28. Ewe flushing for mating success

For spring lambing businesses, autumn means it’s time for the rams to head out with the ewes. Ovulation, conception rate and embryo implantation are all influenced by nutrition before and during mating. In this our latest Rumen Room Podcast, we’re focusing on the importance of a rising plane of nutrition for ewes (otherwise known as “flushing”) before the ewes meet the rams. We’ll cover a range of information, everything from how we think that flushing might work specifically to improve ovulation rates, and the importance of ewe body condition score as a modifier of and reproductive success. Feeding for flushing success is covered, including everything from pasture grazing management, different non-pasture forages and supplementary feeds for flushing. Here’s where to find the various sections of our latest ewe mating podcast: 2:05 Scene setting around the importance of ewe nutrition before and during the early weeks of mating. 5:30 What does “flushing” ewes mean before mating and what we are trying to achieve by flushing ewes? 14:48 Does flushing always work to lift ovulation rate in ewes? 16:42 The static vs. the dynamic effect of ewe body condition score on flushing outcomes. 23:00 How long do we need to flush for – the “ideal” six weeks vs. what’s practical. 23:55 What to think about if we don’t have enough feed to flush for 6 weeks? 26:00 How much more feed (over and above feed demands for maintenance) do we need to feed ewes to achieve the “flush” effect? 32:45 Importance of feed quality for successful ewe flushing outcomes. 37:10 What does a good flushing pasture look like? 38:25 Non-pasture forages for flushing. 43:30 Supplementary feeds – which ones for flushing ewes? 47:45 Crude protein content of feeds for flushing 51:55 Lucerne and red clover – can we flush ewes on these forages? 1:00:10 Short acknowledgement of non-nutritional factors that influence ovulation in sheep