Sheep Management Tips- Fall

Livestock Update, September 2005

Scott P. Greiner Extension Animal Scientist- Sheep, Virginia Tech

• Test hay and silage samples to determine their nutritive value. Work with an Extension agent to determine the supplements that will be required to formulate balanced diets for winter feeding.
• Trim and check feet.
• Graze spring-born lambs on available fall pasture and aftermath hay fields.
• Avoid marketing lightweight lambs in September and October when market prices are typically at their lowest levels of the year. Market spring-born lambs in late fall through winter.
• Supplement grain on pasture to promote increased lamb weight gains.
• Identify and retain ewe lambs from spring lambing to be used as replacements. Breed so that they will lamb first as yearlings.
• After November 1, place ewes on stockpiled fescue pasture.
• With adequate fall growth, one acre of stockpiled fescue should supply enough feed for five non-lactating ewes through February 1. Use temporary electric fence to limit the sheep's access to a portion of the stockpiled pasture until fully utilized.

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