Pregnancy can be identified after day 30 to 35, but the most accurate time to identify litter size and lambing dates is where ewes are scanned 80 to 90 days post ram turnout.

Delaying scanning beyond day 100 of pregnancy, particularly in heavy fleshed ewes, will make it harder for scanners to accurately identify the litter size. For ewes in mid-pregnancy, the focus should be to offer ewes a maintenance diet.

The ideal is where ewes can afford to lose a small level of condition (quarter to half a condition score or up to 5% of bodyweight) in mid pregnancy, as this promotes optimal placental development, which in turn optimises lamb growth rate in late pregnancy and positively promotes higher intake in late pregnancy.

Using ewes to clean out paddocks will, in most cases, meet maintenance requirements.

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