How to Successfully Breed Ewe Lambs at One Year Old

By Blake Jackson

Breeding ewe lambs to lamb at one year old can boost lifetime productivity, but these young females need different management than mature ewes because they are still growing while carrying and raising a lamb. Thoughtful selection and nutrition are key to helping them succeed.

When choosing ewe lambs for breeding, start with those born earlier in the lambing season and out of proven, productive ewes. Early born lambs are typically more physically developed and more likely to cycle on time.

As always, use performance records to narrow your list and then visually evaluate traits such as muscling, sound structure, and overall suitability as future brood ewes. If a ewe lamb does not meet your standards, market her rather than retain her.

A practical guideline is that ewe lambs should weigh at least 70% of their expected mature weight at breeding. They should not become overly fat, as excess fat in the udder can reduce milk yield later. Thin lambs may benefit from flushing with high-quality pasture or a grain supplement. Corn is a common option and can be fed at roughly ¾ to 1¼ pounds per head daily.

Research shows that added energy during flushing can improve body condition, ovulation, and ultimately lambing rate. Begin flushing about two weeks before breeding begins and continue for two to three weeks after rams are introduced. However, note that ewe lambs already receiving a growth-oriented diet often respond less dramatically to flushing than mature ewes maintained on a maintenance ration.

Nutritional demands intensify during the last third of gestation when the unborn lambs make most of their growth. During this period, ewe lambs should transition to higher-quality forage and may also need grain, depending on forage value and body condition.

Since developing lambs take up considerable abdominal space, nutrient-dense feedstuffs are crucial. Inadequate nutrition can result in pregnancy toxemia, low birth weights, weaker lambs, and reduced milk output.

Separating ewe lambs from mature ewes late in gestation can simplify feeding and reduce competition. Some producers breed ewe lambs slightly later than mature ewes so that once the older ewes have lambed, the younger ones can be managed with focused attention. First-time mothers often need extra supervision, and separating age groups helps prevent older ewes from interfering with newborn pairs.

Breeding ewe lambs is optional, but those who do should remember these young animals require elevated nutrition to support both their continued growth and that of their developing lambs.

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