As NI sheep farmers prepare for the upcoming tupping season, the importance of flushing ewes correctly has never been more critical—especially following the unpredictable and often harsh summer of 2025. With fluctuating temperatures, sporadic rainfall, and compromised pasture growth, many flocks are entering the pre-breeding period in suboptimal condition, raising concerns about fertility and lambing outcomes.
Flushing is the practice of improving the nutrition of ewes before and during the breeding season to increase ovulation rates and, ultimately, lambing percentages. After a hot, dry summer, pasture quality often declines, making flushing especially important to restore body condition and reproductive performance.
Why Flushing Matters:
Flushing refers to the practice of increasing the nutritional intake of ewes in the weeks leading up to mating. This boost in energy and protein levels stimulates ovulation, improves conception rates, and increases the likelihood of multiple births. For lowland ewes, a body condition score (BCS) of 3.5 is ideal, while hill ewes should aim for around 2.5
This year, however, the summer’s erratic weather has left many pastures depleted, making it harder for ewes to naturally regain condition post-weaning. Without intervention, under-conditioned ewes may experience reduced ovulation rates, leading to fewer lambs and a wider lambing spread.
Strategic Nutrition is Key
Experts recommend beginning flushing at least three weeks before introducing the ram. Please remember it can take up to 8 weeks to increase BCS by 2 points. This can be achieved through access to high-quality grazing or supplementary feeding with energy-rich concentrates and mineral licks or boluses tailored for fertility support.
During the pre-tupping phase, energy demands rise to support follicular development and ovulation. Ewes require approximately 15.4 MJ/day, which equates to 1.54kg of dry matter daily
If grass availability is limited, consider:
- High-energy concentrates with ingredients like barley, maize, and citrus pulp
- Protein-rich feeds (16–18% crude protein), ideally based on soya or rapeseed meal
Trace elements such as selenium, iodine, cobalt and copper play a vital role in reproductive health and should be included in any supplementation plan. The gold standard for this is to bolus ewes to ensure that they have optimal slow release of the trace elements that their body require. By bolusing you can be sure that each animal has received the required. Liquid drenches like Vet Tech Thrive offer targeted short term nutritional delivery, especially useful for animals struggling to gain weight or showing signs of deficiency.
These products can be adjusted based on individual animal needs, ensuring optimal nutrient absorption and performance. Please speak to us to discuss the correct targeted solution for your flock this season
Weather Stress and Fertility
The summer of 2025 brought extended periods of heat stress, which can significantly impact ewe fertility. High temperatures reduce dry matter intake and pasture quality which alter hormonal balances, leading to lower conception rates. This summer it may be that your ewes BCS looks okay, however heat and quality of forage will have but undue stress on their bodies.
Exercise stress in extensive systems further compounds the issue, making nutritional recovery even more essential before tupping.
Post Tupping
The work doesn’t stop there, maintaining BCS during the first 90 days of pregnancy is vital for:
- Preventing embryonic loss
- Supporting placental development
- Ensuring lamb viability
Stable diets and minimal stress (e.g., avoid transport or sudden feed changes) are crucial during this phase
Looking Ahead
With lambing percentages directly tied to ewe condition at mating, farmers must act now to mitigate the effects of summer stress. Regular body condition scoring, strategic supplementation, and careful flock management will be key to ensuring a successful breeding season.
As one Cornish farmer put it, “Flushing ewes, running them through a footbath, and giving them space to relax is an important step to increasing conception rate”
In a year where every lamb counts, flushing is not just tradition—it’s a necessity. Please call us today and speak about flushing your flock.
Speak to your vet today at CVS Farm NI about how to maximise your girls this season.
