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Tupping

A tup and a ewe

Tupping Toolkit

Checking tup health and condition 6 to 12 weeks pre-tupping gives time to make any management changes or treatments to ensure tups are in the best condition for tupping. If tups are not working to their full potential, it could result in a reduced lamb crop and a longer lambing period, ultimately affecting farm profitability.This is important for both stock tups already in a flock and newly purchased animals.

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Sheep

Pre-mating Management

Recent reports of ewes (particularly hard hill ewes) in poor body condition after the conditions of 2018 are a concern.  Thin ewes will struggle to meet the needs of the growing foetus.  This nutritional stress will risk greater lamb death next year through reduced colostrum production, lighter lamb birth weights and poor ewe-lamb bonding.  Adding condition to thinner ewes now will reap benefits in 2019 through greater foetus and lamb survival.  Read more>>

Warning For Hill Ewes In Poor Body Condition

Recent reports of ewes (particularly hard hill ewes) in poor body condition after the conditions of 2018 are a concern.  Thin ewes will struggle to meet the needs of the growing foetus.  This nutritional stress will risk greater lamb death next year through reduced colostrum production, lighter lamb birth weights and poor ewe-lamb bonding.  Adding condition to thinner ewes now will reap benefits in 2019 through greater foetus and lamb survival.  Read more>>

Post Mating Tup Management

When the tups are removed from the ewes, they may have lost condition, with an estimated 15% loss of body weight during the tupping season, this is especially true in newly purchased heavily fed tups.  This condition should be managed to ensure survivability through the winter. Read more>>

Housing Ewes

With early lambing ewes approaching lambing and field conditions getting muddy, some are looking to start housing post Christmas.  Housing these sheep does offer benefits to the ground but remember the longer the housing period, the greater potential for disease build up e.g. lameness. Read more>>

Rear 10% More Lambs Next Year

More and more research illustrates the effect of condition score on the rearing success of the ewe flock. For example, Teagasc, the Irish Research and Advisory Agency, have recorded a 10% increase in rearing rate for ewes that are one condition score greater at mating time (within the range of 2.5-4). This makes a compelling argument to focus on ewe condition between weaning and mating time to improve returns next year. Read more>>

Feeding Rams Pre-Tupping

With tupping time approaching, you may be starting to feed some concentrates to your rams. At the start of tupping you are aiming for a body condition score of 3.5-4.0 for these males. Overfed rams can be lazy with a reduced libido and fertility. It is, therefore, important not to be too good to them pre-tupping. If you are buying in breeding rams ideally ask the seller what they have been eating in the run up to the sale. Read more>>

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