6 Sheep Feeds for Ewes After Lambing That Prevent Common Issues

The first few weeks after lambing are the most demanding time in a ewe’s year, a period where her body is pushed to its absolute limit. She’s recovering from birth while simultaneously trying to produce enough rich milk to support one, two, or even three hungry, fast-growing lambs. Getting her nutrition right during this critical window isn’t just about keeping her healthy; it’s the foundation for preventing serious health issues and ensuring her lambs thrive.

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Key Nutritional Needs for Post-Partum Ewes

A ewe’s nutritional requirements skyrocket the moment her lambs are born. Her primary needs shift to support peak lactation, which demands a massive increase in energy, protein, and key minerals like calcium. Think of her as a high-performance engine that suddenly needs premium fuel in large quantities, not just enough to idle.

The biggest mistake is assuming the feed that got her through pregnancy is enough for lactation. A diet that was perfect for maintaining a pregnant ewe will leave a lactating ewe thin, weak, and unable to produce enough milk. Her body will pull resources from its own reserves, leading to rapid weight loss and a higher risk of metabolic diseases.

You must provide a diet dense in calories and protein. This isn’t the time for low-quality hay or relying solely on whatever is left in the winter pasture. Every bite she takes needs to be packed with the building blocks for milk production and her own recovery.

Alfalfa Hay to Boost Milk and Prevent Milk Fever

Alfalfa is a powerhouse for lactating ewes, and for good reason. It’s significantly higher in both protein and calcium than most grass hays, hitting two of the most critical post-lambing needs in one package. The high protein content directly fuels milk production, leading to bigger, healthier lambs.

More importantly, the rich calcium content helps prevent a dangerous condition called milk fever, or hypocalcemia. This metabolic disease occurs when a ewe’s body can’t mobilize calcium fast enough to meet the immense demands of milk production, causing muscle weakness, staggering, and even death. Feeding alfalfa provides a direct, easily absorbed source of calcium right when she needs it most.

However, alfalfa isn’t without its tradeoffs. It’s often more expensive than grass hay, and its richness can cause digestive upset or bloat if introduced too suddenly. The best approach is often to use it as a supplement, mixing it with your regular grass hay or offering a flake or two per ewe each day, rather than switching to it completely. This balanced approach gives you the benefits without the full cost or risk.

Adding Grains for Essential Lactation Energy

While hay provides the necessary fiber and bulk, it often falls short on pure energy, especially for a ewe raising multiple lambs. This is where grains come in. They are concentrated sources of carbohydrates that provide the raw fuel needed for the demanding work of making milk.

Common choices include whole oats, cracked corn, and barley. Oats are a safe, palatable option with good fiber content, making them a great starting point. Corn provides the most energy but is lower in protein; it’s like high-octane fuel that needs to be used carefully. Barley falls somewhere in between.

The key is to introduce grains slowly and never overfeed them. A sudden influx of carbohydrates can lead to acidosis, a serious and sometimes fatal digestive issue. Start with a small amount—perhaps a quarter-pound per ewe daily—and gradually increase it based on her needs and the number of lambs she’s feeding. A ewe raising triplets needs significantly more energy than one with a single.

Soybean Meal to Increase Milk Protein Content

If your hay is of average quality or you notice your lambs aren’t growing as quickly as you’d like, a protein supplement can make a world of difference. Soybean meal is a common and effective choice. It’s an extremely concentrated source of protein that acts as a powerful booster for milk quality.

You don’t need much of it. Adding just a small amount of soybean meal to a ewe’s daily grain ration can significantly increase the protein percentage of her overall diet. This translates directly into richer, more nutritious milk, which in turn fuels faster and healthier lamb development.

Think of soybean meal as a targeted tool, not a staple food. It’s for situations where your primary forages aren’t quite meeting the high protein demands of peak lactation. For a hobby farmer, buying a single bag can last a long time and provide a crucial nutritional boost right when your flock needs it most.

Molasses for Quick Energy and Ketosis Prevention

Molasses is the secret weapon for tired, stressed, or picky ewes. It’s a source of simple sugars, providing a quick and easily digestible energy boost that can help a ewe bounce back after a difficult birth. Its sweet taste also encourages ewes with low appetites to eat their feed.

This quick energy is particularly useful in preventing ketosis. While most common in late pregnancy, this metabolic condition can also strike after lambing if a ewe’s energy demands outpace her intake. A bit of molasses provides the immediate glucose needed to keep her system functioning properly.

You can use it in a few ways. Drizzling it over hay or grain can make the feed more appealing. Alternatively, you can mix it with warm water to create a drench for a particularly weak ewe, getting calories and hydration into her quickly. It’s a short-term solution for an immediate problem, not a long-term nutritional strategy.

Free-Choice Minerals to Balance Key Nutrients

Even the most carefully planned diet can have nutritional gaps. Providing a high-quality, free-choice mineral supplement designed specifically for sheep is one of the easiest and most important things you can do. This ensures ewes can get exactly what they need to balance their own system.

Forages can be deficient in crucial micronutrients like selenium, iodine, and zinc, all of which are vital for immune function and milk production. A lack of selenium, for example, can lead to white muscle disease in lambs. A good mineral mix fills these gaps, acting as an essential insurance policy for the health of your entire flock.

Be absolutely certain you are using a sheep-specific mineral mix. Mixes formulated for cattle or goats often contain levels of copper that are toxic and fatal to sheep. Keep the mineral feeder clean, dry, and consistently full so the ewes can access it whenever they feel the need.

Lush, Rotated Pasture for Complete Nutrition

In a perfect world, a lush, well-managed pasture is the ultimate feed for a lactating ewe. High-quality spring grass is packed with the energy, protein, and vitamins a ewe needs to raise healthy lambs, often requiring minimal supplementation. It’s nature’s perfect blend of nutrients and hydration.

The key words, however, are lush and rotated. Dormant, brown winter pasture offers very little nutritional value. Likewise, a pasture that is grazed continuously becomes depleted of the best forages and loaded with parasites, creating more problems than it solves.

Effective rotational grazing is crucial. By moving the flock to fresh paddocks every few days, you allow the grass to recover and provide the most nutritious growth. This practice also breaks parasite life cycles, reducing the need for chemical dewormers and promoting overall flock health. If you have good pasture available, it can be the cornerstone of your post-lambing feeding program.

Combining Feeds for a Complete Post-Lambing Diet

There is no single magic feed. The best strategy is to combine these different elements into a balanced ration tailored to your ewes’ specific needs. Your job as a shepherd is to observe your animals and adjust the diet accordingly.

A practical daily ration for a 150-pound ewe with twins might look something like this:

• Forage: Free-choice access to good quality grass hay.
• Protein/Calcium Boost: 1-2 pounds of alfalfa hay.
• Energy: 1 pound of a grain mix (like 50% oats, 50% cracked corn).
• Supplement: A few tablespoons of soybean meal mixed with the grain if hay quality is low.
• Always Available: Clean water and a free-choice sheep mineral.

This is just a starting point. A ewe with a single lamb may not need as much grain, while a thinner ewe or one with triplets will need more. The most important tool you have is your eyes. Watch your ewes’ body condition. Are they maintaining their weight? Are their lambs vigorous and growing well? Adjust the feed based on what you see, and you’ll successfully guide your flock through this demanding season.

Ultimately, feeding your ewes well after lambing is an investment in the future of your flock. A healthy, well-fed ewe will raise robust lambs, recover faster, and be in better condition for breeding next season. By understanding their needs and using the right combination of feeds, you set them up for success.