Define the feed requirements for different classes of sheep

Most sheep producers run a range of sheep classes (e.g. dry ewes, pregnant or lactating ewes, wethers and actively growing lambs or young sheep) each of which have different nutritional needs throughout the year. Classes of sheep can be described according to:

• gender 
• condition score, fat score and liveweight 
• stage in reproductive cycle and pregnancy status (empty, single, multiple) 
• growth target (to gain or lose weight at x kg/day).

Scanning and separating ewes based on condition score and pregnancy and lambing status enables producers to better allocate paddocks to sheep. For example, it is more efficient to run 3–5-year-old ewes together and draft on ewe condition and pregnancy status than to run them in age groups. Suggested drafting strategies for mature ewes are: 

• dry ewes 
• pregnant or lactating ewes, single lambs, condition score >3 
• pregnant or lactating ewes, single lambs, condition score <3 
• pregnant or lactating ewes, twin lambs, condition score >3 
• pregnant or lactating ewes, twin lambs, condition score <3

Weaners and lactating ewes rearing twin lambs have the highest nutritional requirements (i.e. animal demand) and require the highest-quality pastures, followed by single-lambing ewes, pregnant ewes, hoggets, then wethers and dry ewes. 

Weaners and lactating ewes rearing twin lambs have the highest nutritional requirements (i.e. animal demand) and require the highest-quality pastures, followed by single-lambing ewes, pregnant ewes, hoggets, then wethers and dry ewes. 

The Making More From Sheep website has a suite of tools to assist in assessing condition score and determining the energy requirements for each class of stock. 

The Condition scoring tool outlines the concept of condition scoring and how it is used to optimise flock management. 

The Recommended condition score targets for ewes tool outlines condition score targets for mature sheep. 

The Liveweight targets for weaners and young ewes tool outlines liveweight targets for weaners and young ewes.  

The Energy and protein requirements of sheep tool lists the energy and protein requirements of a range of sheep classes. 

The Calculating the cost of energy and protein of common feeds tool help to calculate the cost of energy and protein supplements to meet animal demand where pasture supply does not meet the minimum benchmarks. 

Digestibility is a useful measure of pasture quality as it measures the proportion of pasture absorbed and utilised by the animal through digestion and is directly related to the energy content of pasture. The Pasture assessment techniques tool shows the decline in the digestibility and energy content of temperate and tropical pastures as the plant matures.