Litter sizes in yearling hoggets are also reported as favourable, with scans of 1.5 lambs not uncommon in medium- to high-prolificacy flocks.

The key in achieving good performance in these flocks is to ensure hoggets are in optimum condition at lambing. Body condition should be monitored on a regular basis. Where condition falls below target, the focus should be to get ewes on track before they enter the final month of pregnancy.

Overfeeding at this stage will only serve to lead to the birth of oversized lambs and lambing difficulties. Some farmers implement a flat-rate feeding programme of 0.5kg concentrates and good-quality silage where litter size averages around one lamb per ewe while for larger litters many work with a rising feeding programme similar to ewes in the final weeks of pregnancy.

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Preparing for lambing

Sheep management: feeding space

Sheep management: soil samples