1. Determine which Rams and Ewes are suitable for breeding. 

   1. Trim Hooves

   2. Check FAMACHA and deworm when needed

   3. Capture Weight

   4. Check for injuries

   5. Ensure Ewe lambs (first-timers) are at least 105 lbs

   6. Give Rams annual CD&T vaccine

2. Begin breeding in early to mid-August in order to get lambs to market before Easter.  Calculate due dates based on a 147 day pregnancy, lambs can be born a day or two earlier or a week later than this.

3. Confining ewes and rams to smaller pastures will allow the ram to service all the ewes more easily.

4. Ewes cycle every 17 days, leave rams in minimally for 2 cycles.

5. Rams can be left with the ewes until a month prior to lambing if desired.  This makes management easier.

1. Do not stress ewes within their first 30 days of pregnancy

2. After the first 30 days of pregnancy but before the last 30 days of pregnancy

   1. Trim Hooves

   2. Check FAMACHA, deworm if needed only with dewormers that are safe for pregnant ewes

   3. Capture Weight 

3. Begin feeding first-timers and skinny ewes 16% Sheep Feed 2 months prior to lambing.

4. Vaccinate all pregnant ewes for CD&T 6 to 8 weeks prior to lambing

5. Begin feeding all ewes 16% Sheep Feed 1 month prior to lambing.

6. If Rams were left in with the Ewes remove them 1 month prior to lambing or when you begin feeding the ewes.

1. Lambing will begin in early to mid-January if breeding started in early to mid August.  Calculate lambing dates based on 147 day gestation.

2. During Lambing

   1. Phase 1.  The cerix dilates and clear whitish discharge appears (12-24 hours)

   2. Phase 2. Uterine contractions increase.  Ewe will spend time lying down.  Eventually a large water bag filled with red colored water will appear.  The tip of the nose and front feet can be felt.

   3. Phase 3.  The lamb is expelled, this process is repeated for multiple births.

   4. Phase 4. The afterbirth is expelled (30-60 minutes)

3. After Lambing

   1. Check the lamb is dry

   2. Treat the navel cord with iodine within 15 minutes of birth.  The navel cord should be trimmed to be no longer than 2 inches.

   3. Check the ewe has an adequate milk supply

   4. Check the lamb has suckled and ingested sufficient colostrum.  Lambs must injest at least 10% of their body weight in colostrum within the first 18 to 24 hours of life. Ideally, half of it should be within the first 4 to 8 hours of birth.  If necessary purchase and bottle feed colostrum. Be sure to purchase a colostrum substitute that contains immunoglobulins (igG).  A lot of products are colostrum supplements which are nutritious but do not contain any antibodies.  Be sure the product is formulated specifically for lambs.

   5. Avoid unnecessary interference 

   6. Make sure the lamb and mother bond well in a jug for 2-3 days

   7. Ensure good hygiene

4. For bottle lambs, ensure body temperature is above 99°F prior to each feeding.  Normal body temperature is 102-103°F. Lambs with temperatures below 100°F are considered hypothermic.  In newborn lambs hypothermia is usually due to exposure, with lambs over 24 hours of age hypothermia is usually due to starvation.

1. (WEEK 1) Creep feed should be available from 1 week of age.

2. (WEEK 5) Early weaning for bottle lambs can be achieved at 25 to 30 lbs of body weight or 30 to 42 days of age.  Lambs should be consuming significant quantities of dry feed prior to weaning.

3. (WEEK 7) Lambs should receive their first CD&T vaccine at 6 - 8 weeks of age.

4. (WEEK 8) Weaning, most lambs can be weaned at 60 days of age or 45 lbs which ever comes first.  Stop feeding ewes 1-2 weeks prior to weaning to aid in drying up milk. 

5. (WEEK 9) Creep feed should be removed from lambs 7-10 days past weaning. 

6. (WEEK 11) Lambs should receive their CD&T vaccine booster 4 weeks after their first vaccination. 

7. (WEEK 12) Return lambs to their mothers 4 weeks after weaning. 

8. (WEEK 12) Cull lambs should be sent to market at between 60-80 lbs for best results.  Usually about a month after weaning.

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