There are several key features to consider when selecting lambing paddocks, including pasture availability targets, paddock shelter and mob size.
Where ewes are pregnancy scanned and drafted into single and twin bearing mobs, allocate ewes to lambing paddocks with the best pasture–best shelter to least pasture–most exposed on the following basis:
Twin lambing, low condition score | Best pasture–best shelter |
Twin lambing, high condition score | ↓ |
Single lambing, low condition score | |
Single lambing, high condition score | Least pasture–most exposed |
Sheltered paddocks can reduce lamb mortality rates by about 10%. Lambing paddocks that are sheltered from wind and provide shelter across the entire paddock are best for lambing. Trees, shrubs, pasture, tussocks and rocks can provide adequate shelter. Shelter belts must be designed properly otherwise they may act as wind tunnels when grazing livestock remove the foliage from the lower branches.
Preferred paddocks are those with adequate pasture, that are north and east facing, have sunlight in the morning, are well drained and provide easy access to water.
In high-rainfall regions, gastrointestinal parasites are a major cause of production loss in ewes and poor growth in lambs. Ideally, graze ewes on paddocks with low worm contamination during lambing.
The most important considerations are to stock lambing paddocks to match pasture availability with breeding ewe demand and simultaneously reduce twin-lambing mob size. A smaller mob size will improve lamb survival due to lower incidence of mismothering.
Temporary electric fencing provides a cost-effective method of reducing lambing mob size, while maintaining, or even increasing, stocking rate in your best lambing paddocks.