Rebuilding and Maintaining Ewe Condition: Fall and Winter Management for a Productive Flock

Written for Montana Wool Grower Magazine

By Jeannine Peterson, DVM

As summer fades and the temperature drops, sheep producers face a critical window: rebuild ewe body condition in the fall—or pay for it through winter. What happens between September and November can make or break your flock’s success for the next lambing season. By late fall, ewes should be in their best shape to face the challenges of winter and the demands of breeding. Once cold weather settles in, putting weight back on thin sheep becomes increasingly difficult—and costly.

Fortunately, with thoughtful planning and management, it's possible to rebuild and maintain ewe body condition without relying on expensive supplementation. By fall, sheep producers have a valuable opportunity to capitalize on the ewe’s natural ability to regain condition.

Why Ewe Body Condition Matters

A ewe’s condition impacts ovulation and conception rates, cold weather resilience, future milk production, and future lamb crop survival. Going into winter underweight increases health risks, feed costs, and reduces performance at lambing. It's not just about adding pounds, it's about setting the ewe up for success through the toughest part of the year.

Three Key Factors That Influence Fall Body Condition

To optimize ewe condition before winter, focus on three main factors:

1. Strategic Weaning Timing

High-producing ewes that are still nursing will struggle to gain weight, unless they're grazing extremely nutrient-rich forage or crops. Once lambs are weaned, ewes can start regaining lost condition. The decision to wean should be based on lamb crop pasture quality and availability. When forage is limited, early weaning can reduce the flock’s overall energy demands by up to 30%, while redirecting the best pasture to growing lambs. If pasture quality is good, weaning can be delayed. If pasture is dry or scarce, consider weaning early to give ewes a large window of weight recovery before breeding.

2. Grazing and Forage Strategy

Post-weaning, dry ewes present a unique opportunity. With no lambs to feed and time on their side, they can clean up brush and weeds or graze crop aftermath while rebuilding condition. Rotating ewes through pastures, crop stubble, underutilized hayfields helps rest your main fields for winter stockpiling. Just ensure grazing conditions allow for adequate intake.

3. Parasite Control

Parasites can sabotage even the best nutritional planning. Post-weaning is a critical time to evaluate parasite load. Use fecal egg counts to determine the need for deworming—especially in areas prone to liver flukes in fall. Plan post-weaning grazing in fields not used during summer to reduce reinfection risk. This also allows main pastures to recover for winter grazing. Strategic movement not only supports weight gain, but also improves long-term pasture health and parasite control.

Flushing

After assessing the body condition of their flock, producers can make informed decisions about adjusting nutrition in preparation for breeding—a process known as flushing. Flushing involves boosting the ewe's energy intake several weeks before breeding to enhance fertility. Typically, this starts two to three weeks before rams are introduced.

By raising the energy levels in their diet, ewes begin to gain body condition, signaling to their bodies that they’re physically ready to support multiple offspring. This physiological cue boosts ovulation rates, which often leads to a greater number of lambs born per ewe—ultimately improving overall lambing percentages.

Flushing is a great practice to enhance short term nutrition, ovulation, and conception rates. However, it is not a substitute for poor management through other times of the year.

Winter: Shift from Rebuilding to Maintenance

Winter isn’t the time to play catch-up. Cold weather increases maintenance needs as sheep expend more energy to stay warm. Ewes that enter winter in poor condition are harder and more expensive to rehabilitate. The goal is not to gain during winter, but to maintain. A ewe that enters winter with a body condition score (BCS) of 3.5 is in the best position to resist cold, breed successfully, and lamb with strength.

Body Condition Scoring: A Hands-On Management Tool

Wool can be deceiving. Body condition cannot be judged by sight alone. The most effective, low-cost way to monitor ewe health is body condition scoring (BCS). It’s particularly effective for mature sheep and doesn’t require any equipment. To do this, place your hand on the loin area—thumb on the spine, fingers across the ribs. You’re feeling for padding between the bones and your hand.

BCS Descriptions:

• Score 1–1.5: Very thin, bones easily felt, urgent nutritional support needed.

• Score 2–2.5: Moderate to thin; needs improvement before breeding or lambing.

• Score 3–3.5: Ideal for breeding and wintering.

• Score 4–5: Over-conditioned; may be prone to lambing issues.

Best Practices:

• Score at least 25–50 sheep per flock

• Handle relaxed animals, not tightly packed in pens

• Score every 2–3 weeks to monitor changes

• Use the data to guide feed allocation and grazing decisions

An ideal body condition score heading into breeding and lambing is around 3.5. It’s natural for this to fluctuate throughout the year, but fall is when you want ewes trending upward.

Conclusion: Set the Stage Now for Spring Success

Sheep in poor condition heading into winter are harder to feed, more susceptible to illness, and less likely to produce strong, healthy lambs. But if you manage fall well—through timely weaning, effective parasite control, and smart grazing—you’ll set your flock up for a successful, low-stress winter. The benefits will be visible next spring, in both your lamb crop and your bottom line.