Flushing Ewes Before Mating: Timing, Ration and Real Results

Flushing means raising the energy in a ewe's diet for about 2 to 4 weeks before the ram goes in, and keeping it up through the first weeks of mating. The aim is a ewe that is gaining condition at ovulation, so she releases more eggs, conceives sooner and is more likely to carry twins. It works best on ewes in moderate condition, not thin or fat ones.

Many breeders already know the effect from experience: ewes that come into mating after a good rainy season lamb better. Flushing turns that observation into a deliberate plan with a clear start date, ration and end date, instead of leaving it to the weather.

Why flushing produces more lambs

The number of eggs a ewe releases at each cycle depends on her body condition and, importantly, on the direction it is moving. A ewe putting on weight in the weeks before ovulation tends to release more eggs than one that is static or losing weight, even if both weigh roughly the same.

In practice this shows up as:

• Higher ovulation rate: two eggs instead of one in part of the flock, which is where twins come from.
• Faster conception: more ewes settle in the first cycle, so lambing is tighter and easier to manage.
• Better embryo survival: steady nutrition in early pregnancy helps embryos implant.

Flushing is not magic, though. Breed sets the ceiling. A breed known for single lambs will not become a twinning breed on feed alone; flushing simply moves the flock closer to what its genetics allow. For the full set of levers, see how to increase the twinning rate in sheep.

Which ewes respond? Start with body condition

Before you buy a single bag of barley, score your ewes. The usual method is a 1 to 5 scale, felt by hand over the loin just behind the last rib: how sharp the spine and the short ribs feel, and how much muscle and fat cover them.

Very thin ewes need the cause fixed first: worms, teeth, lameness or chronic disease. Review your deworming programme for sheep and goats with your vet before the season, because extra grain will not help a ewe that is feeding her parasites.

Split the ewes into two or three groups by condition, and target flushing mainly at the moderate group.

Timing and ration: a practical plan

Timing. Start about 2 to 4 weeks before the ram goes in and continue through the first 2 to 3 weeks of mating. Then step down gradually to a good maintenance ration. Avoid sudden cuts: the first weeks of pregnancy are sensitive to swings in nutrition.

Common energy sources:

• Barley or maize: a moderate daily grain supplement, built up over about a week to avoid digestive upsets. Many farmers use roughly 250 to 500 g per head per day depending on condition and forage quality; it is best to set the amount with a nutrition adviser.
• Good green pasture where available, by far the cheapest way to flush.
• Good-quality alfalfa or hay as a stable forage base.
• Minerals and salt always available, plus clean water at all times.

Important cautions:

• Never introduce grain all at once; sudden increases can cause acidosis and bloat.
• Provide enough trough space so dominant ewes do not take the weaker ewes' share.
• More concentrate raises the risk of enterotoxaemia in unvaccinated animals. Check your flock's status with your vet; vaccination programmes must follow your local vet or ministry schedule.

Does flushing work for goats?

The same principle applies to does: a moderate-condition doe gaining weight before breeding tends to produce more kids. The difference is that many goat breeds already twin more readily than sheep, so the main gain is often better conception and a tighter kidding period rather than doubling the kid crop. Dairy does need extra care: do not combine peak lactation, early pregnancy and a short ration.

How to run it and measure it on your farm

Flushing costs feed, and you will only know whether it pays if you measure it:

1. Record body condition and weight for each ewe about a week before you start, and again when the ram goes in.
2. Move the ewes into a dedicated group (pen) with a clear name such as "Flushing - autumn".
3. Record the ration as meals deducted from feed stock, so you know exactly what the plan cost.
4. Record the mating date and ram for each ewe, then pregnancy and lambing result: single, twins or triplets.
5. Compare the twinning rate and the extra feed cost with a previous season or with an unflushed group.

In Throf you can do all of this from your phone: groups, meals linked to feed stock, mating, pregnancy and birth stages (including twins and triplets), and weights. At the end of the season you see the extra feed cost next to the extra lambs, which is the number that tells you whether to repeat the plan. To fit it into the wider calendar, read the breeding season plan.

Common mistakes that waste flushing

• Starting too late: adding barley the day the ram goes in gives the body no time to respond.
• Flushing fat ewes: wasted feed and possibly more lambing problems later.
• Stopping abruptly after mating: a sharp drop in early pregnancy can hurt embryo survival.
• Forgetting the ram: he also needs good condition and a pre-season check. Ready ewes and a tired ram is a poor match.
• Not recording: without numbers you will keep saying "I think it worked" with no proof.