All livestock keepers live in hope! At this time of year, gradually lengthening days turn smallholders’ (and not-so-small holders’) thoughts towards lambing and the eternal hope of good weather for it! Whilst hope may be our only influence on the weather, the success and enjoyment of lambing can be better influenced through good preparation. Exactly what that involves will vary from holding to holding, but let’s look at some key areas to consider. 

Nutrition 

Having ewes in good body condition on appropriate nutrition is essential for successful lambing. Underfeeding in the final month of pregnancy, will reduce lamb vitality at birth and limit ewe milk supply and colostrum quality, while overfeeding can lead to dystocia (difficulty lambing) and prolapses.  

Check body condition scores (BCS) mid-pregnancy and offer additional feeding to ewes under BCS 3 or carrying multiple lambs. Repeat BCS checks regularly and adjust feeding accordingly.  

Metabolic profiling using blood samples from a few ewes, 3 weeks pre-lambing assesses energy, protein status, mineral and trace element status. Speak to your vet early to discuss if this may be useful for your flock.   

Ewe Health 

Worming is not usually required pre-lambing but dung samples allow us to check, especially if BCS’s are low or dung is loose.  

Ensure pre-lambing vaccines (e.g. clostridial disease) are ordered in advance, stored correctly and given at the appropriate time. Don’t forget to include the tup(s) in vaccine and parasite control plans. 

Throughout pregnancy, watch for lameness and treat any affected animals promptly. Ensure pregnant ewes are handled gently, with minimum stress on all occasions. 

Environment 

UK lambing can be from January to May, in snow over your wellie tops, rain blowing sideways or on glorious warm sunny days. When planning outdoor lambing, it is important always to have some shelter provision for any poorly ewes or lambs, mis-motherings or if the weather turns very cold/wet. This shelter may be in a farm building, field shelter, or polytunnel, and should include at least a few individual pens.  

Sheds with hard flooring should be power washed, disinfected, and allowed to dry before pens are set up. Shelters with earth floors may benefit from scraping out and applying a lime based disinfectant powder. 

Pregnant ewes housed in groups must all have adequate lying space and easy access to feed and water without having to compete with other ewes. 

Individual pens can be made up using: 

Wooden pallets  

  • cheap  
  • provide some shelter from drafts 
  • heavy to move – must be well secured to avoid injury 
  • bulky to store  
  • difficult (impossible?!) to disinfect  
  • creates quite small pens for large breed ewes, increasing the risk of lambs being laid on 

Metal gates/hurdles  

  • lightweight  
  • easy to secure, move, store and clean 
  • provide no shelter 

Recycled plastic pens  

  • lightweight  
  • easily cleaned 
  • provide shelter from drafts but do ensure adequate drainage is available to avoid excess moisture retention below bedding. 
  • higher initial cost 

Each pen requires plenty of clean, fresh bedding, and suitable feed and water containers. Bedding should be removed, and pens and equipment disinfected between ewes.  

A simple but clear recording system really helps when lambing gets hectic, and helpers get tired! Attaching a small whiteboard or laminated sheet to each pen enables quick recording of key information such as: 

  • Date lambed and if assisted  
  • Number of live and dead lambs  
  • Lamb(s) seen feeding/colostrum given 
  • Navels treated  
  • Castration/docking 
  • Medications due/given 

Equipment 

Gather equipment well ahead of time and decide how to store and access it. The last thing you need when you’ve caught a ewe in the field, is to realise your kit is back in the shed! 

Prepare a small lambing kit to take into the pen/field, including; 

  • Long and short disposable gloves – more on this later! 
  • Lubricant gel …lots of! 
  • Lambing ropes – usually two of different colours plus a head rope or “snare” 
  • Navel spray/dip 
  • Pain relief plus a clean (i.e. new!) needle and syringe.  

It may also be helpful to have a separate older lamb kit, including a marker spray, castrations rings and applicator, thermometer and again…gloves! 

In your shed or storage area, you may also want to keep; 

  • Spares of equipment listed above  
  • Prolapse harness (with fitting instructions) 
  • Feeding equipment – lamb feeding tube and syringe, clean jug to collect/mix colostrum, powdered colostrum for emergencies, clean bottles and teats. 
  • Calcium, twin lamb treatments 
  • Medications prescribed by vet – please check if these need to be refrigerated 
  • New needles and syringes plus a container for disposing of used ones 
  • Heat source e.g. heat lamp (in safe working order!) 
  • A small table and bin can help to keep the lambing area organised 

Access to facilities for washing hands and equipment is essential for healthy lambing. This should include warm water, soap, disinfectant, brushes, and paper towels.   

Ewe (YOU!) 

Livestock keepers work so hard to care for their animals that they often forget to care properly for themselves, but please remember, you are the most valuable asset on your farm. Each person and holding has a different set of circumstances, but the considerations are broadly the same as for your flock! 

Nutrition  

Before lambing starts, fill the freezer and cupboards with healthy, easy meals, snacks and drinks to keep you going during the long lambing days/nights. Keep a supply in the lambing shed or your vehicle and use insulated flasks for hot food/drinks in cold weather.  

Health  

Ahead of lambing, consider your own health and fitness, both physical and mental. Farmers in Scotland can check in with your local RSABI Health Hut event, or visit Farmstrong Scotland. In Northern Ireland, the charity Rural Support has lots of great resources as do FarmWell England and Wales.  

During lambing, good hand hygiene is essential to prevent zoonotic diseases such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, and E. coli. My simple advice is wear disposable gloves! Short gloves are available in all sizes for general work, while long gloves are suitable for assisting lambings. Not only are you protecting yourself from disease, changing gloves regularly reduces the transfer of disease from one animal to the next.  

Environment  

Lambing involves long hours, and challenging conditions so ensure there is somewhere warm and dry where you can rest and recharge when you get the chance. 

Equipment  

Anything from warm layers to sunscreen may be needed, plus a head torch, a fully charged mobile phone and waterproof overalls and footwear that are actually waterproof! Equip yourself also with the knowledge you need for a successful lambing by joining a local lambing course and knowing when to call for help.  

Depending on your flock size and set up, you may also need more hands. The NSA (National Sheep Association) Lambing List helps pair up veterinary and agriculture students looking for experience with farms needing help, but plan ahead to make sure you secure a good match! 

Lambing can be a fantastic time to involve kids of all ages in this amazing experience (plus you may benefit from a lambing assistant with small hands!). It is, however, vital that we protect young people’s health and safety by considering all the above points for them too. High-vis clothing can improve child visibility on farms too, especially important where there are vehicles moving around.