How to Improve Ewe Reproductive Rate? Practical Methods Shared

Improving the ewe reproductive rate is the key to profitability for a breeding farm. To improve the ewe reproductive rate, you can start from the following aspects.

First, select rams and ewes from multiple-birth lines as breeding stock. Twin or multiple births are hereditary, so when selecting breeding rams and ewes, their parents should preferably be selected from a reserve flock in which the parent rams and ewes produced twins or more per litter. Keeping these rams and ewes with a good genetic foundation as breeding stock allows them to fully express their genetic potential during rearing and increases the chance of the ewe producing multiple lambs per litter.

Second, adequate nutrition gives breeding sheep a healthy body condition and moderate fat score. The ram maintains vigorous libido, and at mating the semen contains a large number of sperm with strong vitality and high fertilizing ability. Strengthening ewe nutrition is an effective measure to improve the ewe reproductive rate. When the ewe is strong, the fetus develops well, she has plenty of milk after lambing, and the lambs have a higher birth weight and survival rate. Therefore, the better the ewe's body condition, the greater the lamb weight, and the higher the multiple-birth rate.

Third, practice double mating. When the ewe is in estrus, carrying out double mating or two rounds of insemination can improve the conception rate and increase the chance of producing twins. The two-mating method keeps sperm capable of fertilization present in the ewe's reproductive tract, increasing the chance of fertilization. The commonly used method: for a ewe confirmed to be in estrus, breed or inseminate once each at 12 and 24 hours, with the interval between the two inseminations generally 10-12 hours.

Fourth, increase the proportion of young and middle-aged ewes in the flock. Young ewes at their first mating and old or weak ewes are less fertile than prime-age ewes. Over a ewe's lifetime, her reproductive rate is strongest at 3-4 years of age, and the reproductive lifespan is generally 8 years. Therefore, to raise the overall level of the flock, reasonably adjust the flock structure, supplement young ewes in a planned way, appropriately increase the proportion of 3-4 year old ewes in the flock, and promptly identify and cull old, weak or low-fertility ewes.

Fifth, wean lambs early at the right time. Shortening the ewe's nursing period can bring the ewe into estrus earlier and achieve more than one litter per year. Early-weaned lambs need to be trained by humans to eat on their own. At 10-15 days of age, feed the lambs some fresh tender green grass, vegetable leaves, or fine, soft, easily digestible hay and leaves to stimulate the early development of the lambs' digestive function and the transition toward independent feeding.