Lamb Marketing Strategies Introduction Lambing in the spring capitalizes on the reproductive efficiency of a spring-lambing flock and takes advantage of spring, summer, and fall forages for lamb production.
Spring lambing reduces the capital outlay required for labor, facilities, and purchased feeds.
The higher profitability of spring lambing is attributed primar- ily to improvements in ewe fertility and prolificacy. Because of the seasonality of breeding inherent in most breeds of sheep, fewer ewes lamb in the fall and winter, with fewer lambs born per ewe lambing. Spring lambing occurs during the months of March, April, and May. Lambs graze with their dams in the spring and throughout most of the summer. After weaning, lambs remain on pasture until marketed as slaughter lambs or feeder lambs in the late summer and fall. Grazing management, internal parasite control, predator control, and lamb marketing strategies are key elements essential to a successful spring-lambing program.