Sheep breeding season happens during the fall and winter months as ewes enter their estrous cycle. This is a 17-day period where the ewe cycles into ovulation. Within this period there is only about a 24 to 36-hour window when she can get bred.

Sheep breeders all over are saying their prayers and setting the best conditions to ensure their ewes are getting bred this month. They only have a few opportunities in these months before their bodies go back into anestrus, which means they aren’t cycling through that time of fertility.

In November, shepherds are pulling out all their tricks to make the most of these few months of short fertility windows to ensure their ewes will produce a lamb this Spring.

Here is a checklist of known methods to try to capitalize on this bang season:

#1. Make Sure the Ewes You Are Preparing Are Fit for Delivery

Sheep breeds vary, but most ewes need to be at least one year old (better if two) to carry a lamb full-term and deliver while staying healthy. Make lists of ages and health conditions and decide which ewes will be ready for the taxing pregnancy season.

#2. Check Body Condition

Animals too thin or too fat may not cycle through esterous. And if they do, they won’t likely remain healthy. Ewes ready for breeding need to be rated a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 5 or 6.

#3. Separate Rams & Ewes

To achieve a stimulating strategy referred to as “The Ram Effect,” rams and ewes must be separated for six weeks before breeding season. The Ram Effect works when non-cycling (anestrus) ewes are stimulated to ovulate by the sudden introduction of a fertile ram or “teaser” ram. Rams produce a chemical substance called a pheromone, the smell of which stimulates the onset of estrus. When ewes and rams are in constant contact (sight or smell), the pheromones are much less effective at inducing estrus. Ewes that are not cycling when a ram (or teaser) is introduced will ovulate in 3 to 4 days

#4. Introduce Rams & Ewes

Whether or not you are following protocol for the Ram Effect, you will need to make sure they are together during breeding season. Once they are around each other, continue to look for signs including the rams sniffing the air, females urinating in front of them, ewes following rams around, nudging, pushing, pawing and mounting.

#5. Use a Breeding Harness

To observe what rams have been with which ewes use a breeding harness/chalk marker and keep dates.

#6. Flush Feeding

Sheep breeders can improve chances for fertility and multiples by increasing quality feed (known as flush feeding) strategically before breeding time. Before flush feeding, make sure and deworm the sheep to ensure the most success.

#7. Update Vaccines

Many producers vaccinate twice per year, with breeding season on their list. CD&T will protect against overeating disease and tetanus, but your local vet can consult you on what is the best breeding vaccine for your area.

#8. Hoof Check

Now is a great time, while the sheep are wrangled to trim their hooves and inspect for any diseases. Many issues such as foot rot, abscesses, scald and foot-and-mouth disease enter through hooves.

#9. Do Your Math

Sheep carry their babies 144-151 days, with 147 being the average. If the weather in your area is typically severe and your facilities don’t accommodate heat, make sure you calculate a healthy month for delivery. If you plan to be out of town (i.e. spring break) time accordingly or prepare now to have someone watching your farm.

#10. Keep a Calendar

Log in your notes when you see the ewes standing for the ram. You will then have a good idea of when to start checking for signs of pregnancy. If you don’t catch a glimpse of the action, remember a chalk marker is good to refer to so you can write down the dates of any markings you see. There will be a feeding schedule to keep in the last part of pregnancy and you will want to keep this in your notes as well. It is also helpful to know when you will need to pen your ewes and expect delivery.

Nature needs a nudge. Breeding is what sheep are put on this earth to do, however, optimizing these aspects of the process has proven extremely helpful. Caring for sheep year-round without any lambs produced is a very real possibility and extremely disheartening when it happens. Take the time this month to give your sheep the best chance of success.

This article about sheep breeding was written for Hobby Farms magazine. Click here to subscribe.