker lambs
Lambs grazed with optional grain
supplementation until they reach
desired weight or market
16. Ewe recovery
Graze grass to retain condition
Mineral only supplementation
Cull ewes with poor reproductive performance
Replacement ewes bred at about 7 months or
2/3rd of mature size (approximately 100 lbs)
Raised in separate group
Breeding season begins again in mid-October