Feeding early lambing ewes: Some pedigree breeds that hold sales earlier in the season such as Vendéens for example have started or will soon commence lambing. Supplementation rates for longer-term indoor feeding spanning the first few weeks of lactation differs depending on forage quality and ewe condition.

Twin-suckling ewes in good body condition and offered ad-lib moderate-quality silage (68% to 70% DMD) or top-quality hay should receive in the region of 1.2kg to 1.5kg concentrates. This increases to 1.5kg to 1.7kg where body condition is limiting and reduces to 1kg to 1.2kg where ewes will be turned to grass after about a week indoors and can utilise body reserves if required for a short period. For single suckling ewes the advice is to supplement with 0.5kg to 0.7kg concentrates for ewes in good condition, rising to 0.6kg to 0.9kg for ewes lacking flesh and likewise reducing to 0.3kg to 0.5kg for short-term feeding. Where silage quality is poor (55% to 60% DMD) then it is not really suitable for feeding significant levels and will only really act as a forage source with practically ad-lib levels of concentrates required for twin suckling ewes.

While good-quality hay of 60% DMD has a UFL value of 0.69/kg DM, it rates higher as a feed as ewes can consume higher volumes (provided it is good-quality) relative to silage.

When selecting a concentrate feed the focus should major on high-energy ingredients (cereals and beet pulp, distiller’s grains) and a good protein source with soya bean meal the obvious choice. A protein content of 18% will generally suffice where high volumes of concentrates are being fed.

For ewes in late pregnancy Table 1 shows feeding levels advised by Teagasc for a twin bearing ewe weighing 75kg to 80kg and in good body condition.

Feeding rates can be increased/decreased for triplet and single bearing ewes respectively with feeding for triplet bearing ewes advised to commence nine to 10 weeks out from lambing.

SWS ewe numbers: The number of breeding ewes over 12 months of age entered on your sheep census will be taken as the annual figure for the purposes of complying with the Sheep Welfare Scheme reference number. The census has taken place in recent years on 31 December with numbers recorded in the 2019 sheep census used as the benchmark for the 2020 payment. Farmers can drop down below the reference number, with this number of ewes then used to calculate the payment rate for the respective year. If doing so, the Department must be notified of the change.