Sheep tend to eat the tops first, then the roots, until the ground is bare. Little ground cover remains if sheep are allowed to completely graze these species. Animal Management Considerations Spring Pasture Weaned lambs on pastures are a concern. Consider avoiding pastures with weaned lambs born in January or February unless strict management programs are followed. Lambs 60-90 days of age are close to market weight.
Lush pasture causes growth to slow due to change of feed.
Parasite contamination is also a concern. Worm eggs hatch and larvae migrate to the plant, which then infects the lamb. Turning ewes to pasture makes it more difficult to stop lactation. If lambs are too young to wean and pasture is part of the program, a rigid parasite control program is a must. Summer Pasture Internal and external parasites are the biggest concern when using summer pasture for sheep.