There are no secrets about producing more lambs to sell. This Farmnote highlights the most important factors influencing your lamb turn-off. More information on the conditions described can be provided by your consultant, veterinarian or Agriculture Western Australia. Maximising conception rates Ewes should be gaining weight and as heavy as possible at joining. Lupins can be used to increase ewe weights.
Sheep are naturally seasonal breeders, and respond to decreasing daylight hours.
That is, the proportion of ewes cycling, the number of ova shed and the libido and fertility of rams all tend to increase as daylight hours decrease. Most British breed sheep are highly seasonal breeders, but Poll Dorsets and Merinos, through generations of selection for out of season breeding, will cycle and conceive over a much longer period. Even so, spring joinings usually result in fewer lambs than autumn joinings. Be warned though that this practice of double annual mating will complicate your sheep husbandry program and record keeping. Teasers are rams that have been vasectomised or wethers that have been treated with testosterone.