Scanning reports are variable, with flocks that generally achieved good results repeating performance. Some scanners report some falloff in litter size in ewes that endured a difficult year but again this varies significantly between farms.
Where dealing with a higher litter size and particularly with ewe lambs, steps should be put in place to ensure sufficient facilities are available. The general recommendation in flocks with a medium scanning rate (about 1.7 to 1.8 lambs per ewe) is one lambing pen to seven to eight ewes.
This may need to be changed in high-prolificacy flocks with a high percentage of triplets with the ratio reduced to one pen to six ewes. Aspects such as having a water hose close to the shed for quick filling of water buckets or inserting a piped water system can also greatly cut down on labour. These measures should be investigated in advance of lambing.
Higher scanning rates with lambing pushed back
Sheep Welfare Scheme – maintaining scanning records