Flushing Improves Lambing Success

Our neighbor, who breeds sheep, recommends “flushing” our ewes before we breed them. What is “flushing” and what are the benefits?

Flushing is the process of increasing a ewe’s nutrition before and during the first few weeks of the breeding season. The goal is to boost the rate of ovulation, conception and embryo implantation to improve the lambing rate. 

The good news that more lambs on the ground usually mean more money in your pocket! 

Improving BCS

A ewe’s Body Condition Score (BCS) will help you evaluate her nutritional needs. The BCS score, which ranges from 1 to 5, is especially useful before the breeding season when energy requirements increase.

Flushing may help improve a thinner ewe’s BCS from 2.0 to 3.0 before breeding and during the first stages of gestation. Improved nutrition also helps increase the likelihood of twinning. 

Nutrition During Flushing

Ewes require extra grain during the flushing period to increase their energy levels. A complete feed or high-fat supplement will help meet their requirements.

Ewes also need 10 to 16 percent protein to ensure reproductive health. As always, vitamins and minerals are essential for every ewe and lamb — regardless of the production stage.

The Flushing Schedule

Flushing should begin approximately 2 weeks before the breeding season and continue at least 2 to 4 weeks into the season. Extra feed gives fertilized eggs a better chance of attaching to the uterus wall rather than being reabsorbed by a low energy ewe.

Once pregnancies are confirmed, ewes may be returned to their regular nutrition level by providing quality pasture, hay and/ or supplemental nutrition. 

Flushing especially benefits underweight ewes that have not recovered from lactation stress from the previous breeding season. Ewes with higher body scores (3.5 and above) are unlikely to respond to flushing and will show no performance improvement. Flushing should start earlier than two weeks for ewes with a body condition score of 2 or below to allow more time to sufficiently increase body weight prior to breeding. 

Contact your veterinarian or Cooperative Extension Service with questions about flushing.